F@H: Big WU + advmethods = 150% points

[GLeeM]

Pande Group is trying some new methods on the Big WU (~4MB download). They need more people to use the -advmethods flag and run these WUs, so they are giving a 50% bonus.

The downside is that they take longer to download/upload and they use more system resources. I think there is a minimum ram amount.

You need the v5 client set to accept WU over 5 MB and to use advmethods flag.

Many of these Big WUs early end. This still gives them results and is the new method part, something about getting twice the data. You get credit for how far into the run you got. Be warned that they can early end on the first or second frame. I had one go to 78 frames and one finish. FAH LogStats shows 175 ppd running one on P4 3.0 @ 3.2.

Maybe this is how the Cows are staying ahead of us!

 

[mikecel79]

Hmm I'll try and switch my home machines to using the advmethods switch. They are already on V5. I won't switch my fleet at work over to the V5 client yet.

 

[GLeeM]

Originally posted by: mikecel79
Hmm I'll try and switch my home machines to using the advmethods switch. They are already on V5. I won't switch my fleet at work over to the V5 client yet.

You also have to configure it to do Big WUs.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

how do you set the gui to use advmethods?

 

[GLeeM]

Originally posted by: lobadobadingdong
how do you set the gui to use advmethods?

Right click the shortcut that starts the GUI and select Properties.

On the right of the path in the Target box add a space, a dash (-), and advmethods

Should look something like this:
"C:\Program Files\Folding@Home\winFAH.exe" -forceasm -advmethods

 

[3chordcharlie]

thanks - 2 AXP machines switched over to these settings.

Is there any reason I would want to switch them back at some point? I mean I don't care what part of what project they are doing; if I leave -advmethods and no units are available, it will just download a 'normal' unit, right?

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie
thanks - 2 AXP machines switched over to these settings.

Is there any reason I would want to switch them back at some point? I mean I don't care what part of what project they are doing; if I leave -advmethods and no units are available, it will just download a 'normal' unit, right?

Right.

Now I've got to go off to find the instructions for making the service install use flags... these 4MB WUs could be useful now that I've got a DSL connection.

Adding flags to a service install (Folding-Community):

1/ Shut down that instance through the Services manager snap-in
2/ Run regedit and go to key HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\<service name> and edit the entry ImagePath, adding whatever flags you wish to the end. Exit regedit.
3/ Re-open the Services manager snap-in, and verify that your changes appear there, and then restart the service.

The usual disclaimer about danger in editing your registry settings applies.

Edit: GLeeM posted while I edited my post to include the instructions I found.

 

[GLeeM]

Unfortunately, at this time, the only way to add flags to the service is to edit the registry entry for that service.

1/ Shut down that instance through the Services manager snap-in
2/ Run regedit and go to key HKLM\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\<service name> and edit the entry ImagePath, adding whatever flags you wish to the end. Exit regedit.
3/ Re-open the Services manager snap-in, and verify that your changes appear there, and then restart the service.

NOTE: Registry editing can be dangerous if you do it wrong, although the above is pretty straight forward. Use this procedure at your own risk!

Some methodology of entering the flags at service install time has been requested for the next maintenance release of the client.

I found this here.

Edit: There is an official announcement now and it says nothing about advmethods. Edit: Now it does. Also, you must have at least 240 MB of ram.

See here.

Edit: Edit: Sorry ProviaFan!

 

[3chordcharlie]

oops - already there above.

One of my machines is running one of these now, and it's using over 150mb of memory.

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie
oops - already there above.

One of my machines is running one of these now, and it's using over 150mb of memory.

Yeah, I've got a 150MB one also. It makes things a bit tight on my 512MB of RAM, so maybe it's time to upgrade.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Mine too - I went back and took -advmethods off the other machine, which only has 256mb.

I don't game, so 512 is still more than enough for me, even with one of these things running. But others might find they don'twant to run them.

 

[lobadobadingdong]

sure wish I had a ht p4 doing this instead of my lowly 2500+ @ 12.5x138, that's almost like buy 2 get 1 free

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie
Mine too - I went back and took -advmethods off the other machine, which only has 256mb.

I don't game, so 512 is still more than enough for me, even with one of these things running. But others might find they don'twant to run them.

I don't game, but I Photoshop and VMWare, so I'm going to have to put in an order for a matching stick of Corsair XMS PC3200.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: ProviaFan

I don't game, but I Photoshop and VMWare, so I'm going to have to put in an order for a matching stick of Corsair XMS PC3200.

I thought the point to DC was it didn't cost much cuz the hardware was sitting idle anyway

My computer pretty much sits there running Messenger except two or three nights a term when I write an essay. Maybe I need to upgrade

 

[Pokey]

Ok, I'm game.

I've started (3) of my machines on V5 with the -advmethods switch and config'd to do big workunits.

One of them only has 256MB of RAM, but it's only task is to fold, so we will see what happens.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: Pokey
Ok, I'm game.

I've started (3) of my machines on V5 with the -advmethods switch and config'd to do big workunits.

One of them only has 256MB of RAM, but it's only task is to fold, so we will see what happens.

It will be absolutely fine if that's it's only task. The one I took off that is my brother's desktop, and folds with the understanding that it won't affect him. Using 75% of his ram for folding would obviously break that understanding

 

[ICXRa]

Is it true that version 5 has a built in service installer?

 

[ProviaFan]

Originally posted by: ICXRa
Is it true that version 5 has a built in service installer?

Yes. It seems to be working quite well for me.

Of course, one can only install the v5 client as a service on Windows NT, 2000, XP, and 2003. Win9x and ME do not support this.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: ProviaFan

Originally posted by: ICXRa
Is it true that version 5 has a built in service installer?

Yes. It seems to be working quite well for me.

Of course, one can only install the v5 client as a service on Windows NT, 2000, XP, and 2003. Win9x and ME do not support this.

I wish they would let you ad flags when you install it though. It's easy to change in the registry, but it would be easier to have it built in to the config, along with a check to make sure you haven't got any typos/nonexistent flags.

 

[ICXRa]

Good news....thanks!

 

[Insidious]

big'uns and -advmethods it is :beer:

(sorry I didn't see this thread until now)

-Sid

 

[csyberblue]

I'm sorry, I'm a little confused. Do we HAVE to also change the registry settings to do this? or is just going in the options and allowing it to get the bigger files, and adding the "advmethod" at the end of the shortcut gonna do it?

Thank you for any help.

 

[3chordcharlie]

Originally posted by: csyberblue
I'm sorry, I'm a little confused. Do we HAVE to also change the registry settings to do this? or is just going in the options and allowing it to get the bigger files, and adding the "advmethod" at the end of the shortcut gonna do it?

Thank you for any help.

You only need to do the registry settings if you have the console, configured as a service.

 

[csyberblue]

Originally posted by: 3chordcharlie

Originally posted by: csyberblue
I'm sorry, I'm a little confused. Do we HAVE to also change the registry settings to do this? or is just going in the options and allowing it to get the bigger files, and adding the "advmethod" at the end of the shortcut gonna do it?

Thank you for any help.

You only need to do the registry settings if you have the console, configured as a service.

oh ok. I'm using the GUI version so I guess I'm good to go. Thank you for the quick reply!

 

[GLeeM]

@csyberblue
The registry changes are needed only to add flags (-advmethods) to a service install.

You just need to config options to do WU >5MB and also:

Right click the shortcut that starts F@H and select Properties.
Add the -advmethods flag to the end of the string in the Target textbox.

I also add -local flag because I run two consoles on HT P4.
And -forceasm so that if rig crashes, F@H will restart with optimizations turned on. (Takes forever to finish WU without optimizations)