Tweaking your F@H - VRForums - SITEX 2009

Gollum · Dec 30th, 05, 02:02 PM

1) The console version is significantly faster than the graphical version. The graphical version uses up extra CPU cycles to draw those pretty pictures on the screen.

2) command line switches

-advmethods "Request to be assigned work units from new projects, before they are broadly released to the rest of Folding@home. As among the first to try out new advanced simulations, you may wish to post any observations (positive or negative), questions, or issues at the user Forum."

-forceasm recommended for Intel "Instruct the core to use SSE/3DNow assembly instructions if possible, even if it has previously made the determination that the machine may not be handling this well."

-forceSSE recommended for AMD "On machines with an AMD processor, Core_78 gives priority to 3DNow over SSE -- this overrides that." NOTE: AMD TBird processors do NOT support SSE.

-local "Use configuration files from local directory. It instructs the client to read its config information from the client.cfg file in the current directory rather than, on Windows, from the installation directory specified in the registry, or, on Macintosh, the Library/Folding@home directory."

for a complete list of command line switches go to http://folding.stanford.edu/console-userguide.html

e.g. C:\FAH1\FAH1.exe -local -advmethods -forceasm

3) Multiple Instances
This primarily for Pentium 4 machines with Hyper-Threading but also applies to all multi-processor systems.

1st create seperate directories for each instance of Folding; FAH1, FAH2.

2nd place a copy of the folding executable in both directories, create a shortcut for each.

3rd edit the shortcuts with the necessary command line switches, at least the -local switch

4th set the machine IDs to two different numbers [1-8], ideally use 1 and 2.

2 instances on a hyper threading P4 generally improve point output of the machine by 5-10%

Taken from http://www.devhardware.com/forums/de...aks-33532.html

NightRaven · Dec 30th, 05, 02:13 PM

wah gollum..u now then say! haha~

Gollum · Dec 30th, 05, 02:14 PM

sian lah i also using the graphical one

i just saw the tweak guide...

zonama · 04:42 PM

Another interesting flag is the -verbosity command flag, -verbosity 9 gives alot more info in your log file letting u find out problems better.

U can also use the -configonly flag to change your configuration of your client, once configuration is finished, the client will close.

Or alternatively here's a better explaination of the flags by Wedo from ocforums

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wedo

* -local
Used with multiple cpu rigs (dually, HT, quad cpus etc) to set up FAH as one client per one cpu. If this flag isn't used on a dually and two instances are running, your rig will show up as running at 50% in task manager as both instances will split the processing power of one cpu leaving the other to sit at idle.

* -service
Sets FAH as a service. Very important flag that will tell your rig to use srvany.exe to run FAH4Console.exe as a service instead of running the client in the console window. Thereby keeping your rig folding even when no one is logged on.

* -forceSSE
Forces SSE use for AMD's. P4's do not need this flag, but it doesn't hurt so it's including in most automated FAH installs like the One-Click.

* -forceasm
Forces the use of 3DNow and SSE. In some instances, if a power failure occured, your computer locks up (not due to FAH), or your kid brother kicks over your tower, FAH will restart in a form of "safe mode" that doesn't use 3DNow/SSE. This will cause your machine to fold much slower so this flag forces the higher setting on no matter how the client was turned off previously.

* -advmethods
The gromacs flag. This flag tells FAH to only seek out Gromacs (a type of protein) from the Stanford servers. Gromacs used to be the end-all-be-all of point production. However, recent changes to the point value for Tinkers have made this flag counter-productive on AMD rigs.

* -verbosity 9
Gives you the uber update in your log files. More info will be written in case your having issues or are just interested in what FAH is doing.

xrM · Dec 30th, 05, 04:14 PM

Lol, I finish this WU then switch to non graphic one.

gongkia2000 · Dec 30th, 05, 06:11 PM

weeee. we are purning in our CPUs for a good cause, for SCIENCE!!

SynergyX · Dec 30th, 05, 07:32 PM

anyone know how to make the console version minimize to the sysbar? a bit annoying.. always click wrong window. ahaha

NightRaven · Dec 31st, 05, 01:28 AM

haha i;m sticking to gfx version still la! haha~

SynergyX · Dec 31st, 05, 01:47 AM

i tink i gonna switch back to gui version after i finish this wu. isn't really faster with the console. haha. about same speed actually.

farksy · Jan 2nd, 06, 02:23 AM

*i suddenly feel that i'm lagging behind alot. first WU 50 frames. 2nd one .. 1k ! omg. so long and i'm now only @ 760/1000. *sobs*

HyoRi · Jan 2nd, 06, 07:52 AM

Anyone noes how the HT -local settings work? It's not very clear.

Also, folding causes full-screen games to minimise. This has been proven. =)

zonama · Jan 2nd, 06, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HyosHi

Anyone noes how the HT -local settings work? It's not very clear.

Also, folding causes full-screen games to minimise. This has been proven. =)

Here's a few steps u need to do 1st before using the -local flag.

Download the text-only client twice and place 1 into separate folders. (e.g C:\FAH1 and C:\FAH2)
Create shortcuts on the desktop for both clients.
Right-click each shortcut and go to properties, under the target for each shortcut add in the -local flag. So it looks something like this "C:\FAH1\FAH 5.04.exe" -local and "C:\FAH2\FAH 5.04.exe" -local
Add whatever other flags u may wish also. Add them like this "C:\FAH1\FAH 5.04.exe" -local -forcesse -advmethods -verbosity 9
Start each client and config them, when u reach machine ID make sure u set 1 client to use a machine ID of "1" and the other client to use "2", finish configurating them.