FR Folding@Home Project Update -- We're Now # 55 of all teams with 20,000,000 Points

Stanford University Folding@Home Distributed Computing Project ^ | 03/03/2007 | Stanford University

[texas booster]

Time for a new Free Republic Folding@home thread.

Our Free Republic team of 428 members comprised primarily of Free Republic members in good standing have banded together to donate their excess CPU cycles to a worthy cause. Via distributed computing, millions of computers around the world contribute directly to scientific research, in the quest for a greater understanding of diseases such as Alzheimer's, Cancer, and Mad Cow (BSE).

Currently, the team is in 55th place (with 1,025 active CPUs - 106,120 completed Work Units and 20.25 million points).

This is an entirely voluntary program, and if you want to learn more, please see the links posted below (or read one of the previous 30+ folding threads)

[texas booster]

Make sure that you pay attention to the following:

team number: 36120
User Name: Quix

Use IE settings: No
Use proxy server: No
Start as a service: Yes

Leave the rest as default suggests for now.

Reboot the system and head to bed.

In the morning take a look at the directory you are using and find a file called unitinfo.txt. That will tell you how far along you are.

You can also load Egon's monitor once the unitinfo.txt has been created.

[FreedomGuru]

Re: the memory leak, bring up the task manager cntl-alt-del, look at the process tab, look for anything with high cpu usage, don't worry about the System Idle Process it will show high when you have the task manager open. If there is a program using the cpu when it shouldn't, it will indicate use. If you can't identify the culprit program, write down the name of the process and find it through Windows search. It could be the screen saver, that's why I don't use them, I just turn off my monitor.
Also some of your erratic problems may be due to overheating, the internal fans can get dirty and lead to overheating. If you clean the motherboard fans, should be a fan on the cpu and the chipset, shut off the computer before vacuming the dust. My house is dusty and these fans can get clogged up quickly, especially during the winter.

[texas booster]

FreedomGuru is right about the Task Manager. Its a good tool to see if something is stealing CPU cycles. Also look over at Performance to view other info on how your memory is being used.

[Quix]

Thank much.

[Quix]

Thanks again.

[Quix]

Didn't show up in the PROCESS or PERFORMANCE stuff on the task manager.

Mostly that seems taken up by the antivirus; firewall of SYSTEM MECH 7.

Thanks for the suggestions.

[Quix]

Thanks. Have printed it off.

[Quix]

Thanks.

Didn't find anything that way. Sys MECH 7 seems to be the thing taking most of the cpu time etc.

I blow things out fairly regularly in terms of dust etc. Doesn't seem to influence the memory leak thing. I keep the main side open all the time and have several extra fans going all the time.

[texas booster]

Whose antivirus do you use?

Whose firewall?

I go out and get hardware firewalls that are built into the wireless hubs being made nowadays. Better security, able to protect a couple of different ways. Cheap, under $50 on sale.

[Quix]

Welll, I just installed it from that link . . . I hope I did it right. Typed in FR's team number. Double checked it . . .

How can I check to see that I did it all right? Not trying to be thickheaded if I've been told. Sorry.

Thx.

[Quix]

Hmmmm

We have MSN QWEST ADSL

I have SYSTEM MECHANIC VERS 7 FIREWALL AND ANTIVIRUS.

I also have Webroot antispyware.

Will keep on the lookout for a hardware firewall.

[texas booster]

Find the F@H directory in My Computer.


open the file FAHlog.txt.

Mine reads:

Launch directory: C:\Downloads
Service: C:\Downloads\FAH504-Console.exe
Arguments: -svcstart

Launched as a service.
Entered C:\Downloads to do work.

[17:59:59] - Ask before connecting: No
[17:59:59] - User name: Texas_Booster (Team 36120)
[17:59:59] - User ID: 6DB324B208553A9F
[17:59:59] - Machine ID: 1
[17:59:59]
[17:59:59] Loaded queue successfully.
[17:59:59] + Benchmarking ...
[18:00:02]
[18:00:02] + Processing work unit
[18:00:02] Core required: FahCore_78.exe
[18:00:02] Core found.
[18:00:02] Working on Unit 02 [March 3 18:00:02]
[18:00:02] + Working ...
[18:00:03]
[18:00:03]

---

[18:00:03] Folding@Home Gromacs Core
[18:00:03] Version 1.90 (March 8, 2006)
[18:00:03]
[18:00:03] Preparing to commence simulation
[18:00:03] - Looking at optimizations...
[18:00:03] - Files status OK
[18:00:03] - Expanded 290649 -> 1461493 (decompressed 502.8 percent)
[18:00:04]
[18:00:04] Project: 3039 (Run 9, Clone 237, Gen 8)
[18:00:04]
[18:00:04] Assembly optimizations on if available.
[18:00:04] Entering M.D.
[18:00:24] (Starting from checkpoint)
[18:00:24] Protein: p3039_supervillin-03
[18:00:24]
[18:00:24] Writing local files
[18:00:24] Completed 1649007 out of 5000000 steps (33)
[18:00:24] Extra SSE boost OK.
[18:01:34] Writing local files
[18:01:35] Completed 1650000 out of 5000000 steps (33)
[18:54:51] Writing local files
[18:54:51] Completed 1700000 out of 5000000 steps (34)
[19:48:01] Writing local files ...

This work unit was 34% finished here. If you see Team 36120 and your name then you can relax and check it in the morning.

[Quix]

THANKS MUCH. Here's mine:

Launch directory: I:\Program Files\Folding@Home


[04:05:57] - Ask before connecting: No
[04:05:57] - Use IE connection settings: Yes
[04:05:57] - User name: QUIX (Team 36120)
[04:05:57] - User ID not found locally
[04:05:57] + Requesting User ID from server
[04:06:00] - Machine ID: 1
[04:06:00]
[04:06:00] Work directory not found. Creating...
[04:06:00] Could not open work queue, generating new queue...
[04:06:00] Initialization complete
[04:06:00] + Benchmarking ...
[04:06:04] - Preparing to get new work unit...
[04:06:04] + Attempting to get work packet
[04:06:04] - Connecting to assignment server
[04:06:05] - Successful: assigned to (171.65.103.160).
[04:06:05] + News From Folding@Home: Welcome to Folding@Home
[04:06:05] Loaded queue successfully.
[04:06:15] + Closed connections
[04:06:15]
[04:06:15] + Processing work unit
[04:06:15] Core required: FahCore_78.exe
[04:06:15] Core not found.
[04:06:15] - Core is not present or corrupted.
[04:06:15] - Attempting to download new core...
[04:06:15] + Downloading new core: FahCore_78.exe
[04:06:16] + 10240 bytes downloaded
[04:06:17] + 20480 bytes downloaded
[04:06:17] + 30720 bytes downloaded
[04:06:17] + 40960 bytes downloaded
[04:06:17] + 51200 bytes downloaded
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[04:06:29] + 808960 bytes downloaded
[04:06:29] + 819200 bytes downloaded
[04:06:29] + 825633 bytes downloaded
[04:06:29] Verifying core Core_78.fah...
[04:06:29] Signature is VALID
[04:06:29]
[04:06:29] Trying to unzip core FahCore_78.exe
[04:06:31] Decompressed FahCore_78.exe (2338816 bytes) successfully
[04:06:31] + Core successfully engaged
[04:06:38]
[04:06:38] + Processing work unit
[04:06:38] Core required: FahCore_78.exe
[04:06:38] Core found.
[04:06:38] Working on Unit 01 [March 4 04:06:38]
[04:06:38] + Working ...
[04:06:38]
[04:06:38]

---

[04:06:38] Folding@Home Gromacs Core
[04:06:38] Version 1.90 (March 8, 2006)
[04:06:38]
[04:06:38] Preparing to commence simulation
[04:06:38] - Looking at optimizations...
[04:06:38] - Created dyn
[04:06:38] - Files status OK
[04:06:39] - Expanded 291524 -> 1461493 (decompressed 501.3 percent)
[04:06:39] - Starting from initial work packet
[04:06:39]
[04:06:39] Project: 3038 (Run 1, Clone 582, Gen 10)
[04:06:39]
[04:06:40] Assembly optimizations on if available.
[04:06:40] Entering M.D.
[04:06:46] Protein: p3038_supervillin-03
[04:06:46]
[04:06:46] Writing local files
[04:06:47] Extra SSE boost OK.
[04:06:47] Writing local files
[04:06:48] Completed 0 out of 5000000 steps (0)
[04:49:19] Writing local files
[04:49:23] Completed 50000 out of 5000000 steps (1)

[E.G.C.]

BTTT

[texas booster]

Thanks!

[RebelTex]

"but I also have problems routinely . . . not sure why all . . . I'm on 24/7"

The first things I think of are memory and HDD utilization/configuration.  

Max out your system Ram, if you can, and try to get all the same high quality brand (same batch if possible).  Don't do any overclocking until you're sure the system is running stable, then increment slowly.

Add a second HDD if you don't already have one.  Configure a small partition at the front of the second drive, large enough for a system swap file and a little more.  Configure XP so that there is only one swap file and locate it on that partition.  (The XP default is to put a swap file in every partition.)   This should result in a more robust system without as many problems.  The second HDD uses a different channel to read/write and can do so simultaneously while read/writes occur on the 1st HDD.  By limiting the swap partition to only the swap file, there is no fragmentation of it, which is the normal scenario and tends to really slow down systems over time - especially if one does not defrag the hard drives very often. 

Routine maintenance should include deleting temp files, uninstalling or deleting stuff no longer needed and defragging the hard drives - all at regular intervals.

Hope that helps.

[Quix]

I have 5 or so HD's tons of GIGABYTES. A RAID setup etc.

Might setup a 4Gig Flash drive as you suggest. I haven't partitioned any of my HD's.

Thanks much.

RAM is maxed at 1 Gig because techs have been unable to get the other Gig slot to work for some reason.

[RebelTex]

"RAM is maxed at 1 Gig because techs have been unable to get the other Gig slot to work for some reason."

Sometimes memory sticks from different manufacturers won't work well together on the same motherboard, even if their specs are an exact match.  Occasionally, sticks from the same manufacturer have the same problem and need to be paired with sticks from the same batch.  Of course, there is also the chance that the problem is the slot on the motherboard itself or the timing of the North & South bridge chips on the motherboard.  I'd do some research on the motherboard itself (support pages & user forums on the motherboard manufacturer's web site)- see if any one else has had the same problem and/or if there are chipset driver updates available.  Make sure that the ram sticks match the boards requirements and try using only the brand certified by the MB manufacturer.  After checking out the MB, you could try buying 2 new matching sticks as a pair and relegate the original stick to an older system, if one is available.  (Corsair and Kingston have generally good reputations for memory.) 

Sometimes, you just get stuck with an older MB that refuses to upgrade because of a flaw design in the North and South bridge chips or supporting chipset drivers and the manufacturer quit trying to overcome the flaw. :-(

"I haven't partitioned any of my HD's."

You could use Partition Magic to reconfigure one of the drives, but don't do it on a mirrored drive.  The flash drive you mentioned would be the easiest and fastest way to reconfigure - just make sure it's always available or Windows will reconfigure itself by creating a new swap file on the main drive.  Once you've reconfigured, don't forget to delete the old swap files on all the other drives and then defrag them. 

"I have 5 or so HD's tons of GIGABYTES."

With large hard drives, defragging can really improve performance.  Look for a good defrag program that will allow you to specify how to arrange files and blank space on the disk and research the best schemes for the way you use your system.

Hope all this helps.
RT

[Quix]

Magnificently wonderful input.

thanks tons.

Will probably go the 4 gig flash route. Probably don't have current coins to do the mother board hassles on the added RAM. It's an ASUS motherboard and a dual CPU AMD ATHLON setup.

Greatly appreciate the input.

[RebelTex]

You're welcome.

Good Luck.
RT