Folding Forum

Hi
My question is, what operating system is best for this project? I say becuase I have a windows computer I was planning to put an ubuntu on it, but since all plans are on hold I can put pretty much whatever is best for this project. So please advise if it should leave this old windows 7 as is or best to put something else - I have ever only used ubuntu, lubuntu and to lesser extent redhat and mint.

Computer Specs: Specifically CPU type and speed: Toshiba 3.3. Windows
Processor: Intel(R) Celeron (R) CPU 925 @ 2.30GHz 2.29GHz
RAM: 2.00Gb (1.87 GB usable)
System type; 65-bit Operating System

Network Connection: ADSL
Operating System: Windows 7 Home Premium

Is what I can find out

Ubuntu, Mint, and Windows are all popular with folders.
Linux based OSs can be more efficient at folding than Windows.
Maybe start with Windows and switch to Ubuntu or Mint later, if the F@H habit bites you.

I think a Windows system is easier to get set up for folding right now. Linux has a couple issues to navigate (video drivers, python2 EOL) that make it a bit trickier for someone new to the project.

In which forum may I find how to optimize setup for an AMD A4-7300 APU with Radeon HD 8470D GPU using Linux Mint 18.3, Kernel 4.15.0-91, x86_64, to get a WU completed before the timeout? Thank you.

Thank you! starting now

If, in the future, you try to install more than two graphics cards per PC, the Linux has real advantages.

PatrickHelmick wrote:In which forum may I find how to optimize setup for an AMD A4-7300 APU with Radeon HD 8470D GPU using Linux Mint 18.3, Kernel 4.15.0-91, x86_64, to get a WU completed before the timeout? Thank you.

The iGPU HD 8470D can not be used for GPU folding, it does not support use of double precision arithmetic. You can set the system to use your CPU for folding.

Yes, thank you. The automated setup used the CPU, and my computer received a work unit that completed after the Timeout deadline. I was thinking that maybe I could optimize the configuration somehow to at least meet the timeout, rather than having my machine slow things down for everyone. My iMac needs only a fraction of the timeout deadline to complete a WU. I could just leave the other one offline if I can't optimize.

The A4-7300 has a single FPU shared between two CPU threads. As initially set up, the client would have set the thread count to one. There might be a GPU slot defined for the 8470D, you can delete that. Setting the slider to Full should request a WU for 2 threads, it is possible that might gain enough on the shared FPU to complete on time. It depends a bit on how well the task scheduler handles threading on the APU.

Also there are som e larger WU's out, you may have been assigned one of those. Smaller ones might finish in time, especially if running continuously.

Thank you, Joe_H. I set the slider to full. I have read about the larger WU's. It just got one that it will finish in time. I wanted to be sure I'm not double-working or slowing things down.

Thank you to all that answered my query, the program is running now on the computer with Windows 7 as it was

JimboPalmer wrote:If, in the future, you try to install more than two graphics cards per PC, the Linux has real advantages.

To what end would I need more than two graphics cards?

The messages after this that I quote have lost me, so I'm taking the liberty to ask about some lines that come up on the "Client Advanced Control": GPUs 0. Not detected: Failed to open dynamic library 'nvcuda.dll'
CUDA Not detected: Failed to open dynamic library 'OpenCL.dll'
Win32 Service false

Should I do something about this? Thanks again

You're not folding with a GPU ergo no GPU detected. CUDA is an NVidia API, AMD cards don't use this. It can be ignored.

ana wrote: To what end would I need more than two graphics cards?

Many people run multiple cards just for donating more power to F@H. Some run huge bitcoin mining rigs. Can also be used for graphics/video rendering. In the past you could run quad sli for gaming. Lots of reasons for multi card setups.

Thank you! But then, additional cards would need to be installed wouldn't they, because they are physical pieces of hardware?

ana wrote:Thank you! But then, additional cards would need to be installed wouldn't they, because they are physical pieces of hardware?

Yes. And those comments may not apply to your circumstances. But we try to provide answers here that will help others with similar questions -- then we don't have to keep repeating everything.