Does folding power (low, medium, high) impact the GPU; how?

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BP2020
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Does folding power (low, medium, high) impact the GPU; how?

Post by BP2020 »

Changing the Folding power slider (light, medium, high) definitely has an impact on CPU usage as it changes the number of CPU cores used for a CPU slot. How does that work for the GPU, does it change anything; can you describe what would be the difference with those 3 settings for a GPU, if any?
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JimboPalmer
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Re: Does folding power (low, medium, high) impact the GPU; h

Post by JimboPalmer »

When on Light, the GPU only folds when Idle. (idle is OS defined, so I can't guess when that is until I know what OS you have)

Other than that, GPUs are only off or full blast, F@H ha not fine tuning.
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bruce
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Re: Does folding power (low, medium, high) impact the GPU; h

Post by bruce »

Your question is best answered by telling you to use FAHControl and set the number of CPU threads to anything you want and the GPU either to run only when idle or continuously. There are more choices that the three preconfigured ones.

GPUs are either on or off. There's no moderation setting except maybe in the drivers.
BP2020
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Re: Does folding power (low, medium, high) impact the GPU; h

Post by BP2020 »

I use Windows 10. I had set "when I'm working" in the Web Control tool, never changed it. Otherwise my slot configuration is set by default (-1, -1), that is the CPU slot is 3 of my 4 cores at most and the GPU has no specific configuration. Thank you!
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Re: Does folding power (low, medium, high) impact the GPU; h

Post by PantherX »

I believe that from V7.6.9 onward, the behavior has changed (https://foldingathome.org/faqs/fah-v7/v ... er-slider/):
Light - 50% CPU with no GPU folding (even on idle)
Medium - 75% CPU with GPU folding
Full - 100% CPU* with GPU folding

*CPU will be N-X where N is the total CPUs and X is the total GPUs.

EDIT, it seems that in V7.6.9, the behaviour doesn't match the site:
Light - 50% CPU folding with GPU on idle
Medium - N-1 CPU folding with GPU. Do note that GPU will ensure that 1 CPU is reserved for it
Full -100% CPU folding with GPU. Do note that GPU will ensure that 1 CPU is reserved for it
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BP2020
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Re: Does folding power (low, medium, high) impact the GPU; h

Post by BP2020 »

Thank you, never saw that info. Just a usability question: how do you reach that document from the top level FAQ? I can't seem to access it otherwise than by using your link. I may be distracted...
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Re: Does folding power (low, medium, high) impact the GPU; h

Post by PantherX »

Start at the homepage: https://foldingathome.org/
Hover over the "Support" text in the top panel
Once the drop-down menu appears, click on "FAQ"

I am aware that work needs to be done to improve the visibility and layout of the documentation... there's no ETA but hopefully soon-ish :)
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BP2020
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Re: Does folding power (low, medium, high) impact the GPU; h

Post by BP2020 »

I didn't make myself clear, sorry, I can access the FAQ but rather it's the Folding Power Slider page you linked I can't see anywhere in there... and for which I was asking for... i.e. it's like the page has no link from the left hand side menu... is orphaned. In any case it's in your answer here. :)
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