View

[silverpulser]

I have recently downloaded the folding program and successfully completed a few units. However when I click on the View command I only get a transparent window and nothing else. I am running Windows 7 Ultimate with 4Gig ram on a Toshiba Tecra A6 laptop with the intel 945 mobile chipset and video (950).

Any ideas? My desktop doesn't have this problem with the same OS version and intel 945 chipset.

Shaun

[silverpulser]

Update:
I notice that on the Advanced System Info tab it is showing the OS Arch as AMD64 when in fact I am running on an intel 945 chipset with the onboard intel 950 video. The 64 bit is correct as I am running Windows 7 Ultimate 64 bit OS.

[Joe_H]

All 64-bit installs are reported as AMD64. As for the viewer, what GPU is listed for your laptop as compared to your desktop?

[bruce]

Code generated by a compiler is only useful if the hardware architecture is designed to execute code using the same instruction set. When 64-bit was first being developed, there were several competing 64-bit instruction sets, but the one that won out was developed by AMD. (Intel licensed that instruction set from AMD, abandoning their own Itanium or IA-64 architetcture.) Several names for the instruction set were used but the terms that finally won out were x86 for 32-bit and AMD64 for 64-bit, no matter who makes the hardware or the compiler.

[silverpulser]

In both machines the GPU is shown as "0" with CUDA "not detected".

The main differences between the desktop and the laptop are that the desktop is running 32 bit W7 Ultimate with Pentium D 2.8 dual core cpu and the laptop is running 64 bit W7 Ultimate with a T7200 core 2 duo cpu.

[Joe_H]

In both machines the GPU is shown as "0" with CUDA "not detected".

Okay, that means the GPU's are either not recognized by the folding client or are ones that can not be used for GPU folding. What GPU model/type is given for them by Windows? Depending on what they are, the GPU might not be capable of displaying the protein in the viewer or needs a setting change for it to show up.

[silverpulser]

Laptop details:
More details about my computer
Processor Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU T7200 @ 2.00GHz
Memory (RAM) 4.00 GB
Graphics Mobile Intel(R) 945 Express Chipset Family
Gaming graphics 256 MB Total available graphics memory
Primary hard disk 59GB Free (93GB Total)
Windows 7 Ultimate

System
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Manufacturer TOSHIBA
Model TECRA A6
Total amount of system memory 4.00 GB RAM
System type 64-bit operating system
Number of processor cores 2

Storage
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Total size of hard disk(s) 93 GB
Disk partition (C:) 59 GB Free (93 GB Total)
Media drive (D:) CD/DVD

Graphics
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Display adapter type Mobile Intel(R) 945 Express Chipset Family
Total available graphics memory 256 MB
Dedicated graphics memory 0 MB
Dedicated system memory 64 MB
Shared system memory 192 MB
Display adapter driver version 8.15.10.1930
Primary monitor resolution 1280x800
DirectX version DirectX 9.0 or better

Details of desktop:
More details about my computer
Processor Intel(R) Pentium(R) D CPU 2.80GHz
Memory (RAM) 2.50 GB
Graphics Intel(R) 82945G Express Chipset Family
Gaming graphics 256 MB Total available graphics memory
Primary hard disk 10GB Free (37GB Total)
Windows 7 Ultimate
Manufacturer Dell Inc.
Model OptiPlex GX520
Total amount of system memory 2.50 GB RAM
System type 32-bit operating system
Number of processor cores 2
64-bit capable Yes
Storage Total size of hard disk(s) 37 GB
Disk partition (C:) 10 GB Free (37 GB Total)
Media drive (D:) CD/DVD
Graphics Display adapter type Intel(R) 82945G Express Chipset Family
Total available graphics memory 256 MB
Dedicated graphics memory 0 MB
Dedicated system memory 64 MB
Shared system memory 192 MB
Display adapter driver version 8.15.10.1930
Primary monitor resolution 1280x1024
DirectX version DirectX 9.0 or better

[silverpulser]

Update:

I have uninstalled and redownloaded and installed the FAH 7.2.9 client (kept existing data and configuration) and the result is just the same.

[bruce]

The viewer expects a certain minimum graphics capability and OpenGL support is strongly recommended. Can the "Intel 945 Express Chipset" support OpenGL, and if so, what version?

[silverpulser]

It certainly works just fine on my desktop with a 945 chipset. I don't know whether the laptop version is any different.

[bruce]

Your desktop does not use OpenGL, it uses a Microsoft proprietary graphic API. OpenGL is, well, "open," which means it works on Linux, Windows AND MacOS. The FAH client, including the Viewer, are not written exclusively for the Microsoft desktop.

[silverpulser]

I don't get it. Both my desktop and my laptop have the same 945 Express chipset and the same graphics driver version too. Why does the desktop run the viewer and the laptop not?

[silverpulser]

>..Can the "Intel 945 Express Chipset" support OpenGL, and if so, what version?..<

Yes, it supports version OpenGL 1.4 (Intel 945GM with 56 ext.)

[7im]

945 chipset is a family of motherboard chips which has nothing to do with video chips.

Desktop 945 and Mobile 945 can be very different considering there are 3 main types, and many subtypes... 945P, 945PL, and 945G.

From what you have posted, the mobile 945 uses an Intel GMA 950 video chip. The desktop 945 uses an Intel 82945G Express video chip. Google the differences, and you have your answer.

[bruce]

One thing that nobody has mentioned: Have you tried starting the viewer with the --basic flag? That often gets around limitations of driver support.