Hi Everybody,

I would like some advice if possible. I have just upgraded my X2 6000+ to a Phenom 9850 in the past hour or so. I have told Boinc Manager that the processor has been changed and it has re-run the benchmarks, and now assigned 4 wu's to be worked on at one time.

My question is:- I have been running the AKV8 SSE2 opti app, and I'm trying to find out if there is a better one to be using now, seeing that there are extensions for the cpu including SSE3 and SSE4A.

Is it worth changing for a different app that includes the extra instructions?????

And, has anybody been running Astropulse on the 9850, and how long is it taking? Or should I just keep it on Multibeam wu's?

<edit> I'll get my head screwed on right in a minute. What is the best way to update the app if it needs it, and is there any guide to changing app_info.xml to accept both type of wu, but still using the opti app for multibeam, if I should decide to do both?

All answers gratefully received...

Regards, Gizbar.

---

A proud GPU User Server Donor!

I've heard SSE2 is better than SSE3 on AMD. I haven't seen a SSE4 app for AMD though so don't know.

---

... What is the best way to update the app if it needs it, and is there any guide to changing app_info.xml to accept both type of wu, but still using the opti app for multibeam, if I should decide to do both?

All answers gratefully received...

Regards, Gizbar.

The project's guidance notes for doing this are on the Advanced Users page.

An updated version to take account of the newly-released Astropulse v4.36 applications has been posted in the Astropulse FAQ thread.

Byron, thanks for the reply. I was running the SSE2 opti app on the X2 for that very reason.
I was just wondering if the new CPU would be any better at the higher SSE levels. Unless I get any conflicting answers to put any doubt on it, I guess not.

Regards, Gizbar.

---

A proud GPU User Server Donor!

Hi Everybody,

I would like some advice if possible. I have just upgraded my X2 6000+ to a Phenom 9850 in the past hour or so. I have told Boinc Manager that the processor has been changed and it has re-run the benchmarks, and now assigned 4 wu's to be worked on at one time.

My question is:- I have been running the AKV8 SSE2 opti app, and I'm trying to find out if there is a better one to be using now, seeing that there are extensions for the cpu including SSE3 and SSE4A.

Is it worth changing for a different app that includes the extra instructions?????

You should be able to run the AKV8 SSE3 app with no problems. Do NOT try to run the SSSE3 or SSE4A versions as only Intel CPUs support those instruction sets.

BTW, you should have been able to run SSE3 on the X2 as well, I do on my 4600.

[edit]I think the SSE2 running better than SSE3 on AMD systems applied to pre-X2 systems as I've seen a somewhat better (not huge though) performance from the SSE3 app on my X2 4600. Some people have said it depends on the AR as to which runs better.[/edit]

Thanks for the swift answer Richard. I can't think straight tonight, I'm suffering from 'man-flu' and I know all this has been discussed before. Just can't seem to get my head around it at the moment.
Thanks for your time.

Regards, Gizbar.

---

A proud GPU User Server Donor!

You should be able to run the AKV8 SSE3 app with no problems. Do NOT try to run the SSSE3 or SSE4A versions as only Intel CPUs support those instruction sets.

BTW, you should have been able to run SSE3 on the X2 as well, I do on my 4600.

Thanks RandyC. I got my info from CPUz version 1.47 which states SSE3 and SSE4A in the instruction set. I know it doesn't run the SSSE3 instruction set. From my previous posters, I was running the SSE2 opti app as I was told somewhere on here in the distant past that it would be quicker than the AMD SSE3, whether rightly or wrongly. Is there a problem with CPUz then? It seems to identify the rest of the cpu correctly including cache, speed, etc...

Regards, Gizbar.

---

A proud GPU User Server Donor!

Thanks RandyC. I got my info from CPUz version 1.47 which states SSE3 and SSE4A in the instruction set. I know it doesn't run the SSSE3 instruction set. From my previous posters, I was running the SSE2 opti app as I was told somewhere on here in the distant past that it would be quicker than the AMD SSE3, whether rightly or wrongly. Is there a problem with CPUz then? It seems to identify the rest of the cpu correctly including cache, speed, etc...

Regards, Gizbar.

The AMD's don't support SSSE3. They have a subset of SSE4 known as SSE4A. There isn't an optimized app that uses SSE4A, because they are compiled using the intel compiler. Your highest instruction set would be SSE3.

As mentioned before the use of SSE2 on the AMD's was recommended for the older (v2.4) optimized apps, not the current (AK_v8) ones.

---

BOINC blog

The AMD's don't support SSSE3. They have a subset of SSE4 known as SSE4A. There isn't an optimized app that uses SSE4A, because they are compiled using the intel compiler. Your highest instruction set would be SSE3.

As mentioned before the use of SSE2 on the AMD's was recommended for the older (v2.4) optimized apps, not the current (AK_v8) ones.

MarkJ, thanks for the info. I did know SSSE3 was out of the picture, but it was the SSE4A that threw me. That's clarified most of my query, just need to know if anybody is running Astropulse on the 9850 successfully, and whether it is worth it. Thanks again.

regards, Gizbar.

---

A proud GPU User Server Donor!

A recent statement along the lines of your question here gizbar

---

Thanks RandyC. I got my info from CPUz version 1.47 which states SSE3 and SSE4A in the instruction set. I know it doesn't run the SSSE3 instruction set. From my previous posters, I was running the SSE2 opti app as I was told somewhere on here in the distant past that it would be quicker than the AMD SSE3, whether rightly or wrongly. Is there a problem with CPUz then? It seems to identify the rest of the cpu correctly including cache, speed, etc...

Regards, Gizbar.

The AMD's don't support SSSE3. They have a subset of SSE4 known as SSE4A. There isn't an optimized app that uses SSE4A, because they are compiled using the intel compiler. Your highest instruction set would be SSE3.

As mentioned before the use of SSE2 on the AMD's was recommended for the older (v2.4) optimized apps, not the current (AK_v8) ones.

Mark is right. The AMD's use their own (incompatible) SSE4A while Intel uses SSE4.1. The optimized apps for SSE4 are for Intel's SSE4.1. I don't know if the Chicken bunch plan on supporting SSE4A or if its even worth it.

I'm using the AK_V8_SSE3 app on Cruiser with great results. It has shaved around 33% off the times for Multibeam units versus the v6.03 non-optimized app.

As for Astropulse, mine averages 104 hours per unit. Yours should shave a few hours off that time, probably completing them in around 90 hours or so.

---

Cruiser
Gateway GT5692 L-f-S Edition
-Phenom X4 9650 CPU
-4GB 667MHz DDR2 RAM
-500GB SATA HD
-Vista x64 SP1
-BOINC 6.2.19 32-bit client
-SSE3 optimized 32-bit apps

Since gizbar has gone on to SSE3, when he's had a chance to take it in, maybe he'll have an opinion. At first glance at his completed WU's (though I guess all WU are not the same) it still appears the SSE2 was using less cpu time, but probably still too early to tell.

---

Since gizbar has gone on to SSE3, when he's had a chance to take it in, maybe he'll have an opinion. At first glance at his completed WU's (though I guess all WU are not the same) it still appears the SSE2 was using less cpu time, but probably still too early to tell.

Hi guys, yes, I took the plunge and am trying the AK_SSE3 opti app, but I don't know if there will be any improvement, especially with the cpu change too. I don't know if AMD have improved/changed the way they have implemented SSE3 in the Phenom. I can't find any information on the AMD website, frankly I find it hard to navigate.

My next question (and forgive me if this should have started another thread) is:-

I was just checking the BOINC version last night, and I am still running version 5.10.30. What is the version that is recommended to be running now? I see conflicting posts in the threads here. I know the latest version on the BOINC website is 6.2.19, but some people are still having problems and even the website still puts up version 5.10.45 as an 'alternative' version (does that read compatible version?) Will I get any more benefits from upgrading the BOINC version?

Many thanks for all your help so far.

Unforunately, I'm off to work now, so I won't get a chance to read any replies for about 10-12 hours.

regards, Gizbar.

---

A proud GPU User Server Donor!

I am running Linux SuSE 10.3 on an AMD Opteron 1210 at 1.8 GHz. I am using AK_V8 SSE3 and BOINC 5.10.45. SSE3 was not a great improvement on SSE2, the real advantage was SSE2 vs SSE. But I still have six or seven WUs in pending credits in MB. Astropulse units, using the standard app 4.35 take 115 hours. I am still waiting to see what 4.36 will do. Cheers.
Tullio

---

Gizbar, when i had a look at some of your completed tasks, AK V8 SSE3 only
reports you using One core:

Windows optimized S@H Enhanced application by Alex Kan
Version info: SSE3 (AMD/Intel, Core 2-optimized v8-nographics) V5.13 by Alex Kan
SSE3 Win32 Build 41 , Ported by : Jason G, Raistmer, JDWhale

CPUID: AMD Phenom(tm) 9850 Quad-Core Processor
Speed: 1 x 2511 MHz
Cache: L1=64K L2=512K
Features: MMX SSE SSE2 SSE3

and with your X2 6000+ it was the same:

Windows optimized S@H Enhanced application by Alex Kan
Version info: SSE2x (AMD/Intel, Core 2-optimized v8-nographics) V5.13 by Alex Kan
SSE2x Win32 Build 44 , Ported by : Jason G, Raistmer, JDWhale

CPUID: AMD Athlon(tm) 64 X2 Dual Core Processor 6000+
Speed: 1 x 3150 MHz
Cache: L1=64K L2=1024K
Features: MMX SSE SSE2

you might want to check your Computing preferences or your local preferences if your using them.

Claggy

Edit: I thought it had a reasonable RAC for a single core, your computer
summary does report it as having 4 CPU's, just not sure if you are using them.

---

That's a known issue with the current CPU detection mechanism and Phenom (cosmetic only). There are similar issues being looked at but are considered low priority for the time being.

Jason

---

"Living by the wisdom of computer science doesn't sound so bad after all. And unlike most advice, it's backed up by proofs." -- Algorithms to live by: The computer science of human decisions.

That's a known issue with the current CPU detection mechanism and Phenom (cosmetic only). There are similar issues being looked at but are considered low priority for the time being.

Jason

and with the X2 6000+ as well?

Claggy

---

Quite likely, that's one of the same symptoms, yes.

---

"Living by the wisdom of computer science doesn't sound so bad after all. And unlike most advice, it's backed up by proofs." -- Algorithms to live by: The computer science of human decisions.

Or he might only be running a single processor HAL in Windows. I had that problem on one of my PCs.

Check Device Manager, under Computer. It should read "APCI Multiprocessor PC". If it doesn't say that, you are only using 1 core in Windows.

---