*** F@H Tech Assistance Thread ***

[msgclb]

With the latest driver set you shouldn't need a dummy plug on the back to trick it into thinking a monitor is there.

You mean that all of my spare dummy plugs that I've got laying around will be just laying around! I'm using the latest driver of course!

 

[El Fiendo]

I still use dummy plugs because I bought enough resistors to make 5 of them and I didn't want to remember more flags to add each time I set up a GPU client. I'll have to use the no dummy plug method, however, when I get all my parts as I'll have 3 monitors, 5 plugs and 10 cards. 2 cards would be without plugs.

The link to the thread on not using dummy plugs is:

http://www.hardwarecanucks.com/forum/hardwarecanucks-f-h-team/22481-folding-sli-enabled-no-dummy-plug-second-monitor.html


As for getting ATI and NVIDIA folding together, I seem to remember people saying they'd done it, but I can't find a confirmed working guide for the life of me.

 

[El Fiendo]

Sorry for the double post, but I just made a discovery that, as far as I can tell, means the whole team has been doing it wrong from the start.

-local
Use configuration files from local directory. This option has no meaning on Linux, but is vital on Windows and Macintosh for running multiple clients on a machine. It instructs the client to read its config information from the client.cfg file in the current directory rather than, on Windows, from the installation directory specified in the registry, or, on Macintosh, the Library/Folding@home directory. Information such as the user name, team name, proxy information, machine ID are maintained in the client.cfg file. The flag ensures that work does not conflict. Use "-local" only if you are planning on running more than one instance of Folding@Home on the same machine (this is only useful if you are running on a multi-processor machine). Create as many directories as there are processors on the machine, copy the exe files and client.cfg file into each of these directories, run "FAH3Console -local -config" on each and specify unique machine IDs for each directory (under the Advanced Settings option). From then onwards you may run each copy by switching to its directory and running with the -local flag.


Now, if you're going to fold ATI and NVIDIA together, you'll definitely need this, as some of the threads I've been reading say that 2 of those cards on the same system will fold both ATI and NVIDIA work units. According to Stanford, (this is more or less, couldn't refind the quote) 'its promising to see both architectures can fold each others WUs, however the results it returns are completely useless to us at this time'.

Anyways, its apparently required for multi GPU systems, so my rigs will be getting this flag put in pronto. I haven't seen any errors without the flag, but who knows? Maybe it'll give me an extra 100000 PPD a day.

 

[Soylent Joe]

God this crap is too confusing. Anyone know that if you can only plug in one molex connector into a 2 molex to 6-pin PCIe adapter for a video card and still have the card function correctly?

 

[El Fiendo]

Pretty sure that will not function. As far as I know you need 2 molexes to make it work adapter wise.

 

[EnergyFX]

God this crap is too confusing. Anyone know that if you can only plug in one molex connector into a 2 molex to 6-pin PCIe adapter for a video card and still have the card function correctly?

So long as each terminal on the 6-pin is conductivity attached to the proper wire from the PSU (ie: ground, 5v, 12v) then you should be fine. This means you either need 2 molexes or you will need to do some cable splicing to make sure each pin on the 6-pin plug is connected.

As for the folding clients... to get mine working properly I realized late in the game that I had to completely delete the files and re-run the installer, get it all organized into seperate folders (make sure you have a folder for each instance you are trying to run), set up the shortcuts, and THEN try to run it. If it didn't work I would repeat the whole process until I finally got it right.

Don't simply try to adjust a failed run instance. There is all sorts of info that gets built into the config file and stuff that spawns in the folder that gets in the way. Start fresh with every attempt until you get it working.

 

[Soylent Joe]

So long as each terminal on the 6-pin is conductivity attached to the proper wire from the PSU (ie: ground, 5v, 12v) then you should be fine. This means you either need 2 molexes or you will need to do some cable splicing to make sure each pin on the 6-pin plug is connected.

As for the folding clients... to get mine working properly I realized late in the game that I had to completely delete the files and re-run the installer, get it all organized into seperate folders (make sure you have a folder for each instance you are trying to run), set up the shortcuts, and THEN try to run it. If it didn't work I would repeat the whole process until I finally got it right.

Don't simply try to adjust a failed run instance. There is all sorts of info that gets built into the config file and stuff that spawns in the folder that gets in the way. Start fresh with every attempt until you get it working.

In this guide some earlier linked me, it's pretty much saying the same thing, about reinstalling the client and doing the folder things. I'm just really tired of messing with it. Any inept folders with some extra time and talents want to get on Teamveiwer and hold ol' Joe out?

 

[BUCK NASTY]

God this crap is too confusing. Anyone know that if you can only plug in one molex connector into a 2 molex to 6-pin PCIe adapter for a video card and still have the card function correctly?

What kinda card we talking about? The wattage draw comes to mind.

 

[Soylent Joe]

What kinda card we talking about? The wattage draw comes to mind.

I've been talking about the Asus 9600GSO. It has a really low power draw IIRC.

 

[BUCK NASTY]

It should work. The max draw for the 9600GSO's is 80-90 watts. You PCI-e slot provides 75watts, so your Molex to PCI adapter will only have to provide minimal power to the card.

 

[Soylent Joe]

It should work. The max draw for the 9600GSO's is 80-90 watts. You PCI-e slot provides 75watts, so your Molex to PCI adapter will only have to provide minimal power to the card.

I think I'll just stick the card in my other computer, put on the new drivers, and fold from it on there. I won't have to worry about mixing cards or anything, and I'll be able to get some $$$ from selling the 4670. Plus the fan won't be right at my ear making noise all the time. I am assuming that the P4 540 (in sys. specs for the Vaio) will be able to run F@H right?

 

[BUCK NASTY]

On second thought, it wont work without soldering or splicing. See attached pics as to why:

Note that only the brown wires share a common connector. All like colors should be spliced or soldered together. If you cannot solder, I could do it for you and mail it. Let me know.

 

[Soylent Joe]

On second thought, it wont work without soldering or splicing. See attached pics as to why:

http://img.techpowerup.org/091001/P1000675980.jpg

Note that only the brown wires share a common connector. All like colors should be spliced or soldered together. If you cannot solder, I could do it for you and mail it. Let me know.

Yeah, I'm looking now, mine's the same. Let me go look on that PSU to make sure that there aren't any hidden molex connectors hiding. If there's not I guess I'll need a soldered one. I have an iron, but no solder or knowhow.

 

[[Ion]]

I think I'll just stick the card in my other computer, put on the new drivers, and fold from it on there. I won't have to worry about mixing cards or anything, and I'll be able to get some $$$ from selling the 4670. Plus the fan won't be right at my ear making noise all the time. I am assuming that the P4 540 (in sys. specs for the Vaio) will be able to run F@H right?

The P4 will absolutely be able to run F@H, I ran F@H on a 1.2ghz Celeron (Pentium 3 based), got all of 45 PPD off of it
Retired it shortly after

Yeah, I'm looking now, mine's the same. Let me go look on that PSU to make sure that there aren't any hidden molex connectors hiding. If there's not I guess I'll need a soldered one. I have an iron, but no solder or knowhow.

You can always just cut the wires and use wire nuts, I've done far more computer repairs than I care to share this way

 

[Soylent Joe]

The P4 will absolutely be able to run F@H, I ran F@H on a 1.2ghz Celeron (Pentium 3 based), got all of 45 PPD off of it
Retired it shortly after

You can always just cut the wires and use wire nuts, I've done far more computer repairs than I care to share this way

OK, so I have only one free molex, but 3 free SATA so if I had a SATA to molex it'd be no problem. I have like 3 of these molex to PCIe adapters, so I could try the wire nut method. How would I do it?

 

[[Ion]]

Cut all the yellow wires, all of the brown wires, and all of the black wires. Discard one of the molex plugs. Strip all wires with your favorite method. Twist all of the black wires together, put on a wire nut. Twist all of the yellow wires together, put on a wire nut. Twist all of the brown wires together, put on a wire nut. You might then want to put on a zip tie or two to keep it all together

 

[Soylent Joe]

Is this right? I don't know where the wire nuts come into the picture...

Oh, from pic 2 to 3 the wires get stripped of their coating.

 

[[Ion]]

Only strip the insulation off of about 1/2-1/4 inch of each wire. Otherwise they will short out and bad things will happen. The wire nuts are used after the wires are twisted together, to keep the wires from shorting out.

 

[Soylent Joe]

Only strip the insulation off of about 1/2-1/4 inch of each wire. Otherwise they will short out and bad things will happen. The wire nuts are used after the wires are twisted together, to keep the wires from shorting out.
http://img.techpowerup.org/091001/pic.jpg

So will any of the individual wires be removed from the plastic housing at the end?

 

[thebluebumblebee]

Do you happen to have a molex "Y" laying around? Take your one connector and double it. My local PC shop sells them for $1.25.

 

[Soylent Joe]

Do you happen to have a molex "Y" laying around? Take your one connector and double it. My local PC shop sells them for $1.25.

I really don't. We have one PC shop in town, I may drop by there tomorrow after school and see if they have anything I can use, since I'm not really getting how to mod this adapter.

 

[thebluebumblebee]

You're looking for this

 

[Soylent Joe]

You're looking for this

>.< It's $1, but watch shipping by like 5. I'll see if they have one at Staples (the closest thing we have to a PC store T_T)

 

[thebluebumblebee]

Ouch!

 

[Soylent Joe]

It's not easy living in the swamp >.>