Folding Forum

Posted: **Sat Oct 12, 2013 2:45 pm**

for several weeks on this particular machine. Two other machines are running fine.

*********************** Log Started 2013-10-12T14:19:36Z ***********************
14:19:36:************************* Folding@home Client *************************
14:19:36:      Website: http://folding.stanford.edu/
14:19:36:    Copyright: (c) 2009-2013 Stanford University
14:19:36:       Author: Joseph Coffland <[email protected]>
14:19:36:         Args: --open-web-control
14:19:36:       Config: C:/Users/owner/AppData/Roaming/FAHClient/config.xml
14:19:36:******************************** Build ********************************
14:19:36:      Version: 7.3.6
14:19:36:         Date: Feb 18 2013
14:19:36:         Time: 15:25:17
14:19:36:      SVN Rev: 3923
14:19:36:       Branch: fah/trunk/client
14:19:36:     Compiler: Intel(R) C++ MSVC 1500 mode 1200
14:19:36:      Options: /TP /nologo /EHa /Qdiag-disable:4297,4103,1786,279 /Ox -arch:SSE
14:19:36:               /QaxSSE2,SSE3,SSSE3,SSE4.1,SSE4.2 /Qopenmp /Qrestrict /MT /Qmkl
14:19:36:     Platform: win32 XP
14:19:36:         Bits: 32
14:19:36:         Mode: Release
14:19:36:******************************* System ********************************
14:19:36:          CPU: Intel(R) Atom(TM) CPU N455 @ 1.66GHz
14:19:36:       CPU ID: GenuineIntel Family 6 Model 28 Stepping 10
14:19:36:         CPUs: 2
14:19:36:       Memory: 1013.09MiB
14:19:36:  Free Memory: 393.71MiB
14:19:36:      Threads: WINDOWS_THREADS
14:19:36:  Has Battery: false
14:19:36:   On Battery: false
14:19:36:   UTC offset: -5
14:19:36:          PID: 9480
14:19:36:          CWD: C:/Users/owner/AppData/Roaming/FAHClient
14:19:36:           OS: Windows 7 Starter Service Pack 1
14:19:36:      OS Arch: X86
14:19:36:         GPUs: 0
14:19:36:         CUDA: Not detected
14:19:36:Win32 Service: false
14:19:36:***********************************************************************
14:19:36:<config>
14:19:36:  <!-- Network -->
14:19:36:  <proxy v=':8080'/>
14:19:36:
14:19:36:  <!-- User Information -->
14:19:36:  <passkey v='********************************'/>
14:19:36:  <team v='45104'/>
14:19:36:  <user v='WacoJohn'/>
14:19:36:
14:19:36:  <!-- Folding Slots -->
14:19:36:  <slot id='0' type='CPU'/>
14:19:36:</config>
14:19:36:Trying to access database...
14:19:37:Successfully acquired database lock
14:19:37:Enabled folding slot 00: READY cpu:1
14:19:37:WU00:FS00:Connecting to assign3.stanford.edu:8080
14:19:38:WU00:FS00:News: Welcome to Folding@Home
14:19:38:WARNING:WU00:FS00:Failed to get assignment from 'assign3.stanford.edu:8080': Empty work server assignment
14:19:38:WU00:FS00:Connecting to assign4.stanford.edu:80
14:19:39:WU00:FS00:News: Welcome to Folding@Home
14:19:39:WARNING:WU00:FS00:Failed to get assignment from 'assign4.stanford.edu:80': Empty work server assignment
14:19:39:ERROR:WU00:FS00:Exception: Could not get an assignment

Hardware:
Acer Aspire NETBOOK

Thank you in advance for any clarification.

Posted: **Sat Oct 12, 2013 4:09 pm**

There is a current shortage of projects and WU's for processing on single-core and low power CPU setups. You might get something appropriate in size for processing on your Atom CPU if the slot was set to use both cores listed as available. But since the second "core" is from HT, it is also possible you will get assignments too large to process within time limits.

Posted: **Sat Oct 12, 2013 4:16 pm**

There's nothing you can change that will help this problem. I have run an atom, and it belongs to a class of processors that has frequently run out of WUs. I've been talking to the Pande Group about this problem for some time and any fix for the problem will have to come from them.

Posted: **Sat Oct 12, 2013 4:54 pm**

Thank you both for that insight. Also seem to have the same (type) of problem on an old Windows ME machine ... with an Intel COPPERMINE cpu. I guess the two problems are related(?).

But since the second "core" is from HT, it is also possible you will get assignments too large to process within time limits.

I understand 'too large' ... don't know what "HT" means. Thank you both again

Posted: **Sat Oct 12, 2013 5:14 pm**

WacoJohn wrote:I understand 'too large' ... don't know what "HT" means. Thank you both again

Hyper Threading. Basically makes a single core be seen as if it were two being that in a proper environment it can process two threads simultaneously, although not really the same by any means as 2 physical cores. Pretty sure what he's meaning as it could be throwing off the assignment server giving your bigger WU's thinking that it you're running two physical cores when you're not, thus not completing the WU within the time frame required.

Posted: **Sat Oct 12, 2013 6:24 pm**

AHHHH .. fascinating. I did not know of such a thing. THANK YOU, for the education. From that .. remaining quite ignorant, I just now configured that machine for CPU AFFINITY LOCKING ... to see what would happen. Maybe I will get a WU.

Hmmm, .. doesn't seem to help. Odd .. I am almost certain this machine was folding a few weeks back.

So here is the most important question off all ..... should I even attempt to fold .. or am I just running something that will never process????

than you all.

Posted: **Sat Oct 12, 2013 6:39 pm**

CPU affinity locking will not help. It attempts to keep processing on a specific core of a multi-core CPU which potentially gains a small performance boost. However, modern OS's do a pretty good job already on scheduling which core will be used, so getting that benefit takes what I would consider expert knowledge of the software and hardware.

For the time being, you should probably shutdown folding on this Atom equipped system and the older ME machine. The servers for the older, smaller WU's that were suitable were up until the end of August. But they have not come back yet after a system move at Stanford then. As Bruce mentioned, until PG gets them going again or makes an announcement of other suitable work, it is not clear when these machines will get assignments. Until then, you might try starting folding every week or so and see if you get a WU to process.

Posted: **Sat Oct 12, 2013 6:42 pm**

I don't have much hope that you'll ever get another assignment on you COPPERMINE. It's old enough hardware that it doesn't support the SSE2 instruction set. Old projects could be processed without SSE2, but it's now a minimum requirement for current projects. It's just too old/slow to be able to meet FAH's minimum speed requirements without the SSE2 optimizations.

The Atom does support SSE2 so it can meet the minimum requirements but it's not currently getting any assignments. When there may be more is unknown.

Whether your atom is fast enough to meet the deadlines for dual-core assignments is also unknown. Mine wasn't, but there are several models of atom chips and yours is probably different.

Posted: **Sat Oct 12, 2013 7:50 pm**

May I suggest that you explicitly specify two threads in the CPU slot so that the power setting does not drop it to one. It is single thread WU's that are currently in short supply rather than multiple thread WU's.

Go to advanced control from the folding systray icon, click configure and go to the slot tab then double click the CPU slot. Next, scroll up the #CPU's from -1 to 2 and click OK and save.

Posted: **Sat Oct 12, 2013 8:48 pm**

My HyperThreaded dualcore Atom330 (2 physical Cores, 4 Threads, overclocked to 2055MHz) is barely fast enough for existing FahCore_a? Work Units - if it is fully dedicated to folding 24/7 with CPU at 100% utilization. So, I very much doubt any 1C/2T Atom CPU could meet the Preferred Deadline (Timeout in client v7 terminology) of any Fahcore_a? WU.

As for the single core WUs with more relaxed deadlines, viewtopic.php?f=72&t=24824&start=30#p249915. Comeback of the old FahCore_78 work appears to be quite uncertain, and it won't be around for a long time anyway - http://folding.stanford.edu/home/remind ... -core78-2/

Posted: **Sun Oct 13, 2013 11:33 am**

Thank you ALL for the educational replies and advice. Best part of this is what I have learned. I will retire both the Coppermine and Atom machines from folding. Thank you again. Amazing support.

EDIT:
Thought I would give a try to UPPING the CPU slot to 2 CPUs just to see what would happen. Immediately got a work unit and am folding as I type (on the Atom machine). Now that I understand some more of the dynamics, I can follow what is happening better and manage my machines better. Thank you ... all ..... again.

Posted: **Sun Oct 13, 2013 11:42 am**

If your Atom allow PCIe slots you could add a GPU (like nvidia or AMD) and let the graphic card do most if the work. The Atom instead of folding itself make sure the GPU gets its data. This way you can easy reuse some older HW and put new life in it. Of course things like power supply and cooling need a bit looked at, too.

Posted: **Sun Oct 13, 2013 11:55 am**

ChristianVirtual wrote:If your Atom allow PCIe slots you could add a GPU (like nvidia or AMD) and let the graphic card do most if the work. The Atom instead of folding itself make sure the GPU gets its data. This way you can easy reuse some older HW and put new life in it. Of course things like power supply and cooling need a bit looked at, too.

I would have no idea if PCIe slots are allowed ... or how to find out ... but the COPPERMINE machine does have a much upgraded (for its time) video card. It is also running Linux. Would be an interesting thing to manage to get both these CPU machines folding. I want to say the coppermine machine has an (albeit old) GE Force video card . I believe that is what it has. Thing is ... I am running ORIGAMI as the client front end ... and I don't know if I can manipulate ORIGAMI ... it is all terminal based. I will look into this though .. and see if I can force folding to the GPU on the coppermine machine (now that Atom is folding).

Posted: **Sun Oct 13, 2013 2:47 pm**

In your first post, the information for your atom system says:

Code: Select all

14:19:36:      OS Arch: X86
14:19:36:         GPUs: 0
14:19:36:         CUDA: Not detected
14:19:36:Win32 Service: false
14:19:36:***********************************************************************

I expect that your coppermine says the same thing: Specifically "GPUs: 0" If it also says that, your "much upgraded (for its time) video card" is too old for folding.

Posted: **Sun Oct 13, 2013 5:06 pm**

I expect that your coppermine says the same thing: Specifically "GPUs: 0" If it also says that, your "much upgraded (for its time) video card" is too old for folding.

Quite right. I will use that to measure the possibility. Thank you too.

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