WCG GPU Client Discussion Thread

[ChaoticAtmosphere]

I'm decided on bulldozer.....I'll get 2nd 6870 next week.

[Chicken Patty]

[FordGT90Concept]

Originally Posted by KieX

It includes a section on their findings with regards to accuracy. Like you said, GPU is always going to trade off some accuracy but it seems that the researchers find this to be a tolerable margin in order to run simultaneously with CPU WU.

Yes, there are some situations where a result quickly is more important than a 100% accurate result. Then again, those sorts of projects should be ran on dedicated Tesla or Streams systems run by the school--not put on distributed computing. If you're going to spend years to get a result, it better damn well be accurate or you're wasting everyone's time.

An inaccurate result doesn't move science forward--only stagnats it. If you make a "discovery" based on some overclocked GPUs that generated bad results, it wasn't a discovery at all. Someone, somewhere will eventually question the results and you're back to square one. They effectively just wasted years worth of clocks to get a worthless result.

Originally Posted by Chicken Patty

Now is this just a personal thing that would not like to Crunch for a team that uses GPU's as well, or you refuse to crunch with GPU's?

I refuse to do scientific calculations on GPUs, period. If TPU added GPU work to the queue, I would probably switch my computers over to teamless and give them their own stack of projects to work on (no GPU, obviously).

[ChaoticAtmosphere]

Originally Posted by Chicken Patty

I'm really dying to have some money left over and maybe build a BD rig. Just dying to see what it can do.

Originally Posted by FordGT90Concept

Yes, there are some situations where a result quickly is more important than a 100% accurate result. Then again, those sorts of projects should be ran on dedicated Tesla or Streams systems run by the school--not put on distributed computing. If you're going to spend years to get a result, it better damn well be accurate or you're wasting everyone's time.

An inaccurate result doesn't move science forward--only stagnats it. If you make a "discovery" based on some overclocked GPUs that generated bad results, it wasn't a discovery at all. Someone, somewhere will eventually question the results and you're back to square one. They effectively just wasted years worth of clocks to get a worthless result.



I refuse to do scientific calculations on GPUs, period. If TPU added GPU work to the queue, I would probably switch my computers over to teamless and give them their own stack of projects to work on (no GPU, obviously).

Well after reading all this, I'm beginning to side with Ford. I took part in the F@H project with my 3870 and well, it just wasn't as satisfying as WCG. Besides, I boughyt my GPU primarily to play HD video games. So, chances are I will opt out of crunching with my beloved 6870.

Also, in light of this article, I decided to hold off on the BD purchase and get a 2nd 6870 instead.

[FordGT90Concept]

Bulldozer might be good when they move to 22nm. Until then, only stick them in budget machines. XD

[KieX]

Originally Posted by FordGT90Concept

Yes, there are some situations where a result quickly is more important than a 100% accurate result. Then again, those sorts of projects should be ran on dedicated Tesla or Streams systems run by the school--not put on distributed computing. If you're going to spend years to get a result, it better damn well be accurate or you're wasting everyone's time.

An inaccurate result doesn't move science forward--only stagnats it. If you make a "discovery" based on some overclocked GPUs that generated bad results, it wasn't a discovery at all. Someone, somewhere will eventually question the results and you're back to square one. They effectively just wasted years worth of clocks to get a worthless result.



I refuse to do scientific calculations on GPUs, period. If TPU added GPU work to the queue, I would probably switch my computers over to teamless and give them their own stack of projects to work on (no GPU, obviously).

I agree with you on the accuracy being vital to the research. Wasted cycles aren't good for anyone involved.

At the moment it's just one project that will share GPU WU with CPU. Also BOINC config file allows for GPU to be disabled so only CPU WU are used.

You can therefore continue running WCG minus the GPU WU and/or the HCC project that uses that method. There are still 8 other WCG projects, with more to come that are CPU only and worthwhile causes. I hope that you wouldn't leave knowing you can choose what you contribute towards. Or is it a principle based choice? (i would always prefer for you to stay)

[ChaoticAtmosphere]

Yes Ford, you are a tenured TPU member and it would be sad to see you go simply on the basis that some members decide to use their GPU.

I can assure you that I have decided against it and I do thank you for pointing out the fact that GPU's provide less accurate results.

[FordGT90Concept]

Originally Posted by KieX

You can therefore continue running WCG minus the GPU WU and/or the HCC project that uses that method. There are still 8 other WCG projects, with more to come that are CPU only and worthwhile causes. I hope that you wouldn't leave knowing you can choose what you contribute towards. Or is it a principle based choice? (i would always prefer for you to stay)

I have found the option for opting out of Help Conquer Cancer and did so (log in to WCG, go to My Projects). Are you certain that's the only one involving GPUs?

Uh, or do GPU results get relegated to strictly opting in to the beta program?

[KieX]

Originally Posted by FordGT90Concept

I have found the option for opting out of Help Conquer Cancer and did so (log in to WCG, go to My Projects). Are you certain that's the only one involving GPUs?

Uh, or do GPU results get relegated to strictly opting in to the beta program?

BETA program is opt-in only. Those GPU WU won't appear till either later this month or January in that program. The BETA phase will likely take a few months of testing, WCG admins already said it would be much longer than regular testing due to the nature of GPU computing.

For all we know we won't see any actual GPU WU on the actual HCC program till mid-2012.

Whenever Help Conquer Cancer does go live with both types of WU you can still choose to do CPU WU only and not receive GPU by adding this to the cc_config.xml:

<cc_config> 
    <options> 
        <no_gpus>1</no_gpus> 
    </options> 
</cc_config>

Hope that helps

Thanks for the code, but in the newer versions of boinc, isn't there an option for this in the advanced menu?

Personally, I'm going to dump F@H at the end of the month so that I'm ready, willing and able to take beta wu's. Hopefully the opt-in option will be announced so I don't have to check the site every couple of days.

[KieX]

Originally Posted by twilyth

Thanks for the code, but in the newer versions of boinc, isn't there an option for this in the advanced menu?

You can disable the GPU by selecting Suspend GPU from the menu. But, it will still register that your GPU is capable and ready, so although in theory this works, if you really want to be safe from doing those WU like Ford, best to edit the config file.

Originally Posted by twilyth

Personally, I'm going to dump F@H at the end of the month so that I'm ready, willing and able to take beta wu's. Hopefully the opt-in option will be announced so I don't have to check the site every couple of days.

You need to opt-in to BETA testing as it's not enabled by default. Log on to your WCG page, select Beta Testing from the left hand side, then choose what profiles you want the WU to go to. Just be aware that it is for testing WU from all projects, so there is a chance of finding bad WU's. They're also very rare normally, it is the most difficult Bronze/Silver to earn so even with it enabled don't expect the usual numbers of WU you normally get in WCG.



If the BETA is succesful it's likely that the default setting for HCC will be to enable GPU WU if there's compatible hardware and BOINC preferences are set to allow.

That's as much as I know, from what WCG admins have shared so that should hopefully help those who don't want to join to go trouble free and those who do want to join, know where to look.

Personally I participate in Beta testing as I'm all for helping the IBM staff to get stable and well-tested WU before they go live. Whether I join HCC GPU once it's out.. don't know yet. Will wait till the testing is over and the researchers announce what level of accuracy they achieved.

Thanks K. I've been signed up for betas for a few years but I had a brain fart about this. For some reason I thought I would have to opt-in for the new project since I currently don't accept Cancer project wu's. I do shit like that all of the time (miss connections that should be obvious to me and the like).

And thanks for pointing out the importance of changing the config file too.

[KieX]

I'm guilty of TL;DR posts sometimes Normally forget who I'm replying to and go for generic babble in case someone else might need to know

Absolutely. I tend to do that as well but I tend to get criticized for being condescending (not here, but elsewhere). I think you manage to do it while coming off as just being helpful. FML.

[FordGT90Concept]

Mine doesn't even have the Suspend GPU option and it was downloaded yesterday.

...maybe it is because I did the no_gpus option.


I think I'm just going to stay out of HCC. I looked at my server's current tasks after changing it and it only had about 5 of probably 100 that were HCC. I've already contributed a lot to them anyway:
Project: Help Conquer Cancer
Points Generated: 2,481,087
Results Returned: 7,294
Total Run Time: 3:044:12:11:00

3 years worth of CPU cycles...

We've had a good run. XD

[BinaryMage]

Update (yes I'm still here lol):
Beta WUs (Windows only currently) are now out!

https://secure.worldcommunitygrid.or...d_thread,32803

Can't seem to get any on my 4850 right now.. hopefully they'll get that up and running ASAP.

[de.das.dude]

so where do we get the GPU Client? i am eager to start crunching on my new GTS 450!

[mstenholm]

Originally Posted by de.das.dude

so where do we get the GPU Client? i am eager to start crunching on my new GTS 450!

Copied from WCG forum:

No, in order to get Beta (my insert: GPU-)WUs you need to do two things:

1. On the "Beta Testing" panel you need to have the "Participate in Beta Testing" checked for the profile(s) you have assigned to the device(s).
2. On the "Device Manager->Device Profiles" panel you need to have "If my computer can process work on my graphics card, then please send me work to run on my graphics card for the projects that I have selected above." checked in the profile you have assigned to the device(s).

Note, the Device Profile verbage is misleading for Beta work. You do not need to have the HCC project selected in the profile to get Betas, just the two things above.

[de.das.dude]

i still cant find the link to dload it!

[mstenholm]

Originally Posted by de.das.dude

i still cant find the link to dload it!

You have it already. Look at post #36

[de.das.dude]

ahh.. pic wasnt loading. i have a slow net.

nothing happenings.

[ChaoticAtmosphere]

I tried the GPU and with what FOrdconcept said and seeing the performance of my computer while it was computing I am opting out.

1. My video card is bought primarily for my visual Eye candy for my gaming.

2. They represent at least 40% of the cost of my computer. Not worth the contribution they will make to the project. And with that investment I'd rather keep them. they are more fragile IMO.

My decision is firm. Sorry all.

On a positive note, I expect my 8 core Gaming/Crunching machine to be functional by May this year.