How many cores should I donate?

[fangfufu]

I have just got myself a second hand desktop. I now have a Intel(R) Core(TM) i7-8700K CPU, which has 6 cores. Historically I have been using quad-core laptops, and I had been donating 2 cores 24x7 to keep the noise down. Now I have a desktop with proper cooling. I am just re-evaluating how many cores I should be donating. Desktop uses more power than laptop, and I will be running it 24x7. So this is an argument to keep donating only 2 cores.

So my questions are:

• Will it be sufficient to donate 2 cores?

• Will I get access to more advanced science projects if I donate more than 2 cores?

[calxalot]

Donate what you can afford.
If you want to limit your electric bill, fold part time on more cores and always set to finish. Maybe just do one WU per day.

[fangfufu]

I remember at one point there was an announcement that single-core tasks were being deprecated. Are there plans like that for dual-core tasks?

[toTOW]

Check the ETAs ... if you aren't going to make the deadlines, increase the number of threads you allow.

Anyway, I wouldn't fold on anything that has less than 4 cores ...

[fangfufu]

Oh my client makes the deadline fine. I don't think I need to add more threads. Why wouldn't you fold with fewer than 4 cores?

[KenPutnam]

How do you limit number of cores used in Folding?

Longtime BOINCer, here because KREMBIL can't get it's act together to get WCG back up and running

I'm used to using an app_config.xml file But all i see here is the "Power" slider in the local WEB interface Regardless of how it is set, Folding appears to use *ALL* cycles of *ALL* available processors Right now with Folding and BOINC both running, Resource Monitor shows 100% CPU, and my CPU (Core I-7, 11700K) temps are 190-192 Right at the run-able limit And it's only gonna get warmer this year

TIA for any assistance

[bikeaddict]

How do you limit number of cores used in Folding?

The simple way is to run FAHControl and configure the slot with the maximum number of threads rather than the default of -1. But it doesn't always honor this change during the current work unit. I think it will allow reducing threads but not increasing them while a WU is running.

The power user way is by editing /etc/fahclient/config.xml (Linux, not sure on Windows/Mac):

Code: Select all

<!-- Folding Slots -->
  <slot id='0' type='CPU'>
    <cpus v='16'/>
  </slot>

and then restarting the FAHClient service.

I am also a former WCG cruncher who has have given up all hope that Krembil will be able to competently operate the platform or communicate effectively with the community after the IBM migration started over a year ago.

[Joe_H]

The simple way is to run FAHControl and configure the slot with the maximum number of threads rather than the default of -1. But it doesn't always honor this change during the current work unit. I think it will allow reducing threads but not increasing them while a WU is running.

That is mostly correct. Using FAHControl to configure the CPU folding slot you change the default -1 to the number of threads desired. The -1 setting leaves the thread count to the slider - Full uses all available threads, Medium one less, and Light half the available threads. WUs assigned with the client set for a certain number of threads can always be run on a smaller number, but an increase will only be used for the next WU downloaded.

Editing the config.xml file can be done, but is not the recommended method. The client uses a specific subset of XML syntax and a mistake can keep the client from working at all. Changes made through FAHControl and the Web Control are checked for correctness before rewriting the config.xml file. The folding client uses the same code on Windows, macOS and Linux, all have config.xml.

[KenPutnam]

Thanks all

I've used FAHControl to limit the CPU count, we'll see what happens

One other question

I'm using a 64bit CPU, but Folding installed to the x86 directory Does this mean its running x86 code?

[fangfufu]

Longtime BOINCer, here because KREMBIL can't get it's act together to get WCG back up and running

What's wrong with WCG? My WCG machines are still getting works fine. I prefer WCG on my super low end machines, because FAH doesn't have the option of pausing computation when CPU is busy. My "premium" machines run FAH.

[Joe_H]

One other question

I'm using a 64bit CPU, but Folding installed to the x86 directory Does this mean its running x86 code?

The folding client itself is 32-bit on Windows, but it doesn't handle the actual WU processing. FAHClient handles downloads and uploads needed for processing WUs, and starts and stops processing. The actual processing is done in downloaded folding cores that are 64-bit code. When running you will see them as FAHCore_nn in Task Manager, and FAHClient will be using almost no CPU time. There is also a wrapper process that transfers the startup parameters for the core executable. The WU downloaded will specify which folding core is needed, and if applicable which version number.