Core 2 Duo Q6600 Dedicated Folding Box Problems...

[dreamscape]

Hello all

I've been running a Q6600 based machine for CPU folding. I like to get as many work units as I can for the certificate so I tend to run 1 WU per core. I know this isn't the most ideal setup but it's how i like to run it and it usually runs very well.



Usually this works but lately I've been getting stuck on "downloading". I also have a 2003 Server at a clients business who allows me to run Folding@Home on it on this box i run the old console client and it says "failed, no work to do" and has been doing so for quite some time.



Is CPU folding coming to an end? or is there some other issue here? This has all started very suddenly. all was working fine before.

[7im]

CPU:1 has always been coming to an end when running 1 work unit on multiple cores is so much better for the science. And the points system incents that with the QRB.

There is limited availability for work units with a CPU count of one. To ensure processing continues please change to running one slot on multiple cores.

P.S. And I doubt that your work unit count is any higher running four slots one quarter as slow as running one slot 4 times faster.

And this is also very easy to test. Look at the frame times of previous work units, and then look at the frame times that are four times faster on the new work units.

[dreamscape]

Hi there

Ok thanks for letting me know, I have now set all cores to work on the one WU.



How do i go about getting the other machine folding though? Perhaps use the SMP client instead of the old single clients??

[Joe_H]

It depends on what that server has for hardware. The current 7.4.4 client can be run in console mode, or setup to be accessed from another system to use FAHControl for setup and management if you don't have a screen attached. Or you can use the version 6 client, but you need at least version 6.34 to get any work. A number of projects require at least a version 7 client.

[dreamscape]

I've gone with the latest client. The server is only a very basic Domain Controller which has about 10 users. It's a Pentium D 3Ghz with 8GB RAM. It's been folding for well over a year now. Seems to be running ok on the latest client.

Current PPD on the Pentium D 3Ghz with both cores running on one WU is 827 (every little helps, right?) And my Q6600 is currently running at 3772. Is that the sort of PPD expected for these CPU's? Both of them are 100% stock. No over clocking what so ever.

[bruce]

I like to get as many work units as I can for the certificate so I tend to run 1 WU per core. I know this isn't the most ideal setup but ...

There are two ways of looking at that.

1) Suppose a WU runs in 24 hrs on one CPU. Reconfigure for two CPUs, and the same WU will run in slightly less that 12 hrs, so you'll finish essentially the same number of WUs.
> 1B) If the server(s) run out of WUs for CPU:1 slots, your system may sit idle for "a while" (reducing your WU count).
2) Some projects cannot be completed by the deadline with a single CPU, so they're never assigned to a CPU:1 slot.
> 2B) With a system configured for CPU:2, you might be assigned a more complex WU with a longer deadline, (also reducing your WU count, but making a better contribution to FAH).

[Nathan_P]

Its been a while but my Athlon x4 620 used to get about 3.5k ppd so I think its running OK.

[Nert]

Hello Dreamscape,

I don't know if it's possible or not, but you might consider adding a video card just for folding. GTX 750 TI's are around $130 on New Egg. I have two of them on my core 2 duo. If you have a PCIE slot on your system it might be worth doing. I did CPU folding on my system for many years. A while back I added a video card for folding, and I've been pretty happy with the results. I added a second one a couple of months back. Now I don't do any folding on the CPU. Instead, all of the intel processing (both cores) drives folding on the video cards (one Intel core for each video card). Each video card give maybe 40 - 50 K Points per day. For $130, that seems like a bargain. Doing CPU units I got maybe less than a thousand per day. You may not be able to do this in your situation, but I thought I'd chime in. These new video cards seem like a great way to provide more processing power to FAH and to extend the useful life of older systems.

[dreamscape]

Hi Bruce,

That is actually an extremely good point... I never thought of it like that. x4 cores working on a WU each would possibly lead to the same length of time it will take all 4 cores working together to complete a single WU... Hell 1 core per WU may even be slower!? I've noticed the PPD has gone up now since using all 4 cores on a single WU. I shall certainly keep it this way as sending results back quicker is always a good thing.

Nathan_P, That's good to hear I guess it must be doing a fairly good job then as its a core 2 duo Q6600 @ stock 2.4Ghz and it's currently running 3884 PPD. I've also checked my clients server and its Pentium D 830 @ 3Ghz is giving me a rather poor 687 PPD... Althought since i started it it's now at 24% complete with both cores on the same WU so hey it's doing its job and i don't pay the electric for that machine so why not let it try and do it's part.

Nert, Yeah I did actually have a GTX 650 in this machine once purely to fold it ran at about 10k PPD @ 60 watts but sadly money got abit tight and i had to sell it. Plus the noise levels went up quite alot which was annoying. Right now this Q6600 runs nice and cool and quiet so for now I'm happy with the setup. Granted it's not the best but every little helps.

I do actually have an i7 machine with a GTX 660 in it but the noise and heat + electric it use's if i do use it to fold is insane!! the GTX 660 alone draws 140W.

I'm doing my bit where i can I've never used high end hardware and I have done over 1200 WU's so far. The machines that have done this have ranged from a pentium 3 to a Pentium 4 to various AMD athlons. Intel Atoms, Celerons, Core 2 Duo Quads the list goes on.

I have of course tested my i7 but it's my main machine so i avoid running it 24/7 even though i realise it makes sense to do so but this machine has important things to do.

I'm doing my best

[Joe_H]

The power draw and noise is probably why the 750 ti was suggested. It uses less than 75 W and doesn't need a lot of cooling.

[dreamscape]

My GTX 650 was only 60W but still got loud. Most graphics cards do get pretty loud. I'm very sensitive to noise so unless it's silent I can't run it too much. All my machines run 100% silent.

[bruce]

Each new generation of GPU reduces the power needed to complete a certain amount of work. I, too, recommend the GTX 750 Ti as a low-power mid-range GPU. It's a newer generation (Maxwell) than your GTX 650 (Kepler) and relatively low priced compared to the top-of-the-line.