Questions On GPU Utilization Schemes

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Message 1826986 - Posted: 27 Oct 2016, 17:44:17 UTC
Last modified: 27 Oct 2016, 17:44:39 UTC

I have a machine ("arf-pc") which not long ago had 2x980TIs running 3 WUs each on an i7-950 HT ( so 8 "cores"). I do not do SETI on the CPU, so it is completely free for GPU support. The command line I was using:

-sbs 512 period_iterations_num 10 -hp

To try to lower electricity use (it was doing 550-600 watts) I sold the TIs and got a 1080 and a 750TI (thanks, Craigslist!). This cut electricity usage to under 400 watts, but RAC suffered somewhat. So I added a 2nd 750TI. But things got VERY sticky at the keyboard and graphically, so I went to 2 WUs/card (a total of 6 simultaneously). That pretty much cured the sticky.

Questions:

1) given the GPU setup of 1080 + 2X750TI, and running 6 WUs, what percent of the RAC with the 2x980TIs can I reasonably expect?

2) since the cmd line applies to all cards, how can I change it to adjust my new GPU setup for better RAC?

Thanks for your help...
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Message 1827120 - Posted: 28 Oct 2016, 5:36:17 UTC - in response to Message 1826986.  

2) since the cmd line applies to all cards, ...

There is special file you can create:
MultiBeam_NV_config.xml
... but I don't know if it is possible with stock apps.
If the app searches for it next to the .exe i.e. in SETI@home directory (<BOINC_Data>\projects\setiathome.berkeley.edu\) it will find it.
If the app searches only in current directory i.e. in slots\ the file will not be there.


From ReadMe_MultiBeam_OpenCL_NV_SoG.txt
"
For device-specific settings in multi-GPU systems it's possible to override some of command-line options via
application config file.

Name of this config file:
MultiBeam_<vendor>_config.xml where vendor can be ATi, NV or iGPU.
File structure:
<deviceN>
	<period_iterations_num>N</period_iterations_num>
	<spike_fft_thresh>N</spike_fft_thresh>
	<sbs>N</sbs>
	<oclfft_plan>
	        <size>N</size>
		<global_radix>N</global_radix>
		<local_radix>N</local_radix>
		<workgroup_size>N</workgroup_size>
		<max_local_size>N</max_local_size>
		<localmem_banks>N</localmem_banks>
		<localmem_coalesce_width>N</localmem_coalesce_width>
	</oclfft_plan>
	<no_caching>
</deviceN>

where deviceN - particular OpenCL device N starting with 0, multiple sections allowed, one per each device.
other fields - corresponding command-line options to override for this particular device.
All or some sections can be omitted.

Don't forget to re-check device number to physical card relation after driver update and physical slot change.
Both these actions can change cards enumeration order.
 


- ALF - "Find out what you don't do well ..... then don't do it!" :)
 
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Message 1827122 - Posted: 28 Oct 2016, 6:25:04 UTC - in response to Message 1827120.  

I'm running a GTX 1070 with a GTX 750Ti using the Lunatics installer.

My mb_cmdline_win_x86_SSE3_OpenCL_NV_SoG.txt command line is
-tt 1500 -hp -period_iterations_num 3 -sbs 768 -spike_fft_thresh 4096 -tune 1 64 1 4 -oclfft_tune_gr 256 -oclfft_tune_lr 16 -oclfft_tune_wg 256 -oclfft_tune_ls 512 -oclfft_tune_bn 64 -oclfft_tune_cw 64

with 1 core reserved per WU & running just 1 WU at a time.
-period_iterations_num 3 tends to make the screen & keyboard input a bit laggy, but I can live with it.
Setting it to 10 (or higher if necessary) should result in little if any lag.
Grant
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Profile Mike Special Project $75 donor
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Message 1827125 - Posted: 28 Oct 2016, 7:08:33 UTC

The use of MultiBeam_NV_config.xml Needs to be defined in appinfo.xml.


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Profile Brent Norman Crowdfunding Project Donor*Special Project $75 donorSpecial Project $250 donor
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Message 1827170 - Posted: 28 Oct 2016, 14:13:14 UTC - in response to Message 1826986.  
Last modified: 28 Oct 2016, 14:14:45 UTC

One problem you will see is that one command line will work great for the 1080 but too aggressive for the 750's. I'm sure there is a way to use separate command lines, but I'm not sure how. (EDIT: OK that was explained)

You can look at my computers for RAC with 2 different 750s
http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/show_host_detail.php?hostid=7454279
http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/show_host_detail.php?hostid=7446133

I run this command line
-sbs 256 -spike_fft_thresh 4096 -tune 1 64 1 4 -oclfft_tune_gr 256 -oclfft_tune_lr 16 -oclfft_tune_wg 256 -oclfft_tune_ls 512 -oclfft_tune_bn 64 -oclfft_tune_cw 64 -hp
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Message boards : Number crunching : Questions On GPU Utilization Schemes


 
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