Message boards :
Number crunching :
Every time I turn off my computer or quit, all progress is lost
Message board moderation
Author | Message |
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Michael Scott Send message Joined: 16 Oct 19 Posts: 6 Credit: 3,389,265 RAC: 0 |
Hello, I have a very lengthy Collatz program running on my Mac Pro (dual quad core Xeon's, RX580) - the estimated time is at least 10 days. Whenever I quit BOINC (or restart) the paltry progress made resets to zero. In the preferences, I selected the option to keep non-GPU tasks in memory, however that hasn't helped matters. Any suggestions? |
![]() ![]() Send message Joined: 11 Aug 09 Posts: 805 Credit: 24,496,510,371 RAC: 2,626,508 |
Hello, Collatz is more about gpu's than cpu's, yes you CAN use your cpu's here but why when your gpu easily gets over 10 times the credit in ALOT less time. For instance I also have a 580 and it's doing workunits in 726.31 seconds and getting 28,018.54 credits for it. |
Michael Scott Send message Joined: 16 Oct 19 Posts: 6 Credit: 3,389,265 RAC: 0 |
I only have one Collatz task running, and it doesn't appear to be using the GPU. But why does it always erase progress? |
![]() ![]() Send message Joined: 11 Aug 09 Posts: 805 Credit: 24,496,510,371 RAC: 2,626,508 |
I only have one Collatz task running, and it doesn't appear to be using the GPU. Because you haven't crunched enough to reach the checkpoint. If you switched to gpu tasks your RAC and total credits would go up exponentially!! If you are on a laptop though make sure you have a pad with fans underneath the laptop to keep it cool!! |
Michael Scott Send message Joined: 16 Oct 19 Posts: 6 Credit: 3,389,265 RAC: 0 |
I have a Mac Pro desktop. How do I switch to GPU tasks? |
![]() ![]() Send message Joined: 11 Aug 09 Posts: 805 Credit: 24,496,510,371 RAC: 2,626,508 |
I have a Mac Pro desktop. How do I switch to GPU tasks? Download and install the AMD drivers for your card from AMD.com and then in your settings uncheck get cpu tasks and enable get gpu tasks. Then since it's a desktop after you get your first workunit navigate over to the Boinc/projects/collatz directory and in the file that ends with config you put in these lines, with a text editor not a word processing program, and save the file: verbose=1 threads=8 kernels_per_reduction=64 sieve_size=30 lut_size=16 reduce_cpu=0 sleep=1 Those are optimization settings for the AMD 7970 that seem to work okay for the AMD 580 as well, they could probably use some tweaking but I haven't done that. With these settings you should only run one workunit at a time but they will run much faster starting with the very next workunit once you get them in there. |
Michael Scott Send message Joined: 16 Oct 19 Posts: 6 Credit: 3,389,265 RAC: 0 |
I should mention that I am only running OSX at the moment, so there are no drivers available for me. Is that why I am unable to select GPU tasks? |
![]() ![]() Send message Joined: 11 Aug 09 Posts: 805 Credit: 24,496,510,371 RAC: 2,626,508 |
I should mention that I am only running OSX at the moment, so there are no drivers available for me. Is that why I am unable to select GPU tasks? When you get to the select your driver model box scroll down further and there is a 'Mac graphics' selection then you choose your model Mac, see if that helps. https://www.amd.com/en/support |
Michael Scott Send message Joined: 16 Oct 19 Posts: 6 Credit: 3,389,265 RAC: 0 |
Nothing, unfortunately. |
![]() ![]() Send message Joined: 11 Aug 09 Posts: 805 Credit: 24,496,510,371 RAC: 2,626,508 |
Nothing, unfortunately. Do you use it on other projects? |
Michael Scott Send message Joined: 16 Oct 19 Posts: 6 Credit: 3,389,265 RAC: 0 |
Einstein and SETI report it as being used. |
![]() ![]() Send message Joined: 11 Aug 09 Posts: 805 Credit: 24,496,510,371 RAC: 2,626,508 |
Then it should work here too |
Jack-Hiker Send message Joined: 3 Apr 16 Posts: 5 Credit: 207,756,661,704 RAC: 60,904,244 |
Try suspending project before turning off and. Do not forget to resume project when back on. |
kjohnson Send message Joined: 4 Jul 18 Posts: 8 Credit: 1,758,319,451 RAC: 0 |
In preferences, how long is it set before writing checkpoints? I have mine at 900 seconds for 15 min checkpoints, not sure if that will help. |
![]() Send message Joined: 11 Oct 19 Posts: 25 Credit: 5,225,525,671 RAC: 22,160,526 |
Try suspending project before turning off and. Do not forget to resume project when back on. I've confirmed this method works for me. I can suspend work, quit and relaunch BOINC Manager, and resume and Collatz work units resume where they left off. |
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