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SciFrog · Dec 5, 2006, 02:02 PM

Our total production has been slipping over the past few months and we are still lead by two mac teams.

But great news, we now have a new way to make great strides in Folding:

the new SMP client for intel macs.

A 2Ghz Core duo will do about 600PPD and a 2.16Ghz iMac core 2 duo close to 900PPD, a Mac pro should be above 2000PPD (the equivalent of 20 dual PM 1.25Ghz G4!).

So now would be a great time to switch some power to Folding!

Billy · Dec 6, 2006, 11:44 AM

Are you sure about those values? Is PPD = credits per day? If so, I can do about 1100 credits per day on SETI with the Alex Kan worker on my Core Duo iMac.

SciFrog · Dec 6, 2006, 12:45 PM

Folding has their own point system, different from BOINC.

zombie67 · Dec 6, 2006, 01:11 PM

Originally Posted by SciFrog

Our total production has been slipping over the past few months and we are still lead by two mac teams.

But great news, we now have a new way to make great strides in Folding:

the new SMP client for intel macs.

A 2Ghz Core duo will do about 600PPD and a 2.16Ghz iMac core 2 duo close to 900PPD, a Mac pro should be above 2000PPD (the equivalent of 20 dual PM 1.25Ghz G4!).

So now would be a great time to switch some power to Folding!

When I looked at the SMP beta client a couple of weeks ago, it said that there were still issues with more than two cores. Has that changed?

Personally, I like do stick to BOINC projects. I like being able to run multiple projects at the same time, adjusting the resources as the mood strikes me.

Billy · Dec 6, 2006, 01:23 PM

Originally Posted by SciFrog

Folding has their own point system, different from BOINC.

I just have one computer with several users. Can I run Folding along with Boinc and other progams? I already have problems with Boinc when it decides my computer is overcommitted and preempts WU's to run earlier deadline WU's.

SciFrog · Dec 6, 2006, 01:40 PM

You should only run one project at one time on a single computer.

Actually part of the reason the new Folding SMP client is more rewarding is because it expects you to do more science in a shorter time frame by dedicating your machine to that one project (in the background using idle cycles of course).

I don't think they have issue with more than two cores as the core runs 4 threads.

Billy · Dec 6, 2006, 02:35 PM

I tried to run it but got an error message: Folding@home Core Shutdown: EARLY_UNIT_END
[0]0:Return code = 114
[0]1:Return code = 0, signaled with Quit
[0]2:Return code = 0, signaled with Quit
[0]3:Return code = 0, signaled with Quit
[18:09:34] CoreStatus = 72 (114)
[18:09:34] Sending work to server

Even so, Activity Monitor shows it to be actively crunching away on the 4 threads!

SciFrog · Dec 6, 2006, 05:41 PM

Another unit should have started then... Never seen the messages you mention.

Billy · Dec 6, 2006, 10:10 PM

Actually it did start. I guess that I got that message as it was starting for the first time on my computer.

Billy · Dec 6, 2006, 10:12 PM

Originally Posted by zombie67

When I looked at the SMP beta client a couple of weeks ago, it said that there were still issues with more than two cores. Has that changed?

Personally, I like do stick to BOINC projects. I like being able to run multiple projects at the same time, adjusting the resources as the mood strikes me.

This is from the FAQ at F@H:

In the beta test, we are strongly recommending that this code be run on 4-core boxes, although it can be run on 2-core boxes with reasonable performance. The code does best on Core 2 Duo/Woodcrest class chips and we recommend these systems (new iMacs, Mac Pro's, etc).

zombie67 · Dec 6, 2006, 11:23 PM

Originally Posted by Billy

This is from the FAQ at F@H:

In the beta test, we are strongly recommending that this code be run on 4-core boxes, although it can be run on 2-core boxes with reasonable performance. The code does best on Core 2 Duo/Woodcrest class chips and we recommend these systems (new iMacs, Mac Pro's, etc).

D'oh! I remembered it exactly backwards....

SciFrog · Dec 7, 2006, 12:15 PM

It just works, very few problems on any kind of mac intel machines,
so let's go!

The only real problem I have is when I put the machine to sleep for over an hour ish, the current unit dies and I need to start over. Sleeping a few minutes doesn't show that problem.

Easy solution though: no sleep!

SciFrog · Dec 7, 2006, 12:49 PM

And now you even have to deal with command line anymore for the SMP beta:

new installer from the Folding guys:

Folding-community.org :: View topic - New OSX SMP Client w/installer released - APOLOGIES TO ALL FOR THE COOKIE PROBLEMS WE HAD!!

Billy · Dec 8, 2006, 02:53 AM

Originally Posted by SciFrog

And now you even have to deal with command line anymore for the SMP beta:

new installer from the Folding guys:

Folding-community.org :: View topic - New OSX SMP Client w/installer released - APOLOGIES TO ALL FOR THE COOKIE PROBLEMS WE HAD!!

I had some problems with this on a Duo Core iMac. When I stopped the WU with the system preference, did a restart, then tried to start Folding again using the system preference, it gave me errors, threw out all the work that had been done and started over.

SciFrog · Dec 12, 2006, 01:37 PM

Looks like you fixed your problems, you are #7 cruncher on the team, congrats!

Welnic · Dec 12, 2006, 03:13 PM

The new SMP client has helped me out quite a bit. I have a mini with a dual core intel that I don't have to leave in windows anymore. And on my 24" iMac I no longer have two copies of ubuntu running in parallels running the client. Not only is it much less hassle but the points are quite good.

SciFrog · Dec 12, 2006, 03:25 PM

Looks like your #1 crunching spot is safe for now, but that #2 spot should be mine for the next two weeks

It looks like the team is producing more than it was a couple of weeks ago, but there are still ways to go to become threatening for the team around us. We shoudl try to get some of the "other" mac teams to consider switching. I blame this team's drop over the past two years on the low traffic of this forum, despite best efforts of some around here.

But our stats our great, we just need to clean up and fix a few things then try to leverage on that once again.

SciFrog · Dec 12, 2006, 06:39 PM

test for new sig!

Billy · Dec 18, 2006, 05:06 PM

I went on vacation and everything went just great. The house plants seemed to appreciate our absense too.

SciFrog · Dec 18, 2006, 10:21 PM

Thanks for the contribution!

orta · Jan 3, 2007, 11:34 PM

Thought I'd mention I've started running this on my Mac Pro for you guys, hope it helps!

SciFrog · Jan 5, 2007, 09:15 AM

Thanks!

It might be a couple of day before it kicks in!