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New GPU core 17 released

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Fever

Member
Joined
Sep 16, 2002
Location
Montreal, Canada
Seems I've picked up some core 17 work units:

MJsgYM8.jpg

OwgMB2L.jpg

Output from the core 17 WU on my 680 GTX:

Code:
23:56:42:WU03:FS01:Starting
23:56:42:WU03:FS01:Running FahCore: "C:\Program Files (x86)\FAHClient/FAHCoreWrapper.exe" C:/Users/Phil/AppData/Roaming/FAHClient/cores/www.stanford.edu/~pande/Win32/AMD64/NVIDIA/Fermi/beta/Core_17.fah/FahCore_17.exe -dir 03 -suffix 01 -version 702 -lifeline 2308 -checkpoint 15 -gpu 1
23:56:42:WU03:FS01:Started FahCore on PID 5008
23:56:42:WU03:FS01:Core PID:2732
23:56:42:WU03:FS01:FahCore 0x17 started
23:56:43:WU03:FS01:0x17:*********************** Log Started 2013-03-04T23:56:42Z ***********************
23:56:43:WU03:FS01:0x17:Project: 7661 (Run 10, Clone 5, Gen 0)
23:56:43:WU03:FS01:0x17:Unit: 0x00000001ff3d48355134f8336e2a73ca
23:56:43:WU03:FS01:0x17:CPU: 0x00000000000000000000000000000000
23:56:43:WU03:FS01:0x17:Machine: 1
23:56:43:WU03:FS01:0x17:Reading tar file system.xml
23:56:43:WU03:FS01:0x17:Reading tar file integrator.xml
23:56:43:WU03:FS01:0x17:Reading tar file state.xml
23:56:43:WU03:FS01:0x17:Reading tar file core.xml
23:56:43:WU03:FS01:0x17:Digital signatures verified
23:57:01:WU03:FS01:0x17:Completed 0 out of 2500000 steps (0%)
00:04:08:WU03:FS01:0x17:Completed 50000 out of 2500000 steps (2%)
00:11:11:WU03:FS01:0x17:Completed 100000 out of 2500000 steps (4%)
00:18:18:WU03:FS01:0x17:Completed 150000 out of 2500000 steps (6%)
00:25:19:WU03:FS01:0x17:Completed 200000 out of 2500000 steps (8%)
00:32:27:WU03:FS01:0x17:Completed 250000 out of 2500000 steps (10%)
00:39:29:WU03:FS01:0x17:Completed 300000 out of 2500000 steps (12%)
00:46:38:WU03:FS01:0x17:Completed 350000 out of 2500000 steps (14%)
00:53:39:WU03:FS01:0x17:Completed 400000 out of 2500000 steps (16%)
01:00:45:WU03:FS01:0x17:Completed 450000 out of 2500000 steps (18%)
01:07:48:WU03:FS01:0x17:Completed 500000 out of 2500000 steps (20%)
01:14:55:WU03:FS01:0x17:Completed 550000 out of 2500000 steps (22%)
01:21:51:WU03:FS01:0x17:Completed 600000 out of 2500000 steps (24%)
01:28:59:WU03:FS01:0x17:Completed 650000 out of 2500000 steps (26%)

At first glance I'm disappointed by the high CPU usage. Not sure what kind of PPD it's making as HFM isn't updated yet. I also find it strange that it's reporting every second step instead of every %.

Anyone else running one of these? Looking forward to seeing AMD numbers, and Fermi vs Kepler numbers.

Edit: Not sure why it's showing some completed and failed units, this is definitely the first time I get these.
 
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For those that are members at FF you can find more information here. :)

Thanks! Seems they've implemented QRB on this. Anxiously awaiting AMD results. My nVidia cards are making less PPD than on 762x WUs. Seems Fermi will be making more points than Kepler cards with this core.
 
AMD is now back in the Folding game.
Core17 won't make a big difference on nvidia, at least not right now.
 
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Heya, anyone got some AMD GPU PPD results on this new core yet they can share.

I'm all curious, but my main PC is down due to a blown PSU right now.
New Antec 650 Platinum arrived today, but won't get a chance to fit it for another few days as busy with work!

Does it take advantage of AMD's GCN architecture !? ^^
 
One friend said he was getting 31k ppd on a 7950.
Another said he was getting 44k ppd on a 7970.
 
wow ! :clap:

AMD cards Actually doing something Great in folding@home!

Can't wait to check this out myself, thanks for the info guys ^^


EDIT:
Sig updated from my old 5850, despite poor folding I had faith in AMD's GCN and hope that soon(...ish) pande labs would take advantage of it ~_^
(the NVidia 600 series having relatively poor GPGPU capabilities don't help them this time around)

About time the underdog wins again.
 
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Here is Vijay Pande's announcement on Core 17:

Introducing Folding@Home Core 17 – GPU zeta core

As also announced on OpenMM/Folding@home programmer Yutong "proteneer" Zhao's web site, we are happy to announce that Folding@Home Core 17 has entered Beta. Externally, you probably won’t notice too much of a difference. Internally, this is a complete overhaul that brings many new features, and sets a strong foundation for the future of GPU core development. In addition, the restructuring brings much tighter integration of the core with the rest of the development within Folding@Home.

We’re also introducing an explicit solvent project (p7661) as part of the Beta. To keep the credit assigned to these projects consistent with previous explicit solvent work units run on CPUs, we are also awarding a quick return bonus with a k-factor of 0.75. This reflects the additional scientific value of these units, and keeps the Folding@Home credit awards consistent across different architectures.

Usage:
This is a still a very new core, a lot of the features have yet to be fully tested. Thus, as is the beta policy, no official support is given. You must enable the -beta flag on FAHClient, ie. set client-type=beta. If you’re using client 7.2.x or earlier, there are two options:
1. Specify -gpu-vendor=XXX, where XXX is either nvidia or ati
2. If -gpu-vendor is not specified, the core will automatically guess the platformId.
Otherwise, 7.3.6 lets you specify the particular -gpu-vendor as an option
Supported NVIDIA cards: Fermi or better (Titan does not work atm, as NVIDIA needs to publish new OpenCL drivers)
Supported ATI cards: HD5000 or better
As always, please use the latest drivers (Win XP is NOT supported due to super-old AMD drivers).

Key Features:
Cleaner Code
We have deprecated several layers of GROMACs and other wrappers as the old architecture severely limited the types of simulations that can be run. Much of the work on the new core has been to replace existing features. The resulting code is now more streamlined and integrated. We also anticipate that this major re-design will allow us to introduce new features into the Folding@Home much faster.

Serialization
We have introduced a new serialization mechanism that allows Pande Group researchers to setup significantly more diverse simulations. Pande Group researchers can now easily setup jobs and projects using Python (with a much richer and easier to use set of libraries), while the core maintains its speed by virtue of being written in C++. We achieved this using a serialization technique, whereby all details of a simulation are encapsulated using a standardized format that is then be passed around between language barriers. This also drastically reduces the dependencies needed by the Work Server and other parts of Folding@Home.

A single unified core now runs both NVIDIA and AMD cards
Before we had two development branches for NVIDIA and AMD cards. It was a difficult and cumbersome task to debug and maintain. We couldn’t easily mix runs and gens produced by different GPU types. Now, using OpenCL, a single core supports not only AMD and NVIDIA, but theoretically any OpenCL-capable device.

Improved Stability
By reducing the amount of boilerplate code, we’ve also increased the robustness and stability of the core. The log files should also now be much more informative. There are also a lot of useful debugging features built right into the core to help PG developers nail down hard to find bugs.

Extra special thanks to our testers:
Jesse_V, k1wi, artoar_11, bollix, ChelseaOilman, bruce, Demonfang, Grandpa_01, EXT64, Flaschie, HayesK, jimerickson, mmonnin_, P5-133XL, Patriot, rhavern, sc0tty8, SodaAnt, SolidSteel144, EvilPenguin, art_l_j_PlanetAMD64, thews, cam51037, Pin, muziqaz, baz657, PantherX, QINSP, Schro, and hootis.
 
I've been pondering a GPU upgrade and this has me intrigued. OpenCL seems to be a key here. I've bounced on the links posted above and, if I understand correctly, NVidia takes no hit, AMD benefits from the new coding? All is beta for now, full roll out TBD ?
 
just added my 7970 to the mix, will see how it does. I didn't add the 'beta' tag first though so I will have to wait for this current one to finish me thinks.

running the 7.2.9 client right now so the gpu-vendor / ati tag didn't work, hope it doesn't matter.
-- edit deleted the gpu and re-added, just jumped 40k ppd.
 
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configure-> add a gpu slot, at the bottom click 'add' and in the box that pops up type client-type (in the first box) and beta (in the second box)

OK/save/etc and it should start working.


I cross-posted to the benching team and the AMD GPU section, hope that is alright.
 
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1310650820313.jpg
 
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