Optimal folding advice?

[PTRMAN]

I'm still very new at this but I've been reading about it elsewhere. Someone came up with this pithy advice:

If Geforce 8, then GPU client
Else If Geforce 8 and quad, then GPU client and SMP client
Else SMP client

Since I have an 8800 and a quad it seems like the GPU and SMP would be "best" (i.e. most points).

I think I'm running the GPU now (how do I figure out exactly what I'm running?). I tried to install the SMP last night but was told that something was already installed so I couldn't proceed.

Some of these sites also talk about setting up VMs to run folding software. Does anyone have any experience with that?

Thanks for any pointers.

[sbohdan]

the GPU2 client is the most powerful of the bunch. just install 1 GPU client and your PPD will be more than the whole teams so far combined
I have no experience though with it so if anyone else knows more about it just add your 2 cents...

[qazwsx]

The GPU client is very CPU dependent, so I found the SMP isn't worth running at the same time, although on a quad that may be different. I will start folding again as soon as I work out why the client wont run anymore.

[linuxcrazy]

I am running the GPU client on my HD3870 and also the SMP client. In about 30 minutes I am at 10% of a WU. I don't really know how much faster it would be if I wasn't running the SMP client though. The GPU client is at almost 85% right now in about 30 minutes so it's really smoking.

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by qazwsx

The GPU client is very CPU dependent, so I found the SMP isn't worth running at the same time, although on a quad that may be different. I will start folding again as soon as I work out why the client wont run anymore.

On a "good" dual core with 1 GPU the best combo I found was 1 SMP and 1 GPU. You'll barely make the SMP WU's but the GPU will rack up points. On my OC'ed 8800GT I could do 6000 points per day.

Since my 9800 GX2 isn't volt modded I only do 5600~ PPD for each GPU at current clocks (see sig).
I don't run SMP obviously because 2 GPU take all my CPU.

[linuxcrazy]

Originally Posted by polobunny

On a "good" dual core with 1 GPU the best combo I found was 1 SMP and 1 GPU. You'll barely make the SMP WU's but the GPU will rack up points. On my OC'ed 8800GT I could do 6000 points per day.

Since my 9800 GX2 isn't volt modded I only do 5600~ PPD for each GPU at current clocks (see sig).
I don't run SMP obviously because 2 GPU take all my CPU.

Do you run the 8800GT in the same computer as the 9800 GX2?

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by linuxcrazy

Do you run the 8800GT in the same computer as the 9800 GX2?

Nah, it's not in any of my rigs right now.
That 8800GT holds the title of the highest 3DMark06 air cooled 8800GT on a dual core. I saw that when I was perusing 3DMark06 scores.

I inadvertently deleted my 15,000 score though, all that is left is my 14,900 one.
ORB - Compare

[PTRMAN]

Tried to install the SMP client last night, but kept getting "could not write to local files" errors.

The GPU client came with warning to back up hard drive. Didn't think much of it but it crashed sometime yesterday (I was at work) and I had to reboot several times before it would start correctly. Checking stats online today it appears that it might have crashed again, as my numbers haven't budged from late last night (I usually leave it on 24/7).

Has this happened to anyone else?

[qazwsx]

I haven't had any crashing problems, but my work unit from yesterday night didn't go on my score either

[polobunny]

Originally Posted by PTRMAN

Tried to install the SMP client last night, but kept getting "could not write to local files" errors.

The GPU client came with warning to back up hard drive. Didn't think much of it but it crashed sometime yesterday (I was at work) and I had to reboot several times before it would start correctly. Checking stats online today it appears that it might have crashed again, as my numbers haven't budged from late last night (I usually leave it on 24/7).

Has this happened to anyone else?

This is currently happening on one of my rigs and I'm still trying to figure it out.