Laptop folding

[tmeaves49]

I am returning to folding after an extended absence due to death of my old folding computer. This computer had an EVGA card and I did not feel like folding on a computer without such a card.

I now have a laptop with an nVidia card, so I decided to start folding again.

Computer: Intel i7-4700MQ @ 2.40 GHz (8 cores), 32 GB memory
Network: DSL or cable
OS: Win 8.1 Pro
Client: 7.4.4
Video: GEFORCE GT770M

The web control shows work progress for the CPU. The GPU has shown no activity since the beginning. On another desktop, on which I decided to also fold, the integrated graphics card does not even show up on web control, as expected.

I nearly always use the laptop plugged in. When I have used it unplugged, folding stops, as info would suggest, but the GPU's never work, plugged or unplugged. How can I get them started? I have looked at the advanced control for slots 1 and 2, but have not changed anything yet.

I read in another post that there is some correlation between CPU core usage and GPU usage, but I cannot tell exactly what changes I could make to kickstart the GPU into activity. Right now, with cores set to -1, all 8 of the CPU cores are working. Do I have to disable one or more CPU cores to get the GPU to work, or do I have to enable the GPU?

[davidcoton]

Can you post the start of your log, including all the config info?

It sounds as though the GPU is not being recognised. Have you installed recent nVidia drivers?

[tmeaves49]

Here is the first section of the log, showing installation.

Code: Select all

*********************** Log Started 2015-06-11T14:33:12Z ***********************
14:33:12:************************* Folding@home Client *************************
14:33:12:      Website: http://folding.stanford.edu/
14:33:12:    Copyright: (c) 2009-2014 Stanford University
14:33:12:       Author: Joseph Coffland <joseph@cauldrondevelopment.com>
14:33:12:         Args: 
14:33:12:       Config: C:/Users/Tim/AppData/Roaming/FAHClient/config.xml
14:33:12:******************************** Build ********************************
14:33:12:      Version: 7.4.4
14:33:12:         Date: Mar 4 2014
14:33:12:         Time: 20:26:54
14:33:12:      SVN Rev: 4130
14:33:12:       Branch: fah/trunk/client
14:33:12:     Compiler: Intel(R) C++ MSVC 1500 mode 1200
14:33:12:      Options: /TP /nologo /EHa /Qdiag-disable:4297,4103,1786,279 /Ox -arch:SSE
14:33:12:               /QaxSSE2,SSE3,SSSE3,SSE4.1,SSE4.2 /Qopenmp /Qrestrict /MT /Qmkl
14:33:12:     Platform: win32 XP
14:33:12:         Bits: 32
14:33:12:         Mode: Release
14:33:12:******************************* System ********************************
14:33:12:          CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-4700MQ CPU @ 2.40GHz
14:33:12:       CPU ID: GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 60 Stepping 3
14:33:12:         CPUs: 8
14:33:12:       Memory: 31.93GiB
14:33:12:  Free Memory: 28.96GiB
14:33:12:      Threads: WINDOWS_THREADS
14:33:12:   OS Version: 6.2
14:33:12:  Has Battery: true
14:33:12:   On Battery: false
14:33:12:   UTC Offset: -7
14:33:12:          PID: 10416
14:33:12:          CWD: C:/Users/Tim/AppData/Roaming/FAHClient
14:33:12:           OS: Windows 8.1
14:33:12:      OS Arch: AMD64
14:33:12:         GPUs: 1
14:33:12:        GPU 0: NVIDIA:3 GK104 [GeForce GT 770M]
14:33:12:         CUDA: 3.0
14:33:12:  CUDA Driver: 7050
14:33:12:Win32 Service: false
14:33:12:***********************************************************************
14:33:13:<config>
14:33:13:  <!-- Slot Control -->
14:33:13:  <power v='LIGHT'/>
14:33:13:
14:33:13:  <!-- User Information -->
14:33:13:  <passkey v='********************************'/>
14:33:13:  <team v='111065'/>
14:33:13:  <user v='tmeaves'/>
14:33:13:
14:33:13:  <!-- Folding Slots -->
14:33:13:  <slot id='0' type='CPU'/>
14:33:13:  <slot id='1' type='GPU'/>
14:33:13:</config>
14:33:13:Trying to access database...
14:33:13:Successfully acquired database lock
14:33:13:Enabled folding slot 00: READY cpu:4
14:33:13:Enabled folding slot 01: PAUSED gpu:0:GK104 [GeForce GT 770M] (waiting for idle)
14:33:13:WU02:FS00:Starting
14:33:13:WU02:FS00:Running FahCore: "C:\Program Files (x86)\FAHClient/FAHCoreWrapper.exe" C:/Users/Tim/AppData/Roaming/FAHClient/cores/web.stanford.edu/~pande/Win32/AMD64/Core_a4.fah/FahCore_a4.exe -dir 02 -suffix 01 -version 704 -lifeline 10416 -checkpoint 15 -np 4
14:33:13:WU02:FS00:Started FahCore on PID 11144
14:33:13:WU02:FS00:Core PID:11156
14:33:13:WU02:FS00:FahCore 0xa4 started
14:33:13:WU02:FS00:0xa4:
14:33:13:WU02:FS00:0xa4:*------------------------------*
14:33:13:WU02:FS00:0xa4:Folding@Home Gromacs GB Core
14:33:13:WU02:FS00:0xa4:Version 2.27 (Dec. 15, 2010)
14:33:13:WU02:FS00:0xa4:
14:33:13:WU02:FS00:0xa4:Preparing to commence simulation
14:33:13:WU02:FS00:0xa4:- Ensuring status. Please wait.
14:33:22:WU02:FS00:0xa4:- Looking at optimizations...
14:33:22:WU02:FS00:0xa4:- Working with standard loops on this execution.
14:33:22:WU02:FS00:0xa4:- Previous termination of core was improper.
14:33:22:WU02:FS00:0xa4:- Going to use standard loops.
14:33:22:WU02:FS00:0xa4:- Files status OK
14:33:22:WU02:FS00:0xa4:- Expanded 880917 -> 1463992 (decompressed 166.1 percent)
14:33:22:WU02:FS00:0xa4:Called DecompressByteArray: compressed_data_size=880917 data_size=1463992, decompressed_data_size=1463992 diff=0
14:33:22:WU02:FS00:0xa4:- Digital signature verified
14:33:22:WU02:FS00:0xa4:
14:33:22:WU02:FS00:0xa4:Project: 9008 (Run 754, Clone 1, Gen 1)
14:33:22:WU02:FS00:0xa4:
14:33:22:WU02:FS00:0xa4:Entering M.D.
14:33:28:WU02:FS00:0xa4:Using Gromacs checkpoints
14:33:28:WU02:FS00:0xa4:Mapping NT from 4 to 4 
14:33:29:WU02:FS00:0xa4:Resuming from checkpoint
14:33:29:WU02:FS00:0xa4:Verified 02/wudata_01.log
14:33:29:WU02:FS00:0xa4:Verified 02/wudata_01.trr
14:33:29:WU02:FS00:0xa4:Verified 02/wudata_01.xtc
14:33:29:WU02:FS00:0xa4:Verified 02/wudata_01.edr
14:33:29:WU02:FS00:0xa4:Completed 99455 out of 250000 steps  (39%)

I notice that the Advanced Control shows the slot 01 GPU as "paused: waiting for idle". I know the machine has been "idle" some times since I started, but it has never actually operated.

Mod edit: Added Code tags around log file

[tmeaves49]

BTW, I did recently upgrade the video drivers. I usually do this automatically.

[7im]

The "idle" GPU slot activates and starts folding when the Monitor screen powers off after x time of inactivity.

[Napoleon]

For anything besides Full power, there's no GPU folding until the display power management kicks in.

http://folding.stanford.edu/home/faq/fa ... ate/#ntoc5

[davidcoton]

You won't see GPU folding when set to "Light", it will only fold when the screensaver is active. Set "Full" power, then if necessary Pause while you use the PC.

The automatic load management works well for CPU folding, but the current generation of GPUs do not have adequate task management. So you have to leave GPU folding active, and pause manually if necessary. This also makes it much easier to see that folding is properly configured and working.

[tmeaves49]

To paraphrase a former POTUS, I guess it all depends on what the meaning of the word "idle" is.

In my past folding experience with desktops, I am not sure I remember the power settings of the display. I do know that I have had less-than-desirable experience with powering off hard drives and monitors. I THINK I always had no power down for either, and a blank screen saver. Maybe not, it was long ago.

Anyway, my laptop has been set since day one at never-never for power when plugged in.

So, I just changed to power off the screen, let it go dark, let it sit for some time, then woke it up. Lo and behold, there was activity on the GPU monitor, which immediately stopped when the screen turned on. (Does the light stay on when you close the refrigerator door?)

All this is with the folding power set to light. Seems to correspond to the info at the link provided by Napoleon. (RTFM)

When I first installed the folding software, I experimented with the power setting. On light, I get about 80% activity on all 8 cores. On medium, this goes to 100% (?!) on all 8.

I have not even tried full power. When I bought this laptop, it was because it had the specs to allow me to run Autodesk Inventor. It is supposed to be a gaming machine, but some reviews I read about the machine before I bought it indicated that some hard core gamers had bricked the unit due to overheating when running games. I decided to buy it anyway, along with a cooling fan base. I have been very happy with it as a CAD workstation. And, I don't game.

In my first test on medium power, after just a short period the laptop fan sped up. I went back to light, and have left it there ever since. All this happened while looking at the Windows resource monitor, not the Web Control. I just now bumped the control up to medium, and the GPU started processing, again, as per the link from Napoleon. (Again, RTFM)

I guess I have to ask myself whether I feel lucky. I have been very happy with this machine. On the desktops that I used for folding before, I had no concerns with the added GPU load of folding, and did not ever have any issues related to folding.

Now, with a documented history of (GPU) overheating on my model machine, I am not sure I want to bump up the activity to medium or full (adding CPU heat to GPU heat). I am going to try turning the monitor power off overnight tonight, and see what happens. I will have my fingers crossed until dawn.

[bruce]

Welcome to foldingforum.org, tmeaves49, and welcome back to folding.

The GPU setting of fold when idle was originally designed for machines with a weak GPU -- which produced unacceptable screen lag if FAH loaded the GPU while the mouse/keyboard were active. Unfortunately that isn't ideal in your case when heat is the primary issue. With a gaming machine (i.e.-a strong GPU) you might actually be okay with the GPU folding while you're doing almost anything except maybe CAD but there is no automatic setting that would do that for you.

One way to reduce heat, as you've found, is to avoid GPU folding. Another possibility is to reduce the number of CPU threads that are running at 100%. You can experiment with possibilities like that using the Advanced Control program rather than the slider to manage the settings in greater detail. Ultimately, however, you'll need a bit of experimentation (and luck) to avoid the untimely death of a laptop that's known to have problems with overheating.