Posts by Alex Storey

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21) Message boards : Number crunching : Smartphone Crunching (Reprise) (Message 1321911)
Posted 140 days ago by

I remember one nugget of info in the original thread, and it was Raistmer saying that as long as (or especially if?) the chips become OpenCL capable it'll make more sense. To that I remember replying that "Bruce Wayne" Tegra (Tegra 4) was rumored to be OpenCL. For some reason the Wikipedia page I had linked to has no mention of OpenCL for Tegra 4 anymore, but the grapevine is buzzing:

" ...the high-end version of Tegra 4 will bring 72 cores in the GeForce GPU, without disclosing if the cores in question support CUDA or not. Remember that two years ago, Nvidia mentioned that their T40-class hardware will be fully compliant with the OpenCL and CUDA, and based on the Kepler architecture, which wasn't even announced at the time."

http://www.brightsideofnews.com/news/2012/12/18/nvidias-tegra-4-specs-leak.aspx

Will 2013 be the year smartphone crunching takes off? I guess we'll know in about 10 days:)

But until then,
Happy New Year to you all!

22) Message boards : Cafe SETI : S@H Cook's Corner 2012.................... (Message 1319740)
Posted 145 days ago by

well.. *sigh* I am struggling to understand why I am unable to find a simple tool for the job I have in mind.

Okay okay I was in the kitchen.. and I had been deep frying a few things.

At the end of the day there was still oil left, and I was in the mood for potato chips. Yes american style ultra thin chips. So I heated up the oil,
got out the potato peeler and peeled a potato, and set to work slicing the potato with the peeler. The thickness was perfect, I dropped them into the oil
one by one and started frying them. I fished them out of the oil and salted them while still hot. Delicious. But I noticed a problem.

The peeler was not long enough, and after a few chips it started to gouge into the potato. This left me slicing the potato in two, and the shapes were just slightly unprofessional it STILL was not long enough. This caused me to start to search... and sure enough I still have not found one with the blade long enough!

I am thinking a cutting area of the blade at least 5" (maybe 6" blade length?)
would handle the job perfectly. But to date I have not found anything that will fit my needs.

Am I the only one to think of this? Am I the only one with enough time to try this? Kitchen aid slicer is too thick, I am doubtful of the results that would be obtained from a mandolin or electric slicer.. and the costs seem very unreasonable for what a simple tool should do!

by the way, the chips were delicious.

I'll throw ceramics into this conversation as they are often overlooked...

Maybe this is wide enough?
http://kyoceraadvancedceramics.com/ceramic-kitchen-tools/ceramic-peelers/mega-wide-peeler.html
But I'd still go for the mandolin:
http://kyoceraadvancedceramics.com/ceramic-kitchen-tools/ceramic-slicers

Frustratingly both the peeler and slicer are generically called "wide" with no mention of how many inches they actually are... I'm sure you can find that info elsewhere on the internet if interested and probably better prices too.

Beware, ceramics are an acquired taste. If you are willing to handle them with kid gloves they're fantastic. If you enjoy abusing your kitchen utensils, you'll hate 'em.

23) Message boards : Number crunching : Error Spike. (Message 1317555)
Posted 150 days ago by

I made the same mistake over at Beta recently... We can't see user id results, it has to be host id.

Unfortunately I can't help with the real problem, but your 2 machines have different symptoms:
http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/results.php?hostid=6341138&offset=0&show_names=0&state=6&appid=

This one I'm guessing you have taken offline, otherwise it's having trouble making contact (Last Contact 22 Nov)
http://setiathome.berkeley.edu/results.php?hostid=6309118&offset=0&show_names=0&state=6&appid=

24) Message boards : Number crunching : Unexected Logout (Message 1317547)
Posted 150 days ago by

This happens to me too every few months and I think I've posted it before...

If I close my browser, re-open and then go to the Seti homepage and click Account from there... it works! Just don't ask me why:)

There's something strange in the neighborhood...

25) Message boards : Number crunching : Just another GPU value chart (Message 1312566)
Posted 161 days ago by

tbret c'mon man focus:)

a) 36 months + 16% is not 4 and a half years.

b) You're quoting Crysis 2 benchmarks. Look at the FurMark numbers, it's the 560 TI that's "turbo boosting".

@Horacio
Thanx for the reply. OK I kinda get why the memory bus could come into play when running multiple WUs. But the link tbret provided to Fred's forums shows the 660 TI slower than the 560 TI at (what I think is) a single task. Could something else be coming into play? Like ROPs or something?

26) Message boards : Number crunching : Panic Mode On (79) Server Problems? (Message 1311732)
Posted 163 days ago by

Meowghost.

I set to NNT when I started getting ghosted up but then someone mentioned that they do get through. So I did get them overnight.

I guess the good news is that they aren't getting stuck in limbo like last time!

27) Message boards : Number crunching : Just another GPU value chart (Message 1311723)
Posted 163 days ago by

@tbret

Like I said, you guys know this stuff far better than I do. Also, numbers are just numbers and no two people looking at the above charts (or any chart) will draw the same conclusions. Most people won't take ANY part of these into account. Yay for human diversity:) [/philosophy]

Please don't take this the wrong way. I think you started off with good data (RAC) but then threw in some bad data (Watts) and drew the wrong conclusion on the 660 TI vs 560 TI. I'll try to explain:

So the two cards are nowhere near their GFLOPS at SETI. You say their RAC is close @Seti with the 560 being slightly better. I don't doubt it's true but I do wonder why that is. For example:

Now most people will rush to blame the (Seti/Lunatics) apps, but before you guys do, riddle me this: If a 670 has an RAC of ~33k and a 560 TI has an RAC of ~26k, why isn't a 660 TI producing ~33k? It's not the apps, so what is it?

As to your conclusion tbret here is were I disagree: On average a 560 TI is 10-15W more than a 660 TI. But under load it's actually the 560 TI that's all over the place. It can be anywhere from 40 to 70 Watts more in stress tests.

http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_660_Ti_Power_Edition/26.html
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/GeForce_GTX_660_Ti_Direct_Cu_II/26.html
http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/Zotac/GeForce_GTX_660_Ti_Amp_Edition/26.html

That's an extra ~$150 over a 3 year period. But ignore that for a moment and have another look at the above Watts and costs in the second chart. Both GPUs cost ~$800 over a 3 year period. That looks like a tie to me, if both cards are similar in RAC. How did you come to the conclusion that the 560 TI is better? Have I missed something?

As for the benchmarks you want to do (especially since you threw in the kill-a-watt) I think that is a fantastic idea:) And long overdue. I'm a bit surprised more people don't run benchmarks here on Seti. Why do you think people won't believe you?

But I'd wait for the new Work Units to roll out. Otherwise you'd be going to a lot of trouble only to find your hard work out of date overnight! (I've been wanting to do a test of a bunch of NVIDIA drivers on my laptop, but I'm holding back for this reason)

28) Message boards : Number crunching : Just another GPU value chart (Message 1311477)
Posted 164 days ago by

Very interesting read, thanks for putting it together. So If I understand it correctly a 690 doesn't give you the best value, a 650 Ti wins?

Here's the way I'd look at it...
For casual crunchers refer to the first chart.
For 24/7 crunchers refer to the second chart.

So I'm guessing for most people here in the forums, the second chart is the way to go:) In the second chart the 660 TI wins...

Edit: @VW You are very very lucky:)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Electricity_pricing#Global_electricity_price_comparison

29) Message boards : Number crunching : Just another GPU value chart (Message 1311461)
Posted 164 days ago by

Ok, disclaimers:

Yada yada YMMV yada yada prices are subject to change yada yada not a reflection of RAC yada yada batteries not included yada yada and all the other stuff you guys already know far better than I.

Most info from Seti’s 3rd most important bookmark
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Comparison_of_Nvidia_graphics_processing_units
#1 being the NC forum and #2 our mascot The Cricket:)

First number (after the GPU number) is GFLOPS. Last number is the whole point of this little exercise and is GFLOPS per US dollar. Prices are conservative (especially for the low end cards) but realistic.

GeForce GT 610 155.5 $40 - 3.8875
GeForce GT 620 268.8 $50 - 5.376
GeForce GT 630 311.0 $60 - 5.183 (DDR3)
GeForce GT 640 691.2 $90 - 7.68 (DDR3)
GeForce GTX 650 812.5 $100 - 8.125
GeForce GTX 650 Ti 1420.8 $150 - 9.472
GeForce GTX 660 1881.6 $230 - 8.181
GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2460 $290 - 8.483
GeForce GTX 670 2460 $370 - 6.648
GeForce GTX 680 3090.4 $460 - 6.718
GeForce GTX 690 2× 2810.88 (5621.76) $1000 - 5.62176 (ouch)

What about Seti’s favourite workhorse, the 560 TI?
(You know… when it’s not spitting out errors faster than Kerouac on Benzedrine)
GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1263.4 $210 - 6.016

What’s that you say? You aren’t getting free electricity? Fair enough … Let’s pretend that it costs you $1.2 per watt per year running 24/7. And that you’ll run the card for 3 years. What then?

GeForce GT 610 155.5 $40 + $104.4 – 1.077
GeForce GT 620 268.8 $50 + $176.4 – 1.187
GeForce GT 630 311.0 $60 + $234 – 1.058
GeForce GT 640 691.2 $90 + $234 – 2.133
GeForce GTX 650 812.5 $100 + $230.4 – 2.459
GeForce GTX 650 Ti 1420.8 $150 + $396 – 2.602
GeForce GTX 660 1881.6 $230 + $504 – 2.563
GeForce GTX 660 Ti 2460 $290 + $540 – 2.964
GeForce GTX 670 2460 $370 + $612 – 2.505
GeForce GTX 680 3090.4 $460 + $702 – 2.660
GeForce GTX 690 5621.76 $1000 + $1080 – 2.703

Again last number is GFLOPS per dollar. Higher is better.
Second $ amount is cost of electricity running 24/7 for 3 years.
And let’s not forget:
GeForce GTX 560 Ti 1263.4 $210 + $612 – 1.537 (ouch)

PS As Murphy would have it, I began to write this right before the power outage and tried to preview it during the outage. Many verbs and nouns followed, none of which suitable for the Boards I’m afraid. Just please show some leniency if I made any mistakes.

30) Message boards : Number crunching : Panic Mode On (79) Server Problems? (Message 1311421)
Posted 164 days ago by

Looks like my home machine managed to get allocated 97 GPU WUs -- but the response never got through so the ghost population just increased. Continue to get "Project communication failed":

Good catch there Ivan. After you posted that I noticed I had 51 ghosts that weren't there a while ago. I just set to No New Tasks...

31) Message boards : Number crunching : cheap GPU (Message 1311335)
Posted 170 days ago by

I'm with WinterKnight. For 5 bucks more you'll get a card that is almost twice as fast. Good catch WK.

Just keep in mind it's still a slower card than your 440.

32) Message boards : Number crunching : Tesla Personal Supercomputing Gpu's (Message 1311331)
Posted 170 days ago by

...I guess just wishful thinking of my part wanting to use a Tesla card. It would greatly speed up the crunching Maybe if the Bionic software gave full support the Tesla line of GPU's

If this is in reference to what I said:

a) They are far better at Double Precision (which however SETI does not use)

maybe it would have been better if I said:
"...which however SETI does not need"

AFAIK Seti works with Tesla cards.

33) Message boards : Number crunching : Microsoft Patch Tuesday (Message 1311329)
Posted 170 days ago by

Ok guys, thanx for your input and all the advice. I'm probably just imagining things:)

34) Message boards : Cafe SETI : Mystery landscape game (Message 1311133)
Posted 171 days ago by

Ok since nobody's playing with poor Julie, I'll step up:)

Chimay has been ruled out...
Stella isn't made in a monastery...

So that leaves 1 and a half Belgian beers that I'm familiar with. One is Leffe. The other "half" is called Trappist Something or Something Trappist, beige label with Motorhead font although there might be a few beers that fit that description:)

Fischer used to be an awesome beer but a) It's on the wrong side of the border and b) Doesn't taste quite as nice as I seem to remember from many, many years ago.

Edit: I lied. Just remembered I know Duvel too. But again not a monastery beer.

35) Message boards : Number crunching : crunching computer(s) (Message 1311049)
Posted 171 days ago by

Every few months Tom's Hardware does a $500 PC. Not something you should follow religiously but a handy cheat-sheet nonetheless. What they do is try to get the best GPUs into systems that are balanced enough to feed them. That's pretty much the goal for any Seti crunchin' PC too.

Last one was in August. New one could be out soon:

http://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/gaming-pc-overclocking-pc-building,3273.html

Hope it helps.

36) Message boards : Number crunching : Microsoft Patch Tuesday (Message 1311045)
Posted 171 days ago by

I've got a theory that has been nagging me for the past few months which I'm trying to disprove but instead keeps getting reinforced. The gist of it is that the past few Patch Tuesdays need a double-restart for Boinc or even the PC to start behaving again.

Any thoughts?

37) Message boards : Number crunching : Tesla Personal Supercomputing Gpu's (Message 1311004)
Posted 171 days ago by

Tesla Kepler are they worth the price and for SETI? Any sugestions?

No, not worth the price for SETI.

A lot of people here can explain this far better than I, but the short answer to why Teslas have a triple-quadruple price tag is:

a) They are far better at Double Precision (which however SETI does not use)
b) Most of what you are paying for is NVIDIA support, not the GPU itself. Think expensive warranty.

Edit: Oh and welcome to the message boards!:)

38) Message boards : Cafe SETI : Mystery Kitchen TOOL TWO (Message 1310985)
Posted 172 days ago by

Looks like an add-on of some sort. Something you'd snap on to a big can (think restaurant sized) to make pouring more manageable?

Edit: So what are the thread rules?

39) Message boards : Cafe SETI : Mystery Kitchen TOOL TWO (Message 1310879)
Posted 172 days ago by

Well it seems that the ladies who lead me to the correct answer on the last thread have run out of ideas. So here's a tool that has many uses but takes it's name from one.

Name that tool:

Oh, the fine print. Same rules as last time.

There were no rules last time!:)

Also, are you guys using Google? I find it fishy you got that one so quick;)

(couldn't resist, sorry)

40) Message boards : News : SETI@home scheduler is down until further notice. (Message 1310877)
Posted 172 days ago by

To those of you having trouble you should come over to the Number crunching forum. You are more than welcome to start a thread and ask for help. Boinc options and settings can be a bit hectic, confusing or downright hidden. If you have found yourself without work units to crunch, chances are it could have been avoided. So come on over:)

To most of you posting in this thread, welcome to the boards!

And to those of you showing people the door, shame on you.

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