Set Up Question

[shadowpr]

I just downloaded both versions of F@H. The GPU and console versions. How exactly do I set it up so I can run multiple instances. I think I have the GPU version up and running. I tried to get the consloe version running, but it doesn't seem to work as a seperate version.

I want to take advantage of both cores of my cpu.

Thanks.

[enhanced08]

in order to run both CPU and GPU client you must have a dual core system, which i assume you do because you stated both cores. its best to use the CPU text-only client rather than the graphical version. to set them both up simply make 2 different folders, one for each client. then run each program using your name and team number 13761 for our team. when you get to the part about advanced options, type yes and continue to the part where it asks for a machine id. type any number from 1-8 making sure the 2 clients do not use the same number. also note that the last i read the GPU client can not be installed as a service which means you will have to keep the console window open for it to run. also if you have a 256mb video card your system will "pause" or "lag" every few seconds for an unknown reason.

another option, if you have dual core, would be to run the SMP client which is 1 client that fully uses both cores.

HTH

[shadowpr]

you seem to be well informed about this, so let me ask you this. What would you recommend that I do?

This is my build:
E6750
EVGA 8800 GTS 640mb

What would be the best way to make the most out of my computer?

Two text only? One SMP?

And will they allow me to just have the service start automatically when the computer starts, and not have a window open? Cause it looked like i needed to leave the console version open.

[enhanced08]

alright, first off you can not run the GPU client on that video card. as of right now (or the last i heard anyway) only ATI cards are supported. the x1600 is the lowest card thats able to fold.

so now your down to a few options.

1) run the graphical client
- this will only use 1 core and will probably cause some errors with OpenGL in games and such.

2) run the graphical client with the text-only client
- this will use both cores but still have errors due to the graphical client. note that you can not run 2 instances of the graphical client.

3) run 1 instance of the text-only client
- this should run with no problems at all and can be run as a service (no windows open) but will only use 1 core

4) run 2 instances of the text-only client
- this will take advantage of both cores while causing little to no problems. both clients can be run as a service

5) run the smp client
- this will net you the most ppd (points per day) if you like watching the stats, it will also take advantage of both cores while only installing/running 1 client. there should be very few errors with the client its self, but errors in the work units are possible. the client normally takes care of these tho. the biggest problem here is that it can not be run as a service. you have to keep the console window open.

your best options are 4 and 5. personally i would go with 5, i am currently running the smp client on my 4800+ X2.

[shadowpr]

Ok. Thanks.

I appreciate the help.

Anyway I can save what I have already done while I install a the SMP client so I can transfer it over?

[enhanced08]

not with the smp client. the normal client and smp client use different units. one client can not fold the others work. either just delete it or wait till it finishes the current unit. if you wait you can run the "-oneunit" flag so that once it finishes the current unit it will not download a new one.

oh, by the way, welcome to the team!!!

[shadowpr]

Ok. I deleted and uninstalled the old client, installed teh SMP one and can't get it to work.

It says working....

core status 63 <99>
error starting F@H core.


Then I get couldn't open file fahcore_a1.exe


Off to see if I can figure this out. Any ideas?

And thanks for the welcome....just wish it was working so I could say I was on the team.

[enhanced08]

IIRC that is a permissions error. for some reason the smp client needs to be installed on a system which has a username and password. just add a password to your account then you must type it in when it asks. you also must run the install.bat file before it will run right. the install.bat file is where it will ask for the username/password. if done correctly a window will open that says something along the lines of

MPI running correctly....
MPI running correctly....

if it prints it twice then it should work, then just run the fah.exe file.

[shadowpr]

Ok, I entered all that, and I'm not getting that message. I'm getting

MPIDU_Sock_post_connect(1228):unable to connect to (computer name) on port 8676

[shadowpr]

Ok. Got it up and running. If anyone else has this problem I solved it by simply not installing to the program directory and disabling the UAC while I installed and configured it.

After that I was able to re-enable UAC, and start up the program with no problems.


Question: Should I have 4 processes of fahcore_a1.exe running at the same time? And I also have 2 of smpd.exe.

How do I get this to start automatically when Windows starts? I have the service set to start automatically, but it didn't.

Do I have to keep the Command Prompt window open the whole time? And if I want to stop it, do I just close it normally so I won't lose any progress?

Thanks for any assistance.

[enhanced08]

yes, fahcores should be running. the smp client is actually designed for quad core systems, this is why there are 4 fah cores.

installing it as a service will not work, the only way to run it is with the console window open. i just added a shortcut to my startup folder so it starts with windows.

to stop it hit CTRL + C, sometimes just clicking the "x" doesnt close it properly.

[shadowpr]

Thank you again.

[enhanced08]

no problem, let us know if you run into anymore problems.

[freakitchen]

Quick question for you enhanced - have you been following the development of the Windows SMP client much? I tried it out myself a few months back, but since I switch my dual core machine off at night, I couldn't complete the units within the deadlines of 3-4 days. Have the deadlines been relaxed at all recently?

[enhanced08]

no, as far as i know they are still 3-4 days. as far as the windows smp client itself goes, i havnt had many problems with it. the only problems i have had are when i update it, for some reason i have had to basically totally delete it and reinstall it from scratch. other than that it works fine. i just downloaded a new unit, P2653 which has a deadline of 4 days. on my 4800+ X2 @ 2.7Ghz its taking almost exactly 24 min per frame.

[shadowpr]

Would the SMP work with a P4 with HT? Or is the text client better suited for that processor?

[flanzig1]

SMP needs at mininum a dual core CPU, a single core with HT won't cut it. One of the things that SMP wants is at least a meg of onboard cache per core. P4s have 512k cache and the Prescott I believe has a meg but that would still be only 512k per unit in HT.

[shadowpr]

Ah. Ok. Guess it's two text clients then.

Thank you.

[enhanced08]

flanzig is right, you need atleast 2 cores or 2 cpu's to run the smp client. you can run 2 normal clients on a P4 with HT BUT dont expect 2 times the points. you only get about a 15-20% increase in points running 2 clients vs 1 on an HT enabled machine.

[mr_spider3]

i have a 4600+ running smp with 512 cache and it works just fine.