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GPU3/Fermi causes computer to stutter randomly

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Brak710

[H]ard|Gawd
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Oct 27, 2008
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I need some help with this, as it's hurting the amount of time I can run what used to be a nearly 24/7 folding rig.

I run GPU Tracker with two GPU3s and one SMP (using only 3 cores) client running. Occasionally my computer will seemingly hard-lock, but it I give it a second, it will start "working" again with extreme stuttering. During this time of stuttering, can slowly open task manger and kill the GPU3 clients. Magically, the computer is perfectly fine again. Usually once this happens, I can't start the GPU clients again until I reboot the computer, otherwise the stuttering starts back up instantly.

Anyone have any clue what is causing this?

I am using the latest drivers, and it seemingly doesn't matter what WU I'm doing (-advmethods or not both show the same issue.)
My cards are GTX460 1GBs in SLI, and the CPU is a Q6600 @2.6GHz w/ 4GB RAM.
 
its either 1 of two things.
1. a driver issue
2. unstable overclock..

both of which have happened to me over the 3 years of gpu folding, so mess around with the overclock and see what happens or go back to the last drivers that didn't have the issue.
 
especially if you are getting the new advmethods GPU3 WUs.... they are HOT... and will mess with any overclock, I had to back all 3 of my Fermi cards off just a little.

if your WUs are worth 5187 points... think about backing off the OC...or raising the fan speed if you are running stock.
 
jfb9301 said:
especially if you are getting the new advmethods GPU3 WUs.... they are HOT... and will mess with any overclock, I had to back all 3 of my Fermi cards off just a little.

if your WUs are worth 5187 points... think about backing off the OC...or raising the fan speed if you are running stock.
Click to expand...

I had to take the -advmethods off my GPU client it was making my 560ti run in the 90C range. Way too hot for my taste.
 
I'm having what sounds like a very similar issue. I also have 460's SLI'd, but am not folding SMP currently. While sitting at the desktop, I watch EVGA Precision and things are folding away happily. As soon as I attempt to open a program - Chrome, for example - the stuttering you described begins. The GPU usage on both cards will bounce up and down from 0% to ~60%. Using the v7 client, I 'quit' folding and a few moments later things stabilize. But if I attempt to restart folding the problem persists. Only after a restart am I able to begin folding again. Of note, if I quit folding before attempting to use the comp, I am able to start folding again after I'm done reading the forums and checking my stats. The only change I've made is adding a second monitor. With the second monitor disabled, everything operates normally. My assumption was a combination of 460's, SLI, multi monitor, and folding was causing the problem as I've had zero issues folding the new WU's on my SLI'd 460's before adding the monitor.
 
I was also seeing some weird desktop behavior (and lower PPD) using 27X.XX and 28X.XX drivers.

Rolled back to 26X.XX and things were improved and moar PPD.
 
Jester14 said:
I'm having what sounds like a very similar issue. I also have 460's SLI'd, but am not folding SMP currently. While sitting at the desktop, I watch EVGA Precision and things are folding away happily. As soon as I attempt to open a program - Chrome, for example - the stuttering you described begins. The GPU usage on both cards will bounce up and down from 0% to ~60%. Using the v7 client, I 'quit' folding and a few moments later things stabilize. But if I attempt to restart folding the problem persists. Only after a restart am I able to begin folding again. Of note, if I quit folding before attempting to use the comp, I am able to start folding again after I'm done reading the forums and checking my stats. The only change I've made is adding a second monitor. With the second monitor disabled, everything operates normally. My assumption was a combination of 460's, SLI, multi monitor, and folding was causing the problem as I've had zero issues folding the new WU's on my SLI'd 460's before adding the monitor.
Click to expand...

Well this is certainly the same issue. I, too, use dual monitors. Although, this only started recently and I'd used the monitors for a while. What drivers are you running?
 
Brak710 said:
Well this is certainly the same issue. I, too, use dual monitors. Although, this only started recently and I'd used the monitors for a while. What drivers are you running?
Click to expand...

I'm running the newest 280.26 drivers and I got my second monitor after these drivers were released. Maybe jfb9301 has our solution in rolling back to 26X.XX.
 
Jester14 said:
I'm running the newest 280.26 drivers and I got my second monitor after these drivers were released. Maybe jfb9301 has our solution in rolling back to 26X.XX.
Click to expand...

Indeed, I'll install them now and report back.
 
Also dual monitor here...

The only major difference I see here is, I'm running the latest v6 console client GPU3 with advmethods. Looks like you both are running v7, and I have not seen data back on the advmethods.

My 970 is a Hex with HT. With SMP running -smp 12 -bigadv, I have "some" desktop delays, but no issues with folding. Setting -smp 10 -bigadv makes my desktop smooth and fluid. The machine is still very usable, but you can tell the CPU is about maxed out, and folding is not as gracious about giving up cpu resources. This machine is an almost dedicated folder, as I do not game much (but when I do game it is a gaming monster).
 
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I just checked, I'm running the 266.58 driver version, the drivers I had trouble with were 275.?? and 280.?? both were the WHQL driver release.
 
Seems we've narrowed it down to drivers or client version. If Brak710 reports back still having troubles on the 260 drivers, I'll switch to the v6 client or GPU Tracker and see if that helps. I'm two hours out on one WU, though. I'd like to finish that first.

jfb9301 said:
Also dual monitor here...

The only major difference I see here is, I'm running the latest v6 console client GPU3 with advmethods. Looks like you both are running v7, and I have not seen data back on the advmethods.

My 970 is a Hex with HT. With SMP running -smp 12 -bigadv, I have "some" desktop delays, but no issues with folding. Setting -smp 10 -bigadv makes my desktop smooth and fluid. The machine is still very usable, but you can tell the CPU is about maxed out, and folding is not as gracious about giving up cpu resources. This machine is an almost dedicated folder, as I do not game much (but when I do game it is a gaming monster).
Click to expand...
 
System seems to remain laggy with response times. I disabled SMP to rule that out as the cause. Have not yet had the system crippling shuttering effect yet. I will need to give it a few hours or so to test that.

I think this was mentioned before, but here is the strange GPU startup usage. Never before did I see WUs act like this. I remember it usually being 0% -> 99%.

EVMDP.png
 
I had the same issue and the only way I found to resolve it was to not fold in SLI mode. It was a pain switching it back every time I wanted to game but it got the job done.

Edit: this was with GPU2 clients so I don't know if its the same issue but I thought I would throw it out there.
 
For those with lower performance check your video card's clock speed.

After a restart, mine would idle at 51mhz at desktop, and folding would run at 850mhz. After playing a game and exiting, folding would only run at 400mhz'ish. Only way to fix it and make it run at 850mhz again would be a restart.

Changing nvidia's adaptive performance does nothing.
 
I was never able to fold with my 8800GT's in SLI. It had to be disabled. When I switched to 460's I was pleasantly surprised. Fingers crossed that a client change or a driver change will allow SLI'd 460's (or any Fermi card) to fold with multiple monitors.

TheEndangeredSpecie said:
I had the same issue and the only way I found to resolve it was to not fold in SLI mode. It was a pain switching it back every time I wanted to game but it got the job done.

Edit: this was with GPU2 clients so I don't know if its the same issue but I thought I would throw it out there.
Click to expand...

As for nVidia's Power Management, I found that switching to Prefer Max Performance actually allowed me to use the desktop - but not programs. Before that, resuming from a power saving state would instantly cause chugging and stuttering.

_r2h said:
After a restart, mine would idle at 51mhz at desktop, and folding would run at 850mhz. After playing a game and exiting, folding would only run at 400mhz'ish. Only way to fix it and make it run at 850mhz again would be a restart.

Changing nvidia's adaptive performance does nothing.
Click to expand...

Please keep the input coming. All of it is appreciated! A lot of us fold on our main rigs so problems like this would be great to solve!
 
Well, I'm typing this while folding with the GPU Tracker client. I couldn't do this on v7. If I see TPF's of 6:45 and a usable desktop while I do it, I'll be happy. Note the screwy start like Brak710 experiences.

zwuZe.png


6:47 on the first frame. Now back to football and beer.
 
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Glad to hear that.
v7 vs v6 was the only obvious difference (after you rule driver sets out).

Hopefully it works for the OP too
 
With the newest -advmethods gpu units, the gpu usage jumps between 12% & about 70% for the 1st minute or so, then pegs out at 99% from there on on all my GTX 450, 460, and 465 cards. At first I was alarmed, thought there was problem, and shut them down. But later realized that it must be a standard startup behavior of the new GPU units for Fermi.
 
It seems this is typical across the board, no matter the setup. Like you said, it seems it's part of the new WU.

Wyxe said:
With the newest -advmethods gpu units, the gpu usage jumps between 12% & about 70% for the 1st minute or so, then pegs out at 99% from there on on all my GTX 450, 460, and 465 cards. At first I was alarmed, thought there was problem, and shut them down. But later realized that it must be a standard startup behavior of the new GPU units for Fermi.
Click to expand...
 
Jester14 said:
I was never able to fold with my 8800GT's in SLI. It had to be disabled. When I switched to 460's I was pleasantly surprised. Fingers crossed that a client change or a driver change will allow SLI'd 460's (or any Fermi card) to fold with multiple monitors.



As for nVidia's Power Management, I found that switching to Prefer Max Performance actually allowed me to use the desktop - but not programs. Before that, resuming from a power saving state would instantly cause chugging and stuttering.



Please keep the input coming. All of it is appreciated! A lot of us fold on our main rigs so problems like this would be great to solve!
Click to expand...



depends on how long ago you changed to the 460.. the SLI + cuda + folding support was only added around the 266 drivers.. it actually worked with the 198.xx(or what ever was the last 19x driver before switching to the 200 series) then it was broken in the 258.96 drivers and fixed again in the 26x drivers.
 
I have not had a major stuttering incident since switching back to the 266 driver, but the desktop is sometimes sluggish.

I noticed they have a 285 beta driver out, I may try that one now.
 
let us know. I've had to shut down my 470 folding while this PC is in use. When I'm done I can start it back up again without issue. If I try to use the PC while GPU folding the experience is pretty terrible. I don't have the severe stuttering like the OP described, but the UI is definitely sluggish. I'm using the latest WHQL drivers. 280.xx I think.

I also run "smp -n" to leave a few CPU cycles free. Though it hurts folding performance, shutting down the GPU and running the bigadv client at a few % below 100 allows for a full performance desktop while doing "real" work.
 
GPU Tracker wasn't as nice to me as I'd initially experienced. I've worked through three WU's and after one completes, the computer completely freezes and has to be reset. While folding, everything is fine but upon completion and starting another WU, everything goes to hell. Back to v7 and beta drivers tonight. See how that goes...
 
Nvidia beta drivers are working well for me. No noticeable lag anymore.
 
Brak710 said:
Is anyone from Stanford even aware of this issue?
Click to expand...

as long as it works on their system then its not their problem and is the end users problem.. thats pretty much how it works and what dictates them fixing anything.
 
I pulled -advmethods off my 580. It made any desktop usage extremely stuttery. I am running 280.26
 
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