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.
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!
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.
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!