Why do my Folding@Home stats suck?

[DukeN]

Hey Guys/Gals,

I have the following machines crunching FAH:

XP x64 C2D e6420 oc to 2.8, 8GB RAM running all the time (only when screensvr comes on, which is almost always on)
Q6600 oc to 3.0, 8GB RAM Vista running SMP all the time
T7200, 2GB RAM, ATI Mobility X1600 running GPU client all the time
T9300, 3GBRAM, running standard client only in screensaver mode sometimes (primary work notebook)
2008 VM using a Xeon processor, 2GB RAM running all the time

Now why do my stats suck, or am I expecting too much?

I got 486 points on April 27th. Is that to be expected? Just seems really, really low to me.

TIA

 

[Golgatha]

Originally posted by: DukeN
Hey Guys/Gals,

I have the following machines crunching FAH:

XP x64 C2D e6420 oc to 2.8, 8GB RAM running all the time (only when screensvr comes on, which is almost always on)
Q6600 oc to 3.0, 8GB RAM Vista running SMP all the time
T7200, 2GB RAM, ATI Mobility X1600 running GPU client all the time
T9300, 3GBRAM, running standard client only in screensaver mode sometimes (primary work notebook)
2008 VM using a Xeon processor, 2GB RAM running all the time

Now why do my stats suck, or am I expecting too much?

I got 486 points on April 27th. Is that to be expected? Just seems really, really low to me.

TIA

Run the console only versions of FAH, and run multiple clients on boxes that have two or more cores. Your Q6600 should pull in more than 486 ppd. Is that an average ppd (points per day) or just a one day tally though? I have lean days too when the clients are still busy with larger projects. I've also had days where they all hit at once and I burst at 2700+ ppd.

. 30 _____ 39 ___ 2,011 ___ DavidBoaz

That's pretty average for my systems, which include...

Q6600 @ 3.0Ghz (using 3/4 cores due to heat issues)
E2160 @ 2.4Ghz (2/2 cores used)
P4 3.0Ghz
P4 3.4Ghz
Pentium M 1.7Ghz

 

[DukeN]

Thanks, I'll see if some of those changes make a difference.

Originally posted by: Golgatha

Originally posted by: DukeN
Hey Guys/Gals,

I have the following machines crunching FAH:

XP x64 C2D e6420 oc to 2.8, 8GB RAM running all the time (only when screensvr comes on, which is almost always on)
Q6600 oc to 3.0, 8GB RAM Vista running SMP all the time
T7200, 2GB RAM, ATI Mobility X1600 running GPU client all the time
T9300, 3GBRAM, running standard client only in screensaver mode sometimes (primary work notebook)
2008 VM using a Xeon processor, 2GB RAM running all the time

Now why do my stats suck, or am I expecting too much?

I got 486 points on April 27th. Is that to be expected? Just seems really, really low to me.

TIA

Run the console only versions of FAH, and run multiple clients on boxes that have two or more cores. Your Q6600 should pull in more than 486 ppd. Is that an average ppd (points per day) or just a one day tally though? I have lean days too when the clients are still busy with larger projects. I've also had days where they all hit at once and I burst at 2700+ ppd.

. 30 _____ 39 ___ 2,011 ___ DavidBoaz

That's pretty average for my systems, which include...

Q6600 @ 3.0Ghz (using 3/4 cores due to heat issues)
E2160 @ 2.4Ghz (2/2 cores used)
P4 3.0Ghz
P4 3.4Ghz
Pentium M 1.7Ghz

 

[Foxery]

Er, I don't think there *is* a "Screensaver" client any more. Make sure every box is running version 5 or 6 and 2 copies for 2-core machines. Check your settings for Large WUs and Advanced Methods, etc.

 

[DukeN]

Originally posted by: Foxery
Er, I don't think there *is* a "Screensaver" client any more. Make sure every box is running version 5 or 6 and 2 copies for 2-core machines. Check your settings for Large WUs and Advanced Methods, etc.

The 'regular' client lets you run the core only when the screensaver is engaged. This way when I have to use my puter the core isn't taking up 100% of my cycles.

On my work notebook this owns me as my company's enforced Windows screensaver comes on after 10 mins, and the folding core shuts down I believe.

I wish FAH had an option like rosetta and other BOINC clients where it would only run when idle, and not be affected by the GPU.

 

[theAnimal]

FAH runs at idle priority so it will only use 100% if no other application needs the CPU.

 

[Assimilator1]

Yes, in addition if you're using a CPU hungry screensaver it will have priority over F@H on CPU power & thus F@H will do next to nothing!

AFAIK you can't run F@H GPU on an X1600, their too slow & so the clients didn't support it I believe.
The older GPU client supports X19xx whilst the new one supports X2x00 & HD38xx.

 

[DukeN]

Thanks assimilator, that would explain what's going on. I will try it without the screensaver and see how disruptive it is on a couple of my machines that are frequently used.

 

[GLeeM]

Originally posted by: DukeN
Hey Guys/Gals,

I have the following machines crunching FAH:

XP x64 C2D e6420 oc to 2.8, 8GB RAM running all the time (only when screensvr comes on, which is almost always on)
Q6600 oc to 3.0, 8GB RAM Vista running SMP all the time
T7200, 2GB RAM, ATI Mobility X1600 running GPU client all the time
T9300, 3GBRAM, running standard client only in screensaver mode sometimes (primary work notebook)
2008 VM using a Xeon processor, 2GB RAM running all the time

Now why do my stats suck, or am I expecting too much?

I got 486 points on April 27th. Is that to be expected? Just seems really, really low to me.

TIA

Thanks for asking for help

I do think something is not right, we can figure out what!

The SMP client alone should be getting more than twice what you are averaging. Could you look at the log file - FAHlog.txt - to make sure that it is finishing WUs and sending in results? You should see something like this:
[15:01:33] + Results successfully sent
[15:01:33] Thank you for your contribution to Folding@Home.
[15:01:33] + Number of Units Completed: 21

By looking here it says you have four active processors. I am not sure how they count CPUs running the SMP (as only one or as four?).

From looking at the bottom of this page I can see that you have not completed an SMP work unit in the last week for sure and maybe not in much longer. Or at least not one that went to your F@H name. Please check that all of your clients are configured with your folding name and "198" TeAm number.

Also, if running only one regular client on a dual CPU computer, it will not use 100%, only 50%. So you would still have a full CPU to do the work when you are using the computer. You might not need to use the Screensaver option, give it a try?

 

[DukeN]

Thanks Gleem. I'll look into these items you've outlined in more detail next couple of days and hopefully find the right info.

 

[Assimilator1]

Keep us posted .