6970 slow, semi-solved // ((Cpu, Pauzed and Idle (solved))

[superdude]

If you can help, please look at this post (its at the bottom) : viewtopic.php?f=61&t=26289#p263817

Part about the cpu is solved / figured out.
Tried to dig trough the forum properly. Found one maybe match but cant post it here due to restrictions of newbie... but was no real answer there anyways.
Have folding at home client installed. Gpu is working up a nice decent toasting..But my cpu just wont help.
It had been on blue : ready for a few hours... tried clicking, start pausing it and now it just show' s :

Code: Select all

Paused : waiting for idle 

I have windows 7 x86 build / AMD phenom II x4 944 processor. Pretty sure it has something to do with the 'new' multicore support? I can go to epert tab in configure and sadd core options.... Just dont know what..

Also might be worth mentioning that i have another pc. Singel core + gpu, and that one is working and receiving work just fine. Any help would be aprreciated. Since i already have this pc folding on gpu seems like a waste not to multi use the cpu. If you need some additional info / output of log file. Just tell me where i could find it and ill post it

Thanks

p.s. whenever i try to pauze cpu, gpu also stops.. Dunno if this is normal, but maybe its relevant.

[superdude]

Sorry, but thank you for reading... Seems like i had clicked away some pop ups when installing FAH going to set up user + pw... So apperantly i also clicked away warning from firewall...

After adding exeption in firewall.... restart client and unclicking idle on cpu... It was able to get some work and is now crunching away to its hearths content......problem solved! ty
*set cpu's on 3, so it uses 3 outa 4 for cpu folding and has 1 spare to give work to gpu and is still able to be semi usuable as a pc at full power.

[Joe_H]

That is good that you figured out the reason you were not getting a WU. As for both slots pausing when you click pause, in FAHControl if you right-click on a folding slot you will get a popup menu where you can choose to pause just that slot.

[superdude]

Thanks for your respons. Figured that one out already too.
I do have another question tough. Hope someone will read it still .. Didnt want to start a new topic just yet to avoid clutter on forum..

In this one pc Im using a AMD 6970. But from what i've read so far it's not the best card to use. Posting here cause i cant seem to find an acceptable answer .
Mainly im just looking at expected PPD for 6970... (so ill know if its worth it to keep this one folding here or not)
Currently its doing about 15k per day... comparing it to a 7950 i have thats doing bout 73k per day... Seems like quite a big difference...

So my questions... Is this normal? Any chance to get any more with different drivers? Maybe some extra client options? or just give up on the 6970 and let the 7950 solo the folding?
(&thanks for responses...)

ow.. & gpu load is showing stable at 98%

[7im]

Drivers other than what? You didn't list any.

14.x cat drivers perform the best.

[Joe_H]

15K as the PPD for the 6970 sounds like it is in the right range as it is comparable to the 5870 in my son's Mac Pro. I have folded on that with the Mac booted into Windows 7 and got about that for PPD. The PPD might go a bit higher depending on the WU and the project it is from.

As for whether it is worth it to keep on folding with the 6970, that is a choice you will need to make based on your own circumstances such as energy costs, heat output, etc. The card is capable of completing WU's within the deadlines, the higher end cards get more for PPD as the bonus points go up semi-exponentially with the quicker completion.

As for drivers, there has been mention here that the version 14 drivers have been getting better performance with F@H, but I have not tried them with the 5870 yet.

[superdude]

Thanks for quick responses... SO fast Im not used to that Takes half a day to get a half decent answer on forums im used to.. So... tyvm!
Your right 7.. didnt mention drivers...... Im currently running 13x cat on both systems... (i had tried 14 for a short period but it stopped showing my gpu-temps) so i reverted. But will give it a go now.. See what happens on 1st system then on other and will report back here.....soon as 301 mb is downloaded and installed

[PantherX]

Welcome to the the F@H Forum superdude,

Regarding the 14.4 WHQL Driver, just make sure that you download the re-release for your OS (http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/d ... 7%20-%2064) since the initial release was having an issue on some motherboards.

Another option that you can use to possibly increase the PPD is by overclocking the GPU. However, you ought to be careful since folding is more stressful than common games so you would have to ensure that it is stable across all assigned Projects (different projects can have varying amounts of stress on the GPU).

[bruce]

...Im using a AMD 6970. But from what i've read so far it's not the best card to use. Posting here cause i cant seem to find an acceptable answer ....

The #1 answer to the question is that the best GPU to use is the one that you have.

You'll get lots of recommendations, including from people who are fans of AMD and fans of NV and semi-neutral answers, too. A lot depends on what you're willing to spend and why. If your GPU will be used primarily for gaming or for video encoding or whatever, that will also influence your choices.

As a (very) rough estimate of effective FAH speed, multiply the number of shaders by the core GHz and compare the values.

[folding_hoomer]

Catalyst 14.4 WHQL will boost your HD6970, too.

I tested it under Win7 using HD5870 and Catalyst 14.1 Beta and got a boost between 5-10% folding Core_17-WU´s as compared to Catalyst 13.9.
This faster OpenCL-driver will be a part of the new 14.4 WHQL and works as fast as anticipated.

[superdude]

First off thanks for all the aswers. Will go trough m

Welcome to the the F@H Forum superdude,
Regarding the 14.4 WHQL Driver, just make sure that you download the re-release for your OS (http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/d ... 7%20-%2064) since the initial release was having an issue on some motherboards.Another option that you can use to possibly increase the PPD is by overclocking the GPU. However, you ought to be careful since folding is more stressful than common games so you would have to ensure that it is stable across all assigned Projects (different projects can have varying amounts of stress on the GPU).

I tried 14.4 rc yesterday. The pc with the 6970 got bs-ed (blue-screened) after about 5 min of folding /stress usage. Happend a couple of times so i reverted.
I tried 14.4 on the pc with the 7950's. Both of m got marked as R9 200's. Fine with me as long as it works =) However during folding the first card went up to about 95kPPD instead of 73Kish... 2nd was kinda left haning.. So i was getting bout 100k instead of 150k... So also there reverted. But since the pc with 6970 is not folding atm I will try again with the re-release you pointed out after a full clean sweep. As for OC-ing. I prefer not too, usually prefer long life to some extra points But will see if i can push it a bit and undervolt so temp remains same.

...Im using a AMD 6970. But from what i've read so far it's not the best card to use. Posting here cause i cant seem to find an acceptable answer ....

The #1 answer to the question is that the best GPU to use is the one that you have.

yes! I'm poor & I'm broke. So that'll just have to do for now.. I do have my 7950's so i can get a few ppd regardless of this card. Just like to get more

Updating home pc now.. Will update with more info once it's available to me.......

[folding_hoomer]

Be shure you are using the latest release of Catalyst 14.4 WHQL.

You can download it here: http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/d ... 7%20-%2064

It´s size is 256MB - better you delete the former versions you´ve downloaded.

[superdude]

So far so good. (used the 256mb version) For one it's not blue screerning... not crashing me anymore.. Least it hasn't for the last 5min Increase in PPD is minor.. Maybe 1k...So i guess as drivers go that's about the limit of the 6970..
(Also i noticed i had sumbittted 6950 in title... not sure why cause i have the 6970... =)) But for now will let it simmer for a bit. Then will try other option given, to oc a bit. will update ofc if i have a mayor breaktrough ^.^

As for the 7950s will also feed then the 14.4 drivers later. But in 4-5 hours when they have finished their current wu's. Sure its not a big ussue, but dont wanna risk loosing current work.. (already at 30% after all =))

Also.. totally unrelated question... Is it allowed to have 2 pc's on the same username/password?

[bruce]

Also.. totally unrelated question... Is it allowed to have 2 pc's on the same username/password?

Absolutely it's allowed ... in fact strongly recommended (except if you have 3 or more PC's that could be folding). Most people use the same UserName/Passkey (and team number) on all PCs. It's the best way to operate unless there are special reasons NOT to do so.

[superdude]

OK. First off, thanks for all your help guys (and maybe gals =))
A little late but thought id give an update / final announcement on my previously asked questions.

The HD 6970 i have is basicly not gonna be worth much in the PPD-department. Updated to cat 14.x and still only yields 10k-ish PPD. And the quad cpu thats powering it can get around 5k. So kinda a waste of power to be burning ful days on max load. insert *James Blunt , Goodbye my lover*

The 7950 rig i have i tried to update to 14.x But here my cards got recognized as R9 200's. so also here i reverted. Also had other post on foldingforum about that. will update that next.
Thanks for the help