Question about CP usage

Questions and Answers : Preferences : Question about CP usage

Author	Message
Jupasto Send message Joined: 27 Mar 02 Posts: 1 Credit: 171,390 RAC: 112	Message 1040862 - Posted: 11 Oct 2010, 0:43:39 UTC
	Hello, I had Seti@home years ago, and it used to just run when the screensaver came up. How do I set my computing preferences to do that? Also, what is the difference between "work" and GPU work"? Thanks in advance
	ID: 1040862 ·

BilBg Send message Joined: 27 May 07 Posts: 2088 Credit: 3,269,208 RAC: 8,707	Message 1040900 - Posted: 11 Oct 2010, 2:12:15 UTC - in response to Message 1040862. Last modified: 11 Oct 2010, 2:29:08 UTC
	Todays GPUs (video cards) can be used for computing: http://boinc.berkeley.edu/wiki/GPU_computing SETI still do not have "standard" application that can run on ATI Radeon GPUs (but will have in (near?) future) so BOINC will ask for SETI ATI GPU work (and (for now) you will see "No GPU work available") Your computer will do the SETI computing on CPU only (as most of the computers). As you have "12 processors" you will see 12 tasks running simultaneously. You don't need the screen saver. To make the computer run SETI only when you don't use the computer for a while go to Computing preferences http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/prefs.php?subset=global click Edit preferences (bottom of page) and select: Suspend work while computer is in use? yes Suspend GPU work while computer is in use? yes 'In use' means mouse/keyboard activity in last 3 minutes If you want also the screen saver to be shown select (by standard Windows "screen saver" dialog) to run it after e.g. 4-10 minutes (1 or more minutes after the "3 minutes" you set above) Also set the screen saver to go blank after 5-10 minutes after it's start as it slows down the "real" computations while drawing the pretty graphics. ____________ - ALF - "Find out what you don't do well ..... then don't do it!" :)
	ID: 1040900 ·

John McLeod VII Volunteer developer Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 15 Jul 99 Posts: 22343 Credit: 440,001 RAC: 88	Message 1040902 - Posted: 11 Oct 2010, 2:13:39 UTC
	Work is done on the CPU (Central Processing Unit). GPU work is done on the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit aka Graphics Card). The GPU can be quite a bit faster for some calculations than the CPU. There are two settings available to allow computing while the computer is in use. Set these to disallow computing while the computer (mouse and keyboard) are in use. One is for the CPU and the other is for the GPU. If you are having problems with responsiveness, turn of the GPU usage while you are active and try again. If you are still having trouble turn of CPU usage. Most modern computers on most tasks have no difficulty at all with the CPU portion, but many GPU cars are single threaded and have a great deal of trouble doing the graphics processing while they are in use doing other things. ____________ BOINC WIKI
	ID: 1040902 ·

Aurora Borealis Volunteer tester Send message Joined: 14 Jan 01 Posts: 2975 Credit: 4,288,675 RAC: 1,658	Message 1040917 - Posted: 11 Oct 2010, 2:33:10 UTC - in response to Message 1040862. Last modified: 11 Oct 2010, 2:46:23 UTC
	Hello, I had Seti@home years ago, and it used to just run when the screensaver came up. How do I set my computing preferences to do that? Very old school. I haven't used it since Seti-Classic. The screensaver doesn't start Boinc, AFAIK, it has to already be running. The Seti app can be controlled with your account Computing preferences. Suspend work while computer is in use? yes 'In use' means mouse/keyboard activity in last x minutes Also, set your windows screensaver to Boinc with the proper time delay. It's not a true screensaver as some parts of the graphics don't move. Better to also set the monitor to go to power saving mode after a while. Frankly, with an i7, unless you're a gamer or run programs that put a heavy load on the CPU (IE video rendering) there is little reason not to let Seti run in background all the time. The apps run at low priority and Boinc is pretty good at freeing up cycle as needed. Also, what is the difference between "work" and GPU work"? Thanks in advance It's the same Work Units assigned to either the CPU or the GPU. The generic apps supplied by Seti can be run on the CPU or CUDA capable Nvidia cards with the proper drivers. Since your GPU is ATI you would have to look into 3rd party apps of which I have limited knowledge. ____________ Questions? Answers are in the "Unofficial" BOINC Wiki. Boinc V7.0.27 Win7 i5 3.33G 4GB, GTX470
	ID: 1040917 ·

BilBg Send message Joined: 27 May 07 Posts: 2088 Credit: 3,269,208 RAC: 8,707	Message 1040919 - Posted: 11 Oct 2010, 2:41:52 UTC - in response to Message 1040902.
	Work is done on the CPU (Central Processing Unit). GPU work is done on the GPU (Graphics Processing Unit aka Graphics Card). The GPU can be quite a bit faster for some calculations than the CPU. There are two settings available to allow computing while the computer is in use. Set these to disallow computing while the computer (mouse and keyboard) are in use. One is for the CPU and the other is for the GPU. If you are having problems with responsiveness, turn of the GPU usage while you are active and try again. If you are still having trouble turn of CPU usage. Most modern computers on most tasks have no difficulty at all with the CPU portion, but many GPU cars are single threaded and have a great deal of trouble doing the graphics processing while they are in use doing other things. I will add that not only the "modern computers" have no difficulty at all with the CPU computing. My K6-2+ / 524 MHz have "no difficulty at all" (no slowdown when I use it) running SETI all the time. As we know the computing (SETI app) is done by low priority process so even the heavy tasks (e.g. games) do not run slow. ____________ - ALF - "Find out what you don't do well ..... then don't do it!" :)
	ID: 1040919 ·

Questions and Answers : Preferences : Question about CP usage