Adding folding slot for my GPU doesn't stick in the config?

[BP2020]

I've read a few posts in the Problems with AMD/ATI drivers section. I'm a new donor with an older rig. I did an express install and by default there is no folding slot for my GPU, only for my CPU. My GPU is an Asus ROG strix RX480 8gb (AMD). So if that's going to work I know it's going to be with OpenCL.

So I thought I would add it manually so I go to Configure/Slots and the CPU is there at slot 0. I click Add, check GPU, then leave the rest as is (-1 gpu-index, -1 cuda-index, -1 open-cl index) then click OK, then Save. It doesn't get added. I go back there and there is only CPU at slot 0.

So I've tried playing with the index numbers (-1,-1,0; 0,-1,-1; 1,-1,0; 0,0,0 I think) but the result is always the same i.e. it doesn't get added. Don't mind OpenCL saying Driver:2236.9. It was higher with another driver. The thing is I was using the generic latest AMD Radeon driver and since I wasn't able to add the GPU slot I thought I'd try the one directly from the Asus website (which happens to be simply an older driver with some branding whatever; I reinstalled FaH after adding this older driver i.e. I had removed the newer AMD driver, uninstalled FaH, flushing all data, then I installed this older driver, then reinstalled FaH, by default still no GPU slot), and from what I can remember the only difference in the OpenCL line is the driver version but the behavior is exactly the same i.e. the folding slot doesn't get added (it feels like it's added for a second then immediately removed...).

What remains is only the CPU slot. I don't mind just using the CPU and my contribution is quite small but I thought I'd try to put to some use the GPU too to help as much as I can with the COVID-19 research but adding the GPU slot doesn't work. Here's the relevant part of the log. Also the <!-- Folding Slot Configuration --> sections not shown here don't change or indicate nothing new (no saving) when I try to add the GPU slot.

Any idea?

Thanks for your help!

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*********************** Log Started 2020-04-20T04:58:04Z ***********************
04:58:04:****************************** FAHClient ******************************
04:58:04:        Version: 7.6.9
04:58:04:         Author: Joseph Coffland <joseph@cauldrondevelopment.com>
04:58:04:      Copyright: 2020 foldingathome.org
04:58:04:       Homepage: https://foldingathome.org/
04:58:04:           Date: Apr 17 2020
04:58:04:           Time: 11:13:06
04:58:04:       Revision: 398c2b17fa535e0cc6c9d10856b2154c32771646
04:58:04:         Branch: master
04:58:04:       Compiler: Visual C++ 2008
04:58:04:        Options: /TP /nologo /EHa /wd4297 /wd4103 /Ox /MT
04:58:04:       Platform: win32 10
04:58:04:           Bits: 32
04:58:04:           Mode: Release
04:58:04:           Args: --open-web-control
04:58:04:******************************** CBang ********************************
04:58:04:           Date: Apr 17 2020
04:58:04:           Time: 11:10:09
04:58:04:       Revision: 2fb0be7809c5e45287a122ca5fbc15b5ae859a3b
04:58:04:         Branch: master
04:58:04:       Compiler: Visual C++ 2008
04:58:04:        Options: /TP /nologo /EHa /wd4297 /wd4103 /Ox /MT
04:58:04:       Platform: win32 10
04:58:04:           Bits: 32
04:58:04:           Mode: Release
04:58:04:******************************* System ********************************
04:58:04:            CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2500K CPU @ 3.30GHz
04:58:04:         CPU ID: GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 42 Stepping 7
04:58:04:           CPUs: 4
04:58:04:         Memory: 15.97GiB
04:58:04:    Free Memory: 11.83GiB
04:58:04:        Threads: WINDOWS_THREADS
04:58:04:     OS Version: 6.2
04:58:04:    Has Battery: false
04:58:04:     On Battery: false
04:58:04:     UTC Offset: -4
04:58:04:            PID: 6628
04:58:04:            CWD: C:\Users\whatever\AppData\Roaming\FAHClient
04:58:04:             OS: Windows 10 Enterprise
04:58:04:        OS Arch: AMD64
04:58:04:           GPUs: 0
04:58:04:           CUDA: Not detected: Failed to open dynamic library 'nvcuda.dll': The
04:58:04:                 specified module could not be found.
04:58:04:
04:58:04:OpenCL Device 0: Platform:0 Device:0 Bus:1 Slot:0 Compute:1.2 Driver:2236.9
04:58:04:  Win32 Service: false
04:58:04:******************************* libFAH ********************************
04:58:04:           Date: Apr 15 2020
04:58:04:           Time: 14:53:14
04:58:04:       Revision: 216968bc7025029c841ed6e36e81a03a316890d3
04:58:04:         Branch: master
04:58:04:       Compiler: Visual C++ 2008
04:58:04:        Options: /TP /nologo /EHa /wd4297 /wd4103 /Ox /MT
04:58:04:       Platform: win32 10
04:58:04:           Bits: 32
04:58:04:           Mode: Release
04:58:04:***********************************************************************

[ajm]

I haven't heard of such an error before, but there are issues, albeit not as severe, with adding GPUs in the latest FAH version for Windows.
I'd try to uninstall FAH, reinstall the latest drivers from https://www.amd.com/en/support/graphics ... eon-rx-480 and try with the version 7.5.1 of FAH.

EDIT: But you also can try this first: viewtopic.php?p=327445#p327445

Manually download the GPUs.txt file from here: https://apps.foldingathome.org/GPUs.txt (right-click save as GPUs.txt)
Exit the client
Copy the GPUs.txt file from the Downloads folder to %AppData%\FAHClient
Reboot your system
Start up the client and ensure that you can see your GPU in the log file
Add a GPU slot from FAHControl -> Configure -> Slots tab -> Add -> GPU -> OK -> Save

[HaloJones]

v7.6.8 works OK. the problems are with 7.6.9 (it really should NOT be available for download!)

[truesanity]

I had the same issue, GPU not showing up in 7.6.9 client. 7.6.8 wasn't available for download, so I installed the 7.6.10 beta. That one seems to be working for me.

[BP2020]

Thank you all, adding the GPUs.txt file did work, even though it shows ELLESMERE XT instead of my manufacturer name (it's still a Radeon RX480). But now the CPU slot uses only 2 of my 4 cores at medium power and 3/4 and high, don't know why.

The issue I had which is not related but similar to the one on MacOS in this thread (viewtopic.php?f=61&t=34494) is that after I closed the FAHclient in the system tray and rebooted etc. I couldn't figure out how to restart it. I had to manually go to Program Files X86 and double-click the fahclient.exe. But when doing that I had a command window remaining and couldn't start the Advanced Control tool. I also had an error which was a show stopper:

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16:11:52:ERROR:WU00:FS00:Exception: Failed to open 'cores/cores.foldingathome.org/v7/win/64bit/avx/Core_a7.fah/FahCore_a7.exe': Failed to open 'cores/cores.foldingathome.org/v7/win/64bit/avx/Core_a7.fah/FahCore_a7.exe': Access is denied.

So it's a similar issue to this: viewtopic.php?f=61&t=26959

But this is installed on Windows 10 with a regular user, sure it asks for my Admin password but I'm not logged under Admininstrator. Yet there is no shorcut created for the client anywhere. I don't know how the installer starts it as a background process and every thing is fine (it's explained on the post I linked but I can't connect the dots with the hidecommandwindow.exe etc., it's beyond me). But once I close the client I can't recreate that startup state the installer does. And I can't supply the GPUs.txt file without closing and restarting the client, seemingly (for the client to see it).

What I ended up doing is lauching the client from an Admin Powershell window (still logged in with my typical user which is not admin). I did the same for the Advanced Control tool in some other Admin Powershell but some skinning is gone, it looks GTKish or can't describe (it's brownish and more blocky, something, but it shows all the stuff and both slots). Once I've completed both the CPU and the GPU work units that are working concurrently now and that I confirm data is sent ok under that setup, I might try the 7.6.10 version. Not being able to launch the client and not finding any shortcut/link in the start menu was quite annoying but it can work and it is now. Maybe an issue is that I put the GPUs.txt file in C:\Users\MyNon-Admin-user\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\FAHClient and C:\Program Files (x86)\FAHClient (supplying my admin password to copy it there). But I'll leave it like that a do a cleaner install later on or try the beta version as I mentioned. So thanks again!

[Neil-B]

If the CPU slot is set at the default -1 then your machine will save one core for the CPU meaning you have 3 left for normal (high use) … medium will take one off that to give 2core … light will pause the GPU slot and use half the CPU slot cores (but don't ask me how it does 1.5, or if it does one or two !!)

[BP2020]

I hear you Neil-B but when the GPU slot wasn't added the CPU slot was also setup by default yet it was 3 for medium and 4 for high as described in my other post (viewtopic.php?f=61&t=34563). Unless there's something I don't understand from what you said. Thanks!

[TPL]

I was strugling a bit with that issue but on Linux. Anyway maybe it would be useful to check from advanced control/configure/expert/extra client optons that you don't have line gpu false. If you have remove it and save. Reboot. Then add in slots a gpu with defaults and reboot. If still not check from system info if you can see gpu there. If it is shown there check which slot it has. Change in slots gpu index the same and reboot.

Maybe, maybe not.

[BP2020]

Thanks! I checked but no, there are no extra options where you specified. I also checked on the individual slots config for extra options at the bottom, there is only paused = False but that's it. The OpenCL info from the log was always the same from the beginning, and hasn't changed, the OpenCL was always detected (AMD Radeon card) and is still:

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04:58:04:OpenCL Device 0: Platform:0 Device:0 Bus:1 Slot:0 Compute:1.2 Driver:2236.9
04:58:04:  Win32 Service: false

[TPL]

And in System info?

[ajm]

Thank you all, adding the GPUs.txt file did work, even though it shows ELLESMERE XT instead of my manufacturer name (it's still a Radeon RX480). But now the CPU slot uses only 2 of my 4 cores at medium power and 3/4 and high, don't know why.

This is normal, this is how it works. At Full, all threads but one (for the GPU) are used. At Middle, only half. You can change this behavior by editing the CPU slot and enter a definite number of threads (here: 1, 2, or 3). The client will then respect your choice.

[BP2020]

Yes sorry TPL, since adding the GPUs.txt file I now have in the log+system info:

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16:14:22:           GPUs: 1
16:14:22:          GPU 0: Bus:1 Slot:0 Func:0 AMD:5 Ellesmere XT [Radeon RX
16:14:22:                 470/480/570/580/590]
16:14:22:           CUDA: Not detected: Failed to open dynamic library 'nvcuda.dll': The
16:14:22:                 specified module could not be found.
16:14:22:
16:14:22:OpenCL Device 0: Platform:0 Device:0 Bus:1 Slot:0 Compute:1.2 Driver:2236.9
16:14:22:  Win32 Service: false

In my prior post I meant the OpenCL line never changed.

[TPL]

Thats normal fo AMD. And I'm sorry abut talking slot in info, your bus seems to be 1. Try that to slots/gpu/gpu index.

[BP2020]

Also concerning my starting manually the FAHclient another user said something interesting in another post (viewtopic.php?f=61&t=34584):

Another thing. I never saw that in Windows, but in Linux, that error can come from a permission problem: FAH hat to run as root to access OpenCL. If your Windows account doesn't have Admin privilege (search "your info", it should say "Administrator" under your username), it might produce the same result, for the installer will make FAH run under your username (check: Task Manager -> Details).

My local user is doesn't have Admin privileges as I said. Also I have this weirdness with my accounts whereby my current logged in user is Mo, but in task manager details it's user M [EDIT: this is just my Admin account renamed short name] and not Mo who started FAHclient and FAHControl, yet for Firefox it's Mo. Just weird Windows stuff. Anyways as I said using an Admin powershell to literally start the FAHclient.exe did the trick and it's working like that for now. Thanks again!

[BP2020]

Ok, concerning the temporary solution I was using with 7.6.9 i.e. GPUs.txt + using a Powershell with Admin rights to launch the FAHclient and FAHcontrol, it all ended well for the GPU WU (19:24:57:WU01:FS01:Upload complete; 19:24:57:WU01:FS01:Server responded WORK_ACK (400)).

Now I uninstalled everything except the data and reinstalled under my Admin account directly. It created the shortcut Folding@home, finally. The shortcut does this:

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"C:\Program Files (x86)\FAHClient\HideConsole.exe" "C:\Program Files (x86)\FAHClient\FAHClient.exe" --open-web-control

I literally dragged and dropped the shortcut on the desktop of my non Admin user, logged out, logged into my normal account and it simply works. Of course I have the GPUs.txt file in

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C:\Users\MyNon-Admin-user\AppData\Local\VirtualStore\Program Files (x86)\FAHClient

The only thing missing is that the slider medium/high does 2 cores / 3 cores respectively on the CPU, instead of the 3 cores / 4 cores with the default setup and no GPU. So I simply put 4 threads in the Config and I guess the slider modifies the workload instead of the number of cores. That's really a technicality, maybe it's even better like that.

So I consider this solved in a DIY sort of way, thanks to your help!