Finally going to start folding for AoA Forums, but which Client?

[Vash]

Going to start folding for this team. my nvidia 7800 GS finally took a crap on me (because I let my PC overheat freely playing Games on it almost 24-7) and I got an ATI HD 3450 to replace it (yeah i know a suckyer videocard, but it supports the GPU fold@home client).

So my story is I used to fold for Overclockersclub.com, but I joined this forum after I bought an Epox and people from that forum recommended me here... so to repay my thanks I was going to switch and fold here (but i never got around to it untill now... which is like 4 years later)

soooo.. huge question here.. which one would I get more points for? running the GPU client or the regular Client.. because I down clocked my PC so I wouldn't need to run any fans and rely only on heatsinks.


BTW PC has been running like this for 2 years now with it underclocked, with SUPER high temps such as 76-85C on average


So in short my CPU is 2800 Athlon Barton with 2.083Ghz Stock and i slowed it down to 1.7Ghz which is some where between an Athlon 2200-2400~ (my guess because the same .13 micron is used in an Athlon 2100@1.6Ghz)

what will give me more points? this Athlon 2800 downclocked using regular Fold client? or an ATI HD 3450? Iam not sure the GPU client actually uses both CPU and GPU... because it looks like the CPU is on heavy load too when i was running the GPU client.

[ThunderRd]

It's almost sure that you would fold more points with the GPU, but the CPU will see load when folding on a socket A. The job of the CPU is to feed the GPU data while the GPU calculates.

It's ok if you're not doing anything else at the time, but if you are, you should shut down the client.

[Vash]

Originally Posted by ThunderRd

It's almost sure that you would fold more points with the GPU, but the CPU will see load when folding on a socket A. The job of the CPU is to feed the GPU data while the GPU calculates.

It's ok if you're not doing anything else at the time, but if you are, you should shut down the client.

why? does it effect something if iam doing somethign while iam runnign the GPU client? I just left it on overnight, and the whole GPU-Z showed it was reaching temps of 97-99C on average the GPU! i just got in the graphics card yesterday lol.


its so weird thats all the CPU does. because mine is staying at 100% usage.. maybe my CPU is just too slow.

[danrok]

GPUs do get pretty hot under load, and can withstand temps well over 100 Celsius.

All the same, I think it could use better cooling. Probably not so good to run it at that temp in the long term.

[Vash]

welp.. my fanless PSU came today.. good news is.. my PC is really silent...

bad news is... idk how often i can fold like this because i HAVE to turn on fans or it overheats really badly... sucks because with the old power supply it atleast had SOME air flow, so the PC wasn't overheating to like 105C like it is now.. and the GPU is also hitting around 104~C

kinda scary.. above boiling water temp. But I can still fold.. i just have to leave atleast some fans spinning to get heat to escape.

[ThunderRd]

Open the side of the case and blow a room fan into there, it should do the trick. Here in Thailand in the hottest season I have to do that even though my gear is watercooled. It makes a big difference. I know this defeats the purpose of a silent PC, but...

I don't think it's a realistic expectation to fold flat out and not actively cool your box. They are pretty much mutually exclusive goals. Folding clients really stress your hardware and will heat it up more than any other applications you run, including the most demanding games. Folding clients WILL CRASH, (and most spectacularly), if they aren't cooled sufficiently. You may have to make some choices

[Vash]

Originally Posted by ThunderRd

Open the side of the case and blow a room fan into there, it should do the trick. Here in Thailand in the hottest season I have to do that even though my gear is watercooled. It makes a big difference. I know this defeats the purpose of a silent PC, but...

I don't think it's a realistic expectation to fold flat out and not actively cool your box. They are pretty much mutually exclusive goals. Folding clients really stress your hardware and will heat it up more than any other applications you run, including the most demanding games. Folding clients WILL CRASH, (and most spectacularly), if they aren't cooled sufficiently. You may have to make some choices

such a great idea! (about the leaving the side panels off of the case) going to try it for a while and see if temps improve, yeah the main problem before is that i have 0 air flow in a closed case.. so now maybe it will be better with no panels on

and its ok to have my videocard overclocked while folding using the GUI client right?

[Vash]

Originally Posted by ThunderRd

Open the side of the case and blow a room fan into there, it should do the trick. Here in Thailand in the hottest season I have to do that even though my gear is watercooled. It makes a big difference. I know this defeats the purpose of a silent PC, but...

I don't think it's a realistic expectation to fold flat out and not actively cool your box. They are pretty much mutually exclusive goals. Folding clients really stress your hardware and will heat it up more than any other applications you run, including the most demanding games. Folding clients WILL CRASH, (and most spectacularly), if they aren't cooled sufficiently. You may have to make some choices

OMG yeah! its working like a freaken charm! i never seen the temps so low before with both the case side panels open. is there any disadvantages to having it open like this? iam just going to leave it like this.

[ThunderRd]

Originally Posted by Vash

and its ok to have my videocard overclocked while folding using the GUI client right?

The client will let you know if it is clocked too high, or if it's too hot, by not properly completing a work unit - known as an Early Unit End (EUE). Watch the logs to see if you are having an problems.

[danrok]

Originally Posted by Vash

such a great idea! (about the leaving the side panels off of the case) going to try it for a while and see if temps improve, yeah the main problem before is that i have 0 air flow in a closed case.. so now maybe it will be better with no panels on

A fanless PSU may not need a airlflow for cooling, but the rest of your system probably does.

Most likely you will still need to have case fan(s).

A fanless system either needs to be built using low-powered/cool-running components, or have appropriate passive cooling solutions for all hot parts - not just the PSU.

[danrok]

Originally Posted by Vash

OMG yeah! its working like a freaken charm! i never seen the temps so low before with both the case side panels open. is there any disadvantages to having it open like this? iam just going to leave it like this.

Apart from protecting the internals, the metal panels also reduce, or block RF emmissions, which might otherwise interfere with other equipment you own, like the TV, your cell phone, router, etc.

[weldzilla]

Uh where doid you go with all that entusiasm?? I see no points for you.
Hmmm...?

[Vash]

Originally Posted by weldzilla

Uh where doid you go with all that entusiasm?? I see no points for you.
Hmmm...?

ahh i was in the process of trying to find out which OS system will work better for me.. going thru xp. ubuntu... windows 7 (man i am having trouble getting all these window 7 bugs out)

iam going to leave it running again soon, it takes me about over 24 hours to send in 1 packet.. kinda slow.... but whatever.

i am also having trouble finding a good clock right now as well with all this heat going on in the PC... i actually ended up turning back on my fans and OCed it... but i think i am having a huge problem with windows 7 video drivers on my ATI.. it keeps freezing up.

so far it looks like it is not freezing up with it UNCLOCK... but i kinda want to Overclock my GPU and fold... i'll run it for today with casual use and find out if it really is stable "UNCLOCKED" and reclock it tomorrow.

I am also running a new fanless PSU so i wasn't sure if that was causing the problem.. i logged back on here to get the Team Number actually to start folding again.. I'LL be back on the team soon! a GPU Folder.. i wanted to switch to Windows 7 so i can get all the cool visual features.. but i am running into more problems then i planned.. i think i will have it all figured out soon tho.

[Vash]

ok huge problem driver keeps on failing and going into recovery... i don't think i'll be able to fold anymore sadly...

[dsio]

Which drivers? And do you know what your temps are like?

[Vash]

Originally Posted by dsio

Which drivers? And do you know what your temps are like?

iam running fans right now... too see if it is a heat issue and no cigar....

i just turned up volts to the agp for the first time sinse like 2004.... iam going to see how long it lasts before the pc locks itself up...

its giving symptoms as if the videocard or system is over heating.. because its done this to me before.. and it was a heat issue.. like i stlll had networking abiity because ICS is still working.. BUT i have no screen displying anything AND my keyboard is not responsive (num lock key used as a test)

but i have fans in there spinning so the temps are like:
35C case temp and 54C Processor temp.. which is WAY low compared to how i used to run it when i run ubuntu or windows xp.. because i would let crap hit 85C processor temp all the time.. and its normal.

i did a web search and the display problem seems kinda common with no fixes to my knowledge...


I am going to report back as soon as this system fails again OR if it works.. iam going to let it run for a few hours just doing nothing and seeing it locks up... the AGP volt was adjusted from 1.5 to 1.6v.

[dsio]

Man 85C for extended periods isn't good for that chip, or the motherboard irrespective of how its running.

If the cooler is off, and heat isn't being dissipated on that side, the motherboard becomes the heatsink, and components get heated well beyond tolerances.

The other thing is many NF2 motherboards had known issues back in the day even without high temp exposure, what board are you running?

[Vash]

crap it was over heating.. it seems very stable when temps are like 31-32C case temp and ~38C temp CPU temp.... and this is with the CPU down clocked to 1.7Ghz

i used the PC ALL day today without any problems with the fans turned up and CPU downclocked AND the GPU overclocked... its definitly an overheating issue.. I have the fans cranked up right now tho.. iam going to give 2.3Ghz 1 more try with these fans on and if its still having trouble then...... i'll just go ahead and start folding again with the CPU downclocked to 1.7Ghz.

[ThunderRd]

You had success before when I suggested to open the side panel and blow a house fan in there. I don't know what season it is where you are, but are you still doing that?

[Vash]

Originally Posted by ThunderRd

You had success before when I suggested to open the side panel and blow a house fan in there. I don't know what season it is where you are, but are you still doing that?

Case temp was 32C and GPU driver failed again under Windows 7... but this timet he GPU was overclocked.

ahhhh i closed the case because i decided to just run the fans. i might have to re-open these side panels... i can't beleive the heat difference is by THAT much with the case closed EVEN with fans spinning...

i just had a lock up with downclocked CPU but overclocked GPU.. iam going to set the GPU down to its stock setting and give it another try, i'll report in the morning if its working or not, iam hoping when i get back tomorrow morning it has atleast made some progess on this work unit.

it just seems that Windows 7 gives no tolerance on instability.. i never had this much problems with Xp or ubuntu.

EDIT: yeah iam positive it is a driver issue now.. it done it again! while i was folding.. this time iam on stock clock on GPU and iam downclocked on my CPU.. so theres no excuses.. not to mention the case temp has been 31C for the whole night... idk what to do... i see a bunch similar issues with these drivers with almost no solution doing google search.. it might be the end of the road for my folding... and iam not planning on going back to windows xp just to fold