So, at least your GPU is producing valid results now.

Update 2050UTC Sat 15 August

What’s happened since my original message on 12 August?

I aborted all the SETI work units that were waiting to be processed and which
were imminently going to time expire before their deadlines anyway. and then I started a new batch up and running. Then I took a snapshot PDF of the BOINC/SETI task processing window.

Snapshot #1 0930UTC 15Aug2015 below taken approximately 3 hours and 19 minutes
later showing the progress of the Astropulse work units, which still looks pretty minimal and all still have about 10 hours 10 mins to 10 hours 28 minutes estimated left to go to reach 100% completion and all with a deadline of 8 Sept 2015. and an average partial completion level ranging from 1% to 4%

I wanted to paste in a PDF snapshot of BOINC but it appears this facility is not available here?

Now we fast forward about 12 hours later same day see the level of number crunching progress and I took a second snapshot for comparison on progress..
Snapshot #2 1955UTC 15Aug2015 below and there’s something really crazy going
on still.

The original batch have stopped processing pending a further batch which is prioritisedto deliver earlier, so they were automatically paused ( fine, no problem) and number crunching carries on with a new batch which has a completion deadline of 4 Sep 2015. (fine, no problem). Three of the original Astropulse workunits are now showing witha cumulative processing time of 13 hours and 44 mins and the 5 new Astropulse work units are all showing that they’ve been running for 3 hours and 7+ minutes.

I can see several work units have an estimate of their completion times with some really big numbers which are all counting upwards not down as expected??

75 hours+
171 hours+
227 hours+

and these all had 10+ hours estimated originally approximately for full completion.I am baffled as to what is going on. My MAC is behaving itself and the numbers arecrunching but we’re still not going anywhere. All other applications are working ok. Any ideas or is my concern for SETI misplaced?

Thanks for any insight you may care to share.

John McIntyre

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About the only scenario that makes sense is if your laptop is overheating. That does happen with laptops when crunching if steps aren't taken to cool them. Usually raising the laptop onto something that allows airflow underneath and a fan blowing on them helps. The GPU times are very long also, so something is slowing it down. A similar laptop that you can compare with is here, http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/results.php?hostid=7159696&offset=220
Note he is using the Apps I compiled so his tasks are labeled as Anonymous platform. An easy way to cool down the CPUs is to just have them run fewer tasks. You can set the 'On multiprocessor systems, us at most' setting to 50% and it will run 4 cpu tasks instead of 7. See if that helps.

What is the current cpu-task progress (in %) and the corresponding time it has been running?
Please list each running task by itself.

Can you view the cpu load? I do not know macs, but they must have something like a task manager in windows.

If yes, see, what the load percentage of the cpu tasks are.

About the only scenario that makes sense is if your laptop is overheating. That does happen with laptops when crunching if steps aren't taken to cool them. Usually raising the laptop onto something that allows airflow underneath and a fan blowing on them helps. The GPU times are very long also, so something is slowing it down. A similar laptop that you can compare with is here, http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/results.php?hostid=7159696&offset=220
Note he is using the Apps I compiled so his tasks are labeled as Anonymous platform. An easy way to cool down the CPUs is to just have them run fewer tasks. You can set the 'On multiprocessor systems, us at most' setting to 50% and it will run 4 cpu tasks instead of 7. See if that helps.

I second to the advice on air circulation. The laptops need to grow legs. Mine has four CD's under its corners. A 10 mm or about a half of an inch will do miracles. Please do not forget Hoovering/Vaccuum cleaning the air intakes of the laptop.

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To overcome Heisenbergs:
"You can't always get what you want / but if you try sometimes you just might find / you get what you need." -- Rolling Stones

Situation update 28 August 2015 0815UTC+1

First some good news . . . .

First off, I really have appreciated all the helpful comments, suggestions, guidance and collective feedback received to this thread.

Secondly, the number crunching stats is now reporting just north of an average of 400 work units per day and climbing steadily. The gradient of the work units stats performance curve is typically something quite linear (somewhere typically between y = x and y = 0.8x)

The Mac PowerBook cooling vents are all clear and the laptop is raised for optimum cooling.

However, I have also noticed that the current version 7.4.42 of BOINC programme I am running is not particularly stable...?

Symptoms I am experiencing at least once every few days as follows.....

Application aborts, with sysdump report sent to Apple Tech.
Screen wake-up totally unresponsive - to either keyboard entry or mouse move?

Only way is to force shut-down by holding power ON/OFF button down to initiate Power Down override command and then re-boot.

BOINC Manager Error message sometimes displays on screen message as follows:
Question: is there a facility to paste images or low-res snapshots in-line in these messages? I have seen it done in other messages but somehow its not allowing me to do similar here? oh well .....here's what the BOINC Manager error has said on multiple occasions: any thoughta guys?

file '/Users/J0hnMcIntyre/Library/Preferences/BOINC Manager Preferences', line80: '='expected.

file '/Users/J0hnMcIntyre/Library/Preferences/BOINC Manager Preferences', line80: '='expected

Why don't you open the file in a simple text editor and see what is on and around line #80 ?

The file should be in:
/Users/J0hnMcIntyre/Library/Preferences/
... and have the name:
BOINC Manager Preferences


* To show pictures:
- use other site of your choice tu Upload the picture
- get a link from it then here in your post format it like this:

[img]http://prikachi.com/images/817/7531817u.png[/img]

... and you'll see the picture:




E.g. this site don't need registration:
http://savepic.org/index.php

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- ALF - "Find out what you don't do well ..... then don't do it!" :)
 

Situation update 28 August 2015 0815UTC+1

First some good news . . . .

First off, I really have appreciated all the helpful comments, suggestions, guidance and collective feedback received to this thread.

Secondly, the number crunching stats is now reporting just north of an average of 400 work units per day and climbing steadily. The gradient of the work units stats performance curve is typically something quite linear (somewhere typically between y = x and y = 0.8x)

The Mac PowerBook cooling vents are all clear and the laptop is raised for optimum cooling.

However, I have also noticed that the current version 7.4.42 of BOINC programme I am running is not particularly stable...?

Symptoms I am experiencing at least once every few days as follows.....

Application aborts, with sysdump report sent to Apple Tech.
Screen wake-up totally unresponsive - to either keyboard entry or mouse move?

Only way is to force shut-down by holding power ON/OFF button down to initiate Power Down override command and then re-boot.

BOINC Manager Error message sometimes displays on screen message as follows:
Question: is there a facility to paste images or low-res snapshots in-line in these messages? I have seen it done in other messages but somehow its not allowing me to do similar here? oh well .....here's what the BOINC Manager error has said on multiple occasions: any thoughta guys?

file '/Users/J0hnMcIntyre/Library/Preferences/BOINC Manager Preferences', line80: '='expected.

It still seems to be running much slower than it should. The only explanation I can think of is overheating. The only problem I'm aware of with 7.4.42 is with the 'Computing allow....processor usage...' setting, which is solved by disabling it as stated earlier. You could try a slightly older version, http://boinc.berkeley.edu/dev/forum_thread.php?id=8378&postid=58623#58623. I notice you've upgraded to 10.10.5. If you didn't run the Combined Update you might try that, https://support.apple.com/kb/DL1832?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US. I'm going to run the Combined update in a few days myself. All I can say is there are a few similar Apple Laptops around and they are not having those problems, except when they are overheating ;-)

The only explanation I can think of is overheating

As TBar stated, you said that the air intakes are clear but have you opened it up and checked for dust bunnies?

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