xxbassplayerxx

Alright, I've seen a few other guides out there, but I've decided that it's time that I put one together. I am making this with two ATI 4890's, but it applies to any card that can fold. You will run into errors, however, if you try to fold with an ATI card and an Nvidia card in the same machine (even using drivers pre-proprietary Nvidia [185.85]). See this for proof. You will also run into errors if you try to fold with a card from the 200 series and a card from the 8000 or 9000 series (with the exception of the good old GTS250, a nice little rebrand).

Dummy plugs

The basic goal of the dummy plug is to confuse the card into thinking it is plugged into a monitor. For some reason, they will not work correctly unless they are either physically plugged in, or rigged to think so.

There are a few different methods of getting the cards to think they're plugged in. The first, most obvious one, is to hook a card up to another monitor. Once you've done this, right click the desktop, select "Personalize" and then "Display Settings". Select the second monitor and choose "Extend the desktop onto this monitor".

The second method, the one I'm currently using, utilizes a monitor with multiple inputs. My Dell monitor has a DVI input, an HDMI input, and a VGA input. I can toggle between them using a button on the front. Using the supplied converters (DVI to VGA and DVI to HDMI (as well as a DVI cable) I have plugged in all three of my cards to my monitor. Since I technically only have on card showing at a time, I have set the Display Settings to put the additional monitor diagonal down to the right. This is the least common place for me to lose my mouse (I got this idea from here).



The third method, which becomes the most practical for those with large folding setups is the dummy plug. Information on those can be found here.

Cleaning up for a new installation

The first thing you want to do is to clean anything you had left over from your past GPU2 clients. If you're currently folding, you might want to finish your work units because this time they won't restart. Once you've closed all the GPU clients that you have, it's time to fully uninstall them.

Open up the control panel and uninstall "Folding@home-gpu".



Next, you want to delete any files this may have created that would inhibit the setup we'll be doing. Navigate to "C:\Users\Your User Name\AppData\Roaming". This is probably hidden, so just copy and paste the address in Windows Explorer, using the correct User Name.

Here you will find a folder called "Folding@home-gpu". If you have done any work with multiple GPU's in the past, you may have variations of this. I assume that since you did the setup in the past, you know which folders are applicable. Delete it/them.

Since I have multiple GPU's set up, I currently have two folders here, which you'll see to do later on in this guide.



Downloading the necessary, current files

Now we need to redownload the GPU2 client, making sure to have the most recent client. As of 11/21/2009, this is V6 GPU2 Version 6.23, which can be found on Stanford's website.

http://folding.stanford.edu/English/DownloadWinOther



Start the install and follow the instructions. However, once it's finished downloading, do not open the client. We still have work to do.

Configuring files and folders for operation

Navigate back to "C:\Users\Your User Name\AppData\Roaming". There will be a folder there called "Folding@home-gpu". Right click this folder and choose Copy. After Vista has copied the folder, there will be a new folder called "Folding@home-gpu - Copy". You need to create as many folders as GPU's you want to be folding. For three 4870's, you'd need three folders. For one 9800GX2, you would need two folders. After you have created the correct amount of folders (for me it was two), you need to rename them. For simplicity, I append a 1 to the original folder name and a 2 to the copied folder.

Now I have two folders (you may have more). One is located at "C:\Users\Your User Name\AppData\Roaming\Folding@home-gpu1" and the other is "C:\Users\Your User Name\AppData\Roaming\Folding@home-gpu2".









Almost done. Now it's time to create the shortcuts.

Creating the shortcuts and targets

Navigate to "C:\Program Files (x86)\Folding@home\Folding@home-gpu". There will be an application there called "Folding@home". Right click this application and choose to create a shortcut. A window will pop up saying that the shortcut must be placed on the desktop. Accept it.





After you've created the proper amount of shortcuts (one per GPU), it's time to tell them where to go. Right click the first shortcut and go to properties. Under the "Shortcut" tab, there will be a field called "Target:". We want this field to point to the "Folding@home.exe" file. Here's the tricky part, the GPU in the first slot of the computer is actually GPU 0.

Direct it towards the file. Then we need to append a flag at the end. Since this is the first shortcut we're configuring, we'll want to add "-gpu 0" at the end.

This means the "Target:" field should look like this (quotes included):

"C:\Program Files (x86)\Folding@home\Folding@home-gpu\Folding@home.exe" -gpu 0

Next we need to edit the "Start in:" field. We want this to point to the folder we made for the first GPU in AppData.

For the first GPU, mine points to the following:

C:\Users\Your User Name\AppData\Roaming\Folding@home-gpu1

If you would like, you can click on the "General" tab and rename the file. My first GPU is a Toxic 4890, so I named it Toxic.



Repeat this process for however many GPU's you have, pointing to the respective "Start in:" fields as well as adding the correct flags ("-gpu 1" for the second card, "-gpu 2" for the third card, etc.) to the "Target:" field.



Configuring the Clients

Open your first shortcut. When it comes up for the first time, it should take you directly to the Folding@Home Control Panel. If it does not, right click the icon in the lower right hand corner and select "Configure...". Under the "User" tab, fill in your User Name, Team (37726), and Password if you have one.

Under the "Connection" tab, if you're using a proxy (I have no idea what that is, you probably do if you have one), you can set that up. If not, just make sure to check the box in the bottom left hand corner. It will allow you to receive bigger work units.

Under the "Advanced" tab, you're going to want to move the priority up. This will get you maximum points. Also, you don't want to lock cores to a specific CPU. Finally, you need to set the machine ID. Default is 2. Be sure to change it on all of your machines but one. My Toxic is 2, the Diamond is 3, and my i7 is 1. If any of these are the same, you will get errors.







After you have done this for all of your GPU2 clients, you are good to start folding!

DONE(ish)!

(Optional) Setting up FahMon

FahMon is a program for monitoring the process of your clients. It's helpful and gives you a bit of insight as to your overall PPD and a few other things such as identifying errors.

It can be downloaded from here: http://fahmon.net/download.html

Once you've downloaded the program, install it and open it up. In the menu at the top, choose "Clients" then "Add a new client". Name it whatever you want to help you identify the GPU. For the location, you'll want to point to that card's location in the AppData folder. For my Toxic, which is the first card in my computer, I have it directed to "C:\Users\Thomas\AppData\Roaming\Folding@home-gpu1\". Repeat this for the respective cards and you should be up and going!




If you guys have any questions, feel free to ask!
I'd like to say thanks to the OCN F@H community because I learned this all here! I just wanted to give a comprehensive collection of everything I've learned for the benefit of everyone else. If you run into any errors, let me know.

Thanks for reading and FOLD ON!

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WDC

WOW! I say a great improvement on my processing doing this. As soon as I go to the basement to find a spare HDMI cable, I will be tricking the machine into dual monitors.

Much appreciated!!!

Wish I could give more than just REP.....

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xxbassplayerxx

Folding is good enough for me!

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jpz

I didn't know about this method until now. Thanks for posting this guide!

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WDC

Someone should sell these dummy things....

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Fear of Oneself

so i need to plug a monitor into a 9800gt to fold with it?

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I survived H1N1, got this in my spare time: http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=818589

!!~AMD Phenom II X3 700 Series OC Club~!!

xxbassplayerxx

It will either need to be plugged into a monitor or have a dummy plug. As far as I know, most monitors have multiple inputs, which is why I choose to do it this way.

See this thread to learn to make a dummy plug:

http://www.overclock.net/overclock-n...ummy-plug.html

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jpz

Dummies can usually be found in the for sale section... i.e. people who post without reading the guidelines.

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Fear of Oneself

Im going to veto GPU folding on my end, last time i tried to solder i shorted my xbox 360 motherboard ill just fold on my CPU, but thanks for posting

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I survived H1N1, got this in my spare time: http://valid.canardpc.com/show_oc.php?id=818589

!!~AMD Phenom II X3 700 Series OC Club~!!

xxbassplayerxx

Does your monitor not have multiple inputs? And you don't need to solder!

The guide just uses a DVI-VGA adapter. Then you stick resistors in! No metalwork at all.

http://www.overclock.net/overclock-n...ummy-plug.html

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