6.30 SMP2 or keep using bigadv on the i7-920

[KnightRid]

Plain and simple. Skier brought up on twitter about the 6.30 SMP2 client and getting the bonus points. I was just wondering which way is better to fold on the i7. Right now I have it up and running on the VM with the bigadv flag and smp -7. I installed the 6.30 core on this Q6700 system to test it out (have to reboot first) but it seems you do not have to do -smp # anymore? It will just find the number of cores you have and use them.

Now will the 6.30 find 8 cores on the i7-920 or just 4? If only 4 then the bigadv on the VM would probably give more points, I would think.

Well, let me know. I need to catch up in points after being down for so long ;)

[skier]

vm and SMP2 both have bigadv, both can use 8.....

install, config, add -smp -bigadv.

[vbironchef]

I have been thinking about the big-adv as well. After reading the posts on F@H. I deceided that the 6.30 client is the way to go. The posts that I have read said that the big-adv is for 8 core rigs. It does work by the way (if you don't have 8 cores) it's just not what F@H had in mind with big-adv points. That said Vm ware does not give you any big-adv points anymore. Unless it has changed that I do not know about. As for me, I am using the 6.30 client for both my rigs. That's about it because temps in my neck of the woods is still to hot. Let me know what you what you deceide to do so I can get in some of that big-adv point action.

[vbironchef]

skier, are you sure that Vm ware gives big-adv. points? I know that they stopped it for awhile, what changed?

[skier]

skier, are you sure that Vm ware gives big-adv. points? I know that they stopped it for awhile, what changed?

i don't know or care if it does, smp2 is better.

[smack323]

is 6.30 smp2 able to be run on a i5?

[skier]

is 6.30 smp2 able to be run on a i5?

any multicore system can use SMP2. 2 cores and up, use SMP2.
3999

[camaroguy1998]

is 6.30 smp2 able to be run on a i5?

any multicore system can use SMP2. 2 cores and up, use SMP2.
3999

Question.....Can you run SMP2 & GPU on the same rig?

CPU is an AMD 965BE x4
GPU is a 9600GSO

[KnightRid]

I know when you set up SMP2 you go to the advanced options and change the [normal} to [big] for unit sizes but i do not see anywhere you have to actually set a -bigadv flag?

Do you HAVE to have it? I put the -smp flag in the setup and am running it as a service (which RULES), should I go back and add -bigadv on this Q6700 or just on the i7?

Oh, I also turned on the -advmethods which I have no clue if I should have on or not in SMP2

I just realized, I do not know very much LOL

[vbironchef]

Just on your i7. Your Q6700 only has four cores. Even your core i7 only has four real cores. It will work but not recommended, I used it last year with good results. This year I am just going to use 6.30 SMP. Should take about 15 to 20 min. per %. So every 2 to 3 days you should complete a WU.

Edit: To camaroguy1998, of course you can run both at the same time. What I do is to go to the task manager and disable one core from the SMP Client and use that core only for the GPU Client. Make sure to disable all other cores on your GPU client. Any other questions just ask.

[smack323]

I currently have SMP2 going on an i5 - i belive i set up the -bigadv in the set up. it is taking about 11min per 1% - it will take about 18hrs per WU at this rate. I found this in the set up guide- this is where to set the -bigadv during the set up

Disable CPU affinity lock (no/yes) [no]?
Not useful for SMP since it use all cores.
Additional client parameters []?
You can enter the client flags here so you don't have to type the flag each time you run the client. We strongly suggest you enter the -smp Do NOT enter -config or -configonly'' or any single-use flag in this field to avoid problems.
IP address to bind core to (for viewer) []?
For future use when the Viewer is working better. Specifies the IP address of the machine of which the viewer should display the client output.

all cores are cranking along at 100% we'll see what happens.

[vbironchef]

To smack323, congrats! Just one note, you have to finish at least 10 SMP WU's to get a big-adv work unit. You won't always get a Big-adv WU all the time. I hope you entered a passkey. I hope all goes well, but I feel that a I5 is not what F@H had in mind with the big-adv WU's.

[skier]

I currently have SMP2 going on an i5 - i belive i set up the -bigadv in the set up. it is taking about 11min per 1% - it will take about 18hrs per WU at this rate. I found this in the set up guide- this is where to set the -bigadv during the set up

all cores are cranking along at 100% we'll see what happens.

well it just won't download the bigadv work units, same thing with Thuban, you can set bigadv but just wont get the units (though there is now a workaround for the thuban, that's 6 cores not 4, the i5 wouldn't finish the unit on time I don't think)

[smack323]

thats fine if i dont get the bigadv points or workunits. my output looks like it will triple with the smp2 core - I already have more today with one WU finished. unfortunatly my output was only about 300 ppd so 3x it isnt doing much.

[skier]

thats fine if i dont get the bigadv points or workunits. my output looks like it will triple with the smp2 core - I already have more today with one WU finished. unfortunatly my output was only about 300 ppd so 3x it isnt doing much.

well my 3GHz core2quad got me ~5k ppd so you should be sittin pretty shortly

[KnightRid]

ok, I installed the 6.30 on the i7 but it will NOT run as a service in Vista 64 bit. I tried everything. Yes, i ran cmd in admin mode. When the computer starts it loads the FAH6.exe program but it never starts the a3 program to fold. I ended the fah6 task in taskmgr and ran fah6 manually and it downloaded a3 and ran just fine.

Does anyone have any idea why it will not run as a service? I could just add it to the startup menu but am wondering why it will run fine as a service on my Q6700 with win7 64bit but not the i7 with Vista 64bit.

[skier]

ok, I installed the 6.30 on the i7 but it will NOT run as a service in Vista 64 bit. I tried everything. Yes, i ran cmd in admin mode. When the computer starts it loads the FAH6.exe program but it never starts the a3 program to fold. I ended the fah6 task in taskmgr and ran fah6 manually and it downloaded a3 and ran just fine.

Does anyone have any idea why it will not run as a service? I could just add it to the startup menu but am wondering why it will run fine as a service on my Q6700 with win7 64bit but not the i7 with Vista 64bit.

because vista is worthless? I dunno, I don't ever run as service unless i'm bot'ing the system without even connecting a monitor or keyboard/mouse

[spitter]

Defiantly bigadv, I am getting 35k ppd on some wu on my 930, no vmware anymore just the windows smp client. And not as a service for me, big hit on ppd.

[vbironchef]

This is a interesting read at folding @ home forum. http://foldingforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=20&t=16348

Re: -bigadv Frame Times on 6 core Processors
by 7im » Fri Oct 15, 2010 9:56 pm

Stanford made no changes to the -bigadv program since it started. They did not make a change from 8 real cores to allow 8 virtual cores. When it first started, there were no i7s. 8 real cores or more were the only option.

Actually, Stanfords current method of detecting cores is based on what the OS reports to the fah client. This is how i7s could eventually sneak in the door, and how AMD x6 chips can also sneak in the door with a slightly different hack.

And if Stanford does change this to 8 true cores, do you honestly think all the i7 folders will go back to SMP units? I think not. I assure you, they will do the same thing us X6 folders are doing now.


Yes, they will go back to regular SMP WUs. They won't have a choice. If Stanford makes a change, they will be sure to close these back door tricks. They can black list i7 and AMD 6x hardware (no more # of CPU cores hacks). They can check for real cores as the fahcore starts up, not just at the time the WU is downloaded (no more sneakernetting), then can shorten deadlines so that only real 8 core systems just make the deadline (eliminates headroom so every other hack the above countermeasures missed is covered), etc. etc.


Side note, speed is headroom, yes. However, your AMD x6 lacks the headroom that Stanford intended with their 8 Real Core minimum. They wanted 2 days or more head room. So when your x6 can finish a WU with 2 days to spare, let's talk. Until then, if people keep slowing down the results with more and and more slower systems, then you might be pushing Stanford harder and harder to make a change. Be careful what you wish for.
7im

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[Athlonite]

To smack323, congrats! Just one note, you have to finish at least 10 SMP WU's to get a big-adv work unit. You won't always get a Big-adv WU all the time. I hope you entered a passkey. I hope all goes well, but I feel that a I5 is not what F@H had in mind with the big-adv WU's.

I got through 8 bigadv WU's and it started picking up normal WU's so missed out on the bonus point 10 bigadv wu 's return policy and i was all like FU bloody F@G