Folding Update - Multi GPU Support (New Core 1.07)

Discussion in 'Folding@Home - Join Team Guru3D !' started by Julepalme, Jul 2, 2008.

  1. Julepalme

    Julepalme Master Guru

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    Hey folks..

    Just came from foldingforum.org where they recently.. some hours ago released a new core for the GPU2 Folding client version 1.07

    The main new feature of this core is the support for multi gpu folding.
    This means that all you 3d guru's out there with more than 1 GPU in your machine will finally be able to harvest the potential power of all your GPU's

    *NOTE* this is not SLI support, this works without sli.. im currently folding on a 9800GTX (5700PPD) and an old 8500GT i had as a spare (770PPD) Both running the vista x64 version of the 177.41 driver.

    How you ask? well the original post on foldingforum.org has a few bits of info but i found it bit hard to setup myself so i'll share my knowledge.

    -------------------

    1. Download the new core revision from http://www.stanford.edu/~friedrim/FahCore_11.exe and replace the old
    FahCore_11.exe usually found in your work directory.. mine is
    C:\Users\Julepalme\AppData\Roaming\Folding@home-gpu

    -------------------

    2. This requires you to run 2 clients of the GPU2 kind, Find on your work folder, mine was C:\Users\Julepalme\AppData\Roaming\Folding@home-gpu (I'm running vista x64)

    Then copy this folder and make C:\Users\Julepalme\AppData\Roaming\Folding@home-gpu 2

    -------------------

    3. make a 2 shortcuts on your desk with the workdir pointing to each of the folders you've just made.

    So you'll end up with 2 shortcuts looking something like this:

    Shortcut 1:
    Target: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Folding@home\Folding@home-gpu\Folding@home.exe" -gpu 0 -local -verbosity 9
    Start In: "C:\Users\Julepalme\AppData\Roaming\Folding@home-gpu"

    Shortcut 2:
    Target: "C:\Program Files (x86)\Folding@home\Folding@home-gpu\Folding@home.exe" -gpu 1 -local -verbosity 9
    Start In: "C:\Users\Julepalme\AppData\Roaming\Folding@home-gpu 2"

    The trick here is the -gpu argument.. telling the client to use device 0 and device 1 for the respective clients. and the start them up in seperate work dirs..

    ** Remember to change the paths to the those that apply to your system **

    If you have more than 2 GPU's .. say 2x9800gx2 or 3x280's(which would be 4 and 3 cores respectively) .. just make 3.. 4.. folders etc.. and change the shortcuts to say -gpu 2 and -gpu 3.

    Remember the gpu's start from 0. so if you have 4 GPU cores they'll be named 0 1 2 and 3..

    -------------------

    If everything works you'll see this in your log

    Launch directory: C:\Users\Julepalme\AppData\Roaming\Folding@home-gpu 2
    Arguments: -gpu 1 -local -verbosity 9
    ...
    [08:42:18] Folding@Home GPU Core - Beta
    [08:42:18] Version 1.07 (Mon Jun 23 10:53:13 PDT 2008)

    Or something similar.


    ** Addition

    In vista x64 you may need to attach a monitor to the output of each card that you want to use or it wont get recongnized by CUDA. not sure if this is still the case, haven't tested without.

    ** Another bug i've noticed

    Both of the viewers will come up stating its a 8500GT in my case.. when i got a 9800GTX as device 0 and a 8500GT as device 1, this is just a bug with the viewer i suppose.. the PPD seems appropriate for both clients.

    ** Updated a few not so elegant links.
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2008
  2. Lyla

    Lyla Banned

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    I believe that it is meant to be Multi-CPU and it is a typo. so be sure to check it out properly.
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2008
  3. aircool

    aircool Don Aircooleone Staff Member

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    You sir have beaten me to it, I'll add this to the sticky later as a quote.

    Good job mate.
     
  4. roguesn1per

    roguesn1per Ancient Guru

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    Mabye you should read dude ^^

    "*NOTE* this is not SLI support, this works without sli.. im currently folding on a 9800GTX (5700PPD) and an old 8500GT i had as a spare (770PPD) Both running the vista x64 version of the 177.41 driver."
     

  5. aircool

    aircool Don Aircooleone Staff Member

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    Same goes with crossfire, they cannot not actually be linked (or multi gpu enabled) but plugged in to the pc, also on crossfire it still seems to work once you hook up a display to each card.

    Its a bit like running any two of the normal clients really.
     
  6. roguesn1per

    roguesn1per Ancient Guru

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    i was talking to Lyla

    You just happened to post before me lolz :p
     
  7. aircool

    aircool Don Aircooleone Staff Member

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    Yeah, I know - I was just adding to it as crossfire functions similarly with the client ;)

    As you can follow the ATI GPU2 Client FAQ.
     
  8. roguesn1per

    roguesn1per Ancient Guru

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    ah k, didnt read ur post thoroughly enough :)
     
  9. Julepalme

    Julepalme Master Guru

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    So.. have you guys set it up yet? on your dual 8800's and 9800gx2's etc.. :) waiting to hear from ya'll :D

    And as i said.. its not a mutli-cpu .. it really is multi-gpu... or more a way of choosing which gpu to use.. allowing you to run more clients and therefor utilizing more gpu's..


    Here's a few results after having run for a few hours with this setup

    The 8500GT Client working on 5004 (R2, C147, G25):

    [08:52:09] Completed 1%
    [09:01:05] Completed 2%
    [09:10:02] Completed 3%
    [09:18:57] Completed 4%
    [09:28:02] Completed 5%
    [09:36:57] Completed 6%
    [09:45:53] Completed 7%
    [09:54:48] Completed 8%
    [10:03:42] Completed 9%
    [10:12:36] Completed 10%
    [10:21:33] Completed 11%

    Min. Time / Frame : 8mn 54s - 775,01 ppd
    Avg. Time / Frame : 8mn 55s - 773,56 ppd
    Cur. Time / Frame : 8mn 56s - 772,12 ppd
    R3F. Time / Frame : 8mn 55s - 773,56 ppd
    Eff. Time / Frame : 10mn 20s - 667,51 ppd

    The 9800GTX Client working on 5004 (R7, C204, G13):

    [08:44:15] Completed 1%
    [08:45:39] Completed 2%
    [08:46:51] Completed 3%
    [08:48:05] Completed 4%
    [08:49:17] Completed 5%
    [08:50:34] Completed 6%
    [08:51:48] Completed 7%
    [08:53:03] Completed 8%
    [08:54:16] Completed 9%
    ...
    [10:28:39] Completed 87%
    [10:29:52] Completed 88%
    [10:31:06] Completed 89%

    Min. Time / Frame : 1mn 11s - 5828,96 ppd
    Avg. Time / Frame : 1mn 11s - 5828,96 ppd
    Cur. Time / Frame : 1mn 14s - 5592,65 ppd
    R3F. Time / Frame : 1mn 14s - 5592,65 ppd
    Eff. Time / Frame : 1mn 12s - 5748,00 ppd

    And i've made the observation that running the extra 8500GT has not in any way altered the performance negatively or positively on my system.. same old PPD as before.

    Also im running 2 Clients on each of my cores of the E6550 @ 2.8GHz churning out 220PPD each.

    The CPU Load of the 8500GT FaHCore_11 is neglible.. 0-1%..
    The 9800GTX FaHCore_11 is pushing 5-10% on one core... so hardly affecting my folding on the cpu's.. also set the priority of the GPU Clients slightly higher to so the cpu ones wont interrupt my gpu ones.

    So all in all.. pushing 6882,86 on 1 Machine.. 9800GTX+8500GT+E6550.. with slight overclocking all around. haven't gotten the 8500GT overclocked yet tho.. will try rivatuner now..
     
    Last edited: Jul 2, 2008
  10. MoosePower

    MoosePower Guest

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    Hmm... I tired installing the new core, but when I ran the aplication the fahcore couldn't locate nvcuda.dll. Any ideas?
    Edit: Are the 175.19 drivers supported? I'm guessing this could be the problem.
     

  11. aircool

    aircool Don Aircooleone Staff Member

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    As far as im aware they are not supported as cuda drivers.

    177.35's/41's - .41's seem to be doing better.
     
  12. Julepalme

    Julepalme Master Guru

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    I'd suggest going through a process of uninstalling the gpu client first..

    Then make sure all the gpu's are using the same driver.. with a modded inf all 8000, 9000 and 200 series cards can run the 177.41 driver.. mines doing fine on both the old 8500gt and the 9800gtx..

    Once the driver is in reinstall the GPU client.. make a copy before you start playing around.. and edit the client.cfg so that it has a seperat machineid.. could cause problems otherwise..

    Then just continue by putting in the new core in both clients work dir and put up the shortcuts like i explained above.
     
  13. MoosePower

    MoosePower Guest

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    Thanks for the tip guys. I figured it was an easy fix. :D
    Edit: Umm are the 177.41's compatible with the 8800 series?
     
    Last edited: Jul 3, 2008
  14. MoosePower

    MoosePower Guest

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    Sad, apparently those drivers arn't compatable with the 8800's... Moving back to the .19's.
     
  15. Julepalme

    Julepalme Master Guru

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    They arent officially compatible no..

    But im running that driver on a 8500GT

    [​IMG]

    Its running flawlessly and well compatible with the cuda capabilities of the card and the FaH GPU2 client. so why shouldn't your 8800gt

    http://forums.guru3d.com/showthread.php?t=265498 has all the info on the driver.. just download the driver for your OS, let it unfold itself to some folder.. C:\NVIDIA\WinVista64\177.41 in my case.. then download the modded nv_disp.inf (this file tells the driver which cards its for).. and replace the one already in the folder.. and run setup.exe.. should install and run flawlessly

    Also from the forum post various modded nv_disp.inf's

    http://www.mediafire.com/?cpx0df7iaz5
    modded x64 vista inf only (from OP)

    http://www.mediafire.com/?keinlz4cz29
    modded x86 xp inf only
     

  16. greaterthenjake

    greaterthenjake Member Guru

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    Ok i mananged to get it running on both gpu's but my second gpu performance is horrid. My first 8800gts 320 is getting 5047 ppd On Wu 5004. and my second GTS same clocks is getting 1228 on the same WU. Also i have noted the cards heat hasnt gone up much at all the first card is running at around 74C and the second card is close to its idle temp at 55C. any input on how to get the ppd of the second card up is much appreciated.
     
  17. Julepalme

    Julepalme Master Guru

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    Have you made sure both cards got their drivers updated?.. i had the same problem where i installed my 2nd card and it just installed a default driver for it (175.19 i think).. and had to go into the device manager and update it manually to 177.41... if you've gotten a bad driver for it with poor cuda performance this could explain it... so have a look.

    Also do you have SLI Enabled? if so disable it while folding.
     
  18. dw1234

    dw1234 New Member

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    Everyone who has 8xxx cards can use F@H GPU core, but you need to use the 177.35 drivers found here:

    http://www.nvidia.com/object/cuda_get.html

    These are Nvidia's offical drivers for Cuda support for all 8xxx cards.

    Hope this helps,

    DW

    EDIT: BTW been folding on dual 280s and 8800GTs with the new core for about 2 hours and it seems fine so far.
     
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2008
  19. greaterthenjake

    greaterthenjake Member Guru

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    AH gotcha SLI is enabled so thats the culprit for the low performance of the second card. thanks for the reply i will disable sli later and see how she does. thanks
     
  20. MoosePower

    MoosePower Guest

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    Thanks to aircool f@h is up and running again! The 8800 is currently scoring 6048 ppd! Big improvement over the last driver/fah client.
     

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