(x.xx CPUs, 1 CUDA)

So, I've noticed this line in my CUDA tasks, that says "Running (0.04 CPUs, 1 CUDA)". I assume this means that 4% of one CPU is being used to supply work to the GPU. Is that enough?

I have a feeling that the GPU isn't doing as much work as it could. For example, when I watch a movie and I forget to switch off BOINC, it still runs for a minute or so before the occasional stuttering. Also, Windows 7's Aero feature (say minimising windows) is unaffected most of the time even when BOINC is running. Does this mean my GPU is idle all that time?
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if you look on your preferences on the BOINC manager you see the "run GPU when computer is being used" if its unclicked and you are using your PC then no it won't be running.

So, I've noticed this line in my CUDA tasks, that says "Running (0.04 CPUs, 1 CUDA)". I assume this means that 4% of one CPU is being used to supply work to the GPU. Is that enough?

So, I've noticed this line in my CUDA tasks, that says "Running (0.04 CPUs, 1 CUDA)". I assume this means that 4% of one CPU is being used to supply work to the GPU. Is that enough?

I have a feeling that the GPU isn't doing as much work as it could. For example, when I watch a movie and I forget to switch off BOINC, it still runs for a minute or so before the occasional stuttering. Also, Windows 7's Aero feature (say minimising windows) is unaffected most of the time even when BOINC is running. Does this mean my GPU is idle all that time?

Some users have determined that they get the best productivity by leaving one CPU core effectively idle so it can feed the GPU with no delay. That mode would probably speed up the GPU work on your host, but whether it would be enough to make up for the unused CPU is uncertain.

Joe

All right, thanks for the information everyone.

I'll play around with the one-CPU setting to see if my GPU WUs take less time. I have a Core 2 Duo P7350 (OC'd to 2.5 GHz), not the best CPU, so maybe the extra GPU usage will make up for the lack of a CPU core. And yes, CPU usage for the CUDA application jumps between 0% and 10% most of the time.
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On my GPU cruncher, only - like the name ;-) - calculation on the GPUs.

If all stock I had (0.19 CPU, 1 CUDA)
Now with opt._CUDA_app I have no specially entry in my app_info.xml, so there is (1.00 CPU, 1 CUDA).
Because of, if not BOINC would ask continuously for new work for 4 idle CPU-Cores.

If I would crunch also on the CPU, the GPU performance would go massively down.
Only on (whole) CPU, maybe ~ 4,000 RAC.
Only on GPUs, last stable RAC as 24/7 ~ 52,000. ~ 13,000/GPU.

If CPU and GPUs simultaneously, the GPU calculation time increased ~ x3.
Because of boinc.exe (BOINC client) and System activity/peaks [Windows TaskManager], which disturb CPU and GPU calculation equally/simultaneously.

It would be better that only the CPU tasks would be disturbed, but BOINC and/or the OS (Windows) isn't smart enough.

AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE @ 4 x 3.0 GHz with 4x OCed GTX260-216.


It depend which kind of CPU and GPU/s you have.
Maybe, if you have >= 2x GTX2xx GPU series in your PC case, one/two (or more) free CPU-Core/s.

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>Das Deutsche Cafe. The German Cafe.<

AMD Phenom II X4 940 BE @ 4 x 3.0 GHz with 4x OCed GTX260-216.


It depend which kind of CPU and GPU/s you have.
Maybe, if you have >= 2x GTX2xx GPU series in your PC case, one/two (or more) free CPU-Core/s.

Chirag Patel,
I could be wrong... but you might get performance if you were to update your geforce drivers. I see you have 186.x

Chirag Patel,
I could be wrong... but you might get performance if you were to update your geforce drivers. I see you have 186.x

186.82 are the latest mobile drivers available officially from nVidia. I've tried LaptopVideo2Go's custom ones based on the 191.xx desktop drivers, but I've trouble with Powermizer in the past if I used those drivers (the 260M wouldn't clock down from max clocks even when the card was idle).

And call me Chirag. ;)

If you don't mind my asking, what are your cards OC'd to? On my 3000+ I leave the CPU idle to feed the GPU (GTX216), and at 700/1480/1025 I'm getting around 9,500 RAC.

Cheers :)

Ahh.. BTW..

You have nVIDIA_driver_190.38+ and CUDA_V2.3 installed?
This will give you ~ 30 % speed up.
[http://lunatics.kwsn.net/index.php?module=Downloads;sa=dlview;id=208]

This would explain your ~ 9,500 and my ~ 13,000 RAC.

;-)

Wow, I only have one mobile GTX 260M (basically a shrunk desktop 9800 GT) with a P7350 CPU. That's only 112 shaders, compared to your 864! I will see what happens when I switch off one CPU core, or both.

Later Beta 190.38 Notebook drivers are available in the 2nd post in this thread:

CUDA Toolkit and SDK 2.3 released

Claggy

But - if it's a mobile GPU in a laptop/notebook - you must look to the GPU temps.

Like I said, because of boinc.exe and System activity/peaks, CPU and GPU tasks are disturbed.

If you work on your laptop, also if you have a big WU cache, this will disturb the GPU calculation. (if the CPU isn't idle)