lower than expected preformance in f@H

[onx]

ok well I have 2 rigs, both have 512MB of ram running synchrnous to the processor both are running xp pro and both are running F@H console 3.24

problem is my main rig will fold about 2 times as fast, or faster than my other rig, but i dont think there is that large of a difference, expecially since i play games and crap on my main rig and the other is just a chat/mail/file server that doesnt get that much use so its really bothering me that it takes it over a day to turn out 1 thingy (on average)

anyway here are the comp specs

main rig

athlon xp 1800+ @ 2.4ghz (200x12)
DFI lanparty NF2 ultra
512MB ram dual channel @ 200 mhz (with crappy timings)

other rig

athlon xp 2400+ @ default 2ghz
gigabyte random number with kt400a
1 stick of 512 @ 133mhz (syncrnous with FSB)


thanks

onx

 

[Arkaine23]

I would switch to the 3.25 or 4.0 client. Probably one of them is using SSE, but the other may start out with SSE and then switch to 3dnow! ( a known bug in the 3.24 client).

 

[Deathknight]

-advmethods and -forceasm make a tremendous performance difference. As Arkaine23 said you want to upgrade your client, but be sure to use these command line switches when you do.

 

[OCn00b]

If you do get the 4.0 client, be sure to use -forceSSE instead of -forceasm though. -forceasm only gives you the 3dNow! boost now.

 

[onx]

ok thanks ill see what it does!

 

[onx]

ok well how do you enter those commands in? i cant figure it out...

 

[HaTE]

on windows if you have it set to startup when the windows loads, then goto the startup programs menu on the start menu and edit the properties for F@H, where it has the path to the exe, add the commands after the location to the program, (example: "C:\Program Files\Folding@Home\winFAH.exe" -forceasm -advmethods -forceSSE )

 

[Kakao]

Are you sure you are comparing the same protein?

Each protein folds in different times.

 

[OCn00b]

That's true. If you were folding a 32 point protein for example, and now you're folding a 60 point protein, your frame times will be quite a bit different.