GPU folding issue

[Toconator]

I've got a weird issue with GPU folding. I have the GPU3 systray client installed in the root of C:\ instead of Progam Files to avoid potential permission conflicts. The client is set to start up under All Users as an administrator so it shouldn't matter who logs on first or in the event of a reboot. The client runs fine until someone with Standard User access runs a game with 3D acceleration, then it hangs. If I login under my account with Admin priviledges I can quit the client and restart and it runs where it left off. This is costing me (and the Horde) alot of PPD from a GTX460 (RMA) GTX550Ti (subbing in until the 460 gets back). I've never had this problem before with other PCs. The Windows 7 install is very recent and it's a secondary PC so there's not alot on it but a few games and a bit torrent client which is rarely used. Thoughts or suggestions?

 

[rhavern]

I have an answer for you, not a good answer, but an answer nonetheless.

After XP, Microsoft changed OS access to the GPU, to in theory, make the OS more secure. Now, in order to access the GPU, a user needs to be logged in. In XP you could run the v6 GPU client as a service, which was always my choice. Since then, someone needs to be logged in and the client has issues with fast user switching. I expect this may be part of your current issue.

The solution? Run XP and GPU client as a service, however this may bump you into another issue. There is a setting in the nvidia control panel for prefer maximum performance, which is NOT the default and, here's the kicker, is not available in the XP drivers. On Fermi GPUs, they have a tendancy to downclock to 2D speeds without that setting. I've been able to get around this by disabling the screen saver in XP, there is a thread on the foldingforum about this.

Another solution I've used is to set W7 to auto-login and use the systray client in the startup folder. Most likely this works better for a dedicated folder. Hope this helps, YMMV.

 

[Toconator]

Hmmm, will try the max performance setting in the driver and post results. I'm running W7 on the boxen in question and the systray client is set to startup under 'All Users' so it will fold no matter who logs on first. I'm guessing the more secure driver calls in W7 might indeed have something to do with it and this is the first I've heard that fast user switching might be affecting it. The switch from an Admin account to a Standard account might also be a factor but I've got a Vista 32 bit boxen that doesn't have issues with the switching or Admin/Standard accounts. It's just a big pain in the ass to have to remember to login to this PC late every nite to make sure folding is still running. Thanks for the feedback

 

[Toconator]

I set the vidcard to prefer max performance in the power settings in the NVidia control panel and so far so good. I switched users several times and ran 3D games and switched back, logged off and on, etc. and folding client is still running. Hafta check each GPU that's folding after driver updates from now on to ensure no more interruptions. Thanks for getting me in the ball park rhavern moar D for the Horde!

 

[titan97]

Does your GPU continue to fold for each user, even when switching users? I have a GTX 460 running on Win7 x64 Ultimate, F@H v7. When I switch users (via Fast User Switching), my GPU client fails after not finding a compatible video card. If I disable Fast User Switching, the Client won't start except for the first user to logon (my account, via auto-logon).

 

[FrEaKy]

Try this, I posted it in titan97's post

You may have to add a string value to the registry that actually tells the client to start up on all users login. If you have a server it would be super easy via a group policy, but on a single machine, you will have to go directly into the registry and enter the string value to start up the actual client.

Quote:
Add a new startup application
Open your registry and find the key [HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ Run].

For each program you want to start automatically create a new string value using a descriptive name, and set the value of the string to the program executable.

For example, to automatically start Notepad, add a new entry of "Notepad"="c:\windows\notepad.exe".
<-- snip-it from: http://www.pctools.com/guides/registry/detail/109/

Using this method your also capable of telling the client to add in your -smp or -advmethod tags as well to the end of the string.... exp: ' "c:\folding@HomeSMP\Folding@home-w32.exe" -smp -advmethods '