VM related questions...

[Bluefalcon13]

well, I'm trying to max my PPD to fend off mr onefstsnake (atleast take it to two months) so I've got my Macbook pro SMP folding, my 8800GTS folding, and just setup a Virtualbox Ubuntu VM.

I was wondering a few things:

1) Why does everyone prefer VMPlayer vs. Virtualbox?

2) I got this bad boy rockin the SMP client, system in sig. I have the GPU client set to low, and the VM itself (via taskmanager) set to idle. Also have the Virtualbox setup for 2 CPUs, and 4gigs of ram. Currently GPU is rocking as it always has, even time-stamp wise. Will this setup allow me to even finish my SMP WUs in the VM within the time limits?

[onefstsnake]

Apparently the VMPlayer 3.0 w/ Ubuntu 9.04 yields the highest PPD.

VMPlayer is pretty easy to setup.

Oh and you will be happy to hear I bid on an i7 920. :D
But that wont be finished till next year so no worries.

[Bluefalcon13]

lol... well, by then youll have passed me, I just wanna make it 2 months like i said it would be :P

[Bluefalcon13]

not doing too bad... ~19 mins a % in the Virtualbox.. shouldnt have any issues meeting the deadline, as the MBP is churning at ~30 mins a %

[onefstsnake]

So which rig are you using virtual box for?

[Bluefalcon13]

main rig... I was getting annoyed trying to setup a console SMP client, so I just made a VM

Temps are ugly on my main rig though... need to find a better way to mount my HSF (using standard AMD bracket to hold my 9500AM2 cooler on, without a lid on the CPU), and a better case (airflow wise, looking to get an Antec Two Hundred)

[onefstsnake]

Im getting ~ 13m per % on my 6000+ @ 3.3ghz

What are your temps?

Im using the 9700 cooler which isnt much different.

[ChasR]

1. Folding in VMware Player is about 10% faster than Virtual box. VMware products have been rock solid since day one while Virtual box has had stability problems while folding.
2. At 19 minutes/frame you'll easily make the deadlines. For reference a T7200 (2.0 GHz)running VMware Player 3.0 turns a2 WU frames at about 17:20.

[Bluefalcon13]

temps are 55C with the case front open (bypasses filter). I think my 9500 isnt making perfect contact with my CPU die though... I DID delid it, but the cooler is heavy and gravity is working against the top edge of the die. I really need to get a backplate-mounted cooler, not one that uses the mounting brackets.

[Bluefalcon13]

1. Folding in VMware Player is about 10% faster than Virtual box. VMware products have been rock solid since day one while Virtual box has had stability problems while folding.
2. At 19 minutes/frame you'll easily make the deadlines. For reference a T7200 (2.0 GHz)running VMware Player 3.0 turns a2 WU frames at about 17:20.

ew... mac client running native is getting ~30mins a % (T7700 2.4ghz, temps 51C which isnt bad for a laptop).

[onefstsnake]

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/onefstsnake2/screen6000.jpg

Im running at 39* c at max.

Something is off... :-/

[Bluefalcon13]

heatsink isnt sitting flush. I know its not. Its keeping it cool enough to not crash (btw, this is via mobo software, not coretemp, due to brizzy temp sensors)

[onefstsnake]

Ah I was thinking we had the same CPU.

[Bluefalcon13]

anyway I could get you to mail me your 9700's intel bracket? I wanna test it with this:

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835708045

[onefstsnake]

Yeah if I could ever find it.

Think the 9900 brackets are the same?

[Bluefalcon13]

donno, mine uses the circle thing that stands up on the base. figured its somewhat standard for the 9k series from zalman... ill look into it

[Bluefalcon13]

looks to be the same base. figured for 2 bucks, I'll try this before I go pony up for a TRUE cooler or something.. the 9500AM2 is a decent cooler, just cause I delidded, it doesnt sit right...

[onefstsnake]

Any of these look right?

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/onefstsnake2/DSC_0928.jpg

Yeah Im not a big fan of the AM2/AM3 mounting.

[Bluefalcon13]

no... not really, but maybe im missing some info... I'll look it up and get back to ya

[onefstsnake]

Well I think the one on the right is a LGA775 bracket.

[Bluefalcon13]

I'll check into it tomorrow, I got a preggors wife who wants me to come to bed, and I just bought an Antec 300 case (free shipping, turned into same price as the twohundred) and the mount thing.

[onefstsnake]

Ah, Congrats.

[onefstsnake]

Just found this.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/onefstsnake2/DSC_0931.jpg

Maybe this will work.

[Bluefalcon13]

that looks more like what I'd need... gonna look at the intel install instructions for a 9500

[Bluefalcon13]

boo zalman... it uses a 2 point mount on the intel too... so it looks like I'll have to fab something to mount it better... which I really didnt want to do... mostly cause I'm lazy

[Bluefalcon13]

Any of these look right?

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b130/onefstsnake2/DSC_0928.jpg

Yeah Im not a big fan of the AM2/AM3 mounting.

After looking into it, the smaller one of these is for 775 also (new retention system). are the screws removeable? cause the adapter plate has studs on it (the one i bought) if so, then that may work, depending on if the 9500AM2 base is large enough to contact the plate (little wings in the center). I am still unsure that would be much better than the standard AM2 mount as its still 2 points of contact, but may be worth a shot as I wait for funds for a new mobo + CPU

[onefstsnake]

No they do not seem to unscrew from the upper metal bracket. I could cut them out though.

[Bluefalcon13]

No they do not seem to unscrew from the upper metal bracket. I could cut them out though.

naw, I was gonna buy one, but I think I'll just save up for a TRUE, or use Xmas money for it or something... Plus I donno how that adapterplate I linked would work with that... the adapter has some kind of threaded stud already in it, but it looks like the zalman mount bracket itself needs an adapter plate.

I just know post jan/feb, my money is gonna disappear (baby is due in late jan/early feb)

[onefstsnake]

Well can you run a Windsor on your mobo?

Saw one for sale for like $50.
Then you could leave the lid on and run the 9500 and run lower voltage and temps.

[Bluefalcon13]

i got a 3800 X2 delidded (windsor core) and a 4000 X2 (brizzy, also delidded)...

I went a bit of razor happy for a bit.

If I'm gonna get me a new CPU, I'll either get the Athlon X4, or the 550BE

[onefstsnake]

Why the BE over the 545?
Unless you plan on trying to unlock to x4.

My 545 runs great. 3.3ghz 222x15 @ 1.392v
Runs at 31*c all day.

[Bluefalcon13]

tbh im leaning to the athlon II cause I play around with virtualization alot. My concern with the Athlon II is OCing it. That and upgrading to either of those, I'm looking at spending ~$200, cause the M2N32SLI-Deluxe doesn't support either of those (some people say they run a 550BE with this mobo, but it doesnt autodetect..).

That and if I get one of those CPUs, and buy a mobo, I'm gonna spend the extra to change to DDR3. Maybe I'll have the funds together after things stabilize (post baby being born) or I get an offer from another company (new job is a minor pay cut, but where I want my career to go). Till then I'm probably gonna be making do with what I have. After I buy some software for the Mac, I'm looking at buying a TRUE cooler, Which should fix my problems as far as cooler not sitting right.

[ChasR]

Before I did any upgrades to an AMD rig to merely gain points folding, I'd wait and see what happens to them with the SMP2 client.

[Bluefalcon13]

Before I did any upgrades to an AMD rig to merely gain points folding, I'd wait and see what happens to them with the SMP2 client.

I dont plan on doing this solely for folding purposes. The upgrades I'm looking at are more for tech refresh purposes... I play around alot with VMs and such, as well as gaming. I know a quad core isnt required for both of those, but with the VMs, I'd like to have more resources available.

[Surferseth]

with the i7 options available from Intel, its hard to suggest a 4 core AMD for virtualization.

Then again, AMD typically does offer more budget friendly options.

[Porvalsh]

Is ubunut 9.10 any better than 9.04. For a fresh Ubuntu VM 9.10 is easier to get access to and download.

[onefstsnake]

Worked well for me for a week then my ppd got cut in half.

9.04 is still recomended.

[Porvalsh]

Do you have a download link for it?

Found it here.

http://releases.ubuntu.com/9.04/

[ChasR]

I've been running quite a few 4 core 9.10 VMs and haven't seen any performance issues yet. It's easy enough to try 9.10 and change if you have an issue. 2.6.31-16 seems to work OK. Unscientifically comparing WUs of the same project on 9.10 (2.6.31-16) to 9.04 (2.6.28-15-server) on different native Linux machines (both q6600 @ 3.2), 9.10 is 9 seconds/frame faster, about 2.5%. Other factors could be at work here, like my recollection that both machines are running the same ram timings being wrong. Anyway, 9.10 isn't slower than 9.04. It does appear to be giving some people problems and not others. I wish I could explain why that is.

[Porvalsh]

I'm working on a video installation and am wondering which I should suggest.

[augie1111]

I'm working on a video installation and am wondering which I should suggest.
I've used both in a VM and there's no difference in PPD to me though %20 folks have been having issues installing 9.10 as a main OS according to the Register (http://www.theregister.co.uk/2009/11/03/karmic_koala_frustration/). I'm not sure if the issues have been resolved yet.

[ChasR]

I'd do 9.10 at this stage. 9.04 isn't one of the alternative options on the Ubuntu download page anymore.

[ChasR]

I've reconsidered. I'm not running a GPU under wine on any of my 9.10 installs. Sydney runs only Linux and runs several GPUs. If he thinks 9.10 has been fixed, then go with 9.10. If he says it's not fixed, go with 9.04.

[Porvalsh]

I'll demo it using 9.04. You can get to previous versions for download easily enough. I'll just make a note that 9.10 still has a few issues and does not work correctly for 20% of its users for unknown reasons.

[Bluefalcon13]

Im running at 39* c at max.

Something is off... :-/

Antec Three Hundred case has all my parts in it now, bouncing between 52-53C (mobo software temps as coretemp doesnt work with brizzy cores).

all in all, new case dropped my temps a good 6C... by my book, thats a nice little drop :D (AS5 hasnt cured yet).

[onefstsnake]

Sweet.

Im about to order the Mobo for my i7 build.