Is SMP folding really better?

[GigaHertzAddict]

I have a few Pentium D's folding and I'm currently folding using 2 instances of FAH. Each core is working on a different protein independently. With SMP do they both work on the same protein? And is it really faster than folding two separate ones? I don't see a windows SMP client on the folding website. If I did want to try it were do I download the SMP client?

[WarriorII]

I have a few Pentium D's folding and I'm currently folding using 2 instances of FAH. Each core is working on a different protein independently. With SMP do they both work on the same protein? And is it really faster than folding two separate ones? I don't see a windows SMP client on the folding website. If I did want to try it were do I download the SMP client?


I have one Pent D, an 805, O/C'd to just under 4ghz.
I know the SMP client is designed for Quad cores, but will work on DC's, but may show signs of small problems. - per Stanford.

I believe it's designed for 2 cores to work on one WU. (Someone correct me if I'm wrong)

SMP, is run in Linux, any flavor, but still Linux. So no Windoz client is out, yet.

You want the AMD64 BIT, yes, I said AMD, you would DL the AMD 64 bit, Linux , I use Ubuntu 6.10, and then DL the SMP Beta for Linux from Stanford. If you do a search for SMP Linux in this Section of the Forums, you'll find several threads relating to it.

Depending on you P-D chips, you can also, instead of using Linux native, DL VMWare and install it, into Windows and run Linux (in windoz) and run SMP.

A bit confusing? ;) yeah, but it works.

Is it better? a matter of opinion. For Science? the same, for points, yes, it is.

If you have more questions, just post them up & we'll do our best to help out.

:attn:

[GigaHertzAddict]

Thanks for the info warrior... I guess logically thinking either way.. it's really the same thing for a dual core... How much faster do you think a Presler is over a smithfield? I'm thinking of picking up a 915 to replace my 805 and overclock it.

[WarriorII]

I can squeeze out 4.0Ghz out of the smithy, but I have to really bump the voltage & it's gets waaaay too hot. (& I have it in a small office @ home)

YMMV.

One of the other guys here can get 4.2 easy.
But all depends on your set up too.

You might try the VMWare/SMP guide once you figure out if your cpu supports VT. If it does, then you can run VMWare & SMP IN Windoz.

If not, install Linux native & run SMP that way.

It's a bit confusing, but it really is easy.

I did it with no prior knowledge of Linux & I was up and SMP Folding in 1 1/2 hours.
(Installed Linux (& updates) on an 8.4gb hdd & installed the SMP Folding client)

A lot of other members here are very knowledgable with various Linux distros.

:attn:

[benbaked]

I'm thinking of picking up a 915 to replace my 805 and overclock it.

Personally I wouldn't recommend buying a 915, if your motherboard will support C2D then you would be much better off with at least an e6300 (or an e4300 if you don't mind running native linxu to run the SMP client. I've seen some really impressive ppd posted here by guys/gals running the SMP client with C2D processors.

[GigaHertzAddict]

Personally I wouldn't recommend buying a 915, if your motherboard will support C2D then you would be much better off with at least an e6300 (or an e4300 if you don't mind running native linxu to run the SMP client. I've seen some really impressive ppd posted here by guys/gals running the SMP client with C2D processors.

yeah I know C2D is way better, but at 95 bucks the 915 is better because the cheapest C2D is almost double the price of the 915.

[WarriorII]

If you use the rig in your sig, put Linux on a partition by itself or throw in a cheapy hhd you have laying around, and get your current 805 around 4.0Ghz & give it all a try, you'll like it I'm sure.

[pscout]

The 915 doesn.t have VT so no vmware option ... but since it is a dedicated folding rig? then native linux would be better anyway - more efficient.

Since you have pentium D's already you are ready to roll since they all have emt64 so you can run the 64 bit linux.

I have converted all but 1 of my D's to smp --- points evidence is in my stats. Since SMP is in beta, it has a large bonus associated with it ... so expect your ppd to probably double or even triple on the D's :D

Ubuntu seems to be the easiest distro for us linux noobs ... simplest install is V6.06 since it saves 1 (simple) step of needing to install ia32-libs which you would need to do if you use V6.10.

Many people have their first install up and running in an hour ... if the linux you try supports all the hardware out of the box - lan, video are the common stiumbling blocks. With newer hardware, best bet might be the latest version (6.10) since it is more? likely to have the drivers you need.

If the p5b-d is the one you are going to use then i know 6.10 works on it. I disabled the 1'st pci-e lan in bios and run the second one (pci i think) and 6.10 installed no problem. If you leave the first one enabled, 6,10 will hang during startup - at least mine did. I have 2 p5b-d's running native linux 6.10 atm. I have not tried installing 6.06 on them yet.


The ubuntu link -> http://www.ubuntu.com/

As warrior said ... look to the end of the download list to make sure you get the amd64 bit version ... the 32 bit version that so many of us have downloaded by mistake will not run the stanford smp client.

[pscout]

Further to jws's comments ... no question a cheap c2d will produce better and with less heat.

e4300 might be a good choice since it has a higher multi and shouldn't require very fast ram at OC ... supposedly prices are coming down soon.

You could just start on your 805 now, and swap cpu later once you decide - i expect that if you only swap cpu your linux install will be unaffected.

C2d's run cooler and consume less electric.

a 915 will prolly also be cooler, less electric ... check out the intel section for how well they oc.

6.06 may be a smooth install on the p5b-d ... i just haven't tried it.

If it turns out 6.10 is easier, all you need to do after intalling it is run this command in a terminal window to get the ia32-libs:

"sudo apt-get install ia32-libs"

no reboot necessary once it completes.

The ubuntu install's will set up dual boot so you can still run windows if you want. I still use windows for my oc'ing so it is good to keep since you already have a licence.

The ubuntu installer can shrink existing disk partitions to fit enuf space for itself (< 10 GB) but i didn't try that option out ... i just made sure there was enuf unallocated space for the linux ext and swap partitions on my boot hdd before i installed it and then picked the 'maually configure partition' option during the install. May sound complicated, but the guide on the ubuntu site is very easy to follow.

In addition to the SMP thread here, here is another guide to setting up ubuntu for smp folding -> http://dallasdon.com/html/kubuntu.html

[GigaHertzAddict]

dam.. I can't use linux because the folding rigs are also business rigs.. WinXP is a must.. oh well.. I guess I gotta wait for Q6600 to drop down to $530.

[pscout]

dam.. I can't use linux because the folding rigs are also business rigs.. WinXP is a must.. oh well.. I guess I gotta wait for Q6600 to drop down to $530.

Once you get a cpu that supports VT (eg 930's, all of the c2d's except 4300)
then you can use (free) vmware and linux under winodws.

[harlam357]

You want the AMD64 BIT, yes, I said AMD

True 'dat WII!! :beer:

[Audioaficionado]

Ubuntu installs easer than windows.

If you want a leaner system, there are other alternatives but you have to know more about how Linux installs to accomplish it.

I mangaged to use that new Gentoo Live CD 64bit 2006.1 and it was a very easy install compared to the usual command line versions. But not as easy as Ubuntu.

[pscout]

Edit: @pscout I just reread your post and you said the mobo (P5B DLX) would "hang" if you didn't disable the pci-e lan (what's that?) in BIOS? I didn't have to disable anything on both my P5B DLX or P5B "vanilla" and I installed Ubuntu Edgy Eft v6.10 on both boards :confused:

That is what i recall ... but it was my guinea pig for my initial experiemnts with linux. I may well have got something else wrong :o

I have been meaning to do a new clean install on that first rig, and try 6.06 on it ... but it just hasn't been making the top of the list since it is folding stable ... and my son just added his main rig to the queue in my 'repair shop'.

[Rpkole]

yeah I know C2D is way better, but at 95 bucks the 915 is better because the cheapest C2D is almost double the price of the 915.


just to give you a idea i had a 805@4ghz and it put out 1000 ppd on smp now my C2D@3.72ghz is doing right at 2600 ppd more than double per Ghz :eek:

[GigaHertzAddict]

just to give you a idea i had a 805@4ghz and it put out 1000 ppd on smp now my C2D@3.72ghz is doing right at 2600 ppd more than double per Ghz :eek:

Dam, you're @ 3.72GHz. Watercooled? That's not common for a C2D for 24/7 folding. None the less it's is much faster...