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Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 2:13 pm
by geokilla
http://foldingforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=24&t=13038
After a long development process, we are excited to announce the upcoming release of SMP2 (threads-based SMP) cores to public testing. The first SMP2-based core is the A3 core, and it will soon become available on advanced methods for OS/X (Intel), 64-bit Linux, and Windows. We are still doing development work to refine the A3 core, but it is at the point where we are ready for public testing.

We are excited about the SMP2 cores because the threads-based parallelization allows us to dispense with the MPI-based parallelization that added an extra layer of complexity and was particularly troublesome for Windows users. We anticipate phasing out the earlier SMP cores and work units in favor of these new ones; at this point in the changeover process, our Windows SMP client will still require MPI to be installed so that the client can handle an A1 work unit if no A3 work units are available. In the near future we will release an updated Windows client that does not require MPI.

The SMP2 cores require a client update; please upgrade your SMP-capable clients to at least version 6.29. We will gradually discontinue SMP projects for earlier clients.

Important: the SMP2 cores use the early-completion bonus system that we piloted with the bigadv work units. We have revamped the benchmarking system to work with this bonus system. The base point values for SMP2 work units will appear low; the benchmarked points values **include bonuses.** Some third-party utilities have been updated to include these bonuses in their calculations.

Please see an accompanying post regarding the bonus system.

One important part of the bonus system is that users:
1. Must use a passkey to receive bonus points
2. Must successfully return >=10 A2 or SMP2 work units with their passkey to receive bonus points
3. Must successfully return >80% of A2 or SMP2 work units to receive bonus points

We will shortly perform a limited "reset" of the bonus-qualifying work unit history. Important: users who have qualified for a bonus will remain bonus-qualified. We will also maintain the % returned for users but will reduce the overall counts to 10. As we do not have an automated "timeout" for bonus qualification history, we may perform rare periodic such resets in the future.

Thanks! We are excited to release these new cores to the public.

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 3:18 pm
by vbironchef
A little help here. I am running win 7 64 bit on my new rig. I have two gpu clients going right now. What do you suggest I do? My cpu is a I7 860. Hard to post when watching the NFL playoffs. Would really like to know if I can increase my points.

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 4:41 pm
by geokilla
vbironchef wrote:A little help here. I am running win 7 64 bit on my new rig. I have two gpu clients going right now. What do you suggest I do? My cpu is a I7 860. Hard to post when watching the NFL playoffs. Would really like to know if I can increase my points.
What do you mean suggest what to do? Do you have any SMP clients going on? If not, run the -bigadv clients from here http://forums.legitreviews.com/about24331.html. Of course, check the EVGA link for the most up to date information, image files, etc.

Btw, you should have your own thread for this...

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 4:46 pm
by vbironchef
Thank you for the quick reply. I don't have SMP running because I read posts that it does not support win 7 64 bit. As far as a new post, I didn't think it was a big deal. Sorry to offend you.

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Sun Jan 24, 2010 5:03 pm
by geokilla
vbironchef wrote:Thank you for the quick reply. I don't have SMP running because I read posts that it does not support win 7 64 bit. As far as a new post, I didn't think it was a big deal. Sorry to offend you.
It wasn't offending, just thought it'd be better to have your own thread.

SMP does run in Windows 7 64 bit. Follow the link I gave you which leads to linuxrouter's build in order to get the most PPD from your CPU. You need to have hyperthreading running, as well as 10 A2 WU completed with the passkey in order to get the bonus points for the -bigadv folding.

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 11:01 am
by skier
how do you get a passkey again? and is it the same for GPU? i'm thinking of going back to regular SMP, cuz with the VMWare it has to be connected to the internet to start up(cuz it downloads the client every time for some reason) and Time Warner keeps taking my internet away at night(last night a couple min after midnight till morning, 5:30 -morning on wednesday and friday) so i need to be able to fold without being online

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 5:25 pm
by geokilla
skier wrote:how do you get a passkey again? and is it the same for GPU? i'm thinking of going back to regular SMP, cuz with the VMWare it has to be connected to the internet to start up(cuz it downloads the client every time for some reason) and Time Warner keeps taking my internet away at night(last night a couple min after midnight till morning, 5:30 -morning on wednesday and friday) so i need to be able to fold without being online
You can get the passkey from the Folding@Home site. It's the same since the passkey is associated with your username.

Which folding image are you using? With linuxrouter's image, I've been able to fold without having the Internet to start it up.

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 5:43 pm
by shamrok3
Skier, make sure you suspend VMWare, rather than powering off. You probs already know this, but just making sure :)

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 5:44 pm
by geokilla
Seems that SMP2 WU are already out for Windows....

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Mon Jan 25, 2010 6:43 pm
by skier
shamrok3 wrote:Skier, make sure you suspend VMWare, rather than powering off. You probs already know this, but just making sure :)
you'd think i'd do that LOL no,ive been powering down, im just gonna stay on reg SMP until the SMP2 crap gets all figured out

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Sun Jan 31, 2010 10:47 pm
by vbironchef
I just installed the SMP Client with 2 GPUs running. I have two cores for the GPUs and the rest for SMP Client 6.29 running win 7 64 bit. I will let this finish a couple of SMP Clients before I ask any questions. I do have a concern about my cpu temps. CoreTemp is reading highs of 72C. That seems very high to me. Should I not overclock my cpu? Oh yea, I did enter a passkey.

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:31 am
by spitter
It's high but it is still in the i7 thermal range, if your stable it is ok. What is your overclock, if it is the same as your sig then you might consider getting a better cooler or a water loop.

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 10:49 am
by vbironchef
My overclock is the same as my sig. I'm still working on A1 core. Should finish WU in 20 min. I will reboot and I hope that the A2 or A3 core drops in. If not I will have to wait till I get off work. When I reboot I will check my fan speed.

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:44 am
by spitter
How many volts are running threw the processor, I am at 4 ghz and core voltage is at 1.352vts??

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 9:03 pm
by vbironchef
cpu voltage 1.1625. I did my overclock with the Asus utility. Turbo V EVO. It does a stress test as well. Thats where I looked up my cpu voltage.

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 9:29 pm
by spitter
Volts sound good, what were your temps when you where just folding gpu?? A1s barely heat up my machines.

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:07 pm
by Wifuzzy
I7 920 on order. So what do I need read to get ready to use this thing to the best of it's potential?

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Mon Feb 01, 2010 11:10 pm
by geokilla
Major thread derail!
Wifuzzy wrote:I7 920 on order. So what do I need read to get ready to use this thing to the best of it's potential?
You can run the -bigadv in Linux/VMware folding, or run SMP2 A3 WU folding. Not sure which offers the most points for your i7 920 so some research is in order.

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 2:56 am
by vbironchef
high temp 57C average temp 48C. Turned off SMP Client.

Re: Upcoming Release of SMP2 Cores

Posted: Tue Feb 02, 2010 4:41 pm
by spitter
geokilla wrote:Major thread derail!
Wifuzzy wrote:I7 920 on order. So what do I need read to get ready to use this thing to the best of it's potential?
You can run the -bigadv in Linux/VMware folding, or run SMP2 A3 WU folding. Not sure which offers the most points for your i7 920 so some research is in order.

Bigadv gives me approx 941 pph, a3s gives me 674 pph. But it's an 860.