PrimeGrid Races 2017

[TennesseeTony]

I didn't think to save my AMD system's numerous app_config files prior to tossing a 1080 into it and starting fresh with Linux...anyone know if running dual tasks is beneficial on the 7970/280X series (for PPS-Sieve, of course). My card already shows 98% usage, but the power draw is substantially less than running Milkyway...

 

[Howdy]

PG Challenge Page

 

[StefanR5R]

Tony said it all, but here are pictures.

Spoiler: select the proper subproject for the Winter Solstice challenge

Recommended: Switch CPU projects off at the top of the page. If you have a computer with both NVidia card and AMD card and want only the latter to run PrimeGrid, switch NVidia GPU off, unlike the screenshot.

Then switch all subprojects off. Only in the middle, switch PPS-Sieve on for NVidia and/or AMD GPU.

Deselect the rest, and at the bottom of the page, click the all-important button.

After that it can't hurt to scroll through the page again to check that really all of the other applications are off.

 

[GLeeM]

Maybe it is fixed now, but last time I went through setting up I had to have something selected in the CPU column even though I had no check mark in the "Use CPU" box
So if after all the other directions you still can't get WUs, then try this.

 

[Ken g6]

It's time for the PPS Sieve race, so I suppose I should post my optimized app_config files:

For Nvidia:

<app_config>
  <app_version>
   <app_name>pps_sr2sieve</app_name>
   <plan_class>cudaPPSsieve</plan_class>
   <cmdline>-m64</cmdline>
  </app_version>
</app_config>

For AMD GPUs:

<app_config>
  <app_version>
   <app_name>pps_sr2sieve</app_name>
   <plan_class>openclatiPPSsieve</plan_class>
   <cmdline>-m16 --vecsize=1</cmdline>
   <avg_ncpus>1</avg_ncpus>
   <ngpus>0.5</ngpus>
  </app_version>
</app_config>

Edit: Oh, by the way, Intel GPUs can run the AMD app, but I've never figured out how to convince BOINC to use it. There's probably some way.

 

[Markfw]

OK, finally its working. but at only 69%load

 

[TennesseeTony]

Primegrid.com then My Account

 

[StefanR5R]

OK, finally its working. but at only 69%load

@Ken g6's appconfig (C:\ProgramData\BOINC\projects\www.primegrid.com\app_config.xml) is supposed to increase utilization.

An alternative way is to run two tasks at once on the same card:

<app_config>
    <app>
        <name>pps_sr2sieve</name>
        <gpu_versions>
            <gpu_usage>0.5</gpu_usage>
            <cpu_usage>0.1</cpu_usage>
        </gpu_versions>
    </app>
</app_config>

The optimum is to start one of the two tasks on the same card a bit later than the other (e.g. 20 seconds or so apart), so that the periods in which the tasks only use CPU, and no GPU at all, do not overlap.

You can save Ken's or my appconfig while boinc is already running, then use "Options"/ "Read config files" in boincmgr to activate the appconfig.

PS,
the <cpu_usage>0.1</cpu_usage> in my file practically instructs boinc-client to not count these tasks as CPU users when it determines how many tasks (e.g. WCG plus PrimeGrid combined) it may run to stay within the total CPU percentage that you allowed for boinc. So, better set the total allowed CPU percentage somewhere below 100 %, depending on what else you are running on the host.

 

[Ken g6]

My AMD app_config should also run two tasks at a time. If it doesn't I did it wrong.

 

[StefanR5R]

@Ken g6, indeed. I overlooked that, not having an AMD card in operation myself currently.

 

[Howdy]

I set my cpu to .25 when running WCG to keep the PG projects times in line on my GPUs. That way I don’t take a hit on either for completion time.

 

[zzuupp]

My AMD app_config should also run two tasks at a time. If it doesn't I did it wrong.

It's working like a charm.
I used this setting <avg_ncpus>0.1</avg_ncpus> with BOINC set to use 87.5% of the CPUs.

Singleton tasks were taking 10+ minutes. Now doubleton tasks are taking 16-17 minutes.

 

[Markfw]

My AMD app_config should also run two tasks at a time. If it doesn't I did it wrong.

Yup, that did it 99%. I would say 15 minutes per task, but I will wait until a few iterations, then reply back with times.

 

[Markfw]

I looks like 22 minutes each while 2 are running, or the same as 11 minutes each, if it used the card fully.

 

[iwajabitw]

A few hours late, but I have 3 R9 280x's in the race. Thanks Ken for the app_config!

 

[petrusbroder]

I'll continue in the Folding@Home race.

@zzuupp, is there any way we can persuade you to join the Folding@home race after you have raced in the PrimeGrid race? We need every pont we can get ...
(Sorry, but not too much, for recruiting in this thread, Ken_g6!)

 

[Markfw]

@petrusbroder, I only have the 7970 in this, all nvidia cards are doing F@H, and I am slowly converting my farm to mostly Linux, and so far have at least 800k more than before ! Next up converting dual 1080TI's that I expect might go up by over 1/2 million themselves. Looks like 600k

 

[Howdy]

Finally home and running......see you @ 7/47-49?

 

[TennesseeTony]

No sense heating the home while you are away. Confused about the numbers though...estimated team/individual rankings?

 

[Howdy]

No sense heating the home while you are away. Confused about the numbers though...estimated team/individual rankings?

You were not confused at all very good guess!!
Temperature rising.....

 

[TennesseeTony]

I finally brought another pair of 280X online, only 11 hours late. I remember quite clearly now why I spent so much the last 12 months on 1070's and 1080's....just 4 R9-280X's (in two wimpy systems) are pulling about 1100watts. Whew.

7th for the TeAm might be a bit optimistic, this go 'round. We just can't let the Little Ponies defeat us at Folding...

 

[iwajabitw]

I finally brought another pair of 280X online, only 11 hours late. I remember quite clearly now why I spent so much the last 12 months on 1070's and 1080's....just 4 R9-280X's (in two wimpy systems) are pulling about 1100watts.

No wonder the prices keep going up! Having to run the AC, this 65F weather isn't helping at all in December.

 

[zzuupp]

After a few hours, it is more like 17 minutes in doubleton tasks. I'm assuming the gpu is heat throttling.

 

[zzuupp]

After 14 hours-ish:

9__BOINC@MIXI______7749929.00
10_Rechenkraft.net_6920663.00
11_Overclock.net___6886953.00
12_SETI.USA________6553224.00
13_TeAm_AnandTech__5970041.00
14_Storm___________4749739.00
15_Canada__________4719400.00

Nine folks in so far

18__Howdy2u2_TeAm_AnandTech___3751923.00
107_iwajabitw_TeAm_AnandTech___667458.00
138_10esseeTony_TeAm_AnandTech_505650.00
148_xii5ku_TeAm_AnandTech______455085.00
186_zzuupp_TeAm_AnandTech______300019.00
300_Orange_Kid_TeAm_AnandTech__101130.00
303_SlangNRox_TeAm_AnandTech____97759.00
321_Ken_g6_TeAm_AnandTech_______77533.00
439_Marcellius_Ika_Permadi______13484.00

 

[Ken g6]

After a few hours, it is more like 17 minutes in doubleton tasks. I'm assuming the gpu is heat throttling.

Is this an AMD card? Is your CPU running two threads harder than it was at the start? Your card might be throwing computation errors, which get fixed on the CPU. If you're CPU limited a slight downclock might lead to more speed overall.

If you're power limited, try downclocking the RAM.