Suggest a Graphics Card for Linux that folds, is silent and cheap :)

[jives11]

Hi and thank you for having me. I've been folding on Apple mac minis for some years, which is fairly simple to set up. I dusted off an old AS-Rock 775-based Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40GHz PC that had been used for gaming a long time ago. I'd like to use it as a headless folding rig if I can, and potentially get a bit of secondary heating out of it. It will be in a living area, so I'd like it also to be silent or close to silent. The existing CPU, case and PSU fans are pretty close

I have installed Linux (peppermint 11) . I've installed FAH and am folding OK. My issue is none fo the 3 GPU's I have are recognized. These are a

• BFG Tech nVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS OC PCI-E
  Sparkle GeFORCE 8500GT PCI (not Express !)
  ASUS AMD Radeon HD 5450 1GD3 (PCI-E)

I've tried various things from threads in this forum of a similar nature, but given all are at least 10 years old, I'm probably wasting my time with them, which is fair enough. It was a useful exercise in getting my Linux supple again so not wasted.

However going forward, can anyone suggest a graphics card (PCI-E, AGP or PCI) that I can source second hand that :

a) will work with Linux/FAH OOTB or fairly easily
b) is typically under $50
c) Is passively cooled
d) has a few years of likely FAH support left


many thanks. I enclose my spec and log file in case it helps

Code: Select all

$ lshw -c display
WARNING: you should run this program as super-user.
  *-display                 
       description: VGA compatible controller
       product: Cedar [Radeon HD 5000/6000/7350/8350 Series]
       vendor: Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. [AMD/ATI]
       physical id: 0
       bus info: pci@0000:02:00.0
       logical name: /dev/fb0
       version: 00
       width: 64 bits
       clock: 33MHz
       capabilities: vga_controller bus_master cap_list rom fb
       configuration: depth=32 driver=radeon latency=0 resolution=1024,768
       resources: irq:27 memory:c0000000-cfffffff memory:ff4e0000-ff4fffff ioport:c000(size=256) memory:c0000-dffff

Code: Select all

*-cpu                     
       product: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU          6600  @ 2.40GHz
       vendor: Intel Corp.
       physical id: 1
       bus info: cpu@0
       version: 6.15.6
       width: 64 bits
       capabilities: fpu fpu_exception wp vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ht tm pbe syscall nx x86-64 constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts rep_good nopl cpuid aperfmperf pni dtes64 monitor ds_cpl vmx est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr pdcm lahf_lm pti tpr_shadow dtherm
       configuration: microcode=208

Code: Select all

*********************** Log Started 2023-10-17T20:09:34Z ***********************
20:09:34:******************************* libFAH ********************************
20:09:34:       Date: Oct 20 2020
20:09:34:       Time: 20:36:39
20:09:34:   Revision: 5ca109d295a6245e2a2f590b3d0085ad5e567aeb
20:09:34:     Branch: master
20:09:34:   Compiler: GNU 8.3.0
20:09:34:    Options: -faligned-new -std=c++11 -fsigned-char -ffunction-sections
20:09:34:             -fdata-sections -O3 -funroll-loops -fno-pie
20:09:34:   Platform: linux2 5.8.0-1-amd64
20:09:34:       Bits: 64
20:09:34:       Mode: Release
20:09:34:****************************** FAHClient ******************************
20:09:34:    Version: 7.6.21
20:09:34:     Author: Joseph Coffland <[email protected]>
20:09:34:  Copyright: 2020 foldingathome.org
20:09:34:   Homepage: https://foldingathome.org/
20:09:34:       Date: Oct 20 2020
20:09:34:       Time: 20:39:00
20:09:34:   Revision: 6efbf0e138e22d3963e6a291f78dcb9c6422a278
20:09:34:     Branch: master
20:09:34:   Compiler: GNU 8.3.0
20:09:34:    Options: -faligned-new -std=c++11 -fsigned-char -ffunction-sections
20:09:34:             -fdata-sections -O3 -funroll-loops -fno-pie
20:09:34:   Platform: linux2 5.8.0-1-amd64
20:09:34:       Bits: 64
20:09:34:       Mode: Release
20:09:34:       Args: --child /etc/fahclient/config.xml --run-as fahclient
20:09:34:             --pid-file=/var/run/fahclient.pid --daemon
20:09:34:     Config: /etc/fahclient/config.xml
20:09:34:******************************** CBang ********************************
20:09:34:       Date: Oct 20 2020
20:09:34:       Time: 18:37:59
20:09:34:   Revision: 7e4ce85225d7eaeb775e87c31740181ca603de60
20:09:34:     Branch: master
20:09:34:   Compiler: GNU 8.3.0
20:09:34:    Options: -faligned-new -std=c++11 -fsigned-char -ffunction-sections
20:09:34:             -fdata-sections -O3 -funroll-loops -fno-pie -fPIC
20:09:34:   Platform: linux2 5.8.0-1-amd64
20:09:34:       Bits: 64
20:09:34:       Mode: Release
20:09:34:******************************* System ********************************
20:09:34:        CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40GHz
20:09:34:     CPU ID: GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 6
20:09:34:       CPUs: 2
20:09:34:     Memory: 1.92GiB
20:09:34:Free Memory: 312.72MiB
20:09:34:    Threads: POSIX_THREADS
20:09:34: OS Version: 6.1
20:09:34:Has Battery: false
20:09:34: On Battery: false
20:09:34: UTC Offset: 1
20:09:34:        PID: 5029
20:09:34:        CWD: /var/lib/fahclient
20:09:34:         OS: Linux 6.1.0-13-amd64 x86_64
20:09:34:    OS Arch: AMD64
20:09:34:       GPUs: 0
20:09:34:       CUDA: Not detected: cuInit() returned 100
20:09:34:     OpenCL: Not detected: clGetPlatformIDs() returned -1001
20:09:34:***********************************************************************
20:09:34:<config>
20:09:34:  <!-- Client Control -->
20:09:34:  <fold-anon v='true'/>
20:09:34:
20:09:34:  <!-- Network -->
20:09:34:  <proxy v=':8080'/>
20:09:34:
20:09:34:  <!-- Slot Control -->
20:09:34:  <power v='full'/>
20:09:34:
20:09:34:  <!-- User Information -->
20:09:34:  <team v='xxxxxxx'/>
20:09:34:  <user v='xxxxxx'/>
20:09:34:
20:09:34:  <!-- Folding Slots -->
20:09:34:  <slot id='0' type='CPU'>
20:09:34:    <paused v='true'/>
20:09:34:  </slot>
20:09:34:</config>
20:09:34:Trying to access database...
20:09:34:Successfully acquired database lock
20:09:34:FS00:Initialized folding slot 00: cpu:2
20:10:35:4:127.0.0.1:New Web session
20:10:57:FS00:Unpaused
20:10:57:WU00:FS00:Starting
20:10:57:WU00:FS00:Running FahCore: /usr/bin/FAHCoreWrapper /var/lib/fahclient/cores/cores.foldingathome.org/lin/64bit-sse2/a8-0.0.12/Core_a8.fah/FahCore_a8 -dir 00 -suffix 01 -version 706 -lifeline 5029 -checkpoint 15 -np 2
20:10:57:WU00:FS00:Started FahCore on PID 5217
20:10:57:WU00:FS00:Core PID:5221
20:10:57:WU00:FS00:FahCore 0xa8 started
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:*********************** Log Started 2023-10-17T20:10:58Z ***********************
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:************************** Gromacs Folding@home Core ***************************
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:       Core: Gromacs
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:       Type: 0xa8
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:    Version: 0.0.12
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:     Author: Joseph Coffland <[email protected]>
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:  Copyright: 2020 foldingathome.org
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:   Homepage: https://foldingathome.org/
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:       Date: Jan 16 2021
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:       Time: 19:22:05
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:   Compiler: GNU 8.3.0
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:    Options: -faligned-new -std=c++14 -fsigned-char -ffunction-sections
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:             -fdata-sections -O3 -funroll-loops -fno-pie
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:   Platform: linux2 4.15.0-128-generic
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:       Bits: 64
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:       Mode: Release
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:       SIMD: sse2
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:     OpenMP: ON
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:       CUDA: OFF
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:       Args: -dir 00 -suffix 01 -version 706 -lifeline 5217 -checkpoint 15 -np 2
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:************************************ libFAH ************************************
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:       Date: Jan 16 2021
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:       Time: 19:21:38
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:   Compiler: GNU 8.3.0
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:    Options: -faligned-new -std=c++14 -fsigned-char -ffunction-sections
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:             -fdata-sections -O3 -funroll-loops -fno-pie
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:   Platform: linux2 4.15.0-128-generic
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:       Bits: 64
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:       Mode: Release
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:************************************ CBang *************************************
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:       Date: Jan 16 2021
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:       Time: 19:21:24
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:   Compiler: GNU 8.3.0
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:    Options: -faligned-new -std=c++14 -fsigned-char -ffunction-sections
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:             -fdata-sections -O3 -funroll-loops -fno-pie -fPIC
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:   Platform: linux2 4.15.0-128-generic
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:       Bits: 64
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:       Mode: Release
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:************************************ System ************************************
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:        CPU: Intel(R) Core(TM)2 CPU 6600 @ 2.40GHz
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:     CPU ID: GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 15 Stepping 6
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:       CPUs: 2
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:     Memory: 1.92GiB
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:Free Memory: 506.45MiB
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:    Threads: POSIX_THREADS
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8: OS Version: 6.1
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:Has Battery: false
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8: On Battery: false
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8: UTC Offset: 1
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:        PID: 5221
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:        CWD: /var/lib/fahclient/work
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:********************************************************************************
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:Project: 16999 (Run 51, Clone 12, Gen 451)
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:Unit: 0x00000000000000000000000000000000
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:Digital signatures verified
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:Calling: mdrun -c frame451.gro -s frame451.tpr -x frame451.xtc -cpi state.cpt -cpt 15 -nt 2 -ntmpi 1
20:10:58:WU00:FS00:0xa8:Steps: first=1127500000 total=1130000000
20:10:59:WU00:FS00:0xa8:Completed 136652 out of 2500000 steps (5%)
20:11:36:Removing old file 'configs/config-20231017-144227.xml'
20:11:36:Saving configuration to /etc/fahclient/config.xml
20:11:36:<config>
20:11:36:  <!-- Client Control -->
20:11:36:  <fold-anon v='true'/>
20:11:36:
20:11:36:  <!-- Network -->
20:11:36:  <proxy v=':8080'/>
20:11:36:
20:11:36:  <!-- Slot Control -->
20:11:36:  <power v='full'/>
20:11:36:
20:11:36:  <!-- User Information -->
20:11:36:  <team v='1060769'/>
20:11:36:  <user v='jives11'/>
20:11:36:
20:11:36:  <!-- Folding Slots -->
20:11:36:  <slot id='0' type='CPU'/>
20:11:36:</config>
20:21:33:WU00:FS00:0xa8:Completed 150000 out of 2500000 steps (6%)
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21:00:38:WU00:FS00:0xa8:Completed 200000 out of 2500000 steps (8%)
21:06:56:14:127.0.0.1:New Web session
21:07:14:23:127.0.0.1:New Web session
21:21:10:WU00:FS00:0xa8:Completed 225000 out of 2500000 steps (9%)
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******************************* Date: 2023-10-18 *******************************
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******************************* Date: 2023-10-18 *******************************
08:14:23:36:127.0.0.1:New Web session

[Joe_H]

I have installed Linux (peppermint 11) . I've installed FAH and am folding OK. My issue is none fo the 3 GPU's I have are recognized. These are a
BFG Tech nVIDIA GeForce 7600 GS OC PCI-E
Sparkle GeFORCE 8500GT PCI (not Express !)
ASUS AMD Radeon HD 5450 1GD3 (PCI-E)

As you have guessed, all of these are too old. The Tesla architecture Nvidia cards haven't been supported for at least 5-6 years, and the AMD HD 5450 for about the same amount of time since it does not support double precision calculations.

The oldest Nvidia GPUs still supported are this that use the Kepler architecture which would be cards from the GT(X) 600 & 700 series or later. Not all cards for these series use Kepler based chips, some such as the low end GT 630 and 730 cards use the older Fermi chips. But even there some models are sold with Kepler. These Kepler based GT 630 and 730 are about the minimum that will process WUs within timeouts, and that is becoming less likely with recent projects. For something that would be usable for a couple of years I would recommend getting at least something from the low end of the Nvidia Geforce GT 10 or 16 series cards. But you may run into compatibility issues with your logic board.

For AMD the Linux support is more of a problem. If the card is older AMD has discontinued driver support for Linux, though some still have recent enough full support to be used with Windows. For newer cards AMD support is shifting away from OpenCL, but drivers are still available. But again you may run into comparability issues with your logic board.

[jives11]

Thank you, that's most helpful. You suggest that the my motherboard may be unable to support these cards anyway, which is worth knowing. it's this model

https://www.asrock.com/mb/via/775dual-vsta/

[BobWilliams757]

Jives11,

The MB manual for that lists a very small list of supported GPU's. Though this might not be exact, I was looking to see what version the X4 PCI-E slot was. IF you find that it can be supported, I'd agree with Joe that it's not worth buying anything too old, even if it is somewhat performance limited by slot types,

I'd also consider going towards cards with fans if your case has space. The extra cost of passively cooled gear is often not worth it, and you can get a GPU with a fan and run it power limited if needed to keep fan noise down. You can easily get a 1650 used for cheap, and with some homework find one that is quiet with a good cooling solution.

[jives11]

many thanks Bob, I'll investigate 1650's and quieter examples.

[JimboPalmer]

https://www.newegg.com/asus-geforce-gtx ... SGMJUR6186

This is as wimpy a card as Newegg sells. It is not silent or cheap but it folds

[jives11]

Thank you Jim.

[Bob_6591]

Sorry this is late. Just started folding this week.

You may want to consider the GT 1030. This card is $97 on Newegg - ASUS GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5 HDMI DVI Graphics Card. There are other GT 1030 cards on Newegg. You will want to steer clear of the cards with GDDR4 memory. The card is very small and can fit in smaller cases. It only uses 30 watts and is a good fit for PCs with sub 300 watt power supplies. The downside is that it is about 1/2 as fast as a 1050 and 1/3 the speed of a 1650.

a) will work with Linux/FAH OOTB or fairly easily
I hope so. The plan is to put F@H on one of my older computers with a GT 1030
b) is typically under $50
No
c) Is passively cooled
Yes - The ASUS is fanless You can get versions with a fan. Mine has a tiny fan.
d) has a few years of likely FAH support left
Not sure. It is on the apps.foldingathome.org/GPUs.txt list

[Bob_6591]

Just for the record. I was able to get Version 8 of F@H running on an old Dell (2013) with a NVIDIA GT 1030. It is very quiet.