Help me not be a noob!

Just figured I'd come in here and ask how I can help the [H]orde churn some data! I looked through the guides and even got a windows client working, but it doesn't seem to use more than 25% of my c2q and 50% of my server's c2d. I think I'm missing something here.

I've got two machines available to start with, and possibly more when I figure this all out and get more comfortable with the clients.

Server:
Core 2 Duo E6750 @ stock
8400GS @ stock currently attached to a monitor

PC:
Core 2 Quad Q6600 @ 3.0
GTX 275 @ 720-1500-2500 currently attached to a monitor
8800GT @ stock
9500GT @ stock currently attached to a monitor

Which versions, clients, etc should I use? Which guide?

Thanks in advance guys

Here you go, here's for starters - keep asking the questions, that's how we all got started around here:

For the 8800GT & 9500GT, use the GPU2 client & this guide:
http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1032943611&postcount=4

You'll also want to take a look at this guide for how to run two instances of the GPU client on the same machine:
http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1032943617&postcount=5
As for the 8400GS, you can try running it using the first link above, but it won't put up a large amount of points, and may have trouble completing the larger work units. But what about that 275 in your sig? That's where the REAL points are at!

On to the CPUs - are you using the regular client or the SMP client? Since 25% of a quad and 50% of a dual are both 1 core, I'm guessing you're running the single CPU client. Check out these guides to see which one you're running and how to set up the SMP one if you're not running it:
http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1032943603&postcount=2
and http://www.hardforum.com/showpost.php?p=1032943603&postcount=3
I'll leave it to the veteran CPU folders to explain which is which, I've always just used the first link for the MPICH client without any issues. Someone here have also had luck running 2 SMP clients on their Quads, each limited to 2 cores, for better performance, and I'll leave that to those better informed than me as well.

Also make note that if you're running XP on your dual GPU system you're fine, but if you're running Vista or Win 7 (or plan to), you need a dummy plug to enable the second monitor:
http://www.hardforum.com/showthread.php?t=1426220&highlight=dummy+plug

And from personal experience, the last thought is to make sure that your 8800GT is in the primary PCI-E slot and the 9500 is in the secondary slot, or the 32 shader processors on the 95 will limit the 112 SP's on the 88, and you'll get MUCH lower production from the 88.

Oh yeah - and welcome to the addiction!

I've got the 275 as my main GPU, shall I just use that as a GPU2 client on its own, and use the 8800 as a secondary as I only have two screens to trick windows with?

saedrin said:

I've got the 275 as my main GPU, shall I just use that as a GPU2 client on its own, and use the 8800 as a secondary as I only have two screens to trick windows with?

Click to expand...

You can't actually fold on a GT200 GPU and a G9x or G8x GPU in the same system, unfortunately. So you'll have to either just fold on the GTX275, or move either it or the 8800GT into another system (or both the 8800GT and 9500GT into a different system if you want to fold on the 9500GT as well).

So how about this, GTX275 in my PC folding, with the 8400GS there just for the second screen and not folding, and the server gets the 8800GT and the 9500GT both folding?

That should work great .

Alrighty then I'll have to start swapping cards around then. I was planning on using the 8800 as physx but considering I'll go with a GT300 series card when they're released and nothing I play uses it anyways...

Edit: bah, just going to sell the 8800GT to the roomie so he can SLI his current card. Saves me having to find another power cable in the server box too..

So 6 cpu cores and a 275 and 9500. Should get at least some decent speed.

Thanks Zero, that's what I was trying to say, but just didn't get it coherent... Too many hours of Guild Wars before posting isn't a good idea!

Remember, the 8800GT with it's 112 SP's will get you 4-5K point per day depending on the shader OC, but the 9500 will be lucky to give you 1-1.2K. I have an 8600GT, same 32 SP's as the 95, and that's the best I've done with a 200 Mhz OC on the SPs. Key to GPU folding & nVidia cards is that the more SPs, the more points. But just those two cards (275 + 9500) and the 2 CPUs will easily put you over 10K ppd, possibly 12K with the right tweaks. So if ya want the extra cash, cool, sell the 88, but for max points, put the 88 & 95 in the same machine and fold on both - can you use the 84 just for PhysX supporting the 275 on the PC system?

Christ that's alot more... Hmmm..

Alright.

8800 and the 8400 in the server box, which is fine, and the 275 gpu in my PC, which is already setup for it..

That sounds like the best choice. After I finish putting this xbox back into its case I'll start fiddling.

You will have the start of a nice little garden there.

Welcome to the addiction.

Welcome!!!

Definitely lots of good advice. The Windows SMP client is a good start, but if you're just a tiny bit more adventurous using VMs to run Linux SMPs via either notfred's or a linux (Ubuntu 8.04 is my fav) you can increase your overall PpD. There is a guide for using notfred's via VMWare Player here.

You have some nice hardware.

Thanks for joining Team 33!

There are a bunch of nice people here who are ready to help.

As Jathanis said above, I use the first link for the MPICH client without any issues.

Have a beer and some tamales along with some popcorn!

Alright working on getting the c2d client up and running, I'm using the guide for the high performance SMP MPICH client, and after setting everything up it starts running well, but only at 50-60% CPU usage, split across both cores....

Ideas?

Anyone have any issues with the GPU2 client and ATI cards?

I am using a 4870 with Catalyst 9.6 (Win 7 RC) and the GPU2 client won't run for more then 30 seconds before the drivers crash. So far the OS has restarted the drivers each time, but can't make any progress like this.

Any ideas?

saedrin said:

Alright working on getting the c2d client up and running, I'm using the guide for the high performance SMP MPICH client, and after setting everything up it starts running well, but only at 50-60% CPU usage, split across both cores....

Ideas?

Click to expand...

Are you running it with the -smp flag? Check Task Manager and make sure that you have four fahcore_a1.exe processes running. If that is the case, check your configuration settings and make sure that F@H is configured to use 100% of your CPU.

RabidSmurf said:

Anyone have any issues with the GPU2 client and ATI cards?

I am using a 4870 with Catalyst 9.6 (Win 7 RC) and the GPU2 client won't run for more then 30 seconds before the drivers crash. So far the OS has restarted the drivers each time, but can't make any progress like this.

Any ideas?

Click to expand...

Start a new thread for your question; it doesn't belong here.

Zero82z said:

Are you running it with the -smp flag? Check Task Manager and make sure that you have four fahcore_a1.exe processes running. If that is the case, check your configuration settings and make sure that F@H is configured to use 100% of your CPU.

Click to expand...

Yeah I figured as much, I forgot the -smp flag clearly. Working fine now, both on the cpu and gpu clients.

Thank for joining the mighty [H]orde brother/sister saedrin Don't sweat the "noob" thing too much, even Einstein was a 'noob" in math compared to God. (or whomever or whatever you claim as a higher power)

There shore is some mighty good advice in this thread. Some of this teams dudes and dude etts know what they's talkin' about