SETI@Home AstroPulse GPU tasks

ao_ika_red

Golden Member
Aug 11, 2016
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I've run SETI@Home project for almost 2 months but unable to spot a single astropulse gpu task. My short journey on SETI@Home forum tells me that it's pretty scarce task compared to MultiBeam (about 1AP for 25 MB tasks). I also know that at some point, AP Task could only be run on CPU, but I don't know if it's still the case, tbh. Does anybody have similar experience?
 

Kiska

Golden Member
Apr 4, 2012
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AP units are VERY scarce, about 1 AP per 50 MB task. So when they are being split, people start going for them, en masse. AP tasks can be run on an GPU, but if you run it on a RX 480 or any Polaris card, it seems to error out.

Also since we won't be receiving new data from Arecibo, all we are doing is reprocessing data using a more sensitive app or they weren't processed when we got them in 2008

So if you have a card older than Polaris, you are ok. Nvidia GPUs don't have an issue
 

Smoke

Distributed Computing Elite Member
Jan 3, 2001
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I have 3 systems going in my home and I have only a total of eight APs in my Qs. My best system only has one.

You really get a lot of points for successfully completing those kind of WUs.
 

ao_ika_red

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Aug 11, 2016
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Also since we won't be receiving new data from Arecibo, all we are doing is reprocessing data using a more sensitive app or they weren't processed when we got them in 2008
Yeah, I realize that recently a lot of tasks came with 07 and 08 number on them. By reading Arecibo's twitter, I guess they're still recovering because they missed asteroid 2012 TC4 close-pass.

So if you have a card older than Polaris, you are ok. Nvidia GPUs don't have an issue
My 360 is the little brother (and trimmed down) version of 290 so it should be good to go.

I have 3 systems going in my home and I have only a total of eight APs in my Qs. My best system only has one.
I guess I underestimate the scarcity of AP task. If seasoned DC'ers can only get small number of them, I think I'll need more time (and luck) to experience this elusive task. Thanks for sharing.
 

TennesseeTony

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Aug 2, 2003
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Unless I'm racing, my SETI preferences are set to run the AP tasks only, on GPU. Occasionally I see some points for myself in SETI on the weekly stats, but not often.
 

Kiska

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Apr 4, 2012
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Yeah, I realize that recently a lot of tasks came with 07 and 08 number on them.

Here is how to decipher the file names:
14ap08aa
This was recorded on the 14th of April 2008, and it is the first in the dataset for that day.

blc05_2bit_guppi_57903_65911_HIP23512_0055
This comes from blc05 processor, it has a resolution of 2 bits per real sample. The file format is GUPPI. This was recorded on the 30th of May 2017 at 18:18:31 at the target HIP23512 and it is the 55th observation.
 

ao_ika_red

Golden Member
Aug 11, 2016
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Unless I'm racing, my SETI preferences are set to run the AP tasks only, on GPU. Occasionally I see some points for myself in SETI on the weekly stats, but not often.
I'm curiously to do so for a while, but due to the rarity of it, I will keep churning those endless MB tasks. I guess having single AP task will be more like a christmas present /easter egg for me.

Here is how to decipher the file names:
14ap08aa
This was recorded on the 14th of April 2008, and it is the first in the dataset for that day.

blc05_2bit_guppi_57903_65911_HIP23512_0055
This comes from blc05 processor, it has a resolution of 2 bits per real sample. The file format is GUPPI. This was recorded on the 30th of May 2017 at 18:18:31 at the target HIP23512 and it is the 55th observation.
Thanks! This is really helpful. I will bookmark this thread for sure. Oh, and this GUPPI thing, is that part of BreakThrough Listen side project? Because when I was looking for what GUPPI is, I came across this.
Screenshot-2017-10-17_GUPPISupport_Guide_CICADA_NRAO_Public_Wiki.png
 
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Kiska

Golden Member
Apr 4, 2012
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Thanks, I believe a grid of GTX285 cards won't beat a single 1080ti in 2017. It's quite interesting though, how they grow in 5 years time, storage and computing wise.

Of note I think they are running a grid of titan blacks
 

ao_ika_red

Golden Member
Aug 11, 2016
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Today is my lucky day. Just got my first AstroPulse task, but it says SSE task (so it will be cpu-based task, unfortunately). Nevertheless, a great way to end November.