SMP Client + GPU Client ?

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frenchie
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SMP Client + GPU Client ?

Post by frenchie » Thu Nov 12, 2009 2:14 am

Hi,

I read the SMP Client page on the Folding at home page but I'm still a little confused. My CPU is a core 2 Duo (E7200) so I could use the SMP Client and it should be faster than 2 CPU clients (at least I understood that).
I'm currently using one CPU client and one GPU client (which requires a little CPU).

My question is : can I run the SMP client and one GPU client at the same time, without slowing down either of the clients ?

Thank you for your help.

SebRad
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Post by SebRad » Thu Nov 12, 2009 3:23 am

While I'm not certain of the effects of running SMP & GPU clients on the same machine it's what I'm doing!
I think ATI GPU client consumes *a lot* (like a core of) more CPU power than the Nvidia one but under Vista at least I found a fix for it.
Unless the system has a weak CPU I think any slight drop in GPU performance should be more than made up for by the SMP PPDs.
I don't think your E7200 will have any problem running both unless you've got massive GPU folding, like 2x Nvidia GTX275/285 or GTX295.

I read a post here by someone with a moderate Nvidia GPU on an Atom system and the conclusion was better to let the Atom CPU only feed the GPU client and not fold itself. This is obviously an extreme case as the Atom CPU is very low power compared to modern Core CPUs

I'm running SMP + GPU on my two PCs, E6600 + GTX260 and Q9400 + GTX260. The E6600 @ 3GHz runs SMP around 1500ppd, the Q9400 @ 3.2GHz runs 2500+ppd and the GTX260s run 7000-9000ppd depending on shader clock and unit. (all according to FAHMon)

Screen shot of my main PC running SMP + GPU folding

Hope this helps, Seb

cordis
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oh yeah

Post by cordis » Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:38 am

Yeah, all my systems with gpus are also running smp, you don't generally take a big hit on the gpu, as long as you make sure the gpu jobs have higher priority. Especially for my linux systems, they really do great with SMP jobs, I have a quad running at about 4000ppd with a 275 and a 295 hooked up to it, they all run great. But I'm also an nvidia only guy, if you're using AMD gpus then your mileage may vary.

aristide1
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Re: SMP Client + GPU Client ?

Post by aristide1 » Thu Nov 12, 2009 11:50 am

frenchie wrote:Hi,
....My question is : can I run the SMP client and one GPU client at the same time, without slowing down either of the clients ?
YES :!: :!: :!:

Well, you may lose ,0000003% of your SMP points if you run GPU.

I do this all the time.

cordis
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actually....

Post by cordis » Thu Nov 12, 2009 9:45 pm

And yeah, I'm the guy folding with a gts 250 on an atom 330 board. Running SMP on an Atom 330 is pretty marginal without a gpu, and with it it's just too slow, you'll never make deadlines. I do have two uniprocesor jobs running on it, though, they both do about 40ppd, so not much extra, but every little bit helps, right? I have an atom 330 running smp on a board, and it puts out about 920ppd, so running smp definitely helps.

frenchie
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Post by frenchie » Fri Nov 13, 2009 6:39 am

Thank you all !!!

Unfortunatly, I just read this on stanford's website, about the MPICH SMP Client : "The Windows user account that will be running the SMP client MUST have a password."
And I don't have a password on my windows 7 machine....

Oh well... Something else to tinker with... :wink:

SebRad
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Post by SebRad » Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:00 am

Hi frenchie, yes you do have to have a password. You can however setup Windows to log straight in on boot and not ask for the password if you want.
Not sure off hand how to do it but 5 minutes with Google should tell you, think maybe registry edit.
Seb

frenchie
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Post by frenchie » Fri Nov 13, 2009 8:18 am

took 2 minutes :)

Here is the link, if someone needs it : http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/37 ... artup.html

Now I have a project for the week end !!! GO SPCR FOLDING TEAM, GO !!!!!!

frenchie
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Post by frenchie » Fri Nov 13, 2009 1:34 pm

HAHAHA !!!!!!!

CPU client was doing 400 PPD... :?

SMP Client currently displaying 1920 in FahMon :shock: :D

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