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You are here: MacNN Forums > Community > Team MacNN > Maybe try some more crunching - recommendations please

Maybe try some more crunching - recommendations please
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OneMacGuy
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Feb 2, 2008, 09:23 AM
 
Hi to all you guys that might remember, I used to be pretty active on here, but must admit to having become a little slack lately.

But,I am thinking of putting several new souped up Athlon X2 6000s to work crunching on a project somewhere again, any recommendations? They are so under utilized where they sit that someone should get some benefit from them.

P.S. these are running on the dark side, windows xp.
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bearcatrp
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Feb 2, 2008, 09:28 PM
 
World Community Grid - Home has plenty of work.
ClimatePrediction.Net gateway is another but very long WU's.
Randy
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Home built 12 core 2.93 Westmere PC (almost half the cost of MP) Win7 64.
     
zombie67
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Feb 3, 2008, 11:06 AM
 
What are you looking for? A particular type of science? Lots of credits? Something different you couldn't run on your mac? Give us a starting point.
     
Welnic
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Feb 4, 2008, 03:10 PM
 
Folding. Bring it on.
     
OneMacGuy  (op)
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Feb 5, 2008, 06:00 AM
 
Originally Posted by Welnic View Post
Folding. Bring it on.
Hi Welnic, long time no see on here! Good to see that Scott and Reader50 are still active. I think I may try folding and see how well it goes this time. All the crap they pulled with the scoring on the Rosetta stuff really turned me off last time, I won't be going back there.
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OneMacGuy  (op)
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Feb 5, 2008, 09:37 PM
 
I added 4 new computers to folding:

An overclocked Core 2 Duo running at 2.6 Ghz
A Pentium 4 3.4 ghz Dual Core
A P4 2.8 with HT
An Athlon 64 X2 4600

More to come!
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SciFrog
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Feb 7, 2008, 10:24 AM
 
We really need some help with Folding, maybe your contribution will push others to crunch also.

I think we should try to set a goal, like taking other mac teams

We could start with Mac Folders @ Macresource.com, they are 11 spots above us and crunching 25% moe PPD.

Mac Addict might be tougher as they have one guy crunching more than our whole team,but if we show strengh, we should try to recruit him!

I also see a nice race between OneMacGuy and Welnic pointing on the horizon! Sadly my #2 cruncher spot will soon be gone...
Please join Team MacNN BOINC and Folding teams!
No more wasted CPU cycles!
     
mindwaves
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Mar 8, 2008, 10:17 AM
 
So I started Folding for the first time. iMac C2D 2GHz. Team MacNN of course. How fast can this machine do 1WU relative to other machines?
     
subego
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Mar 8, 2008, 01:54 PM
 
Originally Posted by mindwaves View Post
So I started Folding for the first time. iMac C2D 2GHz. Team MacNN of course. How fast can this machine do 1WU relative to other machines?

Well, just to give you some baselines, my PS3s and my Mini C2D 1.66 GHz run at about the same rate: 900 points/day.

However, the Mini gets WU that last 2 days and are worth close to 1,800 points. The PS3 gets WU that last about 8 hours and are worth 300 points.
( Last edited by subego; Mar 8, 2008 at 02:03 PM. )
     
subego
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Mar 8, 2008, 01:57 PM
 
Originally Posted by SciFrog View Post
I think we should try to set a goal, like taking other mac teams

Or even just not falling out of the top 100 and losing the Extreme Overclocking stats page.

I like Team MacNN's stats page better (no lie!), but the EO page gets more updates.
     
reader50
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Mar 8, 2008, 02:09 PM
 
subego, how often do they update? We used to update hourly, until Stanford decided to temporarily IP-block anyone who updated more than ~9 times per day. We backed off to 8 updates per day - every 3 hours.

At the time, we had only one IP to play with. Today, I might be able to employ multiple IPs to beat their trap code. Each additional IP used would give us another 8 updates per day.
     
subego
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Mar 8, 2008, 04:34 PM
 
Originally Posted by reader50 View Post
subego, how often do they update? We used to update hourly, until Stanford decided to temporarily IP-block anyone who updated more than ~9 times per day. We backed off to 8 updates per day - every 3 hours.

At the time, we had only one IP to play with. Today, I might be able to employ multiple IPs to beat their trap code. Each additional IP used would give us another 8 updates per day.

They do 8 per day (i.e. every 3 hours).

Unless I'm missing something, the MacNN page has been only updating twice a day. Somewhere around 10 minutes after 10, AM and PM.

For instance, right now, the reference time is 4.2 hours ago. Shouldn't this not get higher than three, or does this not mean what I think it means?

I've certainly seen the reference time be 11 hours and some change.
     
reader50
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Mar 8, 2008, 04:48 PM
 
I'll have to look into this. We shouldn't get much past 3 hours.
     
SciFrog
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Mar 9, 2008, 12:40 PM
 
Definitely MacNN updates every 12 hours...

Also it would be nice to have the team rank page up
Please join Team MacNN BOINC and Folding teams!
No more wasted CPU cycles!
     
macdude22
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Mar 21, 2008, 01:57 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
Or even just not falling out of the top 100 and losing the Extreme Overclocking stats page.

I like Team MacNN's stats page better (no lie!), but the EO page gets more updates.
I want to beat those smug shmoes over at dl.tv.

I keed I keed, but seriously they were flaunting their prowess on a recent episode and I said TO ARMS!..........Then my wife said what is wrong with you.
"Don't try to be a great man, just be a man."
     
Billy
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Mar 30, 2008, 09:12 PM
 
Originally Posted by subego View Post
Well, just to give you some baselines, my PS3s and my Mini C2D 1.66 GHz run at about the same rate: 900 points/day.

However, the Mini gets WU that last 2 days and are worth close to 1,800 points. The PS3 gets WU that last about 8 hours and are worth 300 points.
Can you just download the client and start it up? What about the beta?
     
Billy
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Mar 31, 2008, 06:34 PM
 
I tried to run folding on my iMac Core Duo. I am using 6.10beta2. I get error messages, but it is running. Do I need to fix something?

Launch directory: /Users/Bill/Library/Folding@home
Executable: /Applications/[email protected]/fah6
Arguments: -smp

[20:00:12] - Ask before connecting: No
[20:00:12] - User name: BillyB (Team 16)
[20:00:12] - User ID: 227DC194D05EFE6
[20:00:12] - Machine ID: 1
[20:00:12]
[20:00:12] Loaded queue successfully.
[20:00:12]
[20:00:12] + Processing work unit
[20:00:12] Core required: FahCore_a1.exe
[20:00:12] Core found.
[20:00:12] Working on Unit 01 [March 31 20:00:12]
[20:00:12] + Working ...
[20:00:12]
[20:00:12] *------------------------------*
[20:00:12] Folding@Home Gromacs SMP Core
[20:00:12] Version 1.74 (September 24, 2007)
[20:00:12]
[20:00:12] Preparing to commence simulation
[20:00:12] - Ensuring status. Please wait.
[20:00:29] - Looking at optimizations...
[20:00:29] - Working with standard loops on this execution.
[20:00:29] - Previous termination of core was improper.
[20:00:29] - Going to use standard loops.
[20:00:29] - Files status OK
[20:00:29] Error: Work unit read from disk is invalid
[20:00:29] Finalizing output
[20:00:32] - Expanded 2437860 -> 12885597 (decompressed 528.5 percent)
[20:00:33]
[20:00:33] Project: 2605 (Run 13, Clone 488, Gen 36)
[20:00:33]
[20:00:33] Entering M.D.
[20:00:39] mdrunner cpfilename:
[20:00:39] Calling FAH init
[20:00:41] Read topology
[20:00:41] (Starting from checkpoint)
[20:00:42] Read checkpoint
[20:00:42] Protein: Protein in POPC
[20:00:43] Writing local files
[20:00:44] Extra SSE boost OK.
[20:00:44] Writing local files
[20:00:45] Completed 0 out of 500000 steps (0 percent)
     
reader50
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Mar 31, 2008, 07:36 PM
 
Is it using significant CPU? Or running, but using 1% or so? I'd expect it to be using a lot of CPU if it's working correctly.

Originally Posted by Billy View Post
[20:00:29] - Files status OK
[20:00:29] Error: Work unit read from disk is invalid
[20:00:29] Finalizing output
[20:00:32] - Expanded 2437860 -> 12885597 (decompressed 528.5 percent)
This is odd. Maybe it's just a beta misfire. Or they gave you a bad work unit.

Originally Posted by Billy View Post
[20:00:12] Preparing to commence simulation
[20:00:12] - Ensuring status. Please wait.
[20:00:29] - Looking at optimizations...
[20:00:29] - Working with standard loops on this execution.
[20:00:29] - Previous termination of core was improper.
[20:00:29] - Going to use standard loops.
[20:00:29] - Files status OK
...
[20:00:44] Extra SSE boost OK.
[20:00:44] Writing local files
[20:00:45] Completed 0 out of 500000 steps (0 percent)
This means that AltiVec (PPC) or SSE (x86) has been disabled, at least for this run. When the client exits normally, it leaves a note to itself that the exit was normal. If the note is missing, then it thinks it crashed last time. In your case, the note is most likely missing because you've just started crunching Folding - there was no last time.

The next time you stop/start the client, see if it says the same thing. Or something else along the lines of "errors detected" in the previous run. Those happen if a system is overclocked, or running in a very hot environment - turning off optimizations makes the CPU run cooler, eliminating the errors.

You can use the -forceasm flag to bypass the check and force SSE on with every launch. Use that if it keeps thinking it crashed on exit from the last session. But don't use that flag if it detected crunch errors on the last run.
     
Billy
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Mar 31, 2008, 09:55 PM
 
Originally Posted by reader50 View Post
Is it using significant CPU? Or running, but using 1% or so? I'd expect it to be using a lot of CPU if it's working correctly.


This is odd. Maybe it's just a beta misfire. Or they gave you a bad work unit.


This means that AltiVec (PPC) or SSE (x86) has been disabled, at least for this run. When the client exits normally, it leaves a note to itself that the exit was normal. If the note is missing, then it thinks it crashed last time. In your case, the note is most likely missing because you've just started crunching Folding - there was no last time.

The next time you stop/start the client, see if it says the same thing. Or something else along the lines of "errors detected" in the previous run. Those happen if a system is overclocked, or running in a very hot environment - turning off optimizations makes the CPU run cooler, eliminating the errors.

You can use the -forceasm flag to bypass the check and force SSE on with every launch. Use that if it keeps thinking it crashed on exit from the last session. But don't use that flag if it detected crunch errors on the last run.
It is using 50% CPU on 4 workers. Boinc is using the other 50%.

I was running folding before, but an old version. With the new version, it wouldn't shut down using the system preferences pane and then when I tried to restart the computer it hung up and I had to power off and on. I deleted the folding folder and tried again, but was getting errors, so I sent you the log.
     
macdude22
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Apr 1, 2008, 09:48 AM
 
I also have the problem where the crunchers don't shut down with the preference pane. Latest 6.10 beta. I haven't had any other issues so usually I just kill the process if need be.
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SciFrog
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Apr 3, 2008, 09:56 AM
 
Team MacNN is ranked 81, but we are crunching #140. I estimate we will drop out of the top 100 in 9-12 months.

I will jump off the ship if we can't get our daily average above 50k a day.
I read MacNN news every day and use the forum once and a while, the only mac forum I use besides Apple Support,
the stats are great altough not everything is updating, I understand this requires already tremendeous effort from only one person though.

But MacNN doesn't really care about the team, there is no more link from the main page to the team...
How else can you explain the massive number of users in the forum and only 10 crunchers in Folding?

I think the team has a lot going on in BOINC, but I like Folding...
Of course the answer would be Folding joining BOINC, but although there were talks about it a year ago, I don't think it will happen anymore as the Folding client have become a lot more sophisticated (multi core, GPU, PS3...).
Please join Team MacNN BOINC and Folding teams!
No more wasted CPU cycles!
     
macdude22
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Apr 3, 2008, 10:21 AM
 
I don't like managing BONIC personally (though I'm investigating it for some labs at work), call me a simpleton but I like the single client install and go. Also I like the folding project in general. I'm doing my best but student loans prevent any more investment in teh pharm. I've been with TeamMac NN so long I don't know where else I'd go but our folding team is dwindling fast.
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Billy
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Apr 3, 2008, 11:47 AM
 
I would like to run folding, but I am having difficulties on my iMac Core Duo.

What are you running and how have you set it up?
     
SciFrog
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Apr 4, 2008, 09:07 AM
 
Just following the instructions for the command line really, not different thatn running the old PPC client.
Create a folder in ~/Utilities and launch it in a terminal window.

The client is finally able to resume work when interrupted, something that wasn't always the case and part of the reason so many people jumped ship IMHO.
The only thing is the client will crash if the ethernet address changes, so when you know it will hapen, you need to stop the client (kill fah6 in "Activity Monitor") and wait a few mins for the process to shut down. You can then resume at will.

SMP client does best with "Core 2 duo" (at least 30% fatser than "Core duo" at the same CPU speed).

A 2Ghz Core 2 duo can do 1,200 PPD, vs 100 for a 1.25Ghz dual G4 FYI...
A new octo PowerMac can do over 4,000 PPD, something that needed 30+ machines 3 years ago...
A PS3 can do 900 PPD.
( Last edited by SciFrog; Apr 4, 2008 at 09:14 AM. )
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Billy
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Apr 8, 2008, 11:39 AM
 
I am using the GUI version. Perhaps my problems are from when I tried to use a CLI and there are some things left over somewhere.

Since my Core Duo is so underpowered, I will leave to the other Top Guns to smash all records. I find Boinc to be very user friendly and will stick to it. There are lots of worthy projects to choose from.
     
SciFrog
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Apr 8, 2008, 02:07 PM
 
What big guns?

There are only 6 people crunching more per day than a Core Duo 2 can do...
Please join Team MacNN BOINC and Folding teams!
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subego
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Apr 18, 2008, 10:02 PM
 
Originally Posted by reader50 View Post
I'll have to look into this. We shouldn't get much past 3 hours.

The folding stats page is updating much more frequently now.

Thank you, most awesome.
     
subego
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Apr 20, 2008, 06:03 PM
 
Okay... maybe it isn't.

[blush]
     
reader50
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Apr 21, 2008, 01:18 AM
 
I hadn't done anything to the servers before now, whatever speedup you saw must have been a random effect.

The Folding cron schedule has been changed to 6x per day (every 4 hours) instead of the previous 8x (every 3 hours).

Also, I added coverage for Ars on einstein, and updated a few globals files, my local copies were more up to date. That may decrease server load a little. If load was a factor, then the changes will improve the update rate.

I should look through the various teams we track. One may have grown to a few thousand members, which can drag down the servers in general. It's been awhile since the last time I surveyed all our tracked teams.
     
   
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