Fold on two cores?

Hello Folders :wave

Have finally plunged into the world of Windows 7 along with a i5 650.

I am wondering how to set up folding now? My old configuration was a single core machine. Do I have to fold on both cores? I used FahSpy for monitoring last time, so I would like to use it again this time.

Baby steps with replies please. I'm swimming (drowing actually) :-D in the new OS and mobo setup.

paramonks

BTW - my old setup didn't finished the WU it was processing, I put a query up on the folding forums but got no responses. Will they catch (reassign) that WU's I could not finish?

 

Hi paramonks,

I'd get settled in on your basic set up before I started folding so you have everything stable. Don't want to trash the WUs with a bunch of restarts when you're adding programs and setting things to your liking.
Couple of questions -
How much RAM do you have available?
How much folding do you want to do - Are you going to do a 24/7 folder or just parts of the day?

In answer to your question about the incomplete WU, the same WU is sent to multiple machines so having a failed/incomplete WU by 1 machine does not halt the science for that specific WU.

 

Hi LB

It's been a couple of days now, and I've only got maybe 1 or 2 minor things to put back onto the new configuration. I've left settings as they come for now and might tweak them a little once I'm more familiar with everything. No OC for me 'tho I'll leave that well enough alone.

BASIC = systray client?

RAM is 4Gb
Folding Quantity - about the same as before anywhere from 12 - 18 hours per day, generally do not leave computer on 24/7.

Well I never, you learn something new everyday, after folding for over 1 year I didn't realise that multiple machines get the same WU. Seems reasonable then why nobody bothered to answer my query on the folding forums. If I could give you a shiny for aura I would, so a Thanks for helpfulness will have to suffice.

paramonks

 

Just wondering. What is Folding? This is the first time I've seen the term used. Thanks

 

Hi lego

In unexact terms. It's science to do with discovering cures for diseases. I'll never be able to explain suitable so here is a URL where you can learn about how computer's are helping to find cures.

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

HTH

paramonks

 

Do what? What does curing diseases have anything to do with windows 7 and a single core machine... now I'm really lost :confused
Hmm I read the article, I kinda get it, I thought it was something.... else

 

Hi

You use your CPU to run their software. The better your machine is the faster you can process the information you get from them, the more computer's that run their software, it helps them with their science of discovering how to cure disease's.

People do this for fun, or competitive reasons, on their own or with a team. It is not difficult and if your computer is turned on and not doing anything then the folding software can be running in the background.

I'm just trying to get some advice I can from other's here who participate in folding.

paramonks

 

Hi lego,

Stanford University has essentially got the resources of a super computer to study the science of protein folding. By using the Distributed Computing process, the researchers can break down the studies into discrete parts and send them to individual private computers and let them do the work and send back the results to be integrated into the science. The more powerful the computer, the more information can be processed.
There are different clients that can be downloaded to do the work for Stanford. Single core, multiple core, graphic clients that use the video card, PS-3 clients, Linux clients. There are a whole range of options that can be used to do the research and the more powerful/newer computers can use clients that can process information on multiple cores.
For example, my Core i7 uses a client that uses all 8 cores (quad core with Hyper Threading enabled) to process the information. I also have 2 discrete video cards that individually process different clients at the same time.

Proteins can misfold in their interactions in the body's cells and this can cause diseases. By studying the protein folding process, Stanford can see the process and eventually/maybe come up with possible cures for various diseases.

 

Hi paramonks,

I forgot to ask but do you have a fairly new discrete video card? If so, you could use the graphic client to fold.
For CPU folding there is a new SMP2 client that could be used that would take advantage of all cores if Hyper Threading is enabled on your machine.
I'm not sure what the difference between the 2 clients would be in terms of production. The SMP2 client is really new and I have not used it yet. Depending on your video card, that might possibly be a better choice unless you game alot when your computer is up.

 

Hi LB

Technical hardware talk gets me all fouled up. What I can tell you easily is that my video card plugs into a slot on the motherboard, it's not integrated. However it's still the same old one I had a Nvidia Geforce6200, it's quite old. As for hyper threading enabling - not sure - don't think's it has been, I'm not really up to date on that subject yet.

I was more concerned with trying to figure how to load onto both cores, or if I can use only one. Is the software smart enough to figure it out for me? Do I need to know how to do it myself?

As for gaming - well - solitaire is about as adventurous as it gets with computer games for meLOL their just not my thing. :-o

paramonks

 

Just to add a bit here if I may, an unfinished/failed WU gone past its due date etc. on your machine is reassigned to a new donour so that the project that needs those WUs can be completed in it's entirety. A WU is only a few molecules from a huge protein. Divide and conquer.

 

That card is not capable of folding. The 8000 series of Nvidia cards are the start of the folding cards as they can use the CUDA drivers.

Well, you have a choice here paramonks.
You could use the classic single client client and fold on 1 core. (The client you have been using.)
Or you could step up to the SMP2 client that would recognize as many cores as you have available. It is a more involved set up and may need a little more maintenance than the single core.
Here are 2 links for setting up the SMP client -
http://folding.stanford.edu/English/WinSMPGuideMPICH (the Stanford Link)
http://www.overclockers.com/forums/showthread.php?t=632715 (link to a guide from one of the Top Teams in folding)

A few things to remember if you go the SMP route,
Windows user account has to have a password.
You should get a passkey from Stanford - http://folding.stanford.edu/English/FAQ-passkey - this is input in the initial configuration of the client.
Say yes to the advmethods question in the configuration.

You should read through both links before you do a set up so you have a real understanding of the process. The Stanford guide has screenshots which are pretty self-explanatory. Also I would not worry about running as a service if you use the SMP client.

If you run into any problems, post back. It's been awhile since I ran this client so I may be a little rusty on the set up, but it is pretty straightforward.

Hope this helps you out.

 

:-D told ya it was oldLOL - can't quite yet convince hubby I really need a better one.

I had a quick peek at the SMP2 and I'm so overloaded with information right now so for simplicity sake I've put the single client on.
It took me ages to figure out how to unhide the files I needed to see for FahSpy, thanks Win7. :-o and yes I can hear the diehards howling at me for under using the machines capabilities

Thanks for your help - paramonks

 

HOWLLLLLLLL

That's OK. Any contribution to the science is useful.
(But then again 30,000 PPD is a nice accomplishment too.)

 

Braggin' :-D ok, well you earned it:celebrate. Your computer(s) must be so busy folding, do you actually get to do any work or fun stuff on them? If you touch the keyboard or mouse, does it say to you "Nick Off - John I'm Folding - damn it?" :-D

paramonks

 

roflmaoroflmaoroflmao Just about and I have to find some way to cool the bugger off. Global warming is evident in my room.:-D

 

From reading this thread (all of it) an idea transpired.

On a multi core cpu could a person use the uni-processor (single) client on each core instead of using the SMP client?

curious

 

You could but it wouldn't be as efficient as the SMP or SMP2 process.
You would have the overhead for each single core as opposed to the 1 overhead using all the cores available in SMP.

 

Oh jeez man, I remember installing uni-procs for some reason that I can't recall and the difference was huge! Like %15 of equivalent SMP points per day.:eek Install the SMP noprob, you'll be happy that you did. Besides, it's getting easier all the time, no need anymore for complicated and arcane installation instructions like before.

 

I was only curious for the simplicity of it. (single core clients on a multi core cpu)
The part where you configure and walk away not having to keep an eye on the client as compared to SMP since I believe it is still in beta?
I do thank you all for the input,greatly appreciated.

P.S. and I thank you for the points and production boost. (you know who you are) for team: majorgeeks.com :major

 

I think Pande Group is like Google in this rsepect. (Google mail stayed beta for how long - 4 or 5 years?) They keep it as "beta" even though they are upgrading continually with new clients and fixes.