Adding an Nvidia card to a system and keep the ATI card?

[Sporg]

Okay, something I haven't tried doing is put multiple GPUs in my system. I'm currently running the HD4850 that I won here on a 975XBX2. I was curious if I could get a 2nd vid card just to fold. The bigger question is could I have both an ATI and NVIDIA card on the same system? It would be a relatively inexpensive way to get my points up. Thoughts?

For the price of this I would just pop it in and use it for exclusive folding.
http://forums.legitreviews.com/about17456.html

I'm assuming that I'd also have to install a 2nd GPU2 client and just rename the paths and .exe to something unique.

I didn't see this anywhere else, so if I'm a crazy person just wipe the thread and I won't be offended.

[DMB2000uk]

Good luck with getting both nvidia and ATI drivers to play nice on your system!

It's probably possible, but there's no telling how many headaches you might run into.

As for the dual card folding (assuming that you get the two cards up and running), there are a few more settings you need to set in the flags of the GPU client to get them to work on separate cards, but it's documented somewhere around Stanfords folding forums, so it's not too hard to set going.

Dan

[Sporg]

Good luck with getting both nvidia and ATI drivers to play nice on your system!

Yeah, that's kinda what I was concerned with, and I don't know anyone who's actually tried it.

Regarding the flags, I did read about that somewhere. I'm more concerned with trying the different drivers. I'll keep looking around. I normally wouldn't consider it, but it would be a fair bump in points for little cost.

[Sporg]

So I ordered one of those 9600 GSO cards. If nothing else it's a fairly cheap experiment. I couldn't find much on the web that was helpful. It appears that if you are running XP it might be doable, but definitely not with Vista - so that should NEVER EVER be a problem for me

[DMB2000uk]

Good luck, and I hope you manage to get it all working.

Dan

[Sporg]

Thanks. My plan was just to fold with it anyway, so if nothing else I can donate to a friend with the promise of folding. I was just thinking, one of these days I really need to update my family. I think both of my parents' rigs have AGP and my wife is still AGP. Maybe that will be christmas from me new rigs that can fold

[DaIceMan]

Thanks. My plan was just to fold with it anyway, so if nothing else I can donate to a friend with the promise of folding. I was just thinking, one of these days I really need to update my family. I think both of my parents' rigs have AGP and my wife is still AGP. Maybe that will be christmas from me new rigs that can fold

That was my wife's anniversary present... a new rig. Her old P4 1.7ghz with pc133 just didn't cut it for video editing. I built her a decent machine with a 9600GSO that is fully capable of video ripping/editing and holds it's own with the big boys (8800 GTX's) in the house when it comes to Folding.

As for the flags, you will need to add -gpu 0 and -gpu 1... but that's a concern for later. Keep us informed on how it goes.

[Sporg]

Will do, and thanks for the heads up. My buddy got the 2nd GSO card ordered for me tonight. From the thread in Deals it looks like just in time, as they're out of stock now.

[DaIceMan]

Will do, and thanks for the heads up. My buddy got the 2nd GSO card ordered for me tonight. From the thread in Deals it looks like just in time, as they're out of stock now.

Sounds good. We'll have to meet up sometime i'm up KC way and talk Farm strategy.

[Sporg]

Cool, sounds like a plan.

[Sporg]

Okay, one of the 9600GSO cards showed up today. Just threw it in the rig, will see what problems I run into when I try to install the software. If all is good I'll try to setup another GPU2 client.

[Sporg]

Well, I got the card installed, but can't get the GPU F@H client to run on it. I'm playing around with the drivers and hopefully will figure something out.

[DMB2000uk]

Did you have a monitor plugged into it when the PC booted up?

I seem to remember that you needed one plugged in for something to be registered in windows before you can fold on both (or in this case the second one). There is a mod to trick windows into thinking a monitor is plugged in, and it involves using a resistor over some of the pins. The stanford folding forums will probably have more info on that.

Dan

[Sporg]

Did you have a monitor plugged into it when the PC booted up?

I seem to remember that you needed one plugged in for something to be registered in windows before you can fold on both (or in this case the second one). There is a mod to trick windows into thinking a monitor is plugged in, and it involves using a resistor over some of the pins. The stanford folding forums will probably have more info on that.

Yep, already past that point. I threw an extra monitor on that card. I've also been playing around with the switches and stuff. Guess I could give a brief rundown here (even if it's not in folding )

So I copied the gpu folder and renamed it as C:\Documents and Settings\Andy\Application Data\Folding@home-gpu_NV

I created two shortcuts to the gpu client, one for the ati card and the other for the nvidia card. In the new NV folder I wiped out the work folder as well as client.xxx and queue.xxx.

For the ATI card:
target: "C:\Program Files\Folding@Home\Folding@home-gpu\[email protected]" -gpu 0
Starts in: "C:\Documents and Settings\Andy\Application Data\Folding@home-gpu"

For the NV card:
Target: "C:\Program Files\Folding@Home\Folding@home-gpu\[email protected]" -gpu 1
Starts in: "C:\Documents and Settings\Andy\Application Data\Folding@home-gpu_NV"

The ATI card is folding just fine, but the NV card is crashing and burning everytime. In the log I'm getting this error:
[14:32:00] CoreStatus = FFFFFFF6 (-10)
[14:32:00] Client-core communications error: ERROR 0xfffffff6
[14:32:00] This is a sign of more serious problems, shutting down.

Initially that error is what led me to plug in a monitor to the card. So at this point I'm sorta just scratching my head and googling . I also found the -forcegpu switch (followed by nvidia_g80) but when I tried it I got the same error.

[DMB2000uk]

Well the only help the error code gives (that you didn't confirm yet) was:
"Verify that you're running the correct version of the .dll files"
What dll's those are I don't know, but it's worth trying to find out more about them.

Dan

[Sporg]

So I deleted the FahCore_11.exe from the directory and it looks like it downloaded a new one.
This thing spewed EUEs like crazy and I finally shut her down.
Saw this in the log (in a few places): [15:18:18] Folding@home Core Shutdown: UNSTABLE_MACHINE

I think I may wipe the drivers and reinstall - again.

Launch directory: C:\Documents and Settings\Andy\Application Data\Folding@home-gpu_NV
Arguments: -gpu 1 -forcegpu nvidia_g80

[15:17:58] - Ask before connecting: No
[15:17:58] - User name: Sporg (Team 38296)
[15:17:58] - User ID: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
[15:17:58] - Machine ID: 2
[15:17:58]
[15:17:59] Loaded queue successfully.
[15:17:59] Initialization complete
[15:17:59]
[15:17:59] + Processing work unit
[15:17:59] Core required: FahCore_11.exe
[15:17:59] Core not found.
[15:17:59] - Core is not present or corrupted.
[15:17:59] - Attempting to download new core...
[15:17:59] + Downloading new core: FahCore_11.exe
[15:17:59] + 10240 bytes downloaded

[15:18:00] + 639504 bytes downloaded
[15:18:00] Verifying core Core_11.fah...
[15:18:00] Signature is VALID
[15:18:00]
[15:18:00] Trying to unzip core FahCore_11.exe
[15:18:01] Decompressed FahCore_11.exe (1822720 bytes) successfully
[15:18:06] + Core successfully engaged
[15:18:11]
[15:18:11] + Processing work unit
[15:18:11] Core required: FahCore_11.exe
[15:18:11] Core found.
[15:18:11] Working on queue slot 01 [September 30 15:18:11 UTC]
[15:18:11] + Working ...
[15:18:11]
[15:18:11] *------------------------------*
[15:18:11] Folding@Home GPU Core - Beta
[15:18:11] Version 1.09 (Fri Aug 1 11:46:54 PDT 2008)
[15:18:11]
[15:18:11] Compiler : Microsoft (R) 32-bit C/C++ Optimizing Compiler Version 14.00.50727.762 for 80x86
[15:18:11] Build host: amoeba
[15:18:11] Board Type: Nvidia
[15:18:11] Core :
[15:18:11] Preparing to commence simulation
[15:18:11] - Looking at optimizations...
[15:18:11] - Created dyn
[15:18:11] - Files status OK
[15:18:11] - Expanded 44154 -> 244433 (decompressed 553.5 percent)
[15:18:11] Called DecompressByteArray: compressed_data_size=44154 data_size=244433, decompressed_data_size=244433 diff=0
[15:18:11] - Digital signature verified
[15:18:11]
[15:18:11] Project: 5013 (Run 5, Clone 81, Gen 65)
[15:18:11]
[15:18:11] Assembly optimizations on if available.
[15:18:11] Entering M.D.
[15:18:17] mdrun_gpu returned -1
[15:18:17] Going to send back what have done.
[15:18:18] logfile size: 5595 info=5595 bed=0 hdr=25
[15:18:18] - Writing 6133 bytes of core data to disk...
[15:18:18] Done: 5621 -> 2030 (compressed to 36.1 percent)
[15:18:18] ... Done.
[15:18:18]
[15:18:18] Folding@home Core Shutdown: UNSTABLE_MACHINE
[15:18:21] CoreStatus = 7A (122)
[15:18:21] Sending work to server
[15:18:21] Project: 5013 (Run 5, Clone 81, Gen 65)
[15:18:21] - Read packet limit of 540015616... Set to 524286976.


[15:18:21] + Attempting to send results [September 30 15:18:21 UTC]
[15:18:21] + Results successfully sent
[15:18:21] Thank you for your contribution to Folding@Home.
[15:18:25] - Preparing to get new work unit...
[15:18:25] + Attempting to get work packet
[15:18:25] - Connecting to assignment server
[15:18:26] - Successful: assigned to (171.64.65.20).
[15:18:26] + News From Folding@Home: GPU folding beta
[15:18:26] Loaded queue successfully.
[15:18:27] + Closed connections
[15:18:32]
[15:18:32] + Processing work unit
[15:18:32] Core required: FahCore_11.exe
[15:18:32] Core found.
[15:18:32] Working on queue slot 02 [September 30 15:18:32 UTC]
[15:18:32] + Working ...
[15:18:32]
[15:18:32] *------------------------------*
[15:18:32] Folding@Home GPU Core - Beta
[15:18:32] Version 1.09 (Fri Aug 1 11:46:54 PDT 2008)
[15:18:32]
[15:18:32] Compiler : Microsoft (R) 32-bit C/C++ Optimizing Compiler Version 14.00.50727.762 for 80x86
[15:18:32] Build host: amoeba
[15:18:32] Board Type: Nvidia
[15:18:32] Core :
[15:18:32] Preparing to commence simulation
[15:18:32] - Looking at optimizations...
[15:18:32] - Created dyn
[15:18:32] - Files status OK
[15:18:32] - Expanded 44192 -> 244433 (decompressed 553.1 percent)
[15:18:32] Called DecompressByteArray: compressed_data_size=44192 data_size=244433, decompressed_data_size=244433 diff=0
[15:18:32] - Digital signature verified
[15:18:32]
[15:18:32] Project: 5016 (Run 7, Clone 407, Gen 29)
[15:18:32]
[15:18:32] Assembly optimizations on if available.
[15:18:32] Entering M.D.
[15:18:38] mdrun_gpu returned -1
[15:18:38] Going to send back what have done.
[15:18:39] logfile size: 0 info=0 bed=0 hdr=25
[15:18:39] - Writing 558 bytes of core data to disk...
[15:18:39] Done: 46 -> 85 (compressed to 184.7 percent)
[15:18:39] ... Done.
[15:18:39]
[15:18:39] Folding@home Core Shutdown: UNSTABLE_MACHINE
[15:18:42] CoreStatus = 7A (122)
[15:18:42] Sending work to server
[15:18:42] Project: 5016 (Run 7, Clone 407, Gen 29)
[15:18:42] - Read packet limit of 540015616... Set to 524286976.


[15:18:42] + Attempting to send results [September 30 15:18:42 UTC]
[15:18:42] + Results successfully sent
[15:18:42] Thank you for your contribution to Folding@Home.
[15:18:46] - Preparing to get new work unit...
[15:18:46] + Attempting to get work packet
[15:18:46] - Connecting to assignment server
[15:18:47] - Successful: assigned to (171.64.65.20).
[15:18:47] + News From Folding@Home: GPU folding beta
[15:18:47] Loaded queue successfully.
[15:18:48] + Closed connections
[15:18:53]
[15:18:53] + Processing work unit
[15:18:53] Core required: FahCore_11.exe
[15:18:53] Core found.
[15:18:53] Working on queue slot 03 [September 30 15:18:53 UTC]
[15:18:53] + Working ...
[15:18:53]
[15:18:53] *------------------------------*
[15:18:53] Folding@Home GPU Core - Beta
[15:18:53] Version 1.09 (Fri Aug 1 11:46:54 PDT 2008)
[15:18:53]
[15:18:53] Compiler : Microsoft (R) 32-bit C/C++ Optimizing Compiler Version 14.00.50727.762 for 80x86
[15:18:53] Build host: amoeba
[15:18:53] Board Type: Nvidia
[15:18:53] Core :
[15:18:53] Preparing to commence simulation
[15:18:53] - Looking at optimizations...
[15:18:53] - Created dyn
[15:18:53] - Files status OK
[15:18:53] - Expanded 44049 -> 244433 (decompressed 554.9 percent)
[15:18:53] Called DecompressByteArray: compressed_data_size=44049 data_size=244433, decompressed_data_size=244433 diff=0
[15:18:53] - Digital signature verified
[15:18:53]
[15:18:53] Project: 5015 (Run 6, Clone 212, Gen 158)
[15:18:53]
[15:18:53] Assembly optimizations on if available.
[15:18:53] Entering M.D.
[15:18:59] mdrun_gpu returned -1
[15:18:59] Going to send back what have done.
[15:19:00] logfile size: 5593 info=5593 bed=0 hdr=25
[15:19:00] - Writing 6131 bytes of core data to disk...
[15:19:00] Done: 5619 -> 2021 (compressed to 35.9 percent)
[15:19:00] ... Done.
[15:19:00]
[15:19:00] Folding@home Core Shutdown: UNSTABLE_MACHINE
[15:19:03] CoreStatus = 7A (122)
[15:19:03] Sending work to server
[15:19:03] Project: 5015 (Run 6, Clone 212, Gen 158)
[15:19:03] - Read packet limit of 540015616... Set to 524286976.


[15:19:03] + Attempting to send results [September 30 15:19:03 UTC]
[15:19:03] + Results successfully sent
[15:19:03] Thank you for your contribution to Folding@Home.
[15:19:07] - Preparing to get new work unit...
[15:19:07] + Attempting to get work packet
[15:19:07] - Connecting to assignment server
[15:19:08] - Successful: assigned to (171.64.65.20).
[15:19:08] + News From Folding@Home: GPU folding beta
[15:19:08] Loaded queue successfully.
[15:19:09] + Closed connections
[15:19:14]
[15:19:14] + Processing work unit
[15:19:14] Core required: FahCore_11.exe
[15:19:14] Core found.
[15:19:14] Working on queue slot 04 [September 30 15:19:14 UTC]
[15:19:14] + Working ...
[15:19:14]
[15:19:14] *------------------------------*
[15:19:14] Folding@Home GPU Core - Beta
[15:19:14] Version 1.09 (Fri Aug 1 11:46:54 PDT 2008)
[15:19:14]
[15:19:14] Compiler : Microsoft (R) 32-bit C/C++ Optimizing Compiler Version 14.00.50727.762 for 80x86
[15:19:14] Build host: amoeba
[15:19:14] Board Type: Nvidia
[15:19:14] Core :
[15:19:14] Preparing to commence simulation
[15:19:14] - Looking at optimizations...
[15:19:14] - Created dyn
[15:19:14] - Files status OK
[15:19:14] - Expanded 43981 -> 244433 (decompressed 555.7 percent)
[15:19:14] Called DecompressByteArray: compressed_data_size=43981 data_size=244433, decompressed_data_size=244433 diff=0
[15:19:14] - Digital signature verified
[15:19:14]
[15:19:14] Project: 5013 (Run 9, Clone 30, Gen 93)
[15:19:14]
[15:19:14] Assembly optimizations on if available.
[15:19:14] Entering M.D.
[15:19:20] mdrun_gpu returned -1
[15:19:20] Going to send back what have done.
[15:19:21] logfile size: 5595 info=5595 bed=0 hdr=25
[15:19:21] - Writing 6133 bytes of core data to disk...
[15:19:21] Done: 5621 -> 2032 (compressed to 36.1 percent)
[15:19:21] ... Done.
[15:19:21]
[15:19:21] Folding@home Core Shutdown: UNSTABLE_MACHINE
[15:19:24] CoreStatus = 7A (122)
[15:19:24] Sending work to server
[15:19:24] Project: 5013 (Run 9, Clone 30, Gen 93)


[15:19:24] + Attempting to send results [September 30 15:19:24 UTC]
[15:19:24] + Results successfully sent
[15:19:24] Thank you for your contribution to Folding@Home.
[15:19:28] - Preparing to get new work unit...
[15:19:28] + Attempting to get work packet
[15:19:28] - Connecting to assignment server
[15:19:29] - Successful: assigned to (171.64.65.20).
[15:19:29] + News From Folding@Home: GPU folding beta
[15:19:29] Loaded queue successfully.
[15:19:30] + Closed connections
[15:19:35]
[15:19:35] + Processing work unit
[15:19:35] Core required: FahCore_11.exe
[15:19:35] Core found.
[15:19:35] Working on queue slot 05 [September 30 15:19:35 UTC]
[15:19:35] + Working ...
[15:19:35]
[15:19:35] *------------------------------*
[15:19:35] Folding@Home GPU Core - Beta
[15:19:35] Version 1.09 (Fri Aug 1 11:46:54 PDT 2008)
[15:19:35]
[15:19:35] Compiler : Microsoft (R) 32-bit C/C++ Optimizing Compiler Version 14.00.50727.762 for 80x86
[15:19:35] Build host: amoeba
[15:19:35] Board Type: Nvidia
[15:19:35] Core :
[15:19:35] Preparing to commence simulation
[15:19:35] - Looking at optimizations...
[15:19:35] - Created dyn
[15:19:35] - Files status OK
[15:19:35] - Expanded 44133 -> 244433 (decompressed 553.8 percent)
[15:19:35] Called DecompressByteArray: compressed_data_size=44133 data_size=244433, decompressed_data_size=244433 diff=0
[15:19:35] - Digital signature verified
[15:19:35]
[15:19:35] Project: 5015 (Run 6, Clone 181, Gen 146)
[15:19:35]
[15:19:35] Assembly optimizations on if available.
[15:19:35] Entering M.D.
[15:19:41] mdrun_gpu returned -1
[15:19:41] Going to send back what have done.
[15:19:42] logfile size: 5594 info=5594 bed=0 hdr=25
[15:19:42] - Writing 6132 bytes of core data to disk...
[15:19:42] Done: 5620 -> 2026 (compressed to 36.0 percent)
[15:19:42] ... Done.
[15:19:42]
[15:19:42] Folding@home Core Shutdown: UNSTABLE_MACHINE
[15:19:45] CoreStatus = 7A (122)
[15:19:45] Sending work to server
[15:19:45] Project: 5015 (Run 6, Clone 181, Gen 146)


[15:19:45] + Attempting to send results [September 30 15:19:45 UTC]
[15:19:45] + Results successfully sent
[15:19:45] Thank you for your contribution to Folding@Home.
[15:19:49] EUE limit exceeded. Pausing 24 hours.

Folding@Home Client Shutdown.

[Sporg]

Well the only help the error code gives (that you didn't confirm yet) was:
"Verify that you're running the correct version of the .dll files"
What dll's those are I don't know, but it's worth trying to find out more about them.

Dan

I'm looking at that again. I downloaded the latest NVIDIA drivers (178.13) and figured that should work fine. Thanks for the input. I know this is kind of a goofy thing to do. Other than F@H it appears that both cards are co-existing. I read somewhere that XP didn't have a problem with it, but Vista did (I know, shocking, right?).

[DMB2000uk]

I'd try completely separating the F@H clients, don't just use two shortcuts from the same F@H core thing, but download a second one and put it in a different directory.

Probably wont make much difference, but you never know if something like that is customised by the program when it knows what card it is folding on.

I guess the dlls are the ones that F@H uses, cudart.dll, amdcalrt.dll and amdcalcl.dll.


Dan

[Sporg]

I'd try completely separating the F@H clients, don't just use two shortcuts from the same F@H core thing, but download a second one and put it in a different directory.

Probably wont make much difference, but you never know if something like that is customised by the program when it knows what card it is folding on.

I guess the dlls are the ones that F@H uses, cudart.dll, amdcalrt.dll and amdcalcl.dll.

That's what I initially wanted to do, but the install client doesn't let you choose a directory. I am thinking about maybe trying the console client for the NV card. Yeah, seems those .dll files come with installer. Good point about something getting customized.

[Sporg]

Okay, I think I'm done messing with this for now. Console didn't work any better for me.