[PRO-AMERICA]

ok, i have the GPU client.....it seems to be working, but the system is experiencing very frequent slowdowns.... i have an X1900GT and i'm using catalyst 7.7, any help?

 

[Knitelife]

Are you using the GUI or console version of the client? Also, do the slowdowns seem like studders or just overall sluggishness? Sound silly, but they are usually caused by two different things.

 

[ryboto]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knitelife Are you using the GUI or console version of the client? Also, do the slowdowns seem like studders or just overall sluggishness? Sound silly, but they are usually caused by two different things.

The GPU client only has a console version. As for slowdowns, expect them. The client uses your GPU, the device displaying your desktop, and all the windows you have open. Firefox, IE, they use video memory to display things, and they'll be competing with the [email protected] client for bandwidth through the GPU. Videos might play while the GPU client is running, but they might be choppy. Also know that the GPU polls the cpu, so it might cause performance issues there if you're trying to do too many cpu intensive tasks.

 

[Knitelife]

Quote:

Originally Posted by ryboto The GPU client only has a console version. As for slowdowns, expect them. The client uses your GPU, the device displaying your desktop, and all the windows you have open. Firefox, IE, they use video memory to display things, and they'll be competing with the [email protected] client for bandwidth through the GPU. Videos might play while the GPU client is running, but they might be choppy. Also know that the GPU polls the cpu, so it might cause performance issues there if you're trying to do too many cpu intensive tasks.

There are two version of the GPU client now available at http://folding.stanford.edu/download.html. I have used them both. I also have folding on different ATI cards, a 1950pro, and a 1950XT. The pro work quite well with no slowdowns and such, and outperformed the 1950XT. The issue with the 1950XT was that it allowed the client to switch between 3D and 2D mode, which can cause issues with folding. There are ways to correct this. The 1950pro did not allow this, and instead just stayed in 3D mode where it should be, which in turn made folding much easer.

Also, the GUI client has a tendancy to cause more issues than the console client, but the console client can be more flakey to set up.

If you can give me a bit more info on how you are running it, as well as the amount of memory on your ATI card, I can help you track down the issue.

EDIT: There is a lot of good information about the GPU folding client in this thread: http://forum.folding-community.org/ftopic17527.html
It is a bit lengthy, but addresses this specific issue.

 

[ryboto]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knitelife Your post is a bit missleading about what consoles are available, as well as what the issues that cause the slowdowns.

Guess there have been some major updates in the month that I stopped folding with the GPU. I don't remember ever hearing of a GUI client for the GPU...doesn't seem beneficial.

Still, I'm not sure how I'm misleading about the issues that cause slowdowns...I mentioned Firefox and IE. Most webpages have flash, when I ran the GPU client they would typically cause the browser to become sluggish, scrolling was choppy. Same goes for browsing pictures or watching a video. Unless the client has become dynamic like the CPU clients, anything that requires some form of GPU overhead *may* be affected.

 

[Knitelife]

My comment might have come across a bit more annoyed than intended. Was having my own folding issues earlier with servers being down.

I guess what I was trying to say is that there are options for GPU folding, as well as ways to configure it so that it is not noticeable. The CPU usage is almost next to nothing, and when running smoothly, only uses the CPU for polling and not calculating. Once Pro-America lets us know exactly how he is running it, we may be able to clear up his sluggishness.

 

[ryboto]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Knitelife My comment might have come across a bit more annoyed than intended. Was having my own folding issues earlier with servers being down.

I got your PM, thanks for the etiquette, most users wouldn't have the manners. As for sluggishness, I agree, he should let us know what kind of issues he's having specifically.