New Folder Checking Into Team 33

[Rabid Sloth]

It was recommended that I start a thread so Hello to everyone and here's the hardware on my main box.

i7 2600k 4.7ghz@1.34v under an Antec Kühler H20 920
16GB G.SKILL Ripjaws X@2133
ASUS P8Z68 Deluxe
OWC Mercury Electra 6G 128GB
Corsair HX850
EVGA 8800GTS 640MB
Gigabyte 3D Aurora 570
WD Black 2TB, 1.5TB, 500GBx2, Seagate 500GB, 320GBx2
Samsung 20" LCD Monitor x2
Windows 7 Home Premium x64

I'm using the SMP client currently with the -smp flag set. I have 8 threads on the 2600k, so I guess my first question would be should I be using the -bigadv flag as well? Also, when I first configured the software I said I didn't want it to connect to the internet randomly at will. I now realize that means that I need to hit ok after every WU and it's killing my PPD so I edited the 'client.cfg' file to say 'asknet=no', but I'm not 100% that was right. I'm trying to get the hang of the acronyms as well, haha.

In summary, this is my main box but I'd like to fold on it most of the time so let me know if there are any optimizations I should be doing or if I'm missing anything.

 

[Nathan_P]

Hi and welcome aboard.

-bigadv is currently changing, future work units will be set with very short deadlines - at the moment a 2600k will not meet those deadlines, stick with the SMP.

The best thing to do with the client is Ctrl-C to shutdown the client, restart the client with the -configonly flag and change the "ask before fetching/sending Work units" to yes when it prompts you. Once you have finished the config changes restart the client and off you go.

Editing the client.cfg file is never recommended as although it looks like a text file it isn't

 

[W.Feather]

if you remember to save the config as a .cfg, not a .txt, you are fine


anyhow as said, just stick with SMP, so your flags ideally should be something like:

-smp 8 -verbosity 9

the verbosity part is for better recording if there is an issue in the future.

 

[DWolvin]

Nice rig! Welcome (looks in rearview nervously)

 

[FrEaKy]

WELCOME new folder!

 

[402blownstroker]

Welcome to the [H]orde

 

[Axdrenalin]

Nice setup you've got there...Thanks for choosing the [H]orde as your Folding Team of Choice!

 

[M0rph3us]

Welcome! We always love new faces around here.

 

[Imitation]

Hi and welcome aboard.

-bigadv is currently changing, future work units will be set with very short deadlines - at the moment a 2600k will not meet those deadlines, stick with the SMP.

The best thing to do with the client is Ctrl-C to shutdown the client, restart the client with the -configonly flag and change the "ask before fetching/sending Work units" to yes when it prompts you. Once you have finished the config changes restart the client and off you go.

Editing the client.cfg file is never recommended as although it looks like a text file it isn't

This does raise an interesting question. When ivy bridge comes out, will it be worth the extra coin to go with an i7 and 8 threads or sticking with one of the other K chips that is an i5 and only 4 threads? I'd planned on going ivy i7, but i'd love to save 100 bucks and go i5 if it won't make a big diff in folding, IE running bigadv.

Also, OP, welcome!

 

[Nathan_P]

This does raise an interesting question. When ivy bridge comes out, will it be worth the extra coin to go with an i7 and 8 threads or sticking with one of the other K chips that is an i5 and only 4 threads? I'd planned on going ivy i7, but i'd love to save 100 bucks and go i5 if it won't make a big diff in folding, IE running bigadv.

Also, OP, welcome!

Well the HT will help with SMP, given the amount of work that is out there for SMP that would probably make a bigger difference than another -bigadv rig.

When ivy is released you could always snap up an EOL sandybridge - prices should drop once ivy is released

 

[Rabid Sloth]

Hi and welcome aboard.

-bigadv is currently changing, future work units will be set with very short deadlines - at the moment a 2600k will not meet those deadlines, stick with the SMP.

The best thing to do with the client is Ctrl-C to shutdown the client, restart the client with the -configonly flag and change the "ask before fetching/sending Work units" to yes when it prompts you. Once you have finished the config changes restart the client and off you go.

Editing the client.cfg file is never recommended as although it looks like a text file it isn't

Thanks for the welcome.

I've been lurking around here a bit and it looked like -bigadv wasn't the way to go, but the stickied guide said 8 cores was a go. I figured it didn't hurt to at least ask.

Thanks for the heads up on the -configonly flag. I made sure to just edit it as a text document, but save it as a .cfg. I just wasn't sure exactly what variable was what.

if you remember to save the config as a .cfg, not a .txt, you are fine


anyhow as said, just stick with SMP, so your flags ideally should be something like:

-smp 8 -verbosity 9

the verbosity part is for better recording if there is an issue in the future.

That's what I assumed and I didn't get any BSOD's so I called it a win, lol.

Could you elaborate on the verbosity flag or toss me a link for some more reading. Also, thanks for the help.

Nice rig! Welcome (looks in rearview nervously)

WELCOME new folder!

Welcome to the [H]orde

Welcome! We always love new faces around here.

This does raise an interesting question. When ivy bridge comes out, will it be worth the extra coin to go with an i7 and 8 threads or sticking with one of the other K chips that is an i5 and only 4 threads? I'd planned on going ivy i7, but i'd love to save 100 bucks and go i5 if it won't make a big diff in folding, IE running bigadv.

Also, OP, welcome!

Thanks for the warm welcome. This looks like a great community and a really worthwhile project to be a part of.

Nice setup you've got there...Thanks for choosing the [H]orde as your Folding Team of Choice!

Thanks. I'm really happy with my hardware finally. I don't get to game much anymore, but I did just realize that my graphics card is pushing 5 years old so that's going to go once Nvidia releases their upcoming generation.

 

[FrEaKy]

Could you elaborate on the verbosity flag or toss me a link for some more reading. Also, thanks for the help.

All it does is add some extra messages to FAHlog.txt which help if you have a problem.

No worries about it by the way, it doesnt slow or affect the actual folding the machine does, its not a required flag, but its helpful incase you have an issue in finding out its source.

 

[Pocatello]

Welcome to the team!

Nice to have you around here!

 

[jebo_4jc]

Welcome op

 

[Ulpio]

Welcome to the Team, great CPU for SMP!

 

[Rabid Sloth]

All it does is add some extra messages to FAHlog.txt which help if you have a problem.

No worries about it by the way, it doesnt slow or affect the actual folding the machine does, its not a required flag, but its helpful incase you have an issue in finding out its source.

Sounds good to me. It's enabled now, but I've got my fingers crossed that I don't have to use it.

Welcome to the team!

Nice to have you around here!

Welcome op

Welcome to the Team, great CPU for SMP!

Thanks for the welcome. I'm glad to be here and hoping to get my PPD above 500, heh

 

[Toconator]

Always nice to see a new [H]orde member. Welcome to the team! Nice folding gear you have there. If you're not much of a gamer anymore and you don't mind a little more power consumption you might consider GPU folding if/when you get a new vidcard. They make nice space heaters too ...

 

[rhavern]

Welcome to the [H] fold, literally!

 

[Rabid Sloth]

Always nice to see a new [H]orde member. Welcome to the team! Nice folding gear you have there. If you're not much of a gamer anymore and you don't mind a little more power consumption you might consider GPU folding if/when you get a new vidcard. They make nice space heaters too ...

Is it worth GPU folding in addition to CPU folding? I thought I had read if you had a current gen CPU it was best to just go that route. And thanks for the welcome

Welcome to the [H] fold, literally!

Haha, thanks

 

[W.Feather]

in your case, efficiency wise, your best off with just the 2600k, the 8800GTS wont get many points, however it will be a boost (~2-3k PPD probably) over what you would get with just a 2600k

 

[Rabid Sloth]

So I'm working on a 10131 at the moment. I don't want to clutter up the large SMP thread anymore but is TPF Time Per Fold, aka the time it takes for 1% completion? Right now the 10131 is taking me 6 min per 1%, so I'm guessing it's about a 10 hour job.

Also, in regards to points it looks like I'm getting 580'ish per 7xxx at 4 hours per WU. Is 3,500 PPD about right for my hardware? Maybe I'm just blinded by all the insane numbers you guys put up, but it seems like it might be on the low side.

 

[Rabid Sloth]

in your case, efficiency wise, your best off with just the 2600k, the 8800GTS wont get many points, however it will be a boost (~2-3k PPD probably) over what you would get with just a 2600k

Oh yeah I'm definitely not messing with the old 8800. I guess I'll give it a whirl when I finally catch up to the current generation in a couple weeks. I'm still trying to hold out to see what Nvidia has to offer and what it does to the market prices.

 

[W.Feather]

TPF = Time per step, which is 1%

doesnt sound wrong time wise.


Did you just start folding? If so, you need 10 completed SMP units to start receiving bonus, once you have the bonus the 2600k should receive ~25-32k PPD (i am assuming your in windows for folding0

 

[FrEaKy]

TPF = Time per step, which is 1%

doesnt sound wrong time wise.


Did you just start folding? If so, you need 10 completed SMP units to start receiving bonus, once you have the bonus the 2600k should receive ~25-32k PPD (i am assuming your in windows for folding0

And ontop of this, make sure that passkey is fully in place even for the first 10, or else it wont count at all towards the 10 needed to start receiving bonus points.

 

[Rabid Sloth]

I'm glad I wasn't totally off on the acronym.

I did just literally start the other day and only got a couple WU's done due to the whole authorize access to the internet setting. I knew there was an 80% completion bonus, but I didn't expect it to be that large. That would put things back in line with where I was expecting to be.

 

[Rabid Sloth]

Alright, latest question- Should I be using something like HFM.net or is that more for people running full fledged farms?

 

[Nathan_P]

Alright, latest question- Should I be using something like HFM.net or is that more for people running full fledged farms?

HFM is a great tool and can be used on a single box just as easily as a large farm.

 

[Pocatello]

I like HFM. Give it a try.

 

[W.Feather]

HFM is good for any size farm, lets you know what your doing, and easy to tell if something is off (of the known points/ppd you should be getting)

 

[Rabid Sloth]

Alright I got HFM up and running. It really does have some useful and straightforward information.

Is it possible to pull up the stats on old WU's? I was hoping to get the data on the 10xxx's I did using the 'Work Unit History Viewer', but I'm striking out.

 

[rhavern]

Alright I got HFM up and running. It really does have some useful and straightforward information.

Is it possible to pull up the stats on old WU's? I was hoping to get the data on the 10xxx's I did using the 'Work Unit History Viewer', but I'm striking out.

You can, but as far as I recall, HFM will have had to have 'seen' the WU when processed in order to have information about it.

 

[W.Feather]

You had to process the unit while HFM.NET was monitoring your client

 

[Rabid Sloth]

Ah, that makes more sense. I think there were a few more that got worked on yesterday, so I'll check out HFM tonight and see what I have to add to the discussion.

 

[Rabid Sloth]

Anyone have any thoughts or links in regards to memory speed and folding? I have 2133 memory, but to get them stable it's taking more voltage than I was hoping for. If the difference is minimal I think I'm going to go back to 1866.

 

[jebo_4jc]

http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1735/6/

There's some info. The difference is minimal.

 

[l3thal6]

I am using HFM to monitor 3 instances, I really like that its open source. I am thinking about porting it over to Windows Phone when I get some spare time. Imagine monitoring your instances on the go!

 

[firedfly]

I am using HFM to monitor 3 instances, I really like that its open source. I am thinking about porting it over to Windows Phone when I get some spare time. Imagine monitoring your instances on the go!

I do that at times. HFM will export the stats to a web page. I have that dump to my dropbox account so I can access the current stats when I'm away from home.

 

[rhavern]

I do that at times. HFM will export the stats to a web page. I have that dump to my dropbox account so I can access the current stats when I'm away from home.

^^ This. I do the same thing but specifically dump to the public folder of dropbox so I can see stats with a browser to dropbox without the hassle of setting up apache/firewall settings/blah on multiple machines. Just make sure you turn off file update notifications on your clients or the systray notifications may drive you mad.

 

[Rabid Sloth]

The HFM to a dropbox seems like a pretty cool solution. The itch is already setting in for me, so when my stats don't get updated for a refresh or two I start to wonder if I got a 10xxx WU or if something went wrong.

On a side note, I did a little more looking and it appears that it's not a total waste to get your ram speeds up. Here's one of the links I was reading
http://www.legitreviews.com/article/1490/9/

 

[l3thal6]

The way I view my network F@H clients (all windows boxes currently) is to simply share out the directory that I run F@H in, then I added the directory as a local path in HFM (i.e: \\10.0.0.15\User\F@H DIR\)