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[Windows 7] MultiGPU Guide - nVidia

54K views 426 replies 100 participants last post by  BWG 
#1 ·
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 4890s, but it applies to any card that can fold.

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, uninstall the GPU client.

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". Delete it.

Downloading the necessary, current files

Now we need to redownload the GPU2 client, making sure to have the most recent client, V6 GPU2 Version 6.23, which can be found on Stanford's download page.

Fermi Folders: Use the GPU3 client available here. If using this client, use "-forcegpu nvidia_fermi" instead of "-forcegpu nvidia_g80" where applicable.



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 to "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Folding@home" (x64) or "C:\\Program Files\\Folding@home" (x32). There will be a folder called "Folding@home-gpu". Right click this folder and choose Copy. There will be a new folder called "Folding@home-gpu - Copy". You need to create as many folders as GPUs you want to have Folding. For three 4870s, you'd need three folders. For a 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 add a 1 to the original folder name and a 2 to the copied folder.

Now I have two folders. One is located at "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Folding@home\\Folding@home-gpu 1" and the other is "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Folding@home\\Folding@home-gpu 2".





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

Creating the shortcuts and targets

Open both "Folding@home-gpu" folders. There will be an application there called "Folding@home". Create a shortcut of each (to the desktop for now, but you can move them to the Startup folder later). Rename as "Folding@home GPU 1" and "Folding@home GPU 2".

After you've created the proper amount of shortcuts (one per GPU), it's time to configure them. Right click the first shortcut and go to Properties. There will be a field called "Target:". We will need to append a couple of flag at the end. First, we need to add "-local". Then, since this is the first shortcut we're configuring, we'll want to add "-gpu 0" after that.

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

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

Now, for the additional GPUs, you will need to add the "-local" flag again, add the next -gpu flag ("-gpu 1" for the second card, "-gpu 2" for the third card, etc.), and also a new flag; "-forcegpu nvidia_g80" for nVidia, or "-forcegpu ati_r700" for ATi.
NOTE: If your primary GPU is a 5 series ATi GPU, you will also need to add the -forcegpu ati_r700 flag to the first client.

So a second GPU "Target:" field should look like this (the order of the flags doesn't matter):

"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Folding@home\\Folding@home-gpu\\Folding@home.exe" -local -gpu 1 -forcegpu nvidia_g80
or
"C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Folding@home\\Folding@home-gpu\\Folding@home.exe" -local -gpu 1 -forcegpu ati_r700



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. Under the "User" tab, fill in your User Name and Team Number (37726).

Under the "Advanced" tab, you're going to want to move the priority up. This will get you maximum points. Finally, you need to set the Machine ID. Thedefault is 2. CPU/SMP Folding is 1 by default, so change the Machine ID of additional clients to 3 and up.





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

NOTE1: If you get an error where the client says there is a .dll file missing, go to C> Users> [Your User]> AppData (hidden folder)> Roaming> Folding@home-gpu. Copy the .dlls from there to the install locations of the clients.

NOTE2: If you start up your clients and one of them continuously errors out, the -forcegpu flag may not be working. You might need to use a 'dummy plug' instead. Open the spoiler below for more instructions.

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.



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.

DONE(ish)!

Optional - Setting up Fahmon\\HFM

Fahmon/HFM are programs for monitoring the process of your clients. They're helpful and give you a bit of insight as to your overall PPD and a few other things such as identifying errors. If you are only Folding on GPUs, use Fahmon, otherwise use HFM.

Guides can be found here: Fahmon and HFM.

Follow the instructions, and the location for the first GPU client is "C:\\Program Files (x86)\\Folding@home\\Folding@home-gpu 1\\". Repeat this for the respective cards and you should be up and running!

DONE! Really this time.

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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#2 ·
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.....
 
#3 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by WDC View Post
Wish I could give more than just REP.....
Folding is good enough for me!
 
  • Rep+
Reactions: mtbmike777
#4 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by xxbassplayerxx View Post
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).
I didn't know about this method until now. Thanks for posting this guide!
 
#7 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by Fear of Oneself View Post
so i need to plug a monitor into a 9800gt to fold with it?

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
 
#8 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by WDC View Post
Someone should sell these dummy things....
Dummies can usually be found in the for sale section... i.e. people who post without reading the guidelines.
 
#9 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by xxbassplayerxx View Post
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
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
 
#10 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by Fear of Oneself View Post
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

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
 
#14 ·
Nice job mate, this should be very handy for people with multi GPUs (I'm too poor for that right now
)

REP+ for your hard work
 
#15 ·
Thanks very much guys! It's kinda funny because I've done this so many times and written so many guides I can do it in less than 3 or 4 minutes (assuming I have the files downloaded, which I do). I figured I'd make a post that I could reference every time someone asks.
 
#17 ·
Quote:

Originally Posted by Quantum Man View Post
You should put a link to this guide in your sig.
Brilliant!
 
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#20 ·
Epicly done. Rep fo joo!
 
#22 ·
Thanks guys


I link to it when I can!

EDIT: Weirdo, lol. Epic rep comment. I read it and I was like... wth is he saying!
 
#23 ·
i followed the guid and made 3 shortcuts but i can only open gpu0 shortcut
gpu1 & gpu2 shortcuts are giving me this message when i try to open them "At present your GPU is not supported or you need a current driver. You may wish to consider running out standard client, which you can download at folding.stanford.edu"

how can i fold on my 3 gtxs ?!
 
#25 ·
Dummy plug are essential in Vista or Win 7. Get, or make, a couple of them and you'll be ready to go
 
#26 ·
Quote:


Originally Posted by Faisal11iraq
View Post

i followed the guid and made 3 shortcuts but i can only open gpu0 shortcut
gpu1 & gpu2 shortcuts are giving me this message when i try to open them "At present your GPU is not supported or you need a current driver. You may wish to consider running out standard client, which you can download at folding.stanford.edu"

how can i fold on my 3 gtxs ?!

Whenever I have CrossFire enabled, I get that message. Make sure SLI is disabled.

If that doesn't work, make sure you have dummy plugs, as people said.
 
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