Astropulse on the Mac

Author	Message
Jet Send message Joined: 8 May 99 Posts: 10 Credit: 4,237,313 RAC: 0	Message 875100 - Posted: 13 Mar 2009, 2:55:16 UTC Last modified: 13 Mar 2009, 2:57:23 UTC
I am just looking for some info ... and maybe just a little reassurance... I have two macs that I have recently set back up to run Astropulse along with MB's, I am using Arkyn's (sorry if I misspelled it) all-in-one package of apps. Mac 1 - My desktop unit is a Dual 2.7 GHz G5 w 2 Gb memory Mac 2 - My laptop, a Macbook with a 2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo and 4 Gb memory Both machines now have AP WU's. What I am looking for is if the time to complete the AP WU is "right or reasonable." Mac 1 is says it is about 6.7% through at 14 hours elapsed time with 57 Hours to go; an the hours to go is still upcounting. Mac 2 is 48% though at 16 hours with 18 to go and has never upcounted - it started with roughly 35 hours total estimated and it is holding that +-. The question that I have is - "are the G5's really that 'bad' when it comes to WU's or are the AP / MB Applications for the G5's really that inefficient?" When comparing RAC's - Mac 2 is almost twice the RAC of Mac 1. All of that is MB WU's as they are just starting their first AP WU's. I'm interested is finding out if there is something, besides the optimized apps, that can be done to increase efficiency of the G5. Thanks for any help.
ID: 875100 ·

arkayn Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 14 May 99 Posts: 3082 Credit: 40,018,832 RAC: 65,048	Message 875120 - Posted: 13 Mar 2009, 3:49:11 UTC - in response to Message 875100.
The number one thing is the AP app for the G5 is not optimized as Crunch3r does not have the tools for PPC code, so I put in the stock version that Dotsch made for the platform. I think your G5 was a 90nm die while the C2D is most likely 65nm, there is also the instruction set that was used to help speed up the C2D processors (ie SSE3 and SSSE3). I would almost say keep the G5 on MB only and let the Macbook do AP as it will be better at it since it does have a optimized AP app. 35 hours on the Macbook seems to be what I would expect. ____________
ID: 875120 ·

pixzy Send message Joined: 7 Jun 99 Posts: 103 Credit: 2,904,920 RAC: 1,092	Message 875150 - Posted: 13 Mar 2009, 10:21:40 UTC - in response to Message 875120.
I can't get my Mac to run astro pulse wu's at all. I have a Mac Pro dual quad core 2.8 gh intell with 6 gb of ram and when I get a astro pulse wu, it tells me it my computer can't handle it. Whats the deal? ____________
ID: 875150 ·

Gundolf Jahn Send message Joined: 19 Sep 00 Posts: 3075 Credit: 341,137 RAC: 93	Message 875155 - Posted: 13 Mar 2009, 11:17:59 UTC - in response to Message 875150.
I can't get my Mac to run astro pulse wu's at all. I have a Mac Pro dual quad core 2.8 gh intell with 6 gb of ram and when I get a astro pulse wu, it tells me it my computer can't handle it. Whats the deal? Error messages? Link to host? Link to task?
ID: 875155 ·

arkayn Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 14 May 99 Posts: 3082 Credit: 40,018,832 RAC: 65,048	Message 875169 - Posted: 13 Mar 2009, 12:43:45 UTC - in response to Message 875150.
There is no stock app for AP available from Berkeley, you would need to install one to handle the task. You can try this package to take care of the whole shebang. http://www.arkayn.us/seti/OSX_V8_AP5_XEON.zip ____________
ID: 875169 ·

pixzy Send message Joined: 7 Jun 99 Posts: 103 Credit: 2,904,920 RAC: 1,092	Message 875935 - Posted: 15 Mar 2009, 21:27:59 UTC - in response to Message 875169.
I have looked at these in the past and they don't support the screen saver. Has that changed? ____________
ID: 875935 ·

Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 9 Apr 02 Posts: 11987 Credit: 17,803,612 RAC: 57,476	Message 875975 - Posted: 15 Mar 2009, 23:02:28 UTC - in response to Message 875935.
No. Most people interested in optimized apps want performance so the screen saver functionality is removed. ____________
ID: 875975 ·

Penguirl Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 11 Jul 03 Posts: 61 Credit: 596,432 RAC: 623	Message 898547 - Posted: 23 May 2009, 5:16:09 UTC - in response to Message 875120.
The number one thing is the AP app for the G5 is not optimized as Crunch3r does not have the tools for PPC code, so I put in the stock version that Dotsch made for the platform. I would almost say keep the G5 on MB... Is there any chance of an optimized PPC AP app in the future? ____________
ID: 898547 ·

arkayn Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 14 May 99 Posts: 3082 Credit: 40,018,832 RAC: 65,048	Message 898564 - Posted: 23 May 2009, 6:41:51 UTC - in response to Message 898547.
Alex Kan is the person who made the optimized Multi Beam app for OS X, but he has not been active on any of the forums that he used to frequent for quite a while now. I think he graduated and the real world is keeping him occupied. So far Crunch3r is the only other person working on an app and he is building them in conjunction with his Linux apps. He is also x86 only as well. ____________
ID: 898564 ·

Penguirl Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 11 Jul 03 Posts: 61 Credit: 596,432 RAC: 623	Message 911815 - Posted: 26 Jun 2009, 20:04:42 UTC
After one of my Astropulse WUs ran over 400 hours according to BOINCManager, I decided Astropulse wasn't worth running. I've unchecked the Astropulse, Astropulse v5, and "If no work for selected applications is available, accept work from other applications?" boxes but I keep finding Astropulse apps in the download que of BOINCManager. So far I haven't found them in the BOINC data file but I'm getting tired of worrying about it. What is going on here? ____________
ID: 911815 ·

Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 9 Apr 02 Posts: 11987 Credit: 17,803,612 RAC: 57,476	Message 911818 - Posted: 26 Jun 2009, 20:17:58 UTC - in response to Message 911815.
After one of my Astropulse WUs ran over 400 hours according to BOINCManager, I decided Astropulse wasn't worth running. I've unchecked the Astropulse, Astropulse v5, and "If no work for selected applications is available, accept work from other applications?" boxes but I keep finding Astropulse apps in the download que of BOINCManager. So far I haven't found them in the BOINC data file but I'm getting tired of worrying about it. What is going on here? Hmm.. I just checked all your machines and I don't see AP having been sent or waiting to be sent to any of your machines on this account. The usual suspects when BOINC isn't following your preferences is to make sure that, if you are using different venues, to ensure the computer in question is in the correct preference venue you've modified. Failing that, also check to see if you are using local preferences which override the web preferences. I don't think the local preferences have been updated to select what types of apps you want to run. ____________
ID: 911818 ·

Penguirl Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 11 Jul 03 Posts: 61 Credit: 596,432 RAC: 623	Message 912113 - Posted: 27 Jun 2009, 18:46:37 UTC
I had just deleted them from the que in BOINCManager a little earlier. I always seem to catch them before they download for some reason, maybe SETI is laying in wait hoping I'll re-enable Astropulse. I only have the default location enabled and I've triple checked it to make sure it's not set to accept Ap under any circumstance. I believe you are correct about the local prefs too, I think any changes there only apply to BOINC across the board and not to specific projects. ____________
ID: 912113 ·

Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 9 Apr 02 Posts: 11987 Credit: 17,803,612 RAC: 57,476	Message 912132 - Posted: 27 Jun 2009, 20:38:56 UTC - in response to Message 912113.
Are you running an optimized or third party app, or are you running the stock Berkeley apps? ____________
ID: 912132 ·

Penguirl Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 11 Jul 03 Posts: 61 Credit: 596,432 RAC: 623	Message 912369 - Posted: 28 Jun 2009, 17:05:30 UTC
I am running Alex Kan's seti_enhanced-PPC-V8-G5-nographics. I had installed Dotsch's Astropulse app that came in arkayn's package when I tried Astropulse but deleted it after the 440 hour work unit. ____________
ID: 912369 ·

arkayn Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 14 May 99 Posts: 3082 Credit: 40,018,832 RAC: 65,048	Message 912402 - Posted: 28 Jun 2009, 18:23:13 UTC - in response to Message 912369.
Make sure that your app_info only has instructions for MB then. <app_info> <app> <name>setiathome_enhanced</name> </app> <file_info> <name>seti_enhanced-ppc-v8-g5-nographics</name> <executable/> </file_info> <app_version> <app_name>setiathome_enhanced</app_name> <version_num>603</version_num> <file_ref> <file_name>seti_enhanced-ppc-v8-g5-nographics</file_name> <main_program/> </file_ref> </app_version> </app_info> That will eliminate the pesky problem. ____________
ID: 912402 ·

Penguirl Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 11 Jul 03 Posts: 61 Credit: 596,432 RAC: 623	Message 912796 - Posted: 30 Jun 2009, 3:30:18 UTC
Thank you, there were several references to both v5.00 and v5.03. Hopefully that will be the end of Astropulse on my PPCs. Some days I enjoy tinkering with BOINC to get the most out of it, but there are days I miss the peaceful simplicity of the old SETI. Just set and forget, enjoy the pretty dancing colors of the screen saver. ____________
ID: 912796 ·

Author

Message

Jet

Send message
Joined: 8 May 99
Posts: 10
Credit: 4,237,313
RAC: 0

I am just looking for some info ... and maybe just a little reassurance...

I have two macs that I have recently set back up to run Astropulse along with MB's, I am using Arkyn's (sorry if I misspelled it) all-in-one package of apps.

Mac 1 - My desktop unit is a Dual 2.7 GHz G5 w 2 Gb memory

Mac 2 - My laptop, a Macbook with a 2.2 GHz Core 2 Duo and 4 Gb memory

Both machines now have AP WU's. What I am looking for is if the time to complete the AP WU is "right or reasonable."

Mac 1 is says it is about 6.7% through at 14 hours elapsed time with 57 Hours to go; an the hours to go is still upcounting.

Mac 2 is 48% though at 16 hours with 18 to go and has never upcounted - it started with roughly 35 hours total estimated and it is holding that +-.

The question that I have is - "are the G5's really that 'bad' when it comes to WU's or are the AP / MB Applications for the G5's really that inefficient?"

When comparing RAC's - Mac 2 is almost twice the RAC of Mac 1. All of that is MB WU's as they are just starting their first AP WU's.

I'm interested is finding out if there is something, besides the optimized apps, that can be done to increase efficiency of the G5.

Thanks for any help.

ID: 875100 ·

arkayn

Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 14 May 99
Posts: 3082
Credit: 40,018,832
RAC: 65,048

The number one thing is the AP app for the G5 is not optimized as Crunch3r does not have the tools for PPC code, so I put in the stock version that Dotsch made for the platform.

I think your G5 was a 90nm die while the C2D is most likely 65nm, there is also the instruction set that was used to help speed up the C2D processors (ie SSE3 and SSSE3).

I would almost say keep the G5 on MB only and let the Macbook do AP as it will be better at it since it does have a optimized AP app.

35 hours on the Macbook seems to be what I would expect.
____________

ID: 875120 ·

pixzy
Send message
Joined: 7 Jun 99
Posts: 103
Credit: 2,904,920
RAC: 1,092

I can't get my Mac to run astro pulse wu's at all. I have a Mac Pro dual quad core 2.8 gh intell with 6 gb of ram and when I get a astro pulse wu, it tells me it my computer can't handle it. Whats the deal?
____________

ID: 875150 ·

Gundolf Jahn
Send message
Joined: 19 Sep 00
Posts: 3075
Credit: 341,137
RAC: 93

I can't get my Mac to run astro pulse wu's at all. I have a Mac Pro dual quad core 2.8 gh intell with 6 gb of ram and when I get a astro pulse wu, it tells me it my computer can't handle it. Whats the deal?

Error messages?
Link to host?
Link to task?

ID: 875155 ·

arkayn

Volunteer tester
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Joined: 14 May 99
Posts: 3082
Credit: 40,018,832
RAC: 65,048

There is no stock app for AP available from Berkeley, you would need to install one to handle the task.

You can try this package to take care of the whole shebang.

http://www.arkayn.us/seti/OSX_V8_AP5_XEON.zip
____________

ID: 875169 ·

pixzy
Send message
Joined: 7 Jun 99
Posts: 103
Credit: 2,904,920
RAC: 1,092

I have looked at these in the past and they don't support the screen saver. Has that changed?
____________

ID: 875935 ·

Volunteer tester
Send message
Joined: 9 Apr 02
Posts: 11987
Credit: 17,803,612
RAC: 57,476

No. Most people interested in optimized apps want performance so the screen saver functionality is removed.
____________

ID: 875975 ·

Penguirl
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Send message
Joined: 11 Jul 03
Posts: 61
Credit: 596,432
RAC: 623

The number one thing is the AP app for the G5 is not optimized as Crunch3r does not have the tools for PPC code, so I put in the stock version that Dotsch made for the platform. I would almost say keep the G5 on MB...

Is there any chance of an optimized PPC AP app in the future?
____________

ID: 898547 ·

arkayn

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Send message
Joined: 14 May 99
Posts: 3082
Credit: 40,018,832
RAC: 65,048

Alex Kan is the person who made the optimized Multi Beam app for OS X, but he has not been active on any of the forums that he used to frequent for quite a while now.

I think he graduated and the real world is keeping him occupied.

So far Crunch3r is the only other person working on an app and he is building them in conjunction with his Linux apps. He is also x86 only as well.
____________

ID: 898564 ·

Penguirl
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 11 Jul 03
Posts: 61
Credit: 596,432
RAC: 623

After one of my Astropulse WUs ran over 400 hours according to BOINCManager, I decided Astropulse wasn't worth running. I've unchecked the Astropulse, Astropulse v5, and "If no work for selected applications is available, accept work from other applications?" boxes but I keep finding Astropulse apps in the download que of BOINCManager. So far I haven't found them in the BOINC data file but I'm getting tired of worrying about it. What is going on here?
____________

ID: 911815 ·

Volunteer tester
Send message
Joined: 9 Apr 02
Posts: 11987
Credit: 17,803,612
RAC: 57,476

After one of my Astropulse WUs ran over 400 hours according to BOINCManager, I decided Astropulse wasn't worth running. I've unchecked the Astropulse, Astropulse v5, and "If no work for selected applications is available, accept work from other applications?" boxes but I keep finding Astropulse apps in the download que of BOINCManager. So far I haven't found them in the BOINC data file but I'm getting tired of worrying about it. What is going on here?

Hmm.. I just checked all your machines and I don't see AP having been sent or waiting to be sent to any of your machines on this account.

The usual suspects when BOINC isn't following your preferences is to make sure that, if you are using different venues, to ensure the computer in question is in the correct preference venue you've modified. Failing that, also check to see if you are using local preferences which override the web preferences. I don't think the local preferences have been updated to select what types of apps you want to run.
____________

ID: 911818 ·

Penguirl
Volunteer tester
Avatar

Send message
Joined: 11 Jul 03
Posts: 61
Credit: 596,432
RAC: 623

I had just deleted them from the que in BOINCManager a little earlier. I always seem to catch them before they download for some reason, maybe SETI is laying in wait hoping I'll re-enable Astropulse.

I only have the default location enabled and I've triple checked it to make sure it's not set to accept Ap under any circumstance. I believe you are correct about the local prefs too, I think any changes there only apply to BOINC across the board and not to specific projects.
____________

ID: 912113 ·

Volunteer tester
Send message
Joined: 9 Apr 02
Posts: 11987
Credit: 17,803,612
RAC: 57,476

Are you running an optimized or third party app, or are you running the stock Berkeley apps?
____________

ID: 912132 ·

Penguirl
Volunteer tester
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Send message
Joined: 11 Jul 03
Posts: 61
Credit: 596,432
RAC: 623

I am running Alex Kan's seti_enhanced-PPC-V8-G5-nographics. I had installed Dotsch's Astropulse app that came in arkayn's package when I tried Astropulse but deleted it after the 440 hour work unit.
____________

ID: 912369 ·

arkayn

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Joined: 14 May 99
Posts: 3082
Credit: 40,018,832
RAC: 65,048

Make sure that your app_info only has instructions for MB then.

<app_info>
<app>
<name>setiathome_enhanced</name>
</app>
<file_info>
<name>seti_enhanced-ppc-v8-g5-nographics</name>
<executable/>
</file_info>
<app_version>
<app_name>setiathome_enhanced</app_name>
<version_num>603</version_num>
<file_ref>
<file_name>seti_enhanced-ppc-v8-g5-nographics</file_name>
<main_program/>
</file_ref>
</app_version>
</app_info>

That will eliminate the pesky problem.
____________

ID: 912402 ·

Penguirl
Volunteer tester
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Send message
Joined: 11 Jul 03
Posts: 61
Credit: 596,432
RAC: 623

Thank you, there were several references to both v5.00 and v5.03. Hopefully that will be the end of Astropulse on my PPCs.

Some days I enjoy tinkering with BOINC to get the most out of it, but there are days I miss the peaceful simplicity of the old SETI. Just set and forget, enjoy the pretty dancing colors of the screen saver.
____________

ID: 912796 ·