How do I keep "Extra SSE boost" always on?

[EQuito]

Every time a new unit starts, I get 3DNow instead of SSE.
I have to re-start said unit manually to get SSE to engage again... :confused:

Any ideas? TIA

[danball1976]

Use -forceasm. When using EMIII, place that in the "Use Extra Lauch Commands" box.

[EQuito]

I'm already using both -advmethods and -forceasm switches.

[shwaip]

download the 3.25 client. It's still beta, but it works fine.

the beta can be found here (http://folding.stanford.edu/beta/beta.html)

[EQuito]

I'll give that a try, thanks!
Can I switch cores in the middle of a unit?

/edit: sorry, I mean 'clients'... :o

[seversphere]

did not know this :banghead:
wish the client would just update itself.

[danball1976]

EQuito said
I'll give that a try, thanks!
Can I switch cores in the middle of a unit?

You have to delete the core so that it can download it again, as per the instructions on the F@H website.

[shwaip]

yea, EQuito, you can. However, you may want to make a backup of the entire folder, in case something gets foobared. (And there is no need to change cores)

[EQuito]

danball1976 said
EQuito said
I'll give that a try, thanks!
Can I switch cores in the middle of a unit?

You have to delete the core so that it can download it again, as per the instructions on the F@H website.
I meant to say 'clients'.
If I'm not mistaken 'core 78' is the same for both clients.

[danball1976]

Yeah, the core is the same for both.

However, I did see that they wanted you to delete that core so it will download it again for some reason.

[shwaip]

Yeah, i saw your edit. I just wanted to clarify for anyone else who may have had the problem :)

[EQuito]

shwaip said
Yeah, i saw your edit. I just wanted to clarify for anyone else who may have had the problem :)

Thanks! YGPM

[mmonnin]

For AMD CPUs you must have 3.25 beta and -forceasm to enable SSE optimizations. The only thing different in 3.25 is that 3dnow! is default instead of SSE so you have to use -forceasm. Otherwise is the same client.

[seversphere]

just redid 6 of my comps to 3.25 and -forceasm

I had to rename the beta to the regular "FAH3Console.exe" or else EMIII wouldn't pick it up. 30% faster than 3Dnow right :)

[mmonnin]

Thats what I have heard. You should see a noticable difference in frame times.

[EQuito]

mmonnin said
For AMD CPUs you must have 3.25 beta and -forceasm to enable SSE optimizations. The only thing different in 3.25 is that 3dnow! is default instead of SSE so you have to use -forceasm. Otherwise is the same client.
hmmm..., if what you say is true, 3.25 isn't gonna work for me either.
I was using 3.24 with -forceasm and I was getting 'Extra SSE boost' except that it wouldn't default to it when a new unit started.

[mmonnin]

It will always stay on with 3.25. After the first one it reverts back to 3dnow! with 3.24.

[MrBill]

EQuito said

hmmm..., if what you say is true, 3.25 isn't gonna work for me either.
I was using 3.24 with -forceasm and I was getting 'Extra SSE boost' except that it wouldn't default to it when a new unit started.

http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/beta/325-changes.txt

Folding@Home 3.25 beta
May 7, 2003

----------------------------------------------------------------------
THIS BETA WILL NOT EXPIRE.

----------------------------------------------------------------------
RECENT CHANGES (Client) - from 3.24 Release:


3.25 beta (unmarked)
--------------------
- If -forceasm is used, then on every execution of the core until the
client is restarted, SSE optimizations will be used if possible (if
the chip is an AMD chip, then be default, without the flag, it would
not be chosen over 3DNow). Prior to this client, this effect would have
held true only for the first work unit run after starting the client.
//edit: 3.25 beta can be downloaded here. (http://www.stanford.edu/group/pandegroup/beta/beta.html)

[EQuito]

Thanks MrBill but damn!, the wording is ambiguous and very confusing to say the least.

Let me see if I get this right:

3.24 w/-forceasm = default to 3DNow with every new unit if AMD CPU is present.

3.25 w/-forceasm = default to SSE with every new unit not matter what CPU is present.

[mmonnin]

The only reason to have 3.25 is if you have an AMD. 3.24 and -forceasm will force SSE for Intels.

Not really a default but rather forced. By default I mean with no flags it will use so and so optimizations.

Just use 3.25 and -forceasm and you will get SSE for your AMD.

[MrBill]

EQuito said
Thanks MrBill but damn!, the wording is ambiguous and very confusing to say the least.

Let me see if I get this right:

3.24 w/-forceasm = default to 3DNow with every new unit if AMD CPU is present.

3.25 w/-forceasm = default to SSE with every new unit not matter what CPU is present. The wording in the changes file is rather confusing. I would say your translation is exactly right. :)

[csimon]

also be sure you have the FahCore_78 or later:

[05:40:00] Folding@home Gromacs Core
[05:40:00] Version 1.48 (May 7, 2003)

[EQuito]

csimon said
also be sure you have the FahCore_78 or later:

[05:40:00] Folding@home Gromacs Core
[05:40:00] Version 1.48 (May 7, 2003)
Yeah, that's the one I have now. Let's see what happens when the next unit starts...

Thanks everybody!

[mmonnin]

You cannot get another core version I dont think. It downloads automatically for a new set up for if the old one is deleted.

[seversphere]

My machines are folding ridiculously faster now. Primesuspect you going down!

[mmonnin]

Go for the Top 10.

[csimon]

mmonnin said
You cannot get another core version I dont think.
hehe ...got email? I got about 28+ copies of it! LOL:fold:

[primesuspect]

seversphere said
My machines are folding ridiculously faster now. Primesuspect you going down!

HOLY CRAP! I just looked for the first time in days, and I jumped from 15th to 11th place! W00T!

Come and get me, seversphere. I'm gunning for Top 10.

I'll get you yet, lasse!!!!!!! :ninja:

[seversphere]

go play a game or encode a DVD set so I can catch up :D :fold:

[seversphere]

I've had one comp shutdown and two freeze - the one that shutdown is a palomino and the other two are Tbreds. They all folded a few WUs then crashed. Hope it was just a fluke and not the Tbred bug.

[mmonnin]

Temps buddy. Temps.

[WuGgaRoO]

how do i know that its using sse??? I currently have fire deamon tools and i dont know how to view the FAH text only console...i know i must sound like a boob but help me out
(oh and another thing, in the parameters i have this written
-service -forescam
is that wat i need for the extra sse boost?)

[csimon]

WuGgaRoO said
how do i know that its using sse??? I currently have fire deamon tools and i dont know how to view the FAH text only console...i know i must sound like a boob but help me out
(oh and another thing, in the parameters i have this written
-service -forescam
is that wat i need for the extra sse boost?)
add -advmethods so you get gromacs ...
to see if sse boost is activated search your FAHlog.txt ...look at the last time the client was started and towards the end when it starts folding you should see sse boost ...

[13:42:46] Assembly optimizations on if available.
[13:42:46] Entering M.D.
[13:42:52] Protein: p340_gnra_nat
[13:42:52]
[13:42:52] Writing local files
[13:43:27] Extra SSE boost OK.
[13:43:27] Writing local files
[13:43:27] Completed 0 out of 500000 steps (0)

[WuGgaRoO]

edit:
THANK U!!!

[csimon]

WuGgaRoO said
edit:
THANK U!!!
anytime ...so have you seen it yet? the boost I mean.

[WuGgaRoO]

well..right now im at the end of a WU so imma wait for a few minutes
but ive got a half question half comment
the extra sse boost can be used when i put it in as a tag in the FAH console shortcut properties...right?
like at the end of the target box i put in -forceasm -advmethods
...im just making sure im not fuxoring up

[csimon]

yes your target should look similar to this ...

/example

D:\f@h\f@h1\FAH3Console.exe -forceasm -advmethods

also ...if you are using an amd xp or better be sure to use the beta console 3.25 and the fahcore_78 (Version 1.48 (May 7, 2003) :fold:

[Omega65]

seversphere said
just redid 6 of my comps to 3.25 and -forceasm

I had to rename the beta to the regular "FAH3Console.exe" or else EMIII wouldn't pick it up. 30% faster than 3Dnow right :)

I'm thinking he can't be right. A 30% increase just from switching Clients.

Well, my Athlon 1833 (OC'd) went from time 21hrs for a 53.3pt Wu to 17hrs.

Thanks a lot Sev! ;D

[mmonnin]

Sev is kicking primes ass with the boost from SSE.

Only 200 more points now Omega and you will pass me.

[Omega65]

I noticed you had a sharp drop in production this past week.

[mmonnin]

Lost the few at school because of construction and then I am folding under Heather.

[Straight_Man]

I found out something interesting while hunting something else. This is something integrated into 4.00 Pre1 for both Windows and Linux.

When I got my first p1000+ WU after the 4.00 Pre1 upgrade, I DID in fact have put in my log an entry set like this:

New version of Core_78 required.
Downloading Core_78.

It then checked the core siganture to validate the archive, installed it, and it is using a new Core_78 version from that point on, both in Windows and in Linux. Interestingly, production doubled or tripled (has not totally stabilized, get randomly varying step calc speed rates even within WUs of p1000 series-- they do not relate to other use times, the number of steps per percentage, nor to RAM available). But, am genning about what I thought the boxes should be able to gen, 700-1000 points a week with the p1000 series projects. These are all Gromacs units, FAH main type. This last seven days, I turned in about 850 points. Now that boxes are more stable, I am looking at 280-320 every TWO DAYS. Folks with fast modern boxes might want to try the 4.00 Pre1 client and see if production goes up. Yuo CAN do this upgrade without deleting any cores or even othre client executables, if you rename the old executable, and it WILL pick up where previous client took off, though if you want one piece of advice it would be to run the new client in -config mode in Linux before working on WUs (CTRL-C exits it in an orderly fashion, in the Linux console client).

For Windows, you can use configure, or make a desktop shortcut and change the call line to include the advanced options you want. In 98 SE and up, making a desktop shortcut gives you a run entry box with the path in it. Client will respond to this syntax:

"PATH/FAHCLIENTNAME" -advmethods -forceSSE (AND\OR) -forceasm

from a call made from a shortcut doubleclick. Look in the new client parameter info file for the difference between -forceasm and -forceSSE, please, or in other threads here on Short-Media.

Sample entry for client, on a Barton box, in Windows 98 SE:

"C:\program files\Folding@Home\winFAH.exe" -advmethods -forceSSE

Note, parameters DO go outside the quotes for this client in 98 SE, and that pathing is NOT case sensitive in 98 SE from shortcuts. Please do NOT play with the start folder line, even if it looks odd, especially in 98 SE. It IS a DOSsed path and SHOULD be one. This is how to write a minibatch or function specific call using a shortcut. i now have multiple shortcuts, one for emergency use to delete a WU, one for a forced send as the Barton box is on dialup, and one for just a startup. I also made my desktop shortcut from the Startup folder shortcut, NOT the WinFAH.exe icon in the Folding@Home folder in the C: drive. The WinFAH icon does not have a specific call line,and the shortcut is a copy of the properites of the WinFAH icon which does NOT give me what I want to have as to a specific call line I can enter parms into to get specific functions with a click and not bad typing manually entered each time.

John.