BIONC using 100% of CPU

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jgbiggs

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Message 1204 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 15:06:19 UTC

I have my preferences to only run BIONIC when the computer is idle for over 3 min. I have restarted the application, and even updated via a right click on the SETI project.

Is this a bug?

I can't have this thing hogging all the cpu while I am trying to get work done. ;)
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Message 1212 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 15:26:27 UTC
Last modified: 24 Jun 2004, 15:26:52 UTC

The BOINC client will run at Normal priority, while the actual SAH client (setiathome_308) will run in Low priority. It will therefore only take up the whole CPU when nothing else is using it.

As soon as you start another program, that will take priority over the SAH client.

It should, at least. Unless you set the priority for the client to something else than Low.

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jgbiggs

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Message 1264 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 18:01:31 UTC

My current setttings are thus:

In looking in the task mamager, bionic is set to normal priority and the setiathome_308 is runnning at low.

My preferences, as set in my seti account are not to run the program unless the computer is not at use for 3 min.

As I am typing this (using the computer) my CPU is pegged at 100%, by the setiathome client.

My wishes are for the setiathome client only to run when I am not using the computer.

If this problem is not addressed I feel many will abandon the effort.

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Message 1270 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 18:15:41 UTC

Trying this again, keeps an eye on the server, don't go off again ;)
----------------------

Do you have any slowdowns while you type on here? Any slowdowns of your computer at all? If you don't, then BOINC is running as it should do. Neatly in the background, giving you no problems at all.

It's 2D that you are typing in, which uses almost no CPU cycles.
If it were 3D you were working in, you'd have a claim, but only if it would slow your computer down.

So, you decide what you want to give the CPU cycles to. Windows its System Idle Process or BOINC? Both will give the CPU cycles to the next program that really needs them. Yet with the BOINC client running you accomplish something.


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CXI

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Message 1276 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 18:19:25 UTC - in response to Message 1264.  

> My preferences, as set in my seti account are not to run the program unless
> the computer is not at use for 3 min.

Do you have it set to run based on preferences (on the file menu)? If and when you do, right click on the project and select "Update" to be sure the changes are updated to your client.
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Darren
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Message 1278 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 18:25:48 UTC - in response to Message 1264.  


> My preferences, as set in my seti account are not to run the program unless
> the computer is not at use for 3 min.

Be sure that in your settings you have chosen "no" for running seti while the computer is in use - otherwise the 3 minute setting is ignored. The "no" you need to make sure is checked is the setting directly above the "3 minute" setting in your general preferences in the online account settings.

> As I am typing this (using the computer) my CPU is pegged at 100%, by the
> setiathome client.

Under normal seti use, this is as it should be. If you are using 40%, seti uses the remaining 60%. If you're only using 1%, seti uses the remaining 99%. The CPU usage will always be 100%, though seti is only using however many % you are not using.

> My wishes are for the setiathome client only to run when I am not using the
> computer.

As long as the "no" above the time setting in your general preferences is checked, it still should comply with your wishes and completely stop running when you use the computer.



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Message 1281 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 18:28:19 UTC - in response to Message 1264.  

> As I am typing this (using the computer) my CPU is pegged at 100%, by the
> setiathome client.

Yes, because typing a few words into explorer is not really very CPU intensive, maybe only 1 or 2%. So as far as boinc is concerned, you are not using your CPU.

> My wishes are for the setiathome client only to run when I am not using the
> computer.

I have been running beta boinc on one of my main machines for months now and even run video editing software whilst boinc is running. I have NEVER experienced a slowdown with other software because of it. When the video software needs to crunch it's own data, say like compressing a video for a DVD, boinc takes second stage and hardly does anything.

> If this problem is not addressed I feel many will abandon the effort.

Please don't abandon boinc just yet, it has hardly begun. :-)

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Message 1292 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 18:56:25 UTC - in response to Message 1281.  

> > As I am typing this (using the computer) my CPU is pegged at 100%, by
> the
> > setiathome client.
>
> Yes, because typing a few words into explorer is not really very CPU
> intensive, maybe only 1 or 2%. So as far as boinc is concerned, you are not
> using your CPU.

No, it should still halt processing if he's doing anything. I suspect he hasn't updated the project after making the preference change.

> > My wishes are for the setiathome client only to run when I am not using
> the
> > computer.
>
> I have been running beta boinc on one of my main machines for months now and
> even run video editing software whilst boinc is running. I have NEVER
> experienced a slowdown with other software because of it. When the video
> software needs to crunch it's own data, say like compressing a video for a
> DVD, boinc takes second stage and hardly does anything.

This has been my experience as well. BOINC is so good at giving up CPU cycles to anything that needs it, I haven't really seen the need to tell it not to work constantly. In the months I've bee running, I haven't seen any slowdowns, even when gaming. :)

> > If this problem is not addressed I feel many will abandon the effort.
>
> Please don't abandon boinc just yet, it has hardly begun. :-)

Yeah, give it a chance.
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Message 1315 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 19:31:33 UTC - in response to Message 1292.  

> No, it should still halt processing if he's doing anything. I suspect he
> hasn't updated the project after making the preference change.

Yes true, if he sets it to not run unless idle for 3mins. I meant that it will give up CPU cycles anyway, without having to tell it to stop when doing other stuff.

I remember using seti classic and I did have computers (albeit very old ones now) that did not like doing anything else if seti was running. I think alot of people will use this idle setting because of this experience. I just hope people try it first without to see how much better boinc is at sharing.

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Darren
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Message 1320 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 19:38:34 UTC - in response to Message 1315.  


> I remember using seti classic and I did have computers (albeit very old ones
> now) that did not like doing anything else if seti was running. I think alot
> of people will use this idle setting because of this experience. I just hope
> people try it first without to see how much better boinc is at sharing.

Yes, in linux there is a big difference in the way boinc handles seti as opposed to how seti handled itself, and I imagine it's similar for windows. Seti classic ran in linux with a nice of 1, boinc runs the seti software with a nice of 19. Huge difference. 19 is the lowest priority software can be given and run at all - it will literally give up the cpu to ANYTHING that asks for it. In seti classic, with a nice of 1, it would put up a reasonable fight sometimes to keep some of the cpu.

Everyone should certainly give it a try as is and only have it shut off if they are, in fact, having some kind of a problem.



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jgbiggs

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Message 1350 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 20:13:10 UTC - in response to Message 1320.  

Wow, it seems I have stirred it up a bit. Sorry if I am being dense.

It seems that the "advertised" behavior is not what is occurring.

I am interpreting the settting to not run seti/boinc after a certain time of inactivity as that no cpu cycles will be used at all when the computer is in use.

It seems that the consensus here is that seti/boinc will use whatever "excess" cycles are present. If this is the case, then why have a seting at all to tell it not to run? The setting then should be at what priority it should run.

Am I making any sense?

Thanks.
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Message 1362 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 20:20:33 UTC - in response to Message 1350.  


> It seems that the consensus here is that seti/boinc will use whatever "excess"
> cycles are present.

This is the default setting, but you should be able to change that.

> I am interpreting the settting to not run seti/boinc after a certain
> time of inactivity as that no cpu cycles will be used at all when the computer
> is in use.

You should be able to set it to do this. Log into your account and pull up your general preferences and make sure the 2nd entry reads "no", then click the edit link and set the time delay you want in the 3rd entry. If the second entry read "yes", change that entry to "no" also.

Save that, then back in boinc instruct it to update your preferences (this is done differently based on which version you are running). Once the online settings are correct AND the local software has been updated with those settings, it should stop when you do other work.

I've never tried it myself, so I can't guarantee that it does really stop - but it is supposed to.



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Message 1368 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 20:27:25 UTC

Ok, just to make sure, I went and change my preferences and did the update. It works fine on windows, and suspended as I would expect.

jgbiggs, you have not indicated if you have changed your prefs, properly updated them and made sure you have "Run based on preferences" selected. Please let us know if you have done these or if you need more help locating the pages and options.

I'm assuming you are on windows because you mention the task manager.
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Message 1376 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 20:34:17 UTC - in response to Message 1362.  


>
> You should be able to set it to do this. Log into your account and pull up
> your general preferences and make sure the 2nd entry reads "no", then click
> the edit link and set the time delay you want in the 3rd entry. If the second
> entry read "yes", change that entry to "no" also.
>
> Save that, then back in boinc instruct it to update your preferences (this is
> done differently based on which version you are running). Once the online
> settings are correct AND the local software has been updated with those
> settings, it should stop when you do other work.
>
> I've never tried it myself, so I can't guarantee that it does really stop -
> but it is supposed to.
>

Pasted from my preferences:

General Preferences-
Do work while computer is in use? no
Do work only after computer is idle for 3 minutes

It is also set the same for home/school/work

I have "updated" my preferences by right clicking on the seti@home project in the project tab and selecting "update."

I have closed and restarted the program. (also made sure it was not running by inspecting the task manager for running processes.)

I have rebooted the compter.

After each of these attempts at having the program not run while the computer is "in use" it still uses all excess cycles of the cpu. In other words the preference is ignored.

So next question. Where do we file bugs?
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jgbiggs

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Message 1381 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 20:35:58 UTC - in response to Message 1368.  

> Ok, just to make sure, I went and change my preferences and did the update. It
> works fine on windows, and suspended as I would expect.
>
> jgbiggs, you have not indicated if you have changed your prefs, properly
> updated them and made sure you have "Run based on preferences" selected.
> Please let us know if you have done these or if you need more help locating
> the pages and options.

Yes it is set to "run based on preferences."

thanks for all your help and patience.


>
> I'm assuming you are on windows because you mention the task manager.
>
>
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Message 1384 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 20:43:51 UTC - in response to Message 1350.  

> Wow, it seems I have stirred it up a bit. Sorry if I am being dense.
>
> It seems that the "advertised" behavior is not what is occurring.
>
> I am interpreting the settting to not run seti/boinc after a certain
> time of inactivity as that no cpu cycles will be used at all when the computer
> is in use.

Yes, this is how it works.

> It seems that the consensus here is that seti/boinc will use whatever "excess"
> cycles are present. If this is the case, then why have a seting at all to
> tell it not to run? The setting then should be at what priority it should
> run.

No, if you set your preference not to run, it will not.

Have you updated your project after making the preference change? Go to the BOINC GUI, select the projects tab. Right click on the project, and select update. This will refresh your preferences in the GUI.

Try it now. Do you see a message in the GUI (look at the messages tab) saying work is suspended because user is active? If not, also check to to make sure that you are set to "Run based on preferences". (Either under the "file" menu in the GUI, or right click on the BOINC icon in the system tray)

If all those conditions are satisfied and it still isn't working, I don't know what to tell you. It works for me, and always has for months in beta.

I choose not to run that way, as BOINC allows other applications CPU cycles, but I do switch after new core client versions are released to ensure it works.
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Message 1386 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 20:48:22 UTC - in response to Message 1376.  

> So next question. Where do we file bugs?

Look here.
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jgbiggs

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Message 1389 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 20:52:10 UTC - in response to Message 1384.  

> Have you updated your project after making the preference change? Go to the
> BOINC GUI, select the projects tab. Right click on the project, and select
> update. This will refresh your preferences in the GUI.
>
> Try it now. Do you see a message in the GUI (look at the messages tab) saying
> work is suspended because user is active? If not, also check to to make sure
> that you are set to "Run based on preferences". (Either under the "file" menu
> in the GUI, or right click on the BOINC icon in the system tray)

I have "run based on preferences" showing up in the system tray and in the file menu.

I have the following preferences set under the general tab in my seti account for primary/home/school/work

Do work while computer is in use? no
Do work only after computer is idle for 3 minutes

I have updated the project as you have suggested. (along with rebooting the computer) I am not getting a message in the message tab stating that work is suspended because user is active.

So where do we report bugs?



>
> If all those conditions are satisfied and it still isn't working, I don't know
> what to tell you. It works for me, and always has for months in beta.
>
> I choose not to run that way, as BOINC allows other applications CPU cycles,
> but I do switch after new core client versions are released to ensure it
> works.

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Message 1397 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 21:00:26 UTC - in response to Message 1389.  

Well I'll be damned.

I figured I would just fool around with the setting a bit to see what would happen.

I just went to my general preferences, removed the settings for home/school/work, leaving only the primary settings. Then I "updated" via the GUI and shazam! I got the "suspending - user is active message" and the cpu went down off 100%.

Who knows what was going on. But thanks for your attention and patience.

Strange.


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Message 1413 - Posted: 24 Jun 2004, 21:32:29 UTC - in response to Message 1397.  
Last modified: 24 Jun 2004, 21:33:10 UTC

> Well I'll be damned.
>
> I figured I would just fool around with the setting a bit to see what would
> happen.
>
> I just went to my general preferences, removed the settings for
> home/school/work, leaving only the primary settings. Then I "updated" via the
> GUI and shazam! I got the "suspending - user is active message" and the cpu
> went down off 100%.
>
> Who knows what was going on. But thanks for your attention and patience.

Ah, I see... That'll teach me to assume that most people are using only the general (default preference) settings. ;-)

If you create different profiles on your machine, only the most recent changes will apply. So, if you set up your default preferences in your home machine, then set up a work preference, BOINC will only go by your work preference.

The intention of the profiles in the preferences aren't meant to be utilized on a single machine. It is a way to get different machines to use a different preference set while being on the same account. Meaning, if you have a machine say at work processing for your account, you would only set up the "work" preference on that machine.

By setting up multiple preferences on a single machine, you are simply over-riding your previous settings.
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