New SMP User With Questions

[Subbass87]

I just built a system with a Q6600 cpu with folding in mind.

I downloaded the SMP console and followed the instructions. (extract to folder on C: drive, run .bat file, start folding)

The core usage is all over the place. No single core stays pegged @ 100%. They very from 10% to 100% for a split sec and seem to rotate the load. I'm only completing 1% every 15 min. Any ideas?

I have been running the tray clients on all of my single core boxes and it's wonderful. Never liked the console version because I could never get the minimized window off the task bar. Is there a way to get it off the taskbar and still fold?

The SMP is console ver only, so I'm at a loss on the taskbar issue.

I saw once where someone made 4 folders on the desktop and loaded a instance of folding in each.. had control of each processor load and looked like a really cool idea. But that was almost 2 years ago when I saw that. Probably not doable now with the version changes. If it is, there is still that same issue I hate: minimized window in the taskbar.

Those are my main questions at the moment. I'm sure I will have many more as I dive into this SMP version. (If I can make it work correctly)

Oh, it's my first post, so don't beat me up too bad.........I just want to learn this console version so I can keep folding.

Thanks to all that reply.

[7im]

Hello Subbass87, welcome to the forum.

You can either use a utility like Tray-IT to move a program from the Task Bar to the System Tray, or you can run the fah client as a service.

No, the SMP client will not show a full 25% for CPU usage on each core. There will always be some slack due to the communication between the 4 cores. However, the SMP client is still more helpful to the project than running 4 single clients. You get more points, do more science, and use less electricity. Don't worry about a few spare cycles.

[Subbass87]

Since my single core systems stay pegged @100%, I figured each of the cores on the quad would do the same. Guess not huh?

So, the 1% completed every 15 min is about right then? For a quad core running the smp version?

[7im]

Depends on the size of the workunit, and the total points.

You might try comparing your PPD on this site... fahinfo.org

[bruce]

Since my single core systems stay pegged @100%, I figured each of the cores on the quad would do the same. Guess not huh?

SMP (where multiple processors work on a single project) can never reach 100% efficiency. Multiple processors working on independent tasks can come much closer. [i.e.-Independent WUs can each use 100% of a single processor.] If a single job is broken up into independent segments, work can only be done for a short period of time before the segments need to exchange information with each other. Then two things happen: First, when the segments are exchanging information, the processor is no longer busy making progress on the segments themselves. Second, if the segments are not exactly the same length (computationally speaking), the first ones finished must wait for the later ones to finish.

FAH SMP divides a process into four or more segments. The data coordination process happens very frequently and lots of data is exchanged. Even though the data is being exchanged is totally within one computer, the process still takes a significant fraction of the time. Two or four CPUs can complete a WU in less total time, but not 2x or 4x as fast.

[toTOW]

Subbass87> make sure that you start your client with the -smp flag ...

[Subbass87]

Ok then.

7im, thanks for the wonderful Tray-It idea.....works great. Gonna change my other single core systems to console version now that I have that program!

bruce, thanks for the in depth description of how the SMP version really works.....it all makes sense now.

toTOW, reading your reply made me google " -smpflag" and I found a hit in a different forum that said to: create shortcut of the exe file (which I did), add the " _smp" the end of the name in the properties of the short cut......that went fine........but I could not find a way to reconfigure the f@h settings (advanced features in the initial setup process)........I tried deleting the the entire program but something has it locked for deletion........I wanted to start from scratch since I had not folded a complete work unit yet.........I restarted the program after the short cut change and noticed that the cores stayed maxed out for about 1 hour and then I had a error which resulted in all the cores to shut down........Don't really know why, but I restarted the program a couple of times and it seems to be doing fine now.......The cores stayed maxed out for about 2 hours and then fell to the usual bouncing around, nothing steady......................So what does the " -smp" flag really mean or do?

Tray is so easy, but now I guess I get to dive in with the big boys.

Just to let you guys know, I just assembled a system for my buddy which included a ATI 4870 gpu..........I turned him on to folding and that mug is knocking down 3 grand in points a day.......I am so jealous and decided to build a budget system.......I guess a quad core cpu wont even be a match for his gpu, huh?

Anyway, my goal is to learn overclocking with is new budget build and to contribute to the folding project.........Hmm, I would really like to get this smp quad deal under control and then add a strong gpu to the mix in the same system.......2 clients (1 smp cpu and 1 gpu) if it is possible.

Thank you all for the replies.........more questions to come as I dive in!

[bruce]

2 clients (1 smp cpu and 1 gpu) if it is possible.

Yes, it's not only possible, it seems to be a very common configuration.

For those with nVidia GPUs, their client/FahCore uses very very little CPU so the SMP client runs just like it does now.

For those with ATI GPUs, their client/FahCore has used an appreciable amount of CPU so the SMP client has been running slower. The new drivers that are currently being discussed seem to have fixed the ATI CPU issue so we can expect the SMP client to run essentially at full speed for them too, but this change is actively in-progress so we may learn more about it in the days to come.

In both cases, the GPU client needs to be set to a higher priority than the SMP client.

[Subbass87]

Ok, folding has been going well with my system, well at least I thought so.

I have a sidebar that shows cpu usage and all 4 cores show 100%.

I checked task manager and I show all 4 cores at 100% also.

I fired up Everest and under "motherboard" then "cpu" I am showing the following:

CPU Utilization
CPU #1 / Core #1 / HTT Unit #1 0%
CPU #1 / Core #2 / HTT Unit #2 100%
CPU #1 / Core #2 / HTT Unit #1 100%
CPU #1 / Core #1 / HTT Unit #2 100%

That makes me think something fishy is going on.

Now I had some troubles with install as you already know and I think I may have messed something up.

I can remember the core usage bouncing around which led me here to ask questions, but I must admit again, I have tried deleting the progam to start fresh.......but I couldn't get it out of the system, kept telling me it couldn't delete.

Now from that point, I probably downloaded the program again and put the files in the same folder as before.......I can remember one instance when I started the program and only one core maxed out at 100%........I shut the program down and restarted with everything fine and dandy.

Now, what I have described may have happened the opposite order, so be aware of that.

I am now concerned that after all of my trying to delete and redownload, I may have something wrong.

I would really like to know how to remove all the files and start with a fresh install.

Thanks for all the help you have already provided.

[Grandpa_01]

Most likely the smp client is still running after you shut it down, that is why you can not delete the files. Start task manager click on show processes from all users and shut down all instances of Fahhcore_XX / mpiexexe.exe / smpd.exe on my machine I usually have to click shut down smpd.exe several times to get it to stop. After you have done that go to the folder you have the smp client in and delete the client.cfg file / Unitinfo /queue.dat and open the FAHlog and delete all of the info inside of it. Now open your command prompt as administrator and reconfigure it. Remember the -smp flag. It will most likely restart using a single core but the next WU should use all 4 cores.

[jrweiss]

2 clients (1 smp cpu and 1 gpu) if it is possible.

For those with ATI GPUs, their client/FahCore has used an appreciable amount of CPU so the SMP client has been running slower. The new drivers that are currently being discussed seem to have fixed the ATI CPU issue so we can expect the SMP client to run essentially at full speed for them too, but this change is actively in-progress so we may learn more about it in the days to come.

Currently running SMP+GPU on an E6850 and HD4670. Getting about 1200 PPD each; no EUEs or other problems in first 2 weeks. With the environment variables set as discussed in another thread (viewtopic.php?f=51&t=9162&start=195), CPU load from the GPU client is less than 2%.

XP, GPU core 1.24, Cat 9.2.