8th Annual Holiday Season Folding@Home Race! The Race is on!!

[petrusbroder]

Here are the participants of some previous Annual Holiday Season Races:

2012 ____________ 2011 ___________ 2010 ___________ 2007
____________________________________ Assimilator1 ___ Assimilator1
____________________________________________________ Athlex
biodoc ___________ biodoc __________ biodoc _________ biodoc
blckgrffn ________ blckgrffn ____________________________________
brownstone _______ brownstone ______ brownstone _________________
____________________________________________________ Caferace
__________________ CupCak3 _________ CupCak3 ________ Cupcak3
____________________________________________________ Curly
____________________________________________________ DainBramaged
____________________________________________________ Dragon5152
____________________________________ filibusterman ______________
FullMetalChocobo ____________________________________ FullMetall Chocobo
geecee ___________ geecee __________ geecee _____________________
____________________________________________________ GenHoth
GLeeM ____________ GLeeM ___________ GLeeM __________ GLeeM
__________________ GoStumpy _____________________________________
____________________________________________________ Gravity
____________________________________________________ Hurricane Andrew
HutchinsonJC ____________________________________________________
Icecold _________________________________________________________
____________________________________ ICXRa ______________________
____________________________________________________ Insidious
____________________________________________________ Iron Chef
__________________ jibberegg ____________________________________
Ken_g6 ___________ Ken_g6 __________ Ken_g6 _____________________
____________________________________ kb3edk _____________________
____________________________________________________ Lizardth
__________________ ljtatej ______________________________________
____________________________________________________ m1ldslide1
____________________________________________________ MadMurph
Markfw900 ________ Markfw900 _______ Markfw900 ______ Markfw900
__________________ Mike9o _______________________________________
____________________________________________________ mooseracing
__________________ nanaki333 ____________________________________
__________________ nemesis13 ____________________________________
____________________________________________________ natethegreat
__________________ Neurodog ________ Neurodog _______ Neurodog
__________________ OrangeKid ____________________________________
PCTC2 ______________________________ PCTC2 ______________________
____________________________________ QuietDad ___________________
Peter_Trend ______ Peter_Trend _____ Peter Trend ________________
petrusbroder _____ petrusbroder ____ petrusbroder ___ petrusbroder
__________________ Philippart ______ Philippart _____ Philippart
Pokey ____________ Pokey ___________ Pokey __________ Pokey
____________________________________________________ rabrittain
____________________________________________________ RudyToody
Rattledagger _____ Rattledagger ____ Rattledagger ___ Rattledagger
salvorhardin _____ salvorhardin ____ salvorhardin ___ salvorhardin
____________________________________________________ scottv67
____________________________________ SemperFi ___________________
____________________________________________________ Slider76
__________________ somethingsketchy _____________________________
____________________________________ TA_andy ____________________
____________________________________ Tivo20 _____________________
T_Yamamoto _____________________________________________________
theAnimal __________________________ theAnimal __________________
Thump553 ___________________________ Thump553 ___________________
____________________________________ TonyH ______________________
Uppsala9496 ______ Uppsala9496 _____ Uppsala9496 ________________
____________________________________ VirtualLarry _______________
WildW __________________________________________________________
ZipSpeed _________ ZipSpeed ________ ZipSpeed ___________________

At least 61 folders have raced over time ... Quite a group ... isn't it?

 

[petrusbroder]

BTW: Can I use the same passkey as I did in the 2012 Annual Holiday Season Race or do I have to get a new one?
Does each computer have its own passkey or is a passkey just for a specific folder?

Edit: got the answer ... here: http://folding.stanford.edu/home/faq/faq-passkey/

 

[MaskedAvenger]

Since I've committed to the race, I started to look at how to maximize PPD. I checked out a spreadsheet that was referenced in this forum and noticed that my graphics cards are just getting a fraction (maybe 30-40%) of what similar cards get. I see 660 cards getting 50k PPD and I'm lucky to get 20k. Is there a handy guide that spells out how to configure FAH to get the most return? A real step-by-step guide like how there used to be for setting up graphics cards a couple of years ago? My motherboard setups are all 3-4 years old (almost as old as my daughter, coinidentally), although the graphics cards are newer. I figure I could double my performance if I knew what I was doing.

 

[Icecold]

Since I've committed to the race, I started to look at how to maximize PPD. I checked out a spreadsheet that was referenced in this forum and noticed that my graphics cards are just getting a fraction (maybe 30-40%) of what similar cards get. I see 660 cards getting 50k PPD and I'm lucky to get 20k. Is there a handy guide that spells out how to configure FAH to get the most return? A real step-by-step guide like how there used to be for setting up graphics cards a couple of years ago? My motherboard setups are all 3-4 years old (almost as old as my daughter, coinidentally), although the graphics cards are newer. I figure I could double my performance if I knew what I was doing.

I do more BOINC projects than folding, but it seems like what you need to do is go under your slot configuration for your GPU in the folding client, and where it says 'extra slot options' you need to set 'client-type' with a value of 'advanced' and that will allow the GPU to get the new higher PPD units. Also make sure you drag the slider in the main window all the way to the right. Let us know if that helps or if you need more help. Setting client-type advanced pretty much doubled the output from my GTX 480's.

 

[Markfw]

Since I've committed to the race, I started to look at how to maximize PPD. I checked out a spreadsheet that was referenced in this forum and noticed that my graphics cards are just getting a fraction (maybe 30-40%) of what similar cards get. I see 660 cards getting 50k PPD and I'm lucky to get 20k. Is there a handy guide that spells out how to configure FAH to get the most return? A real step-by-step guide like how there used to be for setting up graphics cards a couple of years ago? My motherboard setups are all 3-4 years old (almost as old as my daughter, coinidentally), although the graphics cards are newer. I figure I could double my performance if I knew what I was doing.

I don't think its about "configure" but what hardware. A 660ti or better gets 50k or better ppd. 16 or more cores @ better than 3 ghz can get over 150k ppd. (24 cores@ 2.9 ghz=130-160k ppd)

 

[MaskedAvenger]

So it's as simple as accessing the FAH Advanced Control, clicking on the Configure button, then the Expert header, and adding the Extra Client Option of client-type advanced? Is there anything that the FAH folks would object to? Are there any other options that would boost productivity? I have some rigs that are Folding only and are as stable as the furniture or floor they sit on. I use them to heat my house during winter so heat is never an issue.

 

[MaskedAvenger]

So it's as simple as accessing the FAH Advanced Control, clicking on the Configure button, then the Expert header, and adding the Extra Client Option of client-type advanced? Is there anything that the FAH folks would object to? Are there any other options that would boost productivity? I have some rigs that are Folding only and are as stable as the furniture or floor they sit on. I use them to heat my house during winter so heat is never an issue.

The performance chart I mentioned is at:
http://www.overclock.net/t/475163/gpu-projects-ppd-database-revived

 

[PCTC2]

ME ME ME ME ME ME ME!

(I almost forgot about this... don't worry. I don't have too much to borg this year. I just missed out on a bunch of 16-core/32-thread 128GB servers... say... qty 80?)

 

[salvorhardin]

You don't need to use the advanced client type anymore, the opencl wus are now standard. Just make sure you're on the latest f@h client and with the folding power slider on full. You might need to dedicate a core to feed the gpu though. I'm not sure if nvidia cards need it but my amd cards crunch better if they have a dedicated core.

 

[ZipSpeed]

For some reason, I didn't see the sticky on top of this forum. Add me to the race, kind sir.

 

[petrusbroder]

You are in too!

 

[Markfw]

I don't see PCTC2 on the list yet, but I do see Zipspeed (who posted later)

Edit: and isn't that my nemisis paulnt04 with an average of 676k ppd ???

 

[PCTC2]

I don't see PCTC2 on the list yet, but I do see Zipspeed (who posted later)

Edit: and isn't that my nemisis paulnt04 with an average of 676k ppd ???

Why yes I am, Mark. I am paulnt04!

 

[petrusbroder]

I see PCTC2 ...

 

[Pokey]

My contribution for the team names:

Scientists vs Thinkers

Nothing original here, I was reading the FAH home page and saw the words.

 

[Plimogz]

Hey fellows!

Please count me in! My F@H handle is the same as here.

 

[petrusbroder]

You are in, Plimogz!

 

[petrusbroder]

@Pokey: Name proposal accepted - see poll thread!

 

[biodoc]

Which would do better - a GTX560 Ti 448 core or a 7950?
And what settings are needed?

According to this, the 7950 is quite good.

My GTX570 which should be similar to your 560Ti, produces ~30K ppd on P8900.

A note of caution regarding nividia drivers and GK104 cards: use V327.23 drivers or earlier for the "older" cards. My ppd on my GTX660Ti drops by 50% if I use the latest nvidia drivers vs. 327.23. See link.

 

[MaskedAvenger]

I have always used Nvidia cards for Folding since in the past they have produced so much better than ATI/AMD. However, with the new core, AMD seems to be easily outpacing Nvidia. I have been checking out my systems, and my new Catalyst Control oc'd 7850 is making 40k PPD while my 660TI makes about 20k. I did find out one of my 560's is overheating at stock settings by using MSI Afterburner. Anyone else care to share their PPD's and cards?

 

[biodoc]

My 660Ti is getting 67K ppd on P8900 WUs (core 17).

I'm using V327.23 drivers.

 

[Rattledagger]

Count me in as Baldurs_Gate.

Now, for the difficult part, how to configure the FAH-Client...

 

[biodoc]

Since I've committed to the race, I started to look at how to maximize PPD. I checked out a spreadsheet that was referenced in this forum and noticed that my graphics cards are just getting a fraction (maybe 30-40%) of what similar cards get. I see 660 cards getting 50k PPD and I'm lucky to get 20k. Is there a handy guide that spells out how to configure FAH to get the most return? A real step-by-step guide like how there used to be for setting up graphics cards a couple of years ago? My motherboard setups are all 3-4 years old (almost as old as my daughter, coinidentally), although the graphics cards are newer. I figure I could double my performance if I knew what I was doing.

In the last couple of weeks, I've been experimenting with settings and also checking other forums for tips and tricks. For those who use nvidia cards and want to crunch the OpenCL core 17 WUs, the most important thing to do is to free up one cpu core or logical core to feed the GPU to get the maximum ppd. This isn't an issue if you don't use your CPU to run FAH. If you do use your CPU cores to run FAH, then do the following to free up on core for your Nvidia GPU. From FAHControl click on configure, then click on the slots tab, then highlight the cpu slot and click on edit. Find the box that says "The number of CPU threads this slot should use". The default setting is -1 which means "let the client choose". For my 3930K, which has 12 threads, I type in "11", w/o the quotes. This number is dependent on the number of cores/logical cores your cpu has which I will call "n". Therefore to free up one core/logical core type in the number equal to n-1. Then go ahead and save and close. You may see the client complaining about changing the number of cores in the middle of an SMP WU and you may also bork that run but it will pay off by increasing the ppd of your GPU card. If you don't want to risk borking your CPU SMP WU, on FAHControl, staus tab, "folding slots", right click on your cpu slot and choose "finish". This will allow the SMP WU to finish and upload results and NOT load and run a new WU. You can then make the changes above and then go back and right click on the cpu slot and choose "fold".

EDIT: you will see a drop in ppd for the CPU SMP client by reducing the number of cores by one but the gain in PPD for your GPU will more than offset the loss. For example. my 1090T was getting 16K ppd using all 6 cores for SMP. I added a slot for my GTX570 and reduced the CPU cores to 5 (freed a core for the GPU). As a result my SMP PPD went down to 13K ppd but adding the GPU gave me 30K ppd. Net gain in PPD for that machine: 16K ppd vs 43K ppd with the GPU.

 

[Icecold]

In case it helps anyone gauge their hardware, I'll list what I'm getting on the Core 17 WU's. Any time I get a Core 15 unit it's significantly lower PPD.

2 GTX 480's are each getting around 30,000 PPD. GTX 470 getting around 22,000 PPD. Radeon 6950 getting 15,000 PPD, probably will not use this in the race since it's poor PPD for how much power it uses. I really thought it would due better based on what I've read online. 4770k @ 4GHz SMP:8 is varying a lot based on WU. Usually it's around 28,000 PPD, but right now it's running a 7520 WU and getting around 16,000 PPD.

 

[petrusbroder]

The Scientists
geecee
GLeeM
Icecold
Ken_g6
MaskedAvenger (Mike90)
PCTC2 (Paulnt04)
petrusbroder (TAS-Petrusbroder)
Pokey_TA (Pokey)
theAnimal

The Thinkers
biodoc
Brownstone (Wingding)
FullMetalChocobo (Chocobo Navy)
Markfw900 (Mark_F_Williams)
Philippart (Tom_Philippart)
Plimogz
Rattledagger (Baldurs_gate)
salvorhardin
Thump553
ZipSpeed

Now: Get started: start recruiting folders to the race, upgrading computers, optimizing the settings, borghing other computers (remember: "Resitance is futile!".
I have collected the preliminary start stats. At 19:00 UTC tomorrow I will collect the final starting stats and then the race is on!

More, MOre, MORE, More and MORE!