Guide to running multiple GPU work units

[[Ion]]

So I have the HD7770 doing 3 WUs at once right now. But I'm having some difficulties--not only am I getting now CPU tasks (I told it to give me GFAM), but I'm also not getting any more GPU WUs. Once these run out in a few minutes, I'm going to try uninstalling and deleting everything per the instructions in the OP. The 3 WUs at once are so fast, so I'd definitely like to get it working.

 

[manofthem]

So I have the HD7770 doing 3 WUs at once right now. But I'm having some difficulties--not only am I getting now CPU tasks (I told it to give me GFAM), but I'm also not getting any more GPU WUs. Once these run out in a few minutes, I'm going to try uninstalling and deleting everything per the instructions in the OP. The 3 WUs at once are so fast, so I'd definitely like to get it working.

If you wanted gpu work only, you should copy what's under ATI/AMD GPU ONLY, the first option. That's what I did. Maybe try that option and see if it'll give you more gpu work only.

 

[[Ion]]

If you wanted gpu work only, you should copy what's under ATI/AMD GPU ONLY, the first option. That's what I did. Maybe try that option and see if it'll give you more gpu work only.

Ahh, but I want CPU work as well

So I copied and pasted the 2nd option

 

[[Ion]]

Well, I've tried the version of BOINC from the WCG website, and now I do have 3 WUs running at once. But all of the GFAM WUs are failing on download

 

[manofthem]

Ahh, but I want CPU work as well

So I copied and pasted the 2nd option

I see, I see... well i fear I'm not much help to you. After all, I'm the noob who's still learning

But on another note, I can confirm that you can run more total gpu WU's than you have cores/threads. I just set this a few minutes ago. I'm running 6 per card right now, averaging 2:40-3:10. I'm not sure if it's worth it yet. I mean, perhaps I should just keep the cards doing 4 and finishing faster... Maybe I'll let it go over night and check numbers tomorrow.

I changed the following values, and it worked fine.
<avg_ncpus>.66</avg_ncpus>
<count>.16</count>

Little update: it seems after letting it run a little bit, the numbers settle and drop a bit. Now it seems that they are all under 3:00, some even under 2:00 Hopefully it keeps going strong!

 

[[Ion]]

It's looking like I'll have to decide between using the CPU or 3x GPU WUs. Still not sure--while I do like the PPD boost, I also like the runtime for other projects and supporting multiple things at once.

 

[Norton]

The power of those 7970's is just incredible!

 

[manofthem]

It's looking like I'll have to decide between using the CPU or 3x GPU WUs. Still not sure--while I do like the PPD boost, I also like the runtime for other projects and supporting multiple things at once.

Perhaps run the GPU WUs during the competition (and enjoy some yummy pie mmmmm), and then you can switch it up?

 

[KieX]

I can confirm that you can run more total gpu WU's than you have cores/threads. I just set this a few minutes ago. I'm running 6 per card right now, averaging 2:40-3:10. I'm not sure if it's worth it yet. I mean, perhaps I should just keep the cards doing 4 and finishing faster... Maybe I'll let it go over night and check numbers tomorrow.

I changed the following values, and it worked fine.
<avg_ncpus>.66</avg_ncpus>
<count>.16</count>
http://img.techpowerup.org/121106/wcg4.png

Thanks for confirming that

 

[[Ion]]

Perhaps run the GPU WUs during the competition, and then you can switch it up?

That's what I'm considering. I'll just keep an eye on it for a few hours and see what it's looking like.



KieX, any way to create an app_info.xml that uses different projects?

 

[manofthem]

Thanks for confirming that

No no, thank you. I used your information to do it lol

 

[KieX]

That's what I'm considering. I'll just keep an eye on it for a few hours and see what it's looking like.



KieX, any way to create an app_info.xml that uses different projects?

Not sure what the status is at the moment, but I can share this bookmark with you: http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/forums/wcg/viewthread_thread,34171
It's an ongoing thread about a file to include all projects.

No no, thank you. I used your information to do it lol

Still needed someone to test and report back

 

[[Ion]]

I don't know how the hell this happened--but I think I may have the system running 3 ATI HCC WUs and GFAM on everything else. This wasn't supposed to be the case--I was just giving up and removing app_info, but it seems to be working.

 

[manofthem]

I don't know how the hell this happened--but I think I may have the system running 3 ATI HCC WUs and GFAM on everything else. This wasn't supposed to be the case--I was just giving up and removing app_info, but it seems to be working.
http://img.techpowerup.org/121106/app_info.png

well hey, that looks great! If you figure out what you did, let us know

 

[[Ion]]

This is strange--now that there are CPU WUs running, the GPU WU times have gone up considerably. They were ~3:50-4:00/WU, now it's more like 5:20-5:30/WU. I'm thinking I may be better off if I actually only run GPU WUs.

 

[KieX]

This is strange--now that there are CPU WUs running, the GPU WU times have gone up considerably. They were ~3:50-4:00/WU, now it's more like 5:20-5:30/WU. I'm thinking I may be better off if I actually only run GPU WUs.

Well.. keep in mind that the elapsed time of the CPU WU is much longer than GPU WU, so BOINC will be constantly adjusting the estimates up and down. At any rate I think with these WU, it's worth doing GPU only for time being.

 

[[Ion]]

I'm trying giving it 50% tops CPU usage and I'll see what this does. That way, each WU at least gets an entire real core. But I do think I may go back to GPU only...

 

[t_ski]

t_ski is now #3 in the world with manofthem following pretty close at #13

http://boincstats.com/en/stats/15/host/list/12/0/0

I'll bet that T hits #1 within the next 2-3 days...

You guys are rocking the WCG world!!!

Wow---someone on our Team with a host that's #3 in the world by PPD. That sure beats the ~#130 in the world that my 2700k does@

I'm dubious that he can hit #1 unless he gets another card--but still, #3 is amazing.

Although, given what he's done, I guess we shouldn't be too surprised

Found this link again and it shows I'm in second place - less than 5000 points behind number 1. With the changes I made yesterday and the new card in the second rig today, I imagine I will be #1 tomorrow!

 

[Norton]

Found this link again and it shows I'm in second place - less than 5000 points behind number 1. With the changes I made yesterday and the new card in the second rig today, I imagine I will be #1 tomorrow!

That rig is a beast T and it took about a week with WCG to show it

Edit- that's just the one rig so the work on the other rig is further down on the chart

 

[t_ski]

OK then, it's gonna be close.

I'm down to 3:54-4:17 per WU on the 7770

 

[[Ion]]

OK then, it's gonna be close.

I'm down to 3:54-4:17 per WU on the 7770

And that's with four WUs at once?

 

[t_ski]

Yes, sir

 

[[Ion]]

Can you copy/paste your exact file? And what BOINC version are you using? I need to try this!

 

[t_ski]

6.10.58

http://www.worldcommunitygrid.org/clients/wcg_boinc_6.10.58_windows_intelx86.exe

app_info.xml attached below as zip

The one issue I had with the file is that it could not download two files (hcckernel.cl.6.56 and wcg_hcc1_img_6.56_windows_intelx86__ati_hcc1), but I was able to copy these over from my main rig and update the client on the rig with the 7770.

 

[[Ion]]

Thanks! I'm running 4 WUs at once right now with times of about 4:40 or so...not quite what I was hoping. I may leave it like this, but I might go back to 3. I'm not getting any more work, which is problematic. I think I'll just go back to a single WU for now--at least that will keep going @ 20k PPD vs being problematic. I'll fight with it more tomorrow