ATI client vs. nVIDIA client

[leSLIe]

So after the recent reviews i´m very tempted to buy a couple of Radeons HD 4850

so i wanted to know what are the differences between these two clients in terms of PPDs, and is Stanford planning to release an update for this client ? (with the help from ATI of course)

 

[Kendrak]

/subscribed

I'm about to click the order button on a 4850 myself

 

[metallicafan]

so i wanted to know what are the differences between these two clients

Umm . . . One uses ATI hardware and one uses Nvidia hardware?

j/k It seems to me the ATI client is a little more dependent on a powerful CPU but I havent got my hands on a 4800 series yet though so I'm not sure about the new series.

I think about the best PPD the 3870 can do is about 2300 PPD. If anyone can do better than that I would be very interested in the configuration of your machine.

 

[APOLLO]

Hi leSLIe,

According to this FCF thread the new 4850 isn't doing all that well. Both M. Huston and Xilikon stated that the client will see improvements and eventually take better advantage of key core advancements, but no word on when that will transpire. Another problem is the high CPU utilization. The present low PPD and high CPU usage are two reasons I have decided that Ati isn't the best choice for folding at this juncture, and won't be considering these cards. Too bad, they're amazing for everything else at that price point.

If you're looking for a fast pure folding BFB get a 8800GT. If gaming is paramount get a 4850 or better yet, a 4870, that is if you don't mind to wait for client improvements.

 

[leSLIe]

.If you're looking for a fast pure folding BFB get a 8800GT. If gaming is paramount get a 4850 or better yet, a 4870, that is if you don't mind to wait for client improvements.

yeah, i´d say that gaming is paramount
i have a crossfire mobo laying around so that gave me the idea. And u could get 2 Radeons HD 4850 for almost the price of one GTX 260 Kudos to ATI !!!

 

[APOLLO]

yeah, i´d say that gaming is paramount
i have a crossfire mobo laying around so that gave me the idea. And u could get 2 Radeons HD 4850 for altmost the price of one GTX 260 Kudos to ATI !!!

Thank the gods Ati didn't blunder this year and released awesome products for an even more awesome price. Unfortunately, their folding performance isn't what I'd call impressive given the microarchitecural advancements recently made to their GPU.

 

[leSLIe]

Unfortunately, their folding performance isn't what I'd call impressive given the microarchitecural advancements recently made to their GPU.

indeed, the ATI client needs a major overhaul

 

[BassTek]

EvilAlchemist has a few 4850's (link), so far he's getting about 1450ppd. So for purely folding it wouldn't make sense to get them, 3000ppd is a lot to make up solely on driver tweaks, leaving the 8800GT is the budget champ in that area.

If you plan to game, I would probably say wait for the 4870 as it's a monster, and you can always add a second once prices drop.

 

[[H]ugh_Freak]

I think about the best PPD the 3870 can do is about 2300 PPD. If anyone can do better than that I would be very interested in the configuration of your machine.

I'm using a 3870.. right now my clocks are 850 core and 1225 mem.
On the 192-193 point WUs (which is all I've gotten the last week or 2) I'm getting 2380 PpD according to FahMon. At least I do when I'm not using the computer.. drops to around 2350 when browsing the web or 2320 when watching videos. Using a Q6600 clocked at 3.42GHz (9x380)

 

[FLECOM]

i just wish the NVidia client could handle multiple cards per machine... i have a few machines with 2~3 PCIe x16 slots

 

[APOLLO]

i just wish the NVidia client could handle multiple cards per machine... i have a few machines with 2~3 PCIe x16 slots

Have you tried it yet? I've seen a few people like Evil Alchemist posted that they run multiple GPU2 clients but I imagine that will require more than one core.

 

[SmokeRngs]

I'm using a 3870.. right now my clocks are 850 core and 1225 mem.
On the 192-193 point WUs (which is all I've gotten the last week or 2) I'm getting 2380 PpD according to FahMon. At least I do when I'm not using the computer.. drops to around 2350 when browsing the web or 2320 when watching videos. Using a Q6600 clocked at 3.42GHz (9x380)

Heh, at least you can do things like watch videos while using the card for folding. I tried gaming and watching videos while folding on my 8800GT and it was a no go. Either I would get practically endless EUEs on the folding and/or the game/video wouldn't play for a damn.

 

[Xilikon]

Have you tried it yet? I've seen a few people like Evil Alchemist posted that they run multiple GPU2 clients but I imagine that will require more than one core.

It's possible with the ATI client but not with NVIDIA's. However, the possibility should be available soon (their words) for those who have multi-GPU. I can say it would be a great day when this happen

 

[HighYield]

Heh, at least you can do things like watch videos while using the card for folding. I tried gaming and watching videos while folding on my 8800GT and it was a no go. Either I would get practically endless EUEs on the folding and/or the game/video wouldn't play for a damn.

I don't know how this compares to your situation. I watched a DVD last night on my main rig (Q6600@3.2, vista 64 bit, 4 gig ram, 8800 GTX, 2 instances of SMP and the GPU client running). I did notice the ppd dropped a bit while watching, but the video played back ok. I am on 177.35 drivers. I know folks would prefer we didn't run the 2 instances of SMP with the GPU client, but I haven't had any trouble getting the WUs in well before the preferred deadline.

 

[EvilAlchemist]

I think in time the ati client will get up there with nVidia ...

But at the moment - ati is getting their but kicked ....

I do caution people, that right now we are running very small WU's ...

When the big WU's hit, it might be a whole different ballgame ...

I would suggest upgrading only if you need it , until we know some better numbers and better drivers / improved cores come out

 

[SmokeRngs]

I don't know how this compares to your situation. I watched a DVD last night on my main rig (Q6600@3.2, vista 64 bit, 4 gig ram, 8800 GTX, 2 instances of SMP and the GPU client running). I did notice the ppd dropped a bit while watching, but the video played back ok. I am on 177.35 drivers. I know folks would prefer we didn't run the 2 instances of SMP with the GPU client, but I haven't had any trouble getting the WUs in well before the preferred deadline.

I was attempting to watch movies I had ripped from DVDs and encoded using x.264. It did not like it at all. I'm not sure what the deal about it is exactly, but it didn't work out.

It's a moot point right now since I have Linux installed as my main OS again since I got my new hard drive. There are only two ways this 8800GT will see folding anytime soon. If I get a new video card for my main rig and I move this 8800GT to another system (don't see it happening until next Spring at the earliest) or they come out with a Linux client (I'm betting hell will freeze over first).

 

[HighYield]

... or they come out with a Linux client (I'm betting hell will freeze over first).

I hope you are wrong about that (but deep down I know you are right). The thought of having to replace a perfectly good Linux OS with Windowz just to make my gpu go leaves me very cold. Bill has enough of my money already!

 

[Kendrak]

I hope you are wrong about that (but deep down I know you are right). The thought of having to replace a perfectly good Linux OS with Windowz just to make my gpu go leaves me very cold. Bill has enough of my money already!

I got vista for 38 bucks.

Amazon had vista upgrades on sale and I have a 50 gift cert. So far I'm liking it.... and I should get another gift card in a month (got to love credit card rewards)