GTX 460 with very low PPD and super high TPF, please help

[superkingkong]

Hi guys,

I've just assembled an AMD rig:

AMD FX-8120
MSI 890FXA-GD70
2GB RAM
MSI N460GTX-M2D1GD5/OC2 GeForce GTX 460 x 1

Install win xp, and Fah Control v7. The GPU is getting 912 PPD, TPF is 1 hour
SMP - 8 is getting about 4858 PPD and TPF is about 10mins.

I've tried lowering down the SMP to 6... initially the GPU went up to about 13k/14k ... but after 2-3 hrs, it went down to 800+. Yesterday, when i have just finished installing win xp and configured the client, the GPU was getting about 13-14k of PPD.. but after running for a while.. few hours, it went down to 800+. So, today, after reading quite a bit, i thought i should free up a core or 2 for the GPU, but when i just checked, it went down to 800+.

Code: Select all

*********************** Log Started 2012-03-25T18:18:47Z ***********************
18:18:47:************************* Folding@home Client *************************
18:18:47:      Website: http://folding.stanford.edu/
18:18:47:    Copyright: (c) 2009-2012 Stanford University
18:18:47:       Author: Joseph Coffland <[email protected]>
18:18:47:         Args: --lifeline 3208 --command-port=36330
18:18:47:       Config: C:/Documents and Settings/Owner/Application
18:18:47:               Data/FAHClient/config.xml
18:18:47:******************************** Build ********************************
18:18:47:      Version: 7.1.52
18:18:47:         Date: Mar 20 2012
18:18:47:         Time: 19:37:42
18:18:47:      SVN Rev: 3515
18:18:47:       Branch: fah/trunk/client
18:18:47:     Compiler: Intel(R) C++ MSVC 1500 mode 1200
18:18:47:      Options: /TP /nologo /EHa /Qdiag-disable:4297,4103,1786,279 /Ox -arch:SSE
18:18:47:               /QaxSSE2,SSE3,SSSE3,SSE4.1,SSE4.2 /Qopenmp /Qrestrict /MT
18:18:47:     Platform: win32 XP
18:18:47:         Bits: 32
18:18:47:         Mode: Release
18:18:47:******************************* System ********************************
18:18:47:          CPU: AMD FX(tm)-8120 Eight-Core Processor
18:18:47:       CPU ID: AuthenticAMD Family 21 Model 1 Stepping 2
18:18:47:         CPUs: 8
18:18:47:       Memory: 1.98GiB
18:18:47:  Free Memory: 1.54GiB
18:18:47:      Threads: WINDOWS_THREADS
18:18:47:   On Battery: false
18:18:47:   UTC offset: -4
18:18:47:          PID: 2168
18:18:47:          CWD: C:/Documents and Settings/Owner/Application Data/FAHClient
18:18:47:           OS: Microsoft Windows XP Service Pack 3
18:18:47:      OS Arch: X86
18:18:47:         GPUs: 1
18:18:47:        GPU 0: FERMI:1 GF114 [GeForce GTX 460 v2]
18:18:47:         CUDA: 2.1
18:18:47:  CUDA Driver: 4000
18:18:47:Win32 Service: false
18:18:47:***********************************************************************
18:18:47:<config>
18:18:47:  <!-- Folding Slot Configuration -->
18:18:47:  <gpu v='true'/>
18:18:47:
18:18:47:  <!-- Network -->
18:18:47:  <proxy v=':8080'/>
18:18:47:
18:18:47:  <!-- Remote Command Server -->
18:18:47:  <command-allow v='10.10.10.105'/>
18:18:47:  <command-allow-no-pass v='10.10.10.105'/>
18:18:47:  <password v='***'/>
18:18:47:
18:18:47:  <!-- User Information -->
18:18:47:  <passkey v='********************************'/>
18:18:47:  <team v='2999'/>
18:18:47:  <user v='SuperKingKong'/>
18:18:47:
18:18:47:  <!-- Folding Slots -->
18:18:47:  <slot id='0' type='GPU'/>
18:18:47:  <slot id='1' type='SMP'>
18:18:47:    <client-type v='bigadv'/>
18:18:47:    <cpus v='6'/>
18:18:47:    <max-packet-size v='big'/>
18:18:47:  </slot>
18:18:47:</config>
18:18:47:Trying to access database...
18:18:47:Successfully acquired database lock
18:18:47:Enabled folding slot 00: READY gpu:0:"GF114 [GeForce GTX 460 v2]"
18:18:47:Enabled folding slot 01: READY smp:6
18:18:47:WU00:FS00:Starting
18:18:47:WU00:FS00:Running FahCore: "C:\Program Files\FAHClient/FAHCoreWrapper.exe" "C:/Documents and Settings/Owner/Application Data/FAHClient/cores/www.stanford.edu/~pande/Win32/x86/NVIDIA/Fermi/Core_15.fah/FahCore_15.exe" -dir 00 -suffix 01 -version 701 -lifeline 2168 -checkpoint 15 -gpu 0
18:18:47:WU00:FS00:Started FahCore on PID 3684
18:18:47:WU00:FS00:Core PID:3696
18:18:47:WU00:FS00:FahCore 0x15 started
18:18:47:WU02:FS01:Starting
18:18:47:WU02:FS01:Running FahCore: "C:\Program Files\FAHClient/FAHCoreWrapper.exe" "C:/Documents and Settings/Owner/Application Data/FAHClient/cores/www.stanford.edu/~pande/Win32/x86/Core_a4.fah/FahCore_a4.exe" -dir 02 -suffix 01 -version 701 -lifeline 2168 -checkpoint 15 -np 6
18:18:47:WU02:FS01:Started FahCore on PID 3704
18:18:47:WU02:FS01:Core PID:3716
18:18:47:WU02:FS01:FahCore 0xa4 started
18:18:48:WU00:FS00:0x15:
18:18:48:WU00:FS00:0x15:*------------------------------*
18:18:48:WU00:FS00:0x15:Folding@Home GPU Core
18:18:48:WU00:FS00:0x15:Version                2.22 (Thu Dec 8 17:08:05 PST 2011)
18:18:48:WU00:FS00:0x15:Build host             SimbiosNvdWin7
18:18:48:WU00:FS00:0x15:Board Type             NVIDIA/CUDA
18:18:48:WU00:FS00:0x15:Core                   15
18:18:48:WU00:FS00:0x15:
18:18:48:WU00:FS00:0x15:Window's signal control handler registered.
18:18:48:WU00:FS00:0x15:Preparing to commence simulation
18:18:48:WU00:FS00:0x15:- Ensuring status. Please wait.
18:18:48:WU02:FS01:0xa4:
18:18:48:WU02:FS01:0xa4:*------------------------------*
18:18:48:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Folding@Home Gromacs GB Core
18:18:48:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Version 2.27 (Dec. 15, 2010)
18:18:48:WU02:FS01:0xa4:
18:18:48:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Preparing to commence simulation
18:18:48:WU02:FS01:0xa4:- Ensuring status. Please wait.
18:18:50:Server connection id=1 on 0.0.0.0:36330 from 127.0.0.1
18:18:57:WU00:FS00:0x15:- Looking at optimizations...
18:18:57:WU00:FS00:0x15:- Working with standard loops on this execution.
18:18:57:WU00:FS00:0x15:- Previous termination of core was improper.
18:18:57:WU00:FS00:0x15:- Files status OK
18:18:57:WU00:FS00:0x15:sizeof(CORE_PACKET_HDR) = 512 file=<>
18:18:57:WU00:FS00:0x15:- Expanded 120299 -> 542246 (decompressed 450.7 percent)
18:18:57:WU00:FS00:0x15:Called DecompressByteArray: compressed_data_size=120299 data_size=542246, decompressed_data_size=542246 diff=0
18:18:57:WU00:FS00:0x15:- Digital signature verified
18:18:57:WU00:FS00:0x15:
18:18:57:WU00:FS00:0x15:Project: 8032 (Run 18, Clone 490, Gen 32)
18:18:57:WU00:FS00:0x15:
18:18:57:WU00:FS00:0x15:Entering M.D.
18:18:57:WU02:FS01:0xa4:- Looking at optimizations...
18:18:57:WU02:FS01:0xa4:- Working with standard loops on this execution.
18:18:57:WU02:FS01:0xa4:- Previous termination of core was improper.
18:18:57:WU02:FS01:0xa4:- Files status OK
18:18:57:WU02:FS01:0xa4:- Expanded 338319 -> 644556 (decompressed 190.5 percent)
18:18:57:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Called DecompressByteArray: compressed_data_size=338319 data_size=644556, decompressed_data_size=644556 diff=0
18:18:57:WU02:FS01:0xa4:- Digital signature verified
18:18:57:WU02:FS01:0xa4:
18:18:57:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Project: 7610 (Run 491, Clone 0, Gen 82)
18:18:57:WU02:FS01:0xa4:
18:18:57:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Entering M.D.
18:18:59:WU00:FS00:0x15:Will resume from checkpoint file 00/wudata_01.ckp
18:18:59:WU00:FS00:0x15:Tpr hash 00/wudata_01.tpr:  3345412497 2557017681 2963553823 806939208 3112670091
18:18:59:WU00:FS00:0x15:GPU device info: vendor=0 device=0 name=<NA> match=0
18:18:59:WU00:FS00:0x15:Working on Protein
18:18:59:WU00:FS00:0x15:Client config unavailable.
18:18:59:WU00:FS00:0x15:Starting GUI Server
18:19:03:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Using Gromacs checkpoints
18:19:03:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Mapping NT from 6 to 6 
18:19:03:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Resuming from checkpoint
18:19:03:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Verified 02/wudata_01.log
18:19:03:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Verified 02/wudata_01.trr
18:19:03:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Verified 02/wudata_01.xtc
18:19:03:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Verified 02/wudata_01.edr
18:19:03:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1571510 out of 2000000 steps  (78%)
18:20:06:WU00:FS00:0x15:Resuming from checkpoint
18:20:06:WU00:FS00:0x15:fcCheckPointResume: retreived and current tpr file hash:
18:20:06:WU00:FS00:0x15:   0   3345412497   3345412497
18:20:06:WU00:FS00:0x15:   1   2557017681   2557017681
18:20:06:WU00:FS00:0x15:   2   2963553823   2963553823
18:20:06:WU00:FS00:0x15:   3    806939208    806939208
18:20:06:WU00:FS00:0x15:   4   3112670091   3112670091
18:20:06:WU00:FS00:0x15:fcCheckPointResume: file hashes same.
18:20:06:WU00:FS00:0x15:fcCheckPointResume: state restored.
18:20:06:WU00:FS00:0x15:fcCheckPointResume: name 00/wudata_01.log Verified 00/wudata_01.log
18:20:06:WU00:FS00:0x15:fcCheckPointResume: name 00/wudata_01.trr Verified 00/wudata_01.trr
18:20:06:WU00:FS00:0x15:fcCheckPointResume: name 00/wudata_01.xtc Verified 00/wudata_01.xtc
18:20:06:WU00:FS00:0x15:fcCheckPointResume: name 00/wudata_01.edr Verified 00/wudata_01.edr
18:20:06:WU00:FS00:0x15:fcCheckPointResume: state restored 2
18:20:06:WU00:FS00:0x15:Resumed from checkpoint
18:20:06:WU00:FS00:0x15:Setting checkpoint frequency: 250000
18:20:06:WU00:FS00:0x15:Completed  22750001 out of 25000000 steps (91%).
18:20:07:WARNING:WU00:FS00:Detected clock skew, adjusting time estimates
18:22:39:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1580000 out of 2000000 steps  (79%)
18:24:00:WU00:FS00:0x15:Completed  23000000 out of 25000000 steps (92%).
18:27:54:WU00:FS00:0x15:Completed  23250000 out of 25000000 steps (93%).
18:31:05:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1600000 out of 2000000 steps  (80%)
18:39:33:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1620000 out of 2000000 steps  (81%)
18:44:38:WU00:FS00:0x15:Completed  23500000 out of 25000000 steps (94%).
18:48:00:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1640000 out of 2000000 steps  (82%)
18:56:23:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1660000 out of 2000000 steps  (83%)
19:04:46:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1680000 out of 2000000 steps  (84%)
19:13:09:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1700000 out of 2000000 steps  (85%)
19:21:32:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1720000 out of 2000000 steps  (86%)
19:29:57:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1740000 out of 2000000 steps  (87%)
19:38:20:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1760000 out of 2000000 steps  (88%)
19:45:19:WU00:FS00:0x15:Completed  23750000 out of 25000000 steps (95%).
19:46:44:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1780000 out of 2000000 steps  (89%)
19:55:09:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1800000 out of 2000000 steps  (90%)
20:03:36:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1820000 out of 2000000 steps  (91%)
20:12:00:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1840000 out of 2000000 steps  (92%)
20:20:25:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1860000 out of 2000000 steps  (93%)
20:28:50:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1880000 out of 2000000 steps  (94%)
20:37:14:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1900000 out of 2000000 steps  (95%)
20:45:40:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1920000 out of 2000000 steps  (96%)
20:45:59:WU00:FS00:0x15:Completed  24000000 out of 25000000 steps (96%).
20:54:03:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1940000 out of 2000000 steps  (97%)
21:02:26:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1960000 out of 2000000 steps  (98%)
21:10:49:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 1980000 out of 2000000 steps  (99%)
21:10:50:WU01:FS01:Connecting to assign3.stanford.edu:8080
21:10:50:WU01:FS01:News: Welcome to Folding@Home
21:10:50:WU01:FS01:Assigned to work server 171.64.65.104
21:10:50:WU01:FS01:Requesting new work unit for slot 01: RUNNING smp:6 from 171.64.65.104
21:10:50:WU01:FS01:Connecting to 171.64.65.104:8080
21:10:51:WU01:FS01:Downloading 332.04KiB
21:10:52:WU01:FS01:Download complete
21:10:52:WU01:FS01:Received Unit: id:01 state:DOWNLOAD error:OK project:7611 run:2 clone:7 gen:168 core:0xa4 unit:0x000000d1664f2dd04df0f5583553b6ec
21:10:53:WU01:FS01:Downloading project 7611 description
21:10:53:WU01:FS01:Connecting to fah-web.stanford.edu:80
21:10:54:WU01:FS01:Project 7611 description downloaded successfully
21:19:10:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Completed 2000000 out of 2000000 steps  (100%)
21:19:10:WU02:FS01:0xa4:DynamicWrapper: Finished Work Unit: sleep=10000
21:19:20:WU02:FS01:0xa4:
21:19:20:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Finished Work Unit:
21:19:20:WU02:FS01:0xa4:- Reading up to 488544 from "02/wudata_01.trr": Read 488544
21:19:20:WU02:FS01:0xa4:trr file hash check passed.
21:19:20:WU02:FS01:0xa4:- Reading up to 57888 from "02/wudata_01.xtc": Read 57888
21:19:20:WU02:FS01:0xa4:xtc file hash check passed.
21:19:20:WU02:FS01:0xa4:edr file hash check passed.
21:19:20:WU02:FS01:0xa4:logfile size: 43830
21:19:20:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Leaving Run
21:19:22:WU02:FS01:0xa4:- Writing 614178 bytes of core data to disk...
21:19:22:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Done: 613666 -> 546587 (compressed to 89.0 percent)
21:19:22:WU02:FS01:0xa4:  ... Done.
21:19:22:WU02:FS01:0xa4:- Shutting down core
21:19:22:WU02:FS01:0xa4:
21:19:22:WU02:FS01:0xa4:Folding@home Core Shutdown: FINISHED_UNIT
21:19:23:WU02:FS01:FahCore returned: FINISHED_UNIT (100 = 0x64)
21:19:23:WU02:FS01:Sending unit results: id:02 state:SEND error:OK project:7610 run:491 clone:0 gen:82 core:0xa4 unit:0x00000062664f2dd04de6d4742188764f
21:19:23:WU02:FS01:Uploading 534.28KiB to 171.64.65.104
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:Starting
21:19:23:WU02:FS01:Connecting to 171.64.65.104:8080
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:Running FahCore: "C:\Program Files\FAHClient/FAHCoreWrapper.exe" "C:/Documents and Settings/Owner/Application Data/FAHClient/cores/www.stanford.edu/~pande/Win32/x86/Core_a4.fah/FahCore_a4.exe" -dir 01 -suffix 01 -version 701 -lifeline 2168 -checkpoint 15 -np 6
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:Started FahCore on PID 428
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:Core PID:4060
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:FahCore 0xa4 started
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:0xa4:
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:0xa4:*------------------------------*
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Folding@Home Gromacs GB Core
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Version 2.27 (Dec. 15, 2010)
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:0xa4:
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Preparing to commence simulation
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:0xa4:- Looking at optimizations...
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:0xa4:- Created dyn
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:0xa4:- Files status OK
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:0xa4:- Expanded 339502 -> 644556 (decompressed 189.8 percent)
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Called DecompressByteArray: compressed_data_size=339502 data_size=644556, decompressed_data_size=644556 diff=0
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:0xa4:- Digital signature verified
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:0xa4:
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Project: 7611 (Run 2, Clone 7, Gen 168)
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:0xa4:
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Assembly optimizations on if available.
21:19:23:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Entering M.D.
21:19:29:WU02:FS01:Upload complete
21:19:29:WU02:FS01:Server responded WORK_ACK (400)
21:19:29:WU02:FS01:Final credit estimate, 3551.00 points
21:19:29:WU02:FS01:Cleaning up
21:19:29:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Mapping NT from 6 to 6 
21:19:29:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Completed 0 out of 2000000 steps  (0%)
21:29:55:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Completed 20000 out of 2000000 steps  (1%)
21:40:12:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Completed 40000 out of 2000000 steps  (2%)
21:46:40:WU00:FS00:0x15:Completed  24250000 out of 25000000 steps (97%).
21:50:31:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Completed 60000 out of 2000000 steps  (3%)
22:00:53:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Completed 80000 out of 2000000 steps  (4%)
22:11:20:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Completed 100000 out of 2000000 steps  (5%)
22:21:39:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Completed 120000 out of 2000000 steps  (6%)
22:31:58:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Completed 140000 out of 2000000 steps  (7%)
22:42:25:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Completed 160000 out of 2000000 steps  (8%)
22:48:38:WU00:FS00:0x15:Completed  24500000 out of 25000000 steps (98%).
22:52:59:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Completed 180000 out of 2000000 steps  (9%)
23:03:41:WU01:FS01:0xa4:Completed 200000 out of 2000000 steps  (10%)

Do you guys have any idea? ... please help.

[bollix47]

One setting in the Configure > Advanced tab is called Fah Core Priority.

Try setting it to slightly higher and see if that helps.

[patonb]

Get gpu-z and ensure your card is NOT kiciking down to 2d clocks.

Make sure the card is not overheating and down clocking.

[GreyWhiskers]

If it does kick down to 2d clocks, a reboot of your computer will usually reset it. You might look in the log to see if there were any unexplained stoppages. I don't think the log snippet shows. You might correlate that with a thermal problem or something.You can also put afterburner in a record mode to see of anything shows up.

[superkingkong]

How can i check if it gets kick down to 2D? I've installed the GPUZ, but i can't see anything about 2D.

I have afterburner. The temp is about 34C, usage is 99%.

I've change the Fah Core Priority to "slightly higher" but it didn't help.

Then i tried deleting the smp and leave the gpu running alone... it also didn't help, ppd about 10++ .. TPF about 56mins.

After that, i re-add the smp=8, the PPD jumped up to 38k for both. The GPU PPD went up to about 13k+, TPF=4mins+. Same thing like the one above, when i changed from smp=8 to 6.

But i think, the gpu will come down to 900+ after an hour or two.

I can see that, if i do something to the CPU, GPU PPD will jump up... and then down.

Could it be the cpu problem??

[bruce]

Then i tried deleting the smp and leave the gpu running alone... it also didn't help, ppd about 10++ .. TPF about 56mins.

I can think of several possibilities, most of which have already been mentioned.

• 2D clocks would certainly explain it.
• You may also see a pattern based on the projects that happen to be assigned, though with a 460, that's not too likely.
• Setting priority to slightly higher can help if you have other tasks that use LOW priority, but the traditional recommendation is to set the SMP slot to IDLE and the GPU slot to LOW. That can be done by adding core-priority to one of your slots -- setting the value of low or idle (changing the setting on whichever slot needs to be changed from default value you are using).
• I'm getting mixed reports about whether V7.1.52 is reporting PPD correctly. That was a problem in some earlier versions, but I thought it was fixed. TPF is probably a good indicator, but check that by looking at the time intervals shown in your log.

[superkingkong]

how can i check if my card is on 2D clocks?

[ChelseaOilman]

how can i check if my card is on 2D clocks?

GPU-Z. What is the max clocks of your card? Does GPU-Z show your card running at those speeds all the time?

[patonb]

Yha, its definately 2d clocks, as b99% gpu sand 34C is rediculously cool.

Even after burner will report your clock speed, it should be like 800/1000

[GreyWhiskers]

The indicators of 2D clocks for me would be:
a. CPU temp. I'm running an MSI GTX 560Ti with the TwinFrozr fans, overclocked to 945 MHz. I'm currently processing a P7641, which has the attribute of running the GPU at about 88% GPU utilization, vs 99% for almost all the other Core 15 WUs I see. The temp is running 60-61 deg C. 34 deg C. is definitely too cool, unless you have some super-duper cooling. Actually, 34 deg C is close to the ambient temp that SpeedFan or the ASUS AI Suite shows for my motherboard.

b. Wall plug power draw. This is certainly related to the temp. If you drop back to 2D clocks, the temp will be lower and the power draw will be lower. I have my system plugged into a CyberPower UPS which reads wall plug wattage out to a gadget I keep in the top right of my windows 7 screen. Again, if the GPU drops back, you will see a lower wattage than otherwise.

And, as I said, the remedy is to just do a restart. That will reset the GPU.

After restart, you might want to set monitoring up in Afterburner - it's in SETTINGS/Monitoring. I've never actually retrieved the log - but I think that Rivatuner will read and display it.

[superkingkong]

Afterburner says:

core clock: 810mhz
shader clock: 1620
memory clock: 2004mhz

nothing about 2d ... sorry, i'm new to all this technical term

[GreyWhiskers]

I'm not sure how you determine the 2d vs 3d clocks directly - that's why I and others have been giving you indirect ways to tell. I was just watching CSI Miami - finding circumstantial evidence for the crime.

But, for me, the GPU temp is the most reliable way to tell. If you have the clock rate what you would expect (and you do), and if he temp is unusually low, then you are probably in 2d clocks.

So, reboot your computer. Folding @ home should automatically start. Then watch the afterburner HW monitor to see if the clocks seem right, and if the temps seem right.

I've included a shot of the upper right part of my laptop screen, showing the gadget for the CyberPower UPS reading out the instantaneous wall-plug power. I've undocked the monitor part of the afterburner screen and expanded it wider. That gives me a fairly good time history of the various clocks, GPU usage, and gpu temp.

FYI, my GPU usage and temp profile look a little weird. Some of the Core 15 projects are real hogs on the GPU. I'm currently running a project 8032 on the laptop's GTX560M. These projects are so stressful that my temps were peaking and holding at 93 deg C - definitively not what i wanted on the laptop. So, I have the FAH_GPU_IDLE environment variable set to 30. That forces the GPU to pause (see utilization curve), allowing the temp to cool down. It works quite well for a number of the projects.

From MSI's web site for your card - stock rates.
Core Clock Speed(MHz) 810
Memory Clock Speed(MHz) 4008

[patonb]

Btw, its 2000mhz memory as its DDRX ram, you need to double it.

[Flathead74]

For Windows users, cpu-z will tell you at which performance level your video card is running.

http://www.cpuid.com/softwares/cpu-z.html

Look under the "Graphics" tab: Perf Level.

[superkingkong]

Thank you Flathead74. Downloaded the CPU-Z. Now i can see the clock is way below 1000. It's almost 700-800. AfterBurner still showing 2004!?

I've restarted the system, clock went back up to 2004, according to CPU-Z, but GPU folding is still bad, TPF is 1hr, PPD is 700-800

Last night, I've tried installing Win XP, and fresh drivers. Seems like no help. Initially it was ok. After i woke up today, ppd went down to 700.

Hmm, do you guys know, if this problem is due to graphic card? the motherboard? AMD system? I'm thinking of going back to Intel. Getting frustrated.... My another newly setup intel i7 rig is running good. about 54k PPD, 2 GPU and SMP 8.