How to get Folding @ Home console client working on your AMD 6xxx card

[Rob]

It took me a while to figure out how to get it going on my AMD 6950, but the final implementation is very simple. It just took me a long time getting there.

Quick disclaimer: I did all of this on Windows 7 64-bit. So if you're running anything other than Win 7 64-bit, I can't guarantee success, though I suspect you'll be fine.

1. Download either the v6.41 Windows XP/2003/Vista/7 GPU3 (http://www.stanford.edu/~friedrim/Folding@home-Win32-gpu.exe) (required for Fermi) no-nonsense console client OR v6.23 Windows XP/2003 GPU2 console client (http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/folding/release/Folding@home-Win32-GPU_XP-623.zip) OR v6.23 Windows Vista/7 GPU2 console client (http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/folding/release/Folding@home-Win32-GPU_Vista-623.zip). You may go to the High Performance client page directly by clicking here (http://folding.stanford.edu/English/DownloadWinOther).


2. !!FOR v6.41 ONLY!! -- If you attempt to run the installation file you will get this error: At present your GPU is not supported or you need a current driver. As seen this this picture:
2655

Instead, you must create a shortcut to the v6.41 installation file. Now right-click the shortcut and choose Properties. On the Target line, add the switch -forcegpu ati_r800. As seen in this picture:
2656

Go to Step 4.


3. !!FOR v6.23 ONLY!! Unzip the v6.23 Zip file into a folder. Like v6.41, if you attempt to run the client you'll get the error your GPU is not supported. Instead, you must create a shortcut to the v6.23 executable. Now right-click the shortcut and choose Properties. On the Target line, add the switch -forcegpu ati_r700. As seen in this picture:
2657


4. Execute the edited shortcut and go through the first-time configuration menu. Enjoy!

There is a reason why I used the switch -forcegpu ati_r800 on v6.41 and -forcegpu ati_r700 on v6.23. I spent a *long* time reading the official F@H forums and saw where the maintainer of the F@H switch wiki said ati_r800 is not understood by v6.23, but it is in v6.41. Thus, for v6.23 you need to use the older switch ati_r700.

[James86]

if I only had a 6xxx series to fold on
thanks for the info

[Rob]

You're welcome. Don't feel bad about not having a 6xxx card. I just got my 6950 last week after using a single ATI 4850 for four years.

[James86]

that is the card I have
I'm crossing my fingers for this months contest

[mrcmark]

You're welcome. Don't feel bad about not having a 6xxx card. I just got my 6950 last week after using a single ATI 4850 for four years.

good upgrade =)

[Rob]

that is the card I have
I'm crossing my fingers for this months contest

Ahh, then I know what you mean about wanting a new card. The 4850 was good, but after four years it just couldn't keep up. Good luck!


good upgrade =)

Indeed it is. I can crank up lots of games to max settings now. It's really amazing. This card doesn't even break a sweat or ramp up the fan to compensate for the increased workload. I've never seen it get much over 60 C.

[James86]

I'm def in need of an upgrade but my son takes all my expendable cash diapers and baby food cost a lot

[zachig]

Thanks Rob for the detailed and informative post. I'll definitely try to fold on my HD6950 with either v6.23 or v6.41 in the next day or two...


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[Blacksmith1]

I'm def in need of an upgrade but my son takes all my expendable cash diapers and baby food cost a lot

It doesn't get much better when they get bigger. just don't have any more, or there will be no expendable anything left....:ahhhhh:

[Rob]

Thanks Rob for the detailed and informative post. I'll definitely try to fold on my HD6950 with either v6.23 or v6.41 in the next day or two...


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You're welcome. I still don't know which client is faster. I've just stuck with the v6.41 client. It works and I crunch through work units...so I guess it's ok.

[James86]

It doesn't get much better when they get bigger. just don't have any more, or there will be no expendable anything left....:ahhhhh:
I know that's why I'm entering all the contests I can find for new pc parts

[zachig]

You're welcome. I still don't know which client is faster. I've just stuck with the v6.41 client. It works and I crunch through work units...so I guess it's ok.

I think I'll try the v6.41 first. I'll keep you updated.


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[Rob]

I think I'll try the v6.41 first. I'll keep you updated.


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It should work fine. But as far as speed goes, I really have no idea how fast it should or should not be. Good luck!

[zachig]

It should work fine. But as far as speed goes, I really have no idea how fast it should or should not be. Good luck!
Yeah, I'm pretty sure it'll work OK. Especially if I'll be using your 'tips'...

Hopefully I'll find the time to test it in the next day or two. I'll surely keep you updated.

[zachig]

UPDATE:

Unfortunately I'm so busy at work lately :(, so I didn't find time (just not yet) to try folding on my HD6950. Hopefully I'll manage to try it this coming weekend...:roll:

I'll keep you updated of course. ;-)

[Rob]

UPDATE:

Unfortunately I'm so busy at work lately :(, so I didn't find time (just not yet) to try folding on my HD6950. Hopefully I'll manage to try it this coming weekend...:roll:

I'll keep you updated of course. ;-)

That would be your 6970. :D Hehe. I hope you find some time to do it. I haven't had much time for Folding, either, as you can see in my signature box. But I get to it when I can...I don't leave my PC on 24/7. Electricity is just too expensive here in the DPBRI.

[zachig]

That would be your 6970. :D Hehe. I hope you find some time to do it. I haven't had much time for Folding, either, as you can see in my signature box. But I get to it when I can...I don't leave my PC on 24/7. Electricity is just too expensive here in the DPBRI.

Yeah, my HD6970, sorry...hehehe
I DO keep my PC on 24/7...most of the time...but that't without folding.
I bet that if I'd fold 24/7 my elec. bill would be much higher than it is right now.


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[James86]

my electric only increased like $10 this month and the wife is already complaining

[foxmobouser]

my electric only increased like $10 this month and the wife is already complaining

Mine thinks its the furnace and keeps turning down the heat, cooler air for the pc double win :smile_evil:

[zachig]

Mine thinks its the furnace and keeps turning down the heat, cooler air for the pc double win :smile_evil:
Hehehe...:lol:

[Rob]

Mine thinks its the furnace and keeps turning down the heat, cooler air for the pc double win :smile_evil:

Exactly. Turn down the heat, crank up F@H to compensate.

[Blacksmith1]

wish that worked here. I have to keep the A/C on all year. it just works a little less hard in the not summer months. as we only have 2 seasons, summer, and not summer, it never gets cold enough in my APT. to turn the heat on.

[Rob]

Dang. That's some warm weather. Hot weather and I do not get along well. It actually makes me angry. I just sweat and sweat and sweat. It just makes me so mad.

[Blacksmith1]

now see, i hate the cold. I was in snow once in my life, and it was one time too many, I'd rather sweat, than be cold.

[thebluebumblebee]

How's the load on the CPU? Does the card run near 100% load? Did you enter the Environmental Variables?

[zachig]

Finally managed to start folding on my HD6950 clocked to HD6970 :grin:(thanks to Rob...;-)).

BTW...my GPU Temp maxed at 70C. So it seems like everything is OK so far...

Now let's wait and see what will be my average PPU. :roll:

[Rob]

How's the load on the CPU? Does the card run near 100% load? Did you enter the Environmental Variables?

Yes, I can get my card to run at about 95% to 97% load. I did see it a few times at 99%. The only environmental variable I did is "-forcegpu ati_r800".

[Rob]

Finally managed to start folding on my HD6950 clocked to HD6970 :grin:(thanks to Rob...;-)).

BTW...my GPU Temp maxed at 70C. So it seems like everything is OK so far...

Now let's wait and see what will be my average PPU. :roll:

Hooray! That's good to hear. From what I've experienced, it seems to me the console client is very slow at churning out work units on the 6950.

[James86]

she thought it was the heater at first but I told her it was a gas heater
I had to move my pc into the garage to fold cuz she can't sleep with the fans on high but luckly for me my garage gets into the low 40's at night

[Rob]

she thought it was the heater at first but I told her it was a gas heater
I had to move my pc into the garage to fold cuz she can't sleep with the fans on high but luckly for me my garage gets into the low 40's at night

Nice. Perfect folding weather.

[James86]

plus I have my side panel open and a house fan blowing at it

[Blacksmith1]

what are you gonna do when the temps go up. Cali don't stay cold year round. and I wish we got that kinda weather more often. todays forcast High: 84°
Low: 64°

[James86]

I dunno my pc will come back in at the end of the month I'm trying to stay in the top 20
and when I get my next amazon gift card I'm getting a GT 430 for my HTPC that stays on 24/7

[Blacksmith1]

if your gonna fold on it get at least a 450 preferably a 460. the # of SP's per series changes dramaticly in the lower # cards. I was shocked when I looked them up.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GeForce_400_Series therre is a cahrt twards the bottom of the page. the config core column lists the # of shader proccesors (cuda cores) as rthe first #. the 430 only has 96, the same as my 9600gso's. even tho' the clocks are higher, that's not going to give a significant increase in proformance when compared to the next card or two above it.

[James86]

I'm just looking at replacing the 4650 I have in there now

[zachig]

From what I've experienced, it seems to me the console client is very slow at churning out work units on the 6950.
You'll just have to wait and see.

Anyway...Unfortuantely I'm not going to fold too much time :frown: (didn't even complete my firsrt Working-Unit yet...) as I finally have some spare time, being able to progress a bit on CoD: Black Ops. ;-)

[Rob]

You'll just have to wait and see.

Anyway...Unfortuantely I'm not going to fold too much time :frown: (didn't even complete my firsrt Working-Unit yet...) as I finally have some spare time, being able to progress a bit on CoD: Black Ops. ;-)

I hear you. I don't have much time to fold either. I don't like leaving my PC on 24/7 and when I am home I like to do some gaming, so the video card is in use a lot of the time. Which leaves little time to be used by F@H.

Black Ops is a very good game. You'll love the ending. Just keep waiting past the credits.

[zachig]

Black Ops is a very good game. You'll love the ending. Just keep waiting past the credits.
Indeed. Thanks for the tip. I'll try to remember that.


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[James86]

some tips from thebluebumblebee
From the 511 points for the GPU0 WU, I can see that you're Folding on an AMD/ATI video card. If you do not have the Environmental Variables entered, it will put a huge load on the CPU which will hurt its Folding performance, AND the GPU will not be fully loaded.

Add these environment variables. They will minimize your CPU usage.
If you don't know WHERE to enter the Environmental Variables:
XP: Computer=>Properties=>Advanced=>Environmental Variables
Vista: I don't have/know, but should be in a similar location
Win7: Computer=>Properties=>Advanced System Settings=>Environmental Variables

BROOK_YIELD 2
CAL_NO_FLUSH 1
CAL_PRE_FLUSH 1
FLUSH_INTERVAL 128

FLUSH_INTERVAL can be set anywhere from 128 to 256. Lower number for stability, higher for greater PPD output. Start at around 200.

Hopefully, Client 7.0 will do away with all of this.:keepfolding:

[thebluebumblebee]

Yes, I can get my card to run at about 95% to 97% load. I did see it a few times at 99%. The only environmental variable I did is "-forcegpu ati_r800".

That's not an Environmental Variable. See my post here (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php/35964-SMP-core-or-single-core?p=235135#post235135)

[Rob]

That's not an Environmental Variable. See my post here (http://www.bjorn3d.com/forum/showthread.php/35964-SMP-core-or-single-core?p=235135#post235135)

Ohhhh. No, I never used one of those ENV Variables.

[James86]

I'll have to try this on my 4850 I get 2250PPD now

[zachig]

Ohhhh. No, I never used one of those ENV Variables.
Neither do I.

To be honest, I'm a bit afraid it might cause some problems do the OS, as basically it deals with changing some advanced OS parameters/settings.

I prefer to wait and let someone else try it before me...In the meantime, I'll just fold with my 'default' settings.

[James86]

tried it on my HTPC and my 4650 gained 5 PPD it's up to 855 PPD and my CPU usage is still at 100%
so it looks like it didn't do anything I'll leave it on for the weekend and see if anything changes

[thebluebumblebee]

1.) The E.V.'s have been around for a long time and recommended by Stanford. Go do a search in their forums and you will find them.
2.) @James86, Are you Folding on the CPU? What is your setup there? FLUSH_INTERVAL needs to be played with to find the sweet spot. If the 511 point WU's are the only thing available for the ATI client, you can push the number higher. When there were smaller point WU's available, the value for FLUSH_INTERVAL had to be lower.
3.) If I recommend something, I will be clear if it is something that I have not tried myself. The goal with the EV's is not any great PPD gain for the GPU, although it can be with the higher end GPU's, but rather a reduction of the load on the CPU. ATI/AMD GPU clients only!
:keepfolding:

[James86]

on my HTPC I'm folding on the GPU only and the CPU is still running at 100% it's a single core tho

[mastapat11]

This worked for me from the cmd line w/ my 6770. thanks!
but has anybody gotten it to work w/ the graphical Folding@home-Win32-GPU-systray-6.41.msi?? or 6.23??
whenever i try to run it, i still get the "gpu not supported..." error.

[Blacksmith1]

because the GPU is not supported in those versions. your best bet is the v7 client, this will allow yout to get the core_16 WU's which are optimizeed for ATI/AMD gpu's. you will see a huge jump in PPD.

[thebluebumblebee]

now see, i hate the cold. I was in snow once in my life, and it was one time too many, I'd rather sweat, than be cold.

I've lived in upstate NY, Key West and Orlando FL, Virginia Beach VA and Portland, OR. My saying is:"you can only take so many clothes off". I'd rather have it cold, and truly cold, not like the nasty cold in VA Beach, than the heat and humidity of the south. I used to go ride my motorcycle in the Orlando 5:00PM thunderstorms trying to get cool. I'm not for the cold of say International Falls MN or anything north of the contiguous USA, but there's nothing quite as invigorating as breathing in some crisp, cold air. But, I grew up in the north. I may not see it that way if I grew up in the south.

IMHO, this thread should be closed. Client V7 and core_16 get so much more PPD than do the previous clients running GPU2 and core_11. Client V7 and core_16 are for HD5xxx and newer ATI/AMD GPU's.