[Norcalsteve]

Well, this question has been asked by me and a few others but has not had a definate answer, or a clear one. i googled and found this answer:

Re: Now that SMP2 is out... Windows or Linux VMWare?

Postby skinnykid63 » Tue Jan 26, 2010 8:33 am

My PPD seems to up about 5-10% using Win SMP a3 over Linux VM a2 and maybe 20% over Linux VM a3.

I noticed that some of the VMWare services were using around 10% CPU for very shorts intervals, a second a most, but this was enough to kill Win a3 performance. Ultravnc was also exhibiting similar CPU usage, killing both services resulted in a jump in performance (2000PPD to 3500).

I also saw an issue with Win SMP slowing my GPU clients unless I manually priority to a setting higher than idle, "slightly higher than idle" didn't work.
Didn't have this issue with the VM as it played nicer with priorities.

My two cents: Go with the Win client, you lose the overhead of the VM, including less ram usage a simpler setup.
Specs:
Phenom II 940 @3.4Ghz 3500PPD Win SMP
2 8800GT 5100PPD each
6GB ram
Win 7 64

skinnykid63

Posts: 21
Joined: Mon Jun 23, 2008 2:11 pm

If this is true, could the veterans confirm? Switching to NATIVE WINDOWS 6.29 is more beneficial for the science and the PPD than the LinuxVM?

I am a little slow and need thinks broke down like a grade schooler!

[Norcalsteve]

after minor digging, i answered it my self ;-)

Note to everyone : the time might have come to reconsider using VMs ... it was an exploit of a flaw in the A1 and A2 cores which are no longer present in A3/SMP2 core. You'll probably be getting better results by running native clients again.

well 10 more hours on my VM bigadv client, then shutting her down! just after i get it all dialed in too!

[ChasR]

On an i7 @ 3.8, you're going to net 10,000 ppd more on -bigadv WUs than on a3 WUs. The points are an indication of the science performed, so I'd have to say -bigadv gets the nod.
You only have a choice on a2 or a3 in the short term. Upgrade your client to 6.29 no matter which way you intend to run. When the -bigadv switch to a3 core, you'll be ready.
When -bigadv comes to windows, you'll probably want to switch to native Windows operation. It's true, native Windows is faster than Linux SMP2 in a VM or native Linux SMP2.
From a q9450 @ 3.6:
p6012:
Win SMP2
Avg. Time / Frame : 00:04:51 - 8,330 PPD

VM/Linux SMP2
Avg. Time / Frame : 00:05:51 - 6,288 PPD


WIn SMP is 32% faster in this non-scientific example.

The bit about Wun SMP2 slowing the GPUs is BS. I've got enough running now to know, that if you've got priority set correctly, Win SMP2 at idle, GPUs at low, nothing on the SMP client has any affect on the GPU production. It's appalling, the number of people that don't have priority right.

[Norcalsteve]

And thanks to you, i got those prioritys on lock down! I have my Linux VM upgraded to 6.29 now, and i had the -oneunit flag on it, but i think i will just let it run on. as long as i am upgraded and -bigadv flag is on, i will stay with my VM until big's gets moved like you said.

Thanks for the extended clarification ChasR!