F@H: Production back on the rise [Archive]

vannote

Nov 7, 2003, 07:41 PM

Originally posted by Rower_CPU
Now that our PC lab is back up we're back on an upswing in daily production.

Let's see if we can get back into the yellow! :)

http://folding.extremeoverclocking.com

Now, if someone can convince Virginia Tech to kindly donate some CPU from their new 1100 machine Dual-G5 cluster supercomputer. We could be in the red.

Rower_CPU

Nov 7, 2003, 10:33 PM

Originally posted by vannote
Now, if someone can convince Virginia Tech to kindly donate some CPU from their new 1100 machine Dual-G5 cluster supercomputer. We could be in the red.

;)

We can always dream...

stoid

Nov 8, 2003, 04:59 PM

Put fully into folding, it seems like a computer of that magnitude would tear through even 70 point WU in a matter of seconds or minutes!

Is there anyway to find out how many flops my lil' toppy it cranking out??

frankzeg

Nov 8, 2003, 07:38 PM

Has anyone been tracking the various teams to see if there is any hope of passing those in front of us? I wanna pass SOMEONE!

BTW I am curious- what is a typical time for a pentium 4 say 2 GHz machine to complete a frame in a 72 point tinker? just curious.
z

Makosuke

Nov 8, 2003, 07:56 PM

If my DPG5 is a rough indication, the Big Mac cluster would produce about 165,000 points a day. If all the processors were working on the same WU (which might not be the case, as with current DP machines), you'd be finishing about two work units a minute.

Plutronics

Nov 9, 2003, 06:27 AM

Hey stoid !!
>>Here is a nice little program to see how many MFLOPS your Rig will do:
http://daugerresearch.com/fractaldemos/altivecfractalcarbon.html
>>I use it to load test my new computers, Along with itunes, TOP, and a WU running all at the same time !!!
:D :D :D

MrMacMan

Nov 9, 2003, 11:06 PM

Production increases are nice...

:D

jayb2000

Nov 11, 2003, 11:04 AM

I am in a training class for 2 weeks, so I have configured the machines here to all run folding. :cool:
Instead of 100pts/week or less, I have gotten 3000 in the last 7 days! :D

Not sure how long they will leave them running, but unless there is another class, it could be for a while...

MacBandit

Nov 11, 2003, 04:01 PM

Originally posted by Rower_CPU
;)

We can always dream...

We sure can. Seems to me that one 24/7 week would probably put us all but at the top of the charts.

MacBandit

Nov 11, 2003, 04:03 PM

Originally posted by frankzeg
Has anyone been tracking the various teams to see if there is any hope of passing those in front of us? I wanna pass SOMEONE!

BTW I am curious- what is a typical time for a pentium 4 say 2 GHz machine to complete a frame in a 72 point tinker? just curious.
z

The Knights passed us some time back and are spreading the gap even as we speak. Though if this new F@H client improves everyone else as much as it seems to be improving my output we'll be passing a lot of people in the next couple months. My output has nearly tripled with this new client though the long term affects will take a while to be realized.

A good place to go to see how we compare to others with graphs and number is.

http://folding.extremeoverclocking.com/

frankzeg

Nov 11, 2003, 10:45 PM

What about combining our efforts with team Mac OSX? Together we could really rock.

Rower_CPU

Nov 11, 2003, 11:20 PM

Combining has been discussed with a couple of the teams, but no-one ever seems to want to. I guess people feel more strongly about folding for their site than for promoting Macs.

AmbitiousLemon

Nov 11, 2003, 11:51 PM

i stopped using f@h back when in installed panther (some time ago). The folding at home client seemed incompatible with panther. seemed like its priorities were wrong so that it slowed everything else down. has this been resolved in the newest client?

MacBandit

Nov 12, 2003, 01:18 AM

Originally posted by AmbitiousLemon
i stopped using f@h back when in installed panther (some time ago). The folding at home client seemed incompatible with panther. seemed like its priorities were wrong so that it slowed everything else down. has this been resolved in the newest client?

I think it was a problem with Panther and not the client. If you use mc68k's install script it will be installed with a +20 nice setting. As far as I can see there is no noticeable slow down from folding. At least not any more then there ever was with Jaguar. I still pause folding when I play UT2003 as it does make a 5fps difference or so which is important when you are just toeing the line with the large outdoor levels. As for everyday use no noticeable slow down what so ever.

AmbitiousLemon

Nov 12, 2003, 01:31 AM

i use the gui client (don't like messing in the terminal). I just run it headless so there is no window or dock icon or anything to slow it down.

I never noticed a slow down in jag (i too would stop it if i played a game usually) but in panther simple things like opening apps and moving windows felt sluggish. i was told panther changed the priority settings to a broader range and that that could explain the problem. I hoped that when panther was released we would see a new f@h client that mentioned better panther compatability but haven't seen that specifically stated.

Anyone use the gui client who could verify that it now works well in panther?

MacBandit

Nov 12, 2003, 01:51 AM

Originally posted by AmbitiousLemon
i use the gui client (don't like messing in the terminal). I just run it headless so there is no window or dock icon or anything to slow it down.

I never noticed a slow down in jag (i too would stop it if i played a game usually) but in panther simple things like opening apps and moving windows felt sluggish. i was told panther changed the priority settings to a broader range and that that could explain the problem. I hoped that when panther was released we would see a new f@h client that mentioned better panther compatability but haven't seen that specifically stated.

Anyone use the gui client who could verify that it now works well in panther?

Why use the GUI client? Jut use mc68k's install script and fold and forget. It will just crank away on it's own. If you need to stop folding to play a game or such you just open the terminal and type pause. When you want it to start again open the terminal and type resume. If you want to see your progress you can either check the .txt output that you have in the F@H folder in your user folder or you can open the terminal and type work. Also the terminal client will run faster then the GUI client from what I have heard even if you are running it, "headless," as you put it.

As far as a new client there is a new F@H client for Gromacs (Altivec) units that is much much faster. None of us believe it was rewritten though simply recompiled with the latest GCC compiler. I don't know of any reason why the client would need rewritten at all for Panther. If you are comparing how it ran on a prerelease version of Panther then it was most definitely Panther and not the client that was the problem.

AmbitiousLemon

Nov 12, 2003, 02:00 AM

I prefer to use the GUI client. It is easier and I haven't found the terminal version to be any faster. Its just easier to click quit or launch to quit or launch then open up a terminal session and tell f@h to quit. Also its easier to just look at a progressbar to see how much it has done. I'm not much of a fan of the terminal. I use it when I need to(like to modify apache settings or something) but don't like running applications in it.

I'm using a store bought copy of panther now and still find the old client to slow down the big cat. I just want to know if someone can tell me if the new one works properly (or maybe if someone can give me detailed instructions on how to renice the f@h gui client)

MacBandit

Nov 12, 2003, 02:03 AM

Originally posted by AmbitiousLemon
.............(or maybe if someone can give me detailed instructions on how to renice the f@h gui client)

PM mc68k I'm sure he would know how.

bousozoku

Nov 12, 2003, 02:58 AM

Originally posted by MacBandit

...

As far as a new client there is a new F@H client for Gromacs (Altivec) units that is much much faster. None of us believe it was rewritten though simply recompiled with the latest GCC compiler. I don't know of any reason why the client would need rewritten at all for Panther. If you are comparing how it ran on a prerelease version of Panther then it was most definitely Panther and not the client that was the problem.

None of us?

Well, I've read for myself from Vijay Pande and others in charge at Stanford that it had been re-written to an extent that there was more AltiVec code and the remainder of the code was better-placed and the whole thing was re-compiled with gcc 3.3.

MacBandit

Nov 12, 2003, 03:02 AM

Originally posted by bousozoku
None of us?

Well, I've read for myself from Vijay Pande and others in charge at Stanford that it had been re-written to an extent that there was more AltiVec code and the remainder of the code was better-placed and the whole thing was re-compiled with gcc 3.3.

Well no one that had mentioned anything until now. So my post still stands though it is now outdated. :p

Good to know they put more work into it then simply recompiling.

MrMacMan

Nov 13, 2003, 06:17 PM

Lemon -- the command (script) uses less CPU overall around .4% up to 4% CPU less then the GUI.

All around this is nothing, but over time it amounts.

Basically if your running it headless and want to squeeze more power out of the machine the Script is the way to go.

pimentoLoaf

Nov 16, 2003, 01:23 PM

I can tell there are a tremendous number of people doing this now... I used to be near the top of the stats, and now I've dropped to 167th place.

:cool:

pepeleuepe

Nov 16, 2003, 04:02 PM

I think we'll see quite the point increase as everyone changes to the new core. I personally am about to be in the green for the first time ever. Also, I'm avergaing about 1.5 work units per day, which is much better than before. I still can't believe I'm about to fold 500 points this week. Lets keep up the production and catch some of these teams.

MacBandit

Nov 16, 2003, 06:19 PM

We need to come up with a way to inform all our folders that they need to switch to the new F@H client if they are using a Altivec enabled computer. My work output has gone from 3 or 4 units a week to 2 per day. It's a simply astounding increase. And no, these units are not small ones. From the very start my units seem to average around 60 points each.

MrMacMan

Nov 16, 2003, 09:16 PM

MacBandit -- Yes really.

My production has increased alot.

1 unit every 3-4 days from me has increased.

From 60 points/week to over 100!

Yay!

:D

MacBandit

Nov 17, 2003, 02:29 AM

Originally posted by MrMacman
MacBandit -- Yes really.

My production has increased alot.

1 unit every 3-4 days from me has increased.

From 60 points/week to over 100!

Yay!

:D

I just took a moment to see how I'm doing. I'm now outputting around 800points/week off my Dual/1.42. Prior to this I was outputting about 200points/week. It doesn't take a math genius to see a 4 fold increase.

As I have said this is simply astounding. Now all we need to do is to get everyone that can run this new client to update to it. The only question is how to reach them.

meeble

Nov 17, 2003, 03:54 AM

Originally posted by MacBandit
We need to come up with a way to inform all our folders that they need to switch to the new F@H client if they are using a Altivec enabled computer.

I thought that the F@H terminal app would download the latest core automatically??? Am I wrong? If I am, how do you tell the app to DL the new core?

MacBandit

Nov 17, 2003, 04:56 AM

Originally posted by meeble
I thought that the F@H terminal app would download the latest core automatically??? Am I wrong? If I am, how do you tell the app to DL the new core?

I just did some re-reading and yes it will download automatically. Disregard my previous posts.

Tiauguinho

Nov 17, 2003, 05:13 AM

I've been so unlucky lately... I've been getting Tinkers after Tinkers... I only received a new Gromacs once and boy, was it fast!!!! I wish that there was a way to block Tinkers and make the client only get Gromacs.

pepeleuepe

Nov 17, 2003, 11:28 AM

Originally posted by Tiauguinho
I've been so unlucky lately... I've been getting Tinkers after Tinkers... I only received a new Gromacs once and boy, was it fast!!!! I wish that there was a way to block Tinkers and make the client only get Gromacs.

If you're using the terminal version make sure you're running it with the -advmethods tag. That should force it to download mostly Gromacs units. I'm pretty sure you need to be using the terminal to do this though.

So run ./OSX-3.25 -advmethods and you should receive a majority of Gromacs work units.

bousozoku

Nov 17, 2003, 12:45 PM

The -advmethods flag is used to signal availability to beta test work units and cores. It happened to work with Gromacs WUs earlier because the Gromacs core was in beta test.

Tiauguinho

Nov 17, 2003, 06:42 PM

Originally posted by bousozoku
The -advmethods flag is used to signal availability to beta test work units and cores. It happened to work with Gromacs WUs earlier because the Gromacs core was in beta test.

Bousozoku,

So is there a way i can force my Macs to get the Gromacs? Cause I've got my Dual G5 crunching Tinkers... Well its much faster then my G4, but still... I wanted to fold as much Gromacs as I can. Im getting Tinkers for my G5 for more then 2 weeks! :(

MrMacMan

Nov 17, 2003, 07:18 PM

Originally posted by MacBandit
I just did some re-reading and yes it will download automatically. Disregard my previous posts.

Hm... where have you got that info from?

All I have heard so far is that they redownload new cores after they are offically released and tested.

But so far this new core is great.

As in previous posts if you want to make sure you have it you can delete.

If you run the console version I'm pretty sure its in your

~/F@H/FahCore_78.exe

If you delete that it will automatically download a new core.

If the core was final and was released to the public then it will download for you already.

MacBandit

Nov 17, 2003, 07:24 PM

Originally posted by MrMacman
Hm... where have you got that info from?

All I have heard so far is that they redownload new cores after they are offically released and tested.

But so far this new core is great.

As in previous posts if you want to make sure you have it you can delete.

If you run the console version I'm pretty sure its in your

~/F@H/FahCore_78.exe

If you delete that it will automatically download a new core.

If the core was final and was released to the public then it will download for you already.

From this thread if fact your posts were part of the answer.

You stated that when you finished a unit after the new client was released it would download on it's own.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45309

bousozoku

Nov 17, 2003, 09:38 PM

Originally posted by Tiauguinho
Bousozoku,

So is there a way i can force my Macs to get the Gromacs? Cause I've got my Dual G5 crunching Tinkers... Well its much faster then my G4, but still... I wanted to fold as much Gromacs as I can. Im getting Tinkers for my G5 for more then 2 weeks! :(

There is no way to force certain types of work units to be downloaded.

Remember that all work units need to be processed to help people, not just those which give points quickly.

In fact, because the PPC970 has better floating point, it's probably getting more Tinkers. The benchmarking is crude but it's most likely just enough to push you toward Tinker WUs. Feel good that you can finish them so quickly and hasten a solution for all people.

MrMacMan

Nov 18, 2003, 12:01 AM

Originally posted by MacBandit
From this thread if fact your posts were part of the answer.

You stated that when you finished a unit after the new client was released it would download on it's own.

http://forums.macrumors.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=45309

Yes when it was released... but if it wasn't released (like this past one) and was just quietly added it wasn't helping you unless you re-downloaded it.

When they make it 'offical' all the clients which don't have it now will download it.

MacBandit

Nov 18, 2003, 01:47 AM

Originally posted by MrMacman
Yes when it was released... but if it wasn't released (like this past one) and was just quietly added it wasn't helping you unless you re-downloaded it.

When they make it 'offical' all the clients which don't have it now will download it.

So the answer is still yes, it will download automatically. Just not until there is an official release.

Tiauguinho

Nov 18, 2003, 04:38 AM

Originally posted by bousozoku
There is no way to force certain types of work units to be downloaded.

Remember that all work units need to be processed to help people, not just those which give points quickly.

In fact, because the PPC970 has better floating point, it's probably getting more Tinkers. The benchmarking is crude but it's most likely just enough to push you toward Tinker WUs. Feel good that you can finish them so quickly and hasten a solution for all people.

Well of course Yuki, I agree with you on that point. Thats the folding cause, not the points. But the faster I fold, the faster results can be out.

Besides that, I want to pass meeble! :D

Golem

Nov 18, 2003, 06:10 AM

Originally posted by bousozoku
In fact, because the PPC970 has better floating point, it's probably getting more Tinkers. The benchmarking is crude but it's most likely just enough to push you toward Tinker WUs.

Well I know my 1.6 G5 gets pretty much solid 70pt tinkers, 7 or 8 in a row? It does allright 2 a week for a machine that gets heavy use and it doesnt seem to have any effect if I leave it going while playing games.

bousozoku

Nov 18, 2003, 10:46 AM

Just consider that my G3/800 takes around 8 days to finish one of the 70.9 point Tinker WUs and each processor in my dual G4/800 takes around 12 days for the same thing.

As far as passing Meeble, that's not exactly an admirable goal. :p

If you're playing AltiVec-enhanced games, you want Tinker WUs so it's free to use AltiVec for your game. :D