Help - Low PPD Amd 7950

[cameronpalte]

Hello Everyone,
I recently got a new system with a HIS 7950 graphics card and a i5-4670 to be used for folding. However, I am experience low PPD on the graphics card. I set the CPU cores in the configure tab to 3 and was getting 6k ppd but the GPU was only getting 1.2k PPD and running Core x17. Does anyone have any advice for fixing this problem?

[P5-133XL]

Have you installed a Passkey? You need to complete 10 QRB (Quick Return Bonus) eligible and maintain at least an 80% successful return rate before you will start getting QRB points. For many, the vast majority of Core_17 points come from the QRB.

If you post the log, including the system and config portions then people can suggest optimizations.

[PantherX]

Welcome to the F@H Forum cameronpalte,

In addition to what P5-133XL asked above, please also tell us what driver version you are using. If you are unsure, you can use GPU-Z (http://www.techpowerup.com/downloads/SysInfo/GPU-Z/) to get that information. For the log file, please see this thread (viewtopic.php?f=38&t=26036).

[cameronpalte]

I am using the latest driver which I believe is 14.4. I'll look at adding the log file. Also I have a pass key but I've been using the same passkey on two systems - one with an Nvidia 765m which has definitely completed 10 work units and this one - would that make a difference?


Thanks ahead.

[PantherX]

Do note that you can use the same passkey/username combination on multiple systems. Just make sure that there aren't any typos in the passkey and/or username.

[cameronpalte]

Ok, thank you PantherX. I checked for typos - none. The PPD for core 0x17 is up to 15k ppd but I'm still going for more like 75-100k.

Here is the whole log:

Code: Select all

02:21:14:Saving configuration to config.xml
02:21:14:<config>
02:21:14:  <!-- Network -->
02:21:14:  <proxy v=':8080'/>
02:21:14:
02:21:14:  <!-- Slot Control -->
02:21:14:  <power v='full'/>
02:21:14:
02:21:14:  <!-- User Information -->
02:21:14:  <passkey v='********************************'/>
02:21:14:  <team v='224497'/>
02:21:14:  <user v='cameronpalte'/>
02:21:14:
02:21:14:  <!-- Folding Slots -->
02:21:14:  <slot id='0' type='CPU'>
02:21:14:    <cpus v='3'/>
02:21:14:  </slot>
02:21:14:  <slot id='1' type='GPU'/>
02:21:14:</config>
02:21:19:Removing old file 'configs/config-20140506-022415.xml'
02:21:19:Saving configuration to config.xml
02:21:19:<config>
02:21:19:  <!-- Network -->
02:21:19:  <proxy v=':8080'/>
02:21:19:
02:21:19:  <!-- Slot Control -->
02:21:19:  <power v='full'/>
02:21:19:
02:21:19:  <!-- User Information -->
02:21:19:  <passkey v='********************************'/>
02:21:19:  <team v='224497'/>
02:21:19:  <user v='cameronpalte'/>
02:21:19:
02:21:19:  <!-- Folding Slots -->
02:21:19:  <slot id='0' type='CPU'>
02:21:19:    <cpus v='3'/>
02:21:19:  </slot>
02:21:19:  <slot id='1' type='GPU'/>
02:21:19:</config>
02:22:48:WU00:FS01:0x17:Completed 0 out of 5000000 steps (0%)
02:22:48:WU00:FS01:0x17:Temperature control disabled. Requirements: single Nvidia GPU, tmax must be < 110 and twait >= 900
02:29:03:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Completed 200000 out of 500000 steps  (40%)
02:35:51:FS00:Paused
02:35:51:FS01:Paused
02:35:51:FS00:Shutting core down
02:35:51:FS01:Shutting core down
02:35:51:WU00:FS01:0x17:WARNING:Console control signal 1 on PID 2460
02:35:51:WU00:FS01:0x17:Exiting, please wait. . .
02:35:51:WU00:FS01:FahCore returned: INTERRUPTED (102 = 0x66)
02:35:53:WU02:FS00:FahCore returned: INTERRUPTED (102 = 0x66)
02:36:34:Removing old file 'configs/config-20140506-023035.xml'
02:36:34:Saving configuration to config.xml
02:36:34:<config>
02:36:34:  <!-- Network -->
02:36:34:  <proxy v=':8080'/>
02:36:34:
02:36:34:  <!-- Slot Control -->
02:36:34:  <power v='full'/>
02:36:34:
02:36:34:  <!-- User Information -->
02:36:34:  <passkey v='********************************'/>
02:36:34:  <team v='224497'/>
02:36:34:  <user v='cameronpalte'/>
02:36:34:
02:36:34:  <!-- Folding Slots -->
02:36:34:  <slot id='0' type='CPU'>
02:36:34:    <cpus v='3'/>
02:36:34:    <paused v='true'/>
02:36:34:  </slot>
02:36:34:  <slot id='1' type='GPU'>
02:36:34:    <paused v='true'/>
02:36:34:  </slot>
02:36:34:</config>
02:55:07:FS00:Unpaused
02:55:07:FS01:Unpaused
02:55:07:WU00:FS01:Starting
02:55:07:WU00:FS01:Running FahCore: "C:\Program Files (x86)\FAHClient/FAHCoreWrapper.exe" C:/Users/Cameron/AppData/Roaming/FAHClient/cores/www.stanford.edu/~pande/Win32/AMD64/ATI/R600/Core_17.fah/FahCore_17.exe -dir 00 -suffix 01 -version 704 -lifeline 1448 -checkpoint 15 -gpu 0 -gpu-vendor ati
02:55:07:WU00:FS01:Started FahCore on PID 4884
02:55:07:WU00:FS01:Core PID:4040
02:55:07:WU00:FS01:FahCore 0x17 started
02:55:07:WU02:FS00:Starting
02:55:07:WU02:FS00:Running FahCore: "C:\Program Files (x86)\FAHClient/FAHCoreWrapper.exe" C:/Users/Cameron/AppData/Roaming/FAHClient/cores/www.stanford.edu/~pande/Win32/AMD64/Core_a3.fah/FahCore_a3.exe -dir 02 -suffix 01 -version 704 -lifeline 1448 -checkpoint 15 -np 3
02:55:07:WU02:FS00:Started FahCore on PID 844
02:55:07:WU02:FS00:Core PID:3496
02:55:07:WU02:FS00:FahCore 0xa3 started
02:55:08:WU00:FS01:0x17:*********************** Log Started 2014-05-07T02:55:07Z ***********************
02:55:08:WU00:FS01:0x17:Project: 13001 (Run 104, Clone 1, Gen 12)
02:55:08:WU00:FS01:0x17:Unit: 0x0000001d538b3db753286d1e872b9ee5
02:55:08:WU00:FS01:0x17:CPU: 0x00000000000000000000000000000000
02:55:08:WU00:FS01:0x17:Machine: 1
02:55:08:WU00:FS01:0x17:Digital signatures verified
02:55:08:WU00:FS01:0x17:Folding@home GPU core17
02:55:08:WU00:FS01:0x17:Version 0.0.52
02:55:08:WU02:FS00:0xa3:
02:55:08:WU02:FS00:0xa3:*------------------------------*
02:55:08:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Folding@Home Gromacs SMP Core
02:55:08:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Version 2.27 (Dec. 15, 2010)
02:55:08:WU02:FS00:0xa3:
02:55:08:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Preparing to commence simulation
02:55:08:WU02:FS00:0xa3:- Looking at optimizations...
02:55:08:WU02:FS00:0xa3:- Files status OK
02:55:08:WU02:FS00:0xa3:- Expanded 3852188 -> 4394468 (decompressed 114.0 percent)
02:55:08:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Called DecompressByteArray: compressed_data_size=3852188 data_size=4394468, decompressed_data_size=4394468 diff=0
02:55:08:WU02:FS00:0xa3:- Digital signature verified
02:55:08:WU02:FS00:0xa3:
02:55:08:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Project: 8578 (Run 1, Clone 7, Gen 373)
02:55:08:WU02:FS00:0xa3:
02:55:08:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Assembly optimizations on if available.
02:55:08:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Entering M.D.
02:55:14:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Using Gromacs checkpoints
02:55:14:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Mapping NT from 3 to 3 
02:55:14:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Resuming from checkpoint
02:55:14:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Verified 02/wudata_01.log
02:55:14:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Verified 02/wudata_01.trr
02:55:14:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Verified 02/wudata_01.edr
02:55:15:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Completed 202155 out of 500000 steps  (40%)
02:55:53:Removing old file 'configs/config-20140506-023122.xml'
02:55:53:Saving configuration to config.xml
02:55:53:<config>
02:55:53:  <!-- Network -->
02:55:53:  <proxy v=':8080'/>
02:55:53:
02:55:53:  <!-- Slot Control -->
02:55:53:  <power v='full'/>
02:55:53:
02:55:53:  <!-- User Information -->
02:55:53:  <passkey v='********************************'/>
02:55:53:  <team v='224497'/>
02:55:53:  <user v='cameronpalte'/>
02:55:53:
02:55:53:  <!-- Folding Slots -->
02:55:53:  <slot id='0' type='CPU'>
02:55:53:    <cpus v='3'/>
02:55:53:  </slot>
02:55:53:  <slot id='1' type='GPU'/>
02:55:53:</config>
02:57:26:WU00:FS01:0x17:Completed 0 out of 5000000 steps (0%)
02:57:26:WU00:FS01:0x17:Temperature control disabled. Requirements: single Nvidia GPU, tmax must be < 110 and twait >= 900
03:04:16:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Completed 205000 out of 500000 steps  (41%)
03:19:21:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Completed 210000 out of 500000 steps  (42%)
03:22:17:WU00:FS01:0x17:Completed 50000 out of 5000000 steps (1%)
03:34:28:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Completed 215000 out of 500000 steps  (43%)
03:46:58:WU00:FS01:0x17:Completed 100000 out of 5000000 steps (2%)
03:49:35:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Completed 220000 out of 500000 steps  (44%)
04:04:45:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Completed 225000 out of 500000 steps  (45%)
04:11:53:WU00:FS01:0x17:Completed 150000 out of 5000000 steps (3%)
04:19:52:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Completed 230000 out of 500000 steps  (46%)
04:35:09:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Completed 235000 out of 500000 steps  (47%)
04:36:36:WU00:FS01:0x17:Completed 200000 out of 5000000 steps (4%)
04:50:19:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Completed 240000 out of 500000 steps  (48%)
05:01:19:WU00:FS01:0x17:Completed 250000 out of 5000000 steps (5%)
05:05:35:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Completed 245000 out of 500000 steps  (49%)
05:21:04:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Completed 250000 out of 500000 steps  (50%)
05:26:16:WU00:FS01:0x17:Completed 300000 out of 5000000 steps (6%)
05:36:28:WU02:FS00:0xa3:Completed 255000 out of 500000 steps  (51%)

Thanks ahead.

[cameronpalte]

I downgraded back to 13.25 drivers - non beta and i'll let it run for the night and see how it does

[P5-133XL]

The PPD should be significantly higher than 1.2K but you are not going to get 75K-100K PPD on a 7950 either. Not having that specific card I can't give you precise numbers but I think your expectations are way high. I'm sure someone that has a 7950 will speak up.

[P5-133XL]

Oh, I did not see anything that is a problem in your config.

Since you did not include the system portion I do not know your client version but the most recent v7.4.4 gives more accurate PPD estimates than the earlier v7.3.6. The big problem with 7.4.4 is that it is not compatible with HFM.net which if you are not using doesn't matter.

[folding_hoomer]

One "abnormality" in your log is the long GPU-frame-time (about 24:41) - it is more than double as "normal".
Maybe GPU-Temps are too high or a driver-reset?


Downgrading the driver is the wrong way to get your HD7950 working as expected.

1. Please finish the GPU-WU you are folding now and wait until the results were uploaded.
2. Finish or pause the CPU-Slot. When finishing, please wait until upload ended.
3. Download the latest version of Catalyst 14.4 WHQL (Win 7, 8, 8.1 64Bit, Size: 256 MB): http://support.amd.com/en-us/download/d ... 7%20-%2064
4. Download AMD Clean Uninstall Utility: http://support.amd.com/en-us/kb-article ... ility.aspx
5. Close all other running programs.
6. Start Uninstall-Utility - it will remove all related data from your PC.
7. Reboot und install Catalyst 14.4 WHQL
8. Reboot, start GPU-Z and the Client, than start folding CPU/GPU-Slot.
9. Let it run for a while, than check temperature and GPU-clock. Best temperature for your GPU is less than 80°C while folding.
10. If temps are to high, use an OC-Tool like Afterburner to manually set the fan-speed (my HD7870 is woking OC´d with temps about 60°C, fan manually set to only 50%).
11. I think it will work now as expected

[Bleeder]

The PPD should be significantly higher than 1.2K but you are not going to get 75K-100K PPD on a 7950 either. Not having that specific card I can't give you precise numbers but I think your expectations are way high. I'm sure someone that has a 7950 will speak up.

I'm running an HD 7870XT (clocked at 1025) and it gets around 65-70K PPD with the 14.4 drivers. I would guess that the 7950 should get more depending on how it's clocked and if it's throttling due to heat. I due think that 100k PPD for that card is unreasonable though.

[bruce]

My 7790 is getting about 42K PPD. It has half the shaders of your 7950 but runs it also runs at a 20% higher clock. Putting that all together, I agree: your expectation of 75K-100K PPD is a bit on the high side. I would go back to the 14.x drivers.

[cameronpalte]

Thanks for all the advice everyone. And thanks for clarifying my expectations this is my first graphics card I have purchased just for folding @ home. I'm going to try and run all of folding_hoomer's suggestions now. I'll do them and run it during the night then give updates on improved PPD in the morning.


Thanks Everyone!

[cameronpalte]

i ran gpuz and it is not showing any temperatures or the clock speed - it shows that for the intel card but not for the amd.

[jrweiss]

That would indicate to me that the Intel GPU is set up as the primary active GPU. Ensure you have your BIOS set up correctly.

If you have Virtu enabled (in D/Discrete mode), try disabling it; or vice versa. FWIW, I found my overall graphics improved significantly with Virtu enabled.