bit-tech.net

coolamasta · 5th Feb 2010, 18:12

I've not touched Windows SMP clients with a barge pole since the NotFred Virtual machine became available but now the A3 core is available offering bonus's I thought I would have a play and see what the new hype was about and show you 3 of my Intel CPU's I tried out to see how they score against the Virtual machines!

Green = best PPD | Red = Worst PPD | Orange = Medium PPD if not running BigAdv

The VMware Notfred for normal Duals & Quads still produces the best PPD but with the Bonus that is being put on the A3 cores they aren't all that far off Linux PPD although without the bonus they would still be really bad! (see A3 without bonus column)

Interesting one though is with the A3 bonus on a fast i7 CPU the PPD is almost double to that of a NotFred VM but then the BigAdv comes along and blows that out the water anyway!

All interesting stuff anyway but its still best to stick with the NotFred VM's if you want to get maximum PPD out of you're rig although im glad to see the bonus is making the Windows SMP option better for people who still don't want to mess with VM technology

What are you all getting with the Windows A3 cores out of interest, any AMD users using A3's?

Cheers all

Christopher N. Lew · 5th Feb 2010, 19:03

Interesting numbers, I'll have to look at mine soon.
Could you clarify one point, are you running BigAdv units in Windows 7, or native Linux?

saspro · 5th Feb 2010, 19:26

Interesting. With an i7 at stock running the new 6.29 8 core vm image from EVGA I'm getting 9k ppd inc bonus with a gpu running as well.

Taffy · 5th Feb 2010, 19:30

Re A3,s I am running A3's on my second rig with the X3 720and have completed about 12 so far, on a P6013 worth 380 points i an getting 572ppd
On the 955 rig running a Vm3 SMP worth 1760 points I am getting anything between 1920 to 4180 ppd, why it varies so much I do not know

Both CPU's running at stock

Bonus I do not have a clue as to how much I am getting.

Tesla effect · 5th Feb 2010, 19:54

Different projects give better bonus. I've got project 6021 (R0, C147, G5) folding now on my Q6600 & HFM.net reports 6204.9 PPD. Credit is 2600. This on Ubuntu 9.04, SMP client 6.29 64bit & core version 2.13.

I have seen the same PPD that Coolamasta has reported but I haven't noted what project that was on.

My E8600 is doing 5038 PPD, project 6023 (R0, C98, G5) credit 2391. This is on WinXP 32bit home using 6.29 beta for Deino MPI. Core version 2.14

Norfolk'N'Good · 5th Feb 2010, 19:59

Do you still need a Windows password on this A3 smp?

Tesla effect · 5th Feb 2010, 20:21

Here's a screen shot

Note how the PPD has dropped on the E8600 since I've been p155ing about with paint & photobucket

Tesla effect · 5th Feb 2010, 20:35

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norfolk'N'Good

Do you still need a Windows password on this A3 smp?

Yes, its a pain but you can disable the screensaver lock. It's crazy that Linux SMP is easier than installing Deino MPI. I guess it's fear of CMD.exe prompt... Is there such a phobia?

Tesla effect · 6th Feb 2010, 02:21

It looks like GPU core version 1.31 adversely affects the CPU processing SMP A3 units quite a bit. GPU core version 1.26 doesn't seem to cause the CPU to drop ppd.

My Q6600 is now reporting 4271 PPD on the same WU whilst my two Gainward 260's process 353 pointers under WINE. They were working on 1888 pointers when my PPD looked great. It seems like its pot luck what PPD you will get with the A3 units depending on what GPU WU's you pick up. Unless your only folding on the CPU.

Tesla effect · 6th Feb 2010, 02:24

PS just swapped my Bequiet Dark Power pro 650W for a Corsair HX850. My evga GTX 260 SSC is now back in action. Weird, the machine seemed to boot like it was on speed.

saspro · 6th Feb 2010, 07:41

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norfolk'N'Good

Do you still need a Windows password on this A3 smp?

Do the following on XP to stop you having to type the password in when you turn the machine on

Click Start, and then click Run.

In the Open box, type control userpasswords2, and then click OK.

Clear the "Users must enter a user name and password to use this computer" check box, and then click Apply.

In the Automatically Log On window, type the password in the Password box, and then retype the password in the Confirm Password box.

Click OK to close the Automatically Log On window, and then click OK to close the User Accounts window.

Norfolk'N'Good · 6th Feb 2010, 08:35

Thanks Saspro, i might give that a go when i my notfred finishes.

Lizard · 6th Feb 2010, 11:21

According to this bonus points calculator my Core i7-975 overclocked to 4GHz should now be generating 11,120ppd rather than 2,532ppd on the old A1 Windows SMP client. This is folding project 6012.

So cudos to Stanford to producing a far more efficient Windows SMP client.

However, the CPU is now running considerably hotter than before. I've already ramped up the fans on the radiator from 5V to 7V, but the temperature still gets too hot and causes a BSOD after about 10-15 mins of folding.

I'm reluctant to give the fans their full 12V (its my main gaming rig sat right next to me), so I'm only running the GPU client on the GTX 285 for now until I decide whether to invest in a bigger radiator/new case etc...

coolamasta · 6th Feb 2010, 18:50

Hmm interesting stuff people

I've noticed the same actually James - my water cooled i7 @ 4.2 runs a good 4-5 degrees hotter that it does running a BigAdv! it certainly works those cores!

I've added a E8400 now as well to my table, this one actually seems to be produce more PPD than on a NotFred VM!

Norfolk'N'Good · 6th Feb 2010, 19:11

Mmmm I seem to be only getting around 1500 from my E8400 on notfred with a little more on the 1720 pointer, so when it finish tomorrow i might have to defo give the A3 a go.

coolamasta · 6th Feb 2010, 19:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christopher N. Lew

Could you clarify one point, are you running BigAdv units in Windows 7, or native Linux?

Oh yeah meant to say that the BigAdv im running is a Virtual Machine but not the EVGA one, im using the new NotFred that's BigAdv capable, see here - http://forums.bit-tech.net/showthread.php?t=181923

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norfolk'N'Good

Mmmm I seem to be only getting around 1500 from my E8400 on notfred with a little more on the 1720 pointer, so when it finish tomorrow i might have to defo give the A3 a go.

That is low from a E8400 mate, is it a dedicated machine or used for other things while folding?

Norfolk'N'Good · 6th Feb 2010, 19:59

Just general web / mail use but it mainly sits there 24/7 folding with two 8800gt in. Using vmware player 3.0, but memory slider is greyed out so stuck at 1gb mem alocated, could it be lack of memory?

A3 questions

1. Does the bounus points thingy get alocated automatically? or is it this passkey needed?
2. Is it Deino MPI or MPICH version you are using?

coolamasta · 6th Feb 2010, 20:03

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norfolk'N'Good

Just general web / mail use but it mainly sits there 24/7 folding with two 8800gt in. Using vmware player 3.0, but memory slider is greyed out so stuck at 1gb mem alocated, could it be lack of memory?

A3 questions

1. Does the bounus points thingy get alocated automatically? or is it this passkey needed?
2. Is it Deino MPI or MPICH version you are using?

That'll be why then, the 8800GT's will be using CPU time thus dropping the CPU PPD, 1 GB ram is ok for a dual core VM folding, need for for ideally for a quad though if you want to keep high reliability

Yes passkey is required for any of the bonus's as far as im aware
I use MPICH as it has 64-bit support

Norfolk'N'Good · 6th Feb 2010, 20:48

Thanks for your help coolamasta, have some + rep

coolamasta · 6th Feb 2010, 21:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by Norfolk'N'Good

Thanks for your help coolamasta, have some + rep

Thanks bud, yer welcome

5th Feb 2010, 18:12	#1
coolamasta Folding@Home CC Captain 2010/11/12 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sunny Brizzol! Posts: 2,341	My Windows SMP FahCore_A3 findings... I've not touched Windows SMP clients with a barge pole since the NotFred Virtual machine became available but now the A3 core is available offering bonus's I thought I would have a play and see what the new hype was about and show you 3 of my Intel CPU's I tried out to see how they score against the Virtual machines! Green = best PPD \| Red = Worst PPD \| Orange = Medium PPD if not running BigAdv The VMware Notfred for normal Duals & Quads still produces the best PPD but with the Bonus that is being put on the A3 cores they aren't all that far off Linux PPD although without the bonus they would still be really bad! (see A3 without bonus column) Interesting one though is with the A3 bonus on a fast i7 CPU the PPD is almost double to that of a NotFred VM but then the BigAdv comes along and blows that out the water anyway! All interesting stuff anyway but its still best to stick with the NotFred VM's if you want to get maximum PPD out of you're rig although im glad to see the bonus is making the Windows SMP option better for people who still don't want to mess with VM technology What are you all getting with the Windows A3 cores out of interest, any AMD users using A3's? Cheers all __________________ My Main Rigs:~ H2O'd i7 3770K @ 4.5 - 16GB - H2O'd GTX 670 \| Asus Z9PE-W8, EP-Xeon 2670 @ 3.2 - 16GB \| ~~~ My Current Dual EP-Xeon 2670 Project ~~~ \| ~~~ My Mitsubishi Evo Track Car Project ~~~ \| Last edited by coolamasta; 6th Feb 2010 at 18:42.

5th Feb 2010, 19:03	#2
Christopher N. Lew Folding in memory of my father Join Date: Apr 2009 Posts: 1,325	Interesting numbers, I'll have to look at mine soon. Could you clarify one point, are you running BigAdv units in Windows 7, or native Linux? __________________

5th Feb 2010, 19:26	#3
saspro Infrastructure Specialist Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Kingston upon Thames Posts: 8,498	Interesting. With an i7 at stock running the new 6.29 8 core vm image from EVGA I'm getting 9k ppd inc bonus with a gpu running as well. __________________ If what I've said helps you please remember to hit the rep button on the left Missing the old meeting place? Find us here

5th Feb 2010, 19:30	#4
Taffy Folding for Margaret 17/3/2011 RIP Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Exiled in Staffordshire Posts: 545	Re A3,s I am running A3's on my second rig with the X3 720and have completed about 12 so far, on a P6013 worth 380 points i an getting 572ppd On the 955 rig running a Vm3 SMP worth 1760 points I am getting anything between 1920 to 4180 ppd, why it varies so much I do not know Both CPU's running at stock Bonus I do not have a clue as to how much I am getting. __________________ 1) MSI 790FX-GD70, AMD PH.II X4 955, 4GB Corsair DDR3, 2 X GTX 275, 1000W PSU in Lian Li 2100. 2) MSI 790FX-GD70, AMD PH II X3 720, 4GB Corsair DDR3, 1 X GTX 275 600W PSU in Lian Li 1100. Alienware M17x-R2 folding on i5 520M

5th Feb 2010, 19:54	#5
Tesla effect AKA ZombieKiller1 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Manchester Posts: 499	Different projects give better bonus. I've got project 6021 (R0, C147, G5) folding now on my Q6600 & HFM.net reports 6204.9 PPD. Credit is 2600. This on Ubuntu 9.04, SMP client 6.29 64bit & core version 2.13. I have seen the same PPD that Coolamasta has reported but I haven't noted what project that was on. My E8600 is doing 5038 PPD, project 6023 (R0, C98, G5) credit 2391. This is on WinXP 32bit home using 6.29 beta for Deino MPI. Core version 2.14 __________________

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5th Feb 2010, 19:59	#6
Norfolk'N'Good Folding Chimp Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Deepest Darkest Norfolk, UK Posts: 278	Do you still need a Windows password on this A3 smp? __________________ P5Q Pro - E8400@3.6ghz - 4gbOCZ Gold - 2x XFX Alfadog 8800GT - Antec 300 - OCZ SteathXStream 600w Folding for my family.

5th Feb 2010, 20:21	#7
Tesla effect AKA ZombieKiller1 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Manchester Posts: 499	Here's a screen shot Note how the PPD has dropped on the E8600 since I've been p155ing about with paint & photobucket __________________ Last edited by Tesla effect; 5th Feb 2010 at 21:13. Reason: I is a photobucket nub

6th Feb 2010, 02:21	#9
Tesla effect AKA ZombieKiller1 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Manchester Posts: 499	It looks like GPU core version 1.31 adversely affects the CPU processing SMP A3 units quite a bit. GPU core version 1.26 doesn't seem to cause the CPU to drop ppd. My Q6600 is now reporting 4271 PPD on the same WU whilst my two Gainward 260's process 353 pointers under WINE. They were working on 1888 pointers when my PPD looked great. It seems like its pot luck what PPD you will get with the A3 units depending on what GPU WU's you pick up. Unless your only folding on the CPU. __________________

6th Feb 2010, 02:24	#10
Tesla effect AKA ZombieKiller1 Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Manchester Posts: 499	PS just swapped my Bequiet Dark Power pro 650W for a Corsair HX850. My evga GTX 260 SSC is now back in action. Weird, the machine seemed to boot like it was on speed. __________________

6th Feb 2010, 08:35	#12
Norfolk'N'Good Folding Chimp Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Deepest Darkest Norfolk, UK Posts: 278	Thanks Saspro, i might give that a go when i my notfred finishes. __________________ P5Q Pro - E8400@3.6ghz - 4gbOCZ Gold - 2x XFX Alfadog 8800GT - Antec 300 - OCZ SteathXStream 600w Folding for my family.

6th Feb 2010, 11:21	#13
Lizard @ Scan R&D Moderator Join Date: Feb 2007 Posts: 2,890	According to this bonus points calculator my Core i7-975 overclocked to 4GHz should now be generating 11,120ppd rather than 2,532ppd on the old A1 Windows SMP client. This is folding project 6012. So cudos to Stanford to producing a far more efficient Windows SMP client. However, the CPU is now running considerably hotter than before. I've already ramped up the fans on the radiator from 5V to 7V, but the temperature still gets too hot and causes a BSOD after about 10-15 mins of folding. I'm reluctant to give the fans their full 12V (its my main gaming rig sat right next to me), so I'm only running the GPU client on the GTX 285 for now until I decide whether to invest in a bigger radiator/new case etc...

6th Feb 2010, 18:50	#14
coolamasta Folding@Home CC Captain 2010/11/12 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Sunny Brizzol! Posts: 2,341	Hmm interesting stuff people I've noticed the same actually James - my water cooled i7 @ 4.2 runs a good 4-5 degrees hotter that it does running a BigAdv! it certainly works those cores! I've added a E8400 now as well to my table, this one actually seems to be produce more PPD than on a NotFred VM! __________________ My Main Rigs:~ H2O'd i7 3770K @ 4.5 - 16GB - H2O'd GTX 670 \| Asus Z9PE-W8, EP-Xeon 2670 @ 3.2 - 16GB \| ~~~ My Current Dual EP-Xeon 2670 Project ~~~ \| ~~~ My Mitsubishi Evo Track Car Project ~~~ \|

6th Feb 2010, 19:11	#15
Norfolk'N'Good Folding Chimp Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Deepest Darkest Norfolk, UK Posts: 278	Mmmm I seem to be only getting around 1500 from my E8400 on notfred with a little more on the 1720 pointer, so when it finish tomorrow i might have to defo give the A3 a go. __________________ P5Q Pro - E8400@3.6ghz - 4gbOCZ Gold - 2x XFX Alfadog 8800GT - Antec 300 - OCZ SteathXStream 600w Folding for my family.

6th Feb 2010, 19:59	#17
Norfolk'N'Good Folding Chimp Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Deepest Darkest Norfolk, UK Posts: 278	Just general web / mail use but it mainly sits there 24/7 folding with two 8800gt in. Using vmware player 3.0, but memory slider is greyed out so stuck at 1gb mem alocated, could it be lack of memory? A3 questions 1. Does the bounus points thingy get alocated automatically? or is it this passkey needed? 2. Is it Deino MPI or MPICH version you are using? __________________ P5Q Pro - E8400@3.6ghz - 4gbOCZ Gold - 2x XFX Alfadog 8800GT - Antec 300 - OCZ SteathXStream 600w Folding for my family.

6th Feb 2010, 20:48	#19
Norfolk'N'Good Folding Chimp Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Deepest Darkest Norfolk, UK Posts: 278	Thanks for your help coolamasta, have some + rep __________________ P5Q Pro - E8400@3.6ghz - 4gbOCZ Gold - 2x XFX Alfadog 8800GT - Antec 300 - OCZ SteathXStream 600w Folding for my family.