CUDA and '.03' processors

I am running CUDA on an 8600, works fine, but uses what it calls '.03' of one of the four processors on my quad system, leaving only 75 percent of the system in use.

If I suspend the SETI using CUDA and then re-start it, for a few minutes the quad runs four tasks in addition to the CUDA, using 100 percent. After a short time one task will go to 'waiting to run' and only three tasks and the CUDA are running.

Is there a way to run all five tasks all the time?

I've been looking all through the forums for this topic.

Since starting up with CUDA on a GeForce 8600GT Saturday I very quickly noticed that instead of four tasks being run at the same time I was down to one.
The single running task is using 0.03 CPU's and 1 CUDA.

While Kaylie doesn't have as poor a performance level as I do, we seem to have a similar problem.

The other tasks are from another project. My understanding is that if you have CUDA, Seti will only send CUDA tasks, except Astropulse, currently not being generated.

That only makes sense, but... Goes beyond my understanding of how BOINC might behave.

At this moment my computer is grinding away on one CUDA task and one astropulse task.
I suppose I'll just have to trust those who say this is up to 10 times faster, because after all, some of these guys really are rocket scientists doing things the rest of us can only dream of.

Three one hundredths of a CPU, Hmmmm…

I’m not sure the system administrators will like this, it is all supposed to run automatically and in the background, but some of us dedicate equipment to these things and want every ounce of computational power out of it.

There is a way to cause SETI to run on a GPU and utilize at least seventy five percent of the other processors in a quad system. Five tasks can be run consistently with participation in a second project.

The method involves only basic setting changes and procedures, preferably performed only during periods of low server traffic, and never on a Tuesday, but it is too lengthy to post here in detail. I’m not keeping it a secret though.

On another note…
I fear this may become more frequent than a slip in the shower. I hope the recent satellite collision does not cause sufficient interference to make more work looking for recognizable signals.

My computer was down for two weeks so I'm waiting for my RAC to build back up and level off.
If it goes higher than before, all is good.
If it is lower, I guess I'll have to do something like disable CUDA.

I don't know what any of that means...I hope I'm not alone in that. LOL

I'm feeling more productive right now as I'm running 3 Astropulse WUs and a regular SETI WU.

My RAC isn't rocketing up there though, so I'm hoping the powers that be are aware.

0.03 CPU apparently means that the CPU runs .03 of the time to feed the CUDA device. You can modify some XML to make BOINC think the computer has one more than the actual CPU's so will run 4 normal tasks and the CUDA's (Thanks for that code OzzFan).

The trick is that you have to maintain both CUDA and non-CUDA tasks in your queue. This can be done by manually controlling downloads using 'no new tasks' and changing the setting at SETI Website to allow CUDA tasks every other download (as necessary to maintain a balance between the two types of tasks). Never on a Tuesday, though.

Perhaps someday this could be programmed to happen automatically. (Please.)

0.03 CPU apparently means that the CPU runs .03 of the time to feed the CUDA device.

You can modify some XML to make BOINC think the computer has one more than the actual CPU's so will run 4 normal tasks and the CUDA's

Where might I find that version of BOINC higher than 6.4.5?

Thanks.

SETI@home MAIN page, under download, you will find a list off BOINC versions.