Holy crap im getting jipped by vista!!!! My Xeon 5160 @ 3.0Ghz - ~15:00 frame - 1630ppd - 32-bit vista

Is there anything i can check to see if i can get more out of this machine?

2/19/2008 11:15:38 AM

Quote :

"i tried to get the smp stuff working on my new quad core machine, but it wouldn't get past the first step. i have the regular client running right now. i may try a little harder on the smp end later. but i just haven't had time to fiddle with it recently."

aww man you gotta get that SMP working. i have a stock Q6600 and get 2200ppd.

vista or xp? i would try running it as a service

Quote :

" To install the Folding@Home SMP client as a service. 1) Download and install SMP client from http://folding.stanford.edu/English/Download 2) Run the file you downloaded, installing the SMP client 3) After the install is finished, browse to the install folder (usually C:\Program Files\Folding@Home Windows SMP Client), and double click on install.bat. 4) In the DOS window that comes up, enter a Windows username and password (cannot be blank) for a windows account with administrator rights on the machine. (Note the Windows username currently logged in will be there by default). If you've entered the information correctly you will see 2 lines for a confirmation message. 5) Double click on fah.exe and enter setup options. For more info check here:http://www.ncsufolding.com/?page_id=4 Ensure you allow work units larger than 5MB 6) After completing the setup options, the client will run in the DOS window. When you restart the machine, it will run in the background as a service without the DOS window. 7) Finally go to Start-Run, and type services.msc and hit enter. In the list that appears, find the SMP client service listing (usually starts with FAH@C:+Program Files). Double click the service to open, click the Log on Tab. Where it says "Log on as:", select the "This Account" option and enter the same username/password info you did in the install.bat file. Save changes. Thats it! When you restart your computer the SMP client should be running in the background as a service. You can confirm this by looking in the task manager and ensuring the SMP client is using 100% of your CPU cycles (should see 4 processes of FahCore, each using ~25%) You can monitor the client with http://fahmon.net "

Quote :

"Holy crap im getting jipped by vista!!!! My Xeon 5160 @ 3.0Ghz - ~15:00 frame - 1630ppd - 32-bit vista Is there anything i can check to see if i can get more out of this machine?"

you might not be, check http://fahinfo.org to compare your PPD with other people running the same proc

2/19/2008 11:27:47 AM

^don't forget to copy/paste that stuff in your post

^^well i could be wrong, the machine "could" be a dual Xeon 5160, i need to check

[Edited on February 19, 2008 at 11:29 AM. Reason : .]

2/19/2008 11:28:20 AM

Support Cancer Research and the NCSU Wolfpack With Your Computer's Spare Time!

What Is It?
Essentially the http://folding.stanford.edu/ uses your unused CPU cycles to model how proteins fold in the human body. The misfolding of proteins is often involved in well known diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, Mad Cow (BSE), CJD, ALS, and Parkinson’s disease. Because this endeavor requires massive amounts of computing power, their project uses spare CPU time on computers that would otherwise sit idle in homes and businesses across the world. Here at North Carolina State University, we have formed this team in order to donate our spare CPU time to help this important endeavor.

The North Carolina State University (http://ncsufolding.com) Folding@Home Team (Team # 59) was one of the first teams to join the Folding@Home project, and was the very first University-based team to join. We are currently ranked in the top 100 in the world and are ramping up production in an effort to make it into the Top 50. We are all dedicated to doing our part to help end some of these terrible diseases, and we would appreciate the company of anyone who would like to help.

All it takes is the installation of a small piece of software and your computer will start completing Work Units for the project and the team. The Folding@Home process runs at the lowest possible priority so you can run it 24X7 without slowing down your computer or interfering with your everyday computing tasks. If you have a Sony PS3 Game Console you can also run Folding@Home (http://folding.stanford.edu/English/FAQ-PS3) on it with great results.

How Can I Help?

Go to http://folding.stanford.edu/English/Download,download and install the software. Our Team Number is 59.

Click here - http://www.ncsufolding.com/?page_id=4 for more detailed installation instructions.

Windows Computers:
We recommend using the "text-only console” client for most windows computers. If you have a dual/quad core processor, be sure to install and run the SMP client to get you and the team far more points than the standard console client In general, its best to stay away from the graphical clients. If you have a Pentium 4 with Hyperthreading, its best to turn off Hyperthreading in the BIOS if you know how. Feel free to post in this thread with any questions.

Mac and Linux Computers:
There are both "text-only" consoles and SMP clients for Linux and Macintosh computers too! If you have a dual/quad/etc core processor be sure to run the SMP client as you'll get far more points than the text-only client. But the regular console clients also help out too if you only have single-core processors.

PS3:
PS3s currently provide over 60% of the processing power in the Folding@home network and are capable of producing many points for the team. If you have PS3 system version 1.6 or later, you will see a Folding@Home icon in the Network column of the XMB (PS3 Networking menu). Just click on the icon and that's it. If you don't have 1.6 or later, perform a system upgrade. Make sure to use Team #59!

The more computers and PS3s you run the clients on, the more points your username and the NCSU team earns! Install as many clients as you can and watch your username/team progress at the stats page - http://folding.extremeoverclocking.com/team_summary.php?s=&t=59

Links

Team Links:
NCSU F@H Team Website: http://www.ncsufolding.com
NCSU F@H Team Discussion: http://brentroad.com/message_topic.aspx?topic=118820
NCSU F@H Team Facebook Group: http://ncst.facebook.com/group.php?gid=5012521644

F@H Links:
F@H Project Homepage: http://folding.stanford.edu/
F@H Official Forums: http://forum.folding-community.org
F@H Wikipedia Article: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folding@home
F@H Wiki Site: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Folding@home

Stats:
Stats1: http://folding.extremeoverclocking.com/team_summary.php?s=&t=59
Stats2: http://folding.stanford.edu/English/Stats
Monitor your production: http://fahmon.net
Compare your production with other users: http://fahinfo.org

2/19/2008 11:30:43 AM

bollocks...is there a linux version of the SMP client in 32-bit? because i'm running mythbuntu on a core duo (not c2d), and i'm not seeing an option for this

2/19/2008 11:32:17 AM

Only suggestion for that is to run a VM w/ 64-bit Linux to do your folding.

2/19/2008 11:35:31 AM

^^or put it on a CD or USB stick and boot your mediaPC to the CD or USB stick when not using it, that's what i plan to do once i get the time to dig for a longer cat6 cable in my closet.

2/19/2008 12:00:45 PM

i don't understand how those solutions would work...all i have is a 32-bit dual-core processor, not a 64-bit...and all i'm seeing is 64-bit linux SMP support

or did y'all mean run a windows VM from within mythbuntu?

2/19/2008 12:08:28 PM

oye, missed that it was core duo, not c2d, sorry i need reading lessons.

2/19/2008 12:18:14 PM

anyone care to help me get the most out of this on my desktop?

i work out of town so i can leave this thing running 100% for 3 weeks out of the month

P4 3.0GHz
XP -32bit
1.5gb RAM

thanks!

edit: just saw the "install as service" post above, sorry, will try that first

[Edited on February 19, 2008 at 1:11 PM. Reason : f]

2/19/2008 1:06:38 PM

ok i got the traditional running a service so last question...

does having a P4 mean go with the traditional client or is the SMP still something that would produce better results?

2/19/2008 1:50:31 PM

Quote :

"does having a P4 mean go with the traditional client or is the SMP still something that would produce better results? "

You can only run the SMP client on dual core or better machines (Pentium D. CoreDuo, Core2Duo, , AMD X2, Core2Quad etc). Your P4 is only a single core processor, so the standard console client is correct for that machine.

Quote :

"i work out of town so i can leave this thing running 100% for 3 weeks out of the month "

You should be able to run the folding client 24X7, whether you're using the machine or not. the process(s) run at the lowest priority, so if you need processing power for something else it gives them up.

2/19/2008 2:16:02 PM

yeah i realized it could run 24x7 after i installed the text only version and got rid of the graphical one that was making my computer scream like a jet engine

it's probably time for a new computer, right?

2/19/2008 2:33:16 PM

My gorilla folding machine has made it half a week undetected.

2/19/2008 11:21:42 PM

How does the boot CD method work? where does it store its files? I've got access to several PIV machines that sit around on pallets, and if there's a way to pop a CD in, put them on a network, boot, and eject the CD and have them fold, i'll do it. The catch is that it can't leave any files on the HD.

2/20/2008 1:16:36 AM

^ It stores everything in the RAM. Check for my earlier link to diskless folding and go to the cd generator. It's great.

2/20/2008 1:25:49 AM

in on page 57...getting another dual core in my name tomorrow and i'm gonna be like roomie, you have to leave it on all the time now

2/20/2008 2:01:21 AM

I put the smp client on an older dual xeon 1.7ghz and it gives me about 330ppd but the time to complete the WU is 2days after the final deadline. Im I correct that I need to run two instances of the regular client instead?

2/20/2008 10:33:31 AM

Quote :

"I put the smp client on an older dual xeon 1.7ghz and it gives me about 330ppd but the time to complete the WU is 2days after the final deadline. Im I correct that I need to run two instances of the regular client instead?"

So the dual xeon takes 6 days to complete an SMP work unit?

if thats the case then you're correct, run two console clients. look towards the bottom of this page for instructions (if you need them): http://fahwiki.net/index.php/FAH_&_SMP

2/20/2008 10:42:03 AM

Updated the site, we were as high as #81 in May 2005
http://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=pS87DUw1HpL1QeS1RvMgGag&inv=prosperolt@gmail.com&t=7019457995397011344&guest

Some cool stats:

01-02 million - 144 days = 5 months
02-03 million - 99 days = 3 months, 1 week
03-04 million - 148 days = 5 months
04-05 million - 92 days = 3 months
05-06 million - 83 days = 2 months, 3 weeks
06-07 million - 86 days = 2 months, 3 weeks
07-08 million - 118 days = 4 months
08-09 million - 115 days = 4 months
09-10 million - 107 days = 3 months 3 weeks

10-11 million - 57 days = 2 months
11-12 million - 40 days = 1 month, 1 week
12-13 million - 29 days = 1 month
13-14 million - 26 days
14-15 million - 23 days
15-16 million - 21 days
16-17 million - 19 days
17-18 million - 20 days
18-19 million - 21 days
19-20 million - 19 days

20-21 million - 19 days

First 10 million points - 3 years
Second 10 million points - 9 months

2/20/2008 1:33:42 PM

damn i so wish we could get all the csc people to sign up for this...like make it a requirement to freshman and also have a referal system so csc people could get it on their friends machines

2/20/2008 2:31:52 PM

I think the SMP client probably has a lot do with those stats

and its pretty cool that our team has almost always been in the Top 100 (with the exception of 2 months)


I updated the site with more install information, tips + tricks etc. If anyone has any suggestions on additional content/tips/websites/instructions to include let me know (or include it yourself if you have access)
http://www.ncsufolding.com/

2/20/2008 2:38:15 PM

well that and the fact that for the first 3 years it was 250 users, and in the last 9 months we've grown over 170 new users

2/20/2008 2:58:19 PM

i don't really put much stock in the "total users" category...I look at number of active users which is currently closing in on 80.

2/20/2008 3:54:03 PM

i don't either, but when you look at the overall user growth compared to active users, it usually coincides, i know the PS3 has helped as well

[Edited on February 20, 2008 at 5:22 PM. Reason : .]

2/20/2008 5:22:14 PM

is 6 minutes 18 seconds per frame a little too slow? i'm pretty sure my parents computer goes at like 37 seconds/frame.....i closed all other running programs i knew of...on my dell inspiron 2650...got the graphical client

2/20/2008 5:54:03 PM

that doesn't sound right at all, i've never seen any frames that fast

2/20/2008 5:56:44 PM

pretty sure it was 37sec/frame....i got the graphical client on theirs as well...i'd change with the processes and put it as high priority and it would go to like 43sec/frame so i'd put it back to normal...anyways my dell is going 6min 18sec per frame which seems rediculously slow

2/20/2008 6:20:17 PM

1 frame = 1%

Are you sure you're talking about the same thing, dnl?

2/20/2008 7:41:49 PM

i coulda swore it said like 43/sec per frame...maybe i meant 1 minute 43 seconds per frame?

that pic is my current laptop

2/20/2008 8:27:58 PM

Ok I think typically we refer to 1 frame as 1% since that's the default output in the console client ... For instance, my E6400 C2D fah output looks like this:

Quote :

"[23:42:52] Completed 350000 out of 500000 steps (70 percent) [00:06:08] Completed 355000 out of 500000 steps (71 percent)"

So from that it took 23:16 mins for that 1%

What are you getting that output screen from?

[Edited on February 20, 2008 at 8:38 PM. Reason : I fail at math.]

2/20/2008 8:34:10 PM

Windows 2000/XP/Vista Graphical client 5.03

was wondering if the beta was better, but i didnt get it cause i didnt feel like updating in 2 months

2/20/2008 8:44:54 PM

Is your laptop not a Dual Core? You only get the benefits of it from the SMP client ...

Windows 2000/XP/Vista SMP client console version 5.91 beta6

2/20/2008 8:50:11 PM

not the older dell...my newer laptop is the one you set up the smp client

2/20/2008 8:52:06 PM

Ah in that case, you should still run a console client unless you really want the graphics. From the looks of it, the graphical client is measuring completion differently than we do with the console.

2/20/2008 8:53:36 PM

http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/folding/release/FAH5.91beta6-GPU-GUI.zip

that one?

[Edited on February 20, 2008 at 8:58 PM. Reason : so you use the smp one even for non dual core machines?]

[Edited on February 20, 2008 at 9:06 PM. Reason : saw something above that synapse put...i think that gpu one is the one i need]

2/20/2008 8:57:38 PM

No, sorry don't use the SMP for non dual-core. Use one of these console clients:

http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/release/FAH504-Console.exe
or
http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/folding/release/FAH6.01beta4-Windows-Console.zip

The GPU client only works for ATI graphics cards, and I haven't seen a good reason for it to be used instead of the processor-based client.

[Edited on February 20, 2008 at 9:10 PM. Reason : GPU]

2/20/2008 9:07:53 PM

ok downloaded the beta version...gonna run fahmon real quick

2/20/2008 9:19:07 PM

Keep up the good work. We're making a good push.

2/20/2008 11:08:03 PM

anybody want to help me setup fah on my coworkers computer without him knowing? its vista and i'm in a guest account

2/20/2008 11:36:44 PM

won't work unless you have admin privelages.

and i wouldn't recommend installing folding@home on computers without permission. but i'm just saying that because it has to show up here somewhere...

2/20/2008 11:46:58 PM

New box is going to be up and running early next week.

Q6600 will be OC'd to 3.0 (maybe more depending on what voltage I get comfy with)
Running Vista 64bit
2 SMP clients.

Can't wait, it beats the hell out of my old as Athlon XP machine.

2/21/2008 10:04:25 AM

very very nice

2/21/2008 10:16:20 AM

Quote :

"Q6600 will be OC'd to 3.0 (maybe more depending on what voltage I get comfy with) Running Vista 64bit 2 SMP clients. "

NICE! So are you going to run two SMP clients on two different virtual machines...or one on your main OS and one virtual. if using virtual machines are you using linux? i wanted to run two linux VMs but I currently have vista 32 bit installed as the main OS, so its a no go on the VMs(since linux only has 64bit SMP clients)

how many points do you think you'll be getting? i'm getting ~2200PPD on my stock Q6600 with one SMP client

2/21/2008 10:42:27 AM

i'm getting this error after finishing my last WU:

Work Unit has an invalid address.
Error: Attempt #2 to get work failed, and no other work to do.
Waiting before retry.

i've restarted it and it just goes through any number of attempts...i have internet access, so that's not it

2/21/2008 11:03:08 AM

how long have you been getting the error? in my experience i'll get that error for an hour or two, but at some point it finally downloads a new work unit

2/21/2008 11:12:53 AM

i'm trying running smp as a service on my new vista machine. it seems to be running on all 4 cores. should i be seeing anything more than "Working. . . . " on my bottom line of my FAHlog?

[Edited on February 21, 2008 at 11:21 AM. Reason : .]

2/21/2008 11:20:11 AM

^ as long as you see all four processes consuming ~100% CPU time, then you're good. I think if you're looking at the text file log, you can hit refresh or reopen the file to see updates (or look for other log files with similar names)

i would suggest installing FahMon to monitor your client though, its soo much easier then trying to watch the text files, and it gives you a lot more information. http://fahmon.net

gg installing it as a service, thats the best way to go.

[Edited on February 21, 2008 at 11:34 AM. Reason : V fahmon should give you the info youre looking for]

2/21/2008 11:33:16 AM

i have. i don't think it's doing anything. or it's saving the data somewhere random

i'll let it sit here while i'm gone for the day. and if i come back and it's still sitting at "working. . . " i'll know there's a problem

[Edited on February 21, 2008 at 11:35 AM. Reason : .]

2/21/2008 11:33:51 AM

im just saying don't rely on those text files 100%, its not going to dynamically update a text file if you leave it open...thats why you have to look at the one youve got open, and other ones like fahlog2 or whatever. but in the end, just run fahmon



in general, as long as you're CPU is being fully utilized by the 4 FahCore processes, you're good.

2/21/2008 11:37:04 AM