Optimizing Graphics & Target CPU Run Time

Questions and Answers : Preferences : Optimizing Graphics & Target CPU Run Time

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Profile Roboroy

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Message 76052 - Posted: 19 Sep 2013, 6:36:18 UTC

Can someone pls. help me determine whether or not to change the following 3 default settings for Rosetta@Hm. I hope I'm not being too lazy here but I've been spending a lot of time lately working on optimizing my BOINC settings in general and my Einstein@Hm settings in particular, and so far I still haven't figured out the following Rosetta settings:

Percentage of CPU time used for graphics not selected
Number of frames per second for graphics not selected
Target CPU run time not selected

I'm including everything (except the kitchen sink) I can think of that might be relevant or helpful to answering my question
My Desktop PC was built (not by me!) from a "barebones" kit in May 2013

BIOS: Version/Date American Megatrends Inc. 1503, 1/16/2013
CPU: AMD-FX 4300 Quad core 3.8 Ghz
HD: 2 TB (W7 indicates 1792 GB is available, of which 1500 is unused)
MB: Asus M5A97
OS: W7 Ultimate 64-bit SP1
PS: 650W
PAGE FILE: 8 GB
RAM: 8 GB
VM: 16 GB
VIDEO CARD: AMD Radeon HD 6570 w/1 GB RAM (this card does not support "double precision")

ACTIVE BOINC PROJECTS
Einstein@Hm (the only one that uses my GPU)
MilkyWay@Hm
Rosetta @Hm

INACTIVE BOINC PROJECTS
LHC @ Hm

BOINC PREFERENCES:
Computing allowed while CPU in use YES
Computing allowed while GPU in use YES (on a trial basis now)
Computing allowed while CPU usage is less than 0% (= no restriction)
Restrictions on hours or days of usage NONE
Switch between applications every 60 minutes
Use at most 100% of CPUs
Use at most 100% of CPU Time
Max Download rate ---
Max Upload rate ---
Transfer at most 0.00 Mbs every 0 days
Min work buffer 1 day
Max additional work buffer 1 day
Skip Image File Verification NO
Confirm before connecting NO
Disconnect when done NO
Network usage allowed 24/7 - no restrictions
Use at most 10 GB disk space (BOINC has never used +1.5 GB so far)
Leave at most 90 GB disk space free
Use at most 5% of total disk space
Tasks checkpoints at most every 999 seconds
Use at most 50% of page file
Use at most 50% of memory when PC in use
Use at most 50% of memory when PC is idle
Leave apps in memory while suspended YES
Exclusive apps NONE (so far)
CIAO Auf Wiederesehen ALOHA Saludos SHALOM Sayonara ADIEU Arrivederci G'DAY!
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Sid Celery

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Message 76055 - Posted: 20 Sep 2013, 3:06:29 UTC - in response to Message 76052.  

Can someone pls. help me determine whether or not to change the following 3 default settings for Rosetta@Hm. I hope I'm not being too lazy here but I've been spending a lot of time lately working on optimizing my BOINC settings in general and my Einstein@Hm settings in particular, and so far I still haven't figured out the following Rosetta settings:

[...]

Use at most 50% of memory when PC in use
Use at most 50% of memory when PC is idle
Leave apps in memory while suspended YES
Exclusive apps NONE (so far)

Nothing too bad there. The only comment I'd make is that Rosetta is quite demanding of memory resources, so I allow more RAM to be employed when the PC is idle - as high as 90%. I'm not sure if I've gone over the top, but I haven't noticed an issue yet (with my 8-core desktop with 8Gb RAM).

As you have a quad-core, 4 Rosetta WUs have used as much as 1.5Gb each in the past (more like 0.5Gb each with current tasks) so if you limit to 50% of your 8Gb RAM you may occasionally get a lot of swapping to disk.
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Mod.Sense
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Message 76068 - Posted: 26 Sep 2013, 19:54:47 UTC

The one thing you did not mention was how many hours per week you plan to be running BOINC, but given the fact that you are trying to optimize, I presume you have BOINC running most of the hours of the typical day.

The target CPU runtime is just a way to download less tasks, and work on each of them longer. Longer work means you will complete more models. Credits are based on models, so it really just saves a little overhead if you run longer than the 3hr default. Some people like to see lots of tasks queued up and being completed each day. But, it's a little more efficient to run tasks longer.

If you do adjust the runtime preference, just be aware that changes will impact work you already have downloaded. So, I typically recommend making changes to this value over the course of a few days, so BOINC gets time to see what's going on and adjust the amount of work it requests. Doing so just helps ensure you don't end up with more work than you can handle.
Rosetta Moderator: Mod.Sense
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Questions and Answers : Preferences : Optimizing Graphics & Target CPU Run Time



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