How to set up single-GPU NVIDIA/ATI GPU2 Client

[BUCK NASTY]

*IMPORTANT* BEFORE PART 1 UNINSTALL CURRENT NVIDIA/ATI DRIVERS.

PART 1

Nvidia:Download the latest Drivers for nVidia(180.xx on are Cuda Enabled):

http://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx?lang=en-us

Choose your Version (XP x86 x64, Vista x86 x64) then download the driver, follow instructions.

ATI:Download latest Drivers for ATI(Catalyst 9.2)

http://ati.amd.com/support/driver.HTML

Choose your Version (XP x86 x64, Vista x86 x64) then download the driver, follow instructions.

Reboot.

PART 2

Download F@H GPU2 Console Client(No Viewer):

For XP
http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/folding/release/Folding@home-Win32-GPU_XP-623.zip

For Vista
http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/folding/release/Folding@home-Win32-GPU_Vista-623.zip

Follow instructions. Make sure to enter Team#50711 and choose your user name wisely. If you change you name, your points do not carry over to the new name.

PART 3

Download Fahmon:

http://fahmon.net/

1. Install fahmon and update project list.

2a. (Vista) To point it to the GPU folder, SEARCH for APPDATA. In AppData locate the folder that says ROAMING. In Roaming find Folding@home-gpu folder. Right click on folder and copy location into the Fahmon.

2b. (XP) Point Fahmon to C:\Documents and Settings\{user name here}\Application Data\Folding@home-gpu


PART 4 (Optional:For Overclocking GPU)

Download Riva Tuner from:

http://downloads.guru3d.com/download.php?det=163

Follow instructions to install.

 

[PVTCaboose1337]

Very informative. Good guide.

 

[erocker]

Why does one need to use RivaTuner for F@H?

 

[BUCK NASTY]

Why does one need to use RivaTuner for F@H?

It's due to the fact that most cards will o/c well and yield addt'l PPD. I can pick up about 1000PPD on my 8800GTS 512 with the right work unit. I will edit.

Edit: Changed order and noted o/c'ing as optional.

 

[phanbuey]

It's due to the fact that most cards will o/c well and yield addt'l PPD. I can pick up about 1000PPD on my 8800GTS 512 with the right work unit. I will edit.

Edit: Changed order and noted o/c'ing as optional.

you mean 10,000?

 

[jbunch07]

I dont think im doing it right.

 

[phanbuey]

your'e doing it right, fahmon is pointed at the wrong directory... make the root directory of the project the same as the loocation of the executable... i.e. C:users\jonathan\downloads\F@H... not C:users\jonathan\downloads\F@H\work (point fahmon one directory up)

Also... we should all get "TPU theme" foding siggies for the team.

 

[jbunch07]

Thanks, seems to be working now.

 

[phanbuey]

Thanks, seems to be working now.

Lol you have a different wallpaper every time i see a screenie

 

[jbunch07]

Lol you have a different wallpaper every time i see a screenie

Random wallpaper changer.

http://www.rjlsoftware.com/software/entertainment/wallpapr/

 

[Hayder_Master]

god bless you guys

 

[Hybrid_theory]

I was considering running folding. But does it eat bandwidth? I share internet with 4 other people. Unless we go unlimited, we already over our cap.

 

[phanbuey]

I was considering running folding. But does it eat bandwidth? I share internet with 4 other people. Unless we go unlimited, we already over our cap.

it eats a little bandwith for sending and downloading units and such.

 

[BUCK NASTY]

I was considering running folding. But does it eat bandwidth? I share internet with 4 other people. Unless we go unlimited, we already over our cap.

F@H only uses bandwith when sending results and reciving work. This happens every 2 hrs on average and last only 10-15 seconds. In the grand scope of things, F@H has virtually no effect on bandwidth.

 

[Silverel]

Ah, I take it the console client uses a ton less CPU than the systray client?

I was wondering why my ppd was only hitting ~1200 on 2 4830's...

 

[Silverel]

Alright. Stop me if this is weird.

Before I was using the systray client (with viewer). The installer went ahead and created my Roaming\folding** folder. The console client however is more than content to run from a folder on my Desktop, and there's no other trace of it besides there. Since I have multiple GPU's running, I just made a whole second folder for it, and set it up in the advanced options.

This seems a ton more simple.

On my desktop I have FaH Console and FaH Console2, respectively containing all the necessary files to run entirely independent of each other. When setting up FaHmon, I downloaded the zip, and made a folder for it as well. Launched the app, pointed it to the FaH Console/2, and it was up and running.

I jumped through a ton of hoops trying to get the systray version to work. This one is so incredibly simple it's really blown my mind.

 

[BUCK NASTY]

Ah, I take it the console client uses a ton less CPU than the systray client?

I was wondering why my ppd was only hitting ~1200 on 2 4830's...

With no viewer, there is no PPD hit when checking progress and it's more efficient too. The console is the way to go for all clients. BTW, nice 4830's you got there. That card has turned out to be quite formidable

 

[Silverel]

With no viewer, there is no PPD hit when checking progress and it's more efficient too. The console is the way to go for all clients. BTW, nice 4830's you got there. That card has turned out to be quite formidable

Shee, that's at stock clocks too. It goes all the way up to 734/1125. Problem is if the driver failz, it resets to 585/900.

Only time I had the driver fail was when I left GPUz running though. For some reason that causes more instability than FurMark does. o.o

edit

kk, bumped the clocks up a little bit. Guess it'll take a few minutes to get the PPD adjusted.

 

[kyle2020]

thanks for the excellent guide, im just installing everything now, might as well have this 260 churning away whilst im away from my pc / downloading torrents or whatever. Ill post back with results / ppd in a second.

 

[kyle2020]

any thoughts?

 

[kyle2020]

I know she runs a touch hot, nothing I can do until mid this month.

 

[BUCK NASTY]

any thoughts?

Nice Trail 70 wallpaper. I had one as a kid and it was a great bike to play around on. OK, back on topic. Un-link the core/shader and drop the core to +50mhz over stock. Now run your shaders up to about 1500 and run F@H. If it's stable,bring the core up a bit. The main idea is to get the shader o/c as high as possible stability wise.

 

[kyle2020]

so shader clock is the most ppd producing factor?

 

[oily_17]

I run my GTX260 (216sp) at 724/1514 and 999 mem for 24/7 folding with the fan set ~80%

 

[johnspack]

Yes shader is most important, I actually underclock my ram to reduce heat. By the way, I would never run these older 65nm gtx cards at over 80c constantly, I'd jack up that fan speed a bit. My card can actually start to artifact at 83c!