a1 issues

col_sanders · Mar 4, 2010

On my dual opteron system running smp and bigadv when I get A3 units it uses all 4 cores (2 on each cpu). However the annoying bit is when i get a1 core stuff it only runs 50% (2 of my cores but with the load spread across all 4). It really murders my ppd on that system and I'm wondering if anyone else has noticed this issue or has a way to fix it.
The os on this machine is ubuntu9.10

ChasR · Mar 4, 2010

I'm not sure I understand your set up, but here's what I know. a1 WUs are hard coded to run 4 processes. They can run no less or more. On a quad, they don't use 100% of the cpu due to inefficiency, but usually average around 80% of each core. -bigadv requires 8 physical or logical cores, which you don't have, at least as you describe the machine. To get a3 WUs you must have -advmethods set and for -bigadv WUs you can't have the -advmethods flag set, but that's moot on your machine anyway. WHich OS are you running?

col_sanders · Mar 4, 2010

This machine is two Opteron 275s 6GB ram running Ubuntu9.10 didnt know that the bigadv required 8 cores :/
using the system monitor total usage ranges between 50 and 75% with each core running anywhere from 50-75%
HFM net has the eta for these finishing 2 days before the deadline but im not sure how that works out in terms of bonus. Would I be better off running gro-a3 over the a1 units in terms of better ppd. Again im not sure how all this bonus stuff works but I am folding with a passkey.

ChasR · Mar 4, 2010

a3 WUs have been in short supply. At one point yesterday, most of my rigs were folding a1s. Today, about 40% have a1s. There is no bonus on a1s. Performance varies dramatically, p2653 being the best and p5102 being the worst. A sample of a1 performance on a Linux q6600 @ 3.2 GHz:

Code:

Project ID: 2653
 Core: GRO-SMP
 Credit: 1760
 Frames: 100

Name: CR L 1
 Path: \\Cr-l1\fah\
 Number of Frames Observed: 300

 Min. Time / Frame : 00:07:10 - 3,536 PPD
 Avg. Time / Frame : 00:07:16 - 3,488 PPD

Project ID: 2665
 Core: GRO-SMP
 Credit: 1920
 Frames: 100

Name: CR L 1
 Path: \\Cr-l1\fah\
 Number of Frames Observed: 199

 Min. Time / Frame : 00:10:09 - 2,724 PPD
 Avg. Time / Frame : 00:10:12 - 2,711 PPD

Project ID: 3064
 Core: GRO-SMP
 Credit: 1753
 Frames: 100


 Name: CR L 1
 Path: \\Cr-l1\fah\
 Number of Frames Observed: 100

 Min. Time / Frame : 00:07:13 - 3,498 PPD
 Avg. Time / Frame : 00:07:19 - 3,450 PPD

Project ID: 5101
 Core: GRO-SMP
 Credit: 2165
 Frames: 100

Name: CR L 1
 Path: \\Cr-l1\fah\
 Number of Frames Observed: 100

 Min. Time / Frame : 00:10:49 - 2,882 PPD
 Avg. Time / Frame : 00:10:58 - 2,843 PPD

And the same machine on p6025 (a3)

Code:

Project ID: 6025
 Core: GRO-A3
 Credit: 483
 Frames: 100

Name: CR L 1
 Path: \\Cr-l1\fah\
 Number of Frames Observed: 300

 Min. Time / Frame : 00:05:53 - 6,565 PPD
 Avg. Time / Frame : 00:06:05 - 6,244 PPD

Sommelier · Mar 4, 2010

That seems to be my problem too. I have a w3529 (i7ish). What settings do I need to use? do I turn advmethods off in config and just use the -bigadv flag?

ChasR · Mar 4, 2010

Follow the -bigadv checklist in the stickies.

Sommelier · Mar 4, 2010

Thanks ChasR, I guess I'll just wait and see if I get the big WUs.

col_sanders · Mar 4, 2010

All good now, fixed up my startup scripts to cut out the bigadv flag and replace with advmethods now have a3 on the machine again

disk11 · Mar 4, 2010

If you don't mind me asking, how does that setup fold? I've tempted to snag some 275s from ebay after I get a newer main rig.

col_sanders · Mar 4, 2010

With a3 it gets roughly 2000 to 2500 ppd running on all 4 highest i've seen was 3200ppd. Its about 2/3 of what my qx6700 can do. I just run it on there cause that machine is on all the time anyway for call of duty servers and a dns server. Its a proliant DL385 server.

a1 issues

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