Monster-WUs need much more time per step

Message boards : Number crunching : Monster-WUs need much more time per step

Author	Message
Dieter Matuschek Send message Joined: 28 Dec 08 Posts: 58 Credit: 231,884,297 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8325 - Posted: 9 Apr 2009 \| 19:29:40 UTC
	Now and then I catch some "monsters" of WUs like 508937 or 507386. Normally my NVIDIA GTX 295 has some 36 ms per step. These monsters have some 150 ms per step. Both had ran on the same machine 29843 at the same time. Now WUs are running normally again. This Intel-quad 6700 (stock-clocked) is used with XP SP3 (32bit) for BOINC (6.6.20) only with WCG and GPUGRID. This behavior already took place earlier on other quads with a GTX 295 and other versions of BOINC 6.6.x) Is this a prob of the WUs or are there hardware problems? ____________
	ID: 8325 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

GDF Volunteer moderator Project administrator Project developer Project tester Volunteer developer Volunteer tester Project scientist Send message Joined: 14 Mar 07 Posts: 1957 Credit: 629,356 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8340 - Posted: 10 Apr 2009 \| 12:31:02 UTC - in response to Message 8325.
	On a 295, they should not take more 50ms/step. gdf
	ID: 8340 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

Dieter Matuschek Send message Joined: 28 Dec 08 Posts: 58 Credit: 231,884,297 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8344 - Posted: 10 Apr 2009 \| 14:58:20 UTC - in response to Message 8340.
	Thanks, GDF. So there is an issue. Here is a new one: 513712 on another Intel-quad. So this issue don't belong to a certain PC. Both current WUs of this GTX 295 show the same behavior: one WU (83% done) runs for 24 hours up to now, the other (15% done) 4 hours. ____________
	ID: 8344 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

Paul D. Buck Send message Joined: 9 Jun 08 Posts: 1050 Credit: 37,321,185 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8354 - Posted: 10 Apr 2009 \| 18:37:17 UTC - in response to Message 8344.
	Thanks, GDF. So there is an issue. Here is a new one: 513712 on another Intel-quad. So this issue don't belong to a certain PC. Both current WUs of this GTX 295 show the same behavior: one WU (83% done) runs for 24 hours up to now, the other (15% done) 4 hours. Yes, but is it a problem with the tasks or BOINC version 6.6.20? The only task where I saw the same LOOOONNNNNGGG step interval was when I ran 6.6.20 also ... Since we only run tasks once, it is hard to say. Now, if GDF would hand RE-ISSUE that task to, say, me ... we could see if it runs fine on a GTX295 while running 6.5.0 ...
	ID: 8354 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

Dieter Matuschek Send message Joined: 28 Dec 08 Posts: 58 Credit: 231,884,297 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8358 - Posted: 10 Apr 2009 \| 21:10:23 UTC - in response to Message 8354.
	@ Paul From message 8325: This behavior already took place earlier on other quads with a GTX 295 and other versions of BOINC 6.6.x It may be that it is due to BOINC 6.6.x. (I truely hope that it's no damage of the GTX 295.) The only task where I saw the same LOOOONNNNNGGG step interval was when I ran 6.6.20 also ... At least, I am not alone ... ____________
	ID: 8358 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

Paul D. Buck Send message Joined: 9 Jun 08 Posts: 1050 Credit: 37,321,185 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8370 - Posted: 11 Apr 2009 \| 4:29:55 UTC - in response to Message 8358.
	@ Paul From message 8325: This behavior already took place earlier on other quads with a GTX 295 and other versions of BOINC 6.6.x It may be that it is due to BOINC 6.6.x. (I truely hope that it's no damage of the GTX 295.) The only task where I saw the same LOOOONNNNNGGG step interval was when I ran 6.6.20 also ... At least, I am not alone ... It did not damage mine ... been back to 6.5.0 for some time now and been fine. I have been tying to get up the energy to re-install a 6.6.2x version (now up to 6.6.22) to see if the problem comes back and I can turn on logs and capture an indication of what is causing the error. Sigh ... Not only do I not get paid for this, I lose work, and yammer-heads on the mailing lists have been accusing me of denigrating the efforts of the developers. I only do THAT on the boards ... :) (And for issues that they well deserve denigration FOR ... like complaining that people won't help them and then ignoring input or not applying fixes for issues which are clearly identified and for which changes have been suggested/developed, or for applying changes to one version and then not doing proper configuration control and losing the change in subsequent versions). Anyway, we will see when I can try ...
	ID: 8370 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

Michael Goetz Send message Joined: 2 Mar 09 Posts: 124 Credit: 46,573,744 RAC: 115,639 Level Scientific publications	Message 8372 - Posted: 11 Apr 2009 \| 4:49:32 UTC - in response to Message 8370.
	I've been running with 6.6.20 since it came out, and haven't noticed any WUs with unusually long step times. But I'm only running a single GPU (GTX280). Is everyone who is seeing this problem running multiple GPUs? ____________ Want to find one of the largest known primes? Try PrimeGrid. Or help cure disease at WCG.
	ID: 8372 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

Paul D. Buck Send message Joined: 9 Jun 08 Posts: 1050 Credit: 37,321,185 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8374 - Posted: 11 Apr 2009 \| 8:40:04 UTC - in response to Message 8372.
	I've been running with 6.6.20 since it came out, and haven't noticed any WUs with unusually long step times. But I'm only running a single GPU (GTX280). Is everyone who is seeing this problem running multiple GPUs? I was ... And I think the other person that posted (may be a different thread) also had at least two GPUs ... I asked for a small change in the next drop to maybe let me see if one of the things I am suspicious of is happening ... instead of saying "1 CUDA" it would say "CUDA x" with x being the device used. This was also the reason that I was asking if there is a good tool to tell you if you are actually running something on the card or not ... so far all the suggestions have not panned out, possibly because I don't see the magic option needed ...
	ID: 8374 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

uBronan Send message Joined: 1 Feb 09 Posts: 139 Credit: 575,023 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8762 - Posted: 23 Apr 2009 \| 6:41:45 UTC Last modified: 23 Apr 2009 \| 6:43:59 UTC
	Well i am running just 1 device and must say i only have "cheap" stuff compared to most of u guys here, i have a 9600 GT which did some units with 6.6.20 and in general it took longer to finish the units. After i changed it to 6.6.23 it seems more like the old values with the 6.5.0 but time will tell, second some units seem to need more time in general (gianni units). So i guess its not hardware related if and when units run longer. I allready read on other forums people suspecting 6.6.20 slowing down their progress so it seems to be the boinc client. It maybe sounds silly but since that the client can exactly give the time calculated on the units i see a slow down in progress in the units in general.
	ID: 8762 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

Hydropower Send message Joined: 3 Apr 09 Posts: 70 Credit: 6,003,024 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8845 - Posted: 24 Apr 2009 \| 15:52:45 UTC - in response to Message 8762. Last modified: 24 Apr 2009 \| 16:02:57 UTC
	I can positively confirm that BOINC 6.6.20 is four times as slow in GPU crunching as BOINC 6.4.7 I just reverted back to 6.4.7 and my stats are flying again on the same workunit with the same GPUGRID client. I am running a GTX295.
	ID: 8845 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

Dieter Matuschek Send message Joined: 28 Dec 08 Posts: 58 Credit: 231,884,297 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8855 - Posted: 24 Apr 2009 \| 18:03:14 UTC - in response to Message 8845.
	I can positively confirm that BOINC 6.6.20 is four times as slow in GPU crunching as BOINC 6.4.7 Well, I can't confirm that. On my computers huge time per step has occurred only rarely. Usually there is no difference in computing time to notice. (I am using BOINC 6.6.20 since its release.) ____________
	ID: 8855 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

Paul D. Buck Send message Joined: 9 Jun 08 Posts: 1050 Credit: 37,321,185 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8865 - Posted: 24 Apr 2009 \| 19:54:39 UTC
	There is an unconfirmed bug in 6.6.20 ... I was on the track of it when they made some changes leading to 6.6.23 ... which seems to have fixed that issue... broke others a little worse ... but addressed that one ... The reason most people don't notice the issue with 6.6.20 is that as best as I can tell it only shows up on systems with multiple GPUs...
	ID: 8865 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

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Message boards : Number crunching : Monster-WUs need much more time per step

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Dieter Matuschek Send message Joined: 28 Dec 08 Posts: 58 Credit: 231,884,297 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8325 - Posted: 9 Apr 2009 \| 19:29:40 UTC
	Now and then I catch some "monsters" of WUs like 508937 or 507386. Normally my NVIDIA GTX 295 has some 36 ms per step. These monsters have some 150 ms per step. Both had ran on the same machine 29843 at the same time. Now WUs are running normally again. This Intel-quad 6700 (stock-clocked) is used with XP SP3 (32bit) for BOINC (6.6.20) only with WCG and GPUGRID. This behavior already took place earlier on other quads with a GTX 295 and other versions of BOINC 6.6.x) Is this a prob of the WUs or are there hardware problems? ____________
	ID: 8325 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

GDF Volunteer moderator Project administrator Project developer Project tester Volunteer developer Volunteer tester Project scientist Send message Joined: 14 Mar 07 Posts: 1957 Credit: 629,356 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8340 - Posted: 10 Apr 2009 \| 12:31:02 UTC - in response to Message 8325.
	On a 295, they should not take more 50ms/step. gdf
	ID: 8340 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

Dieter Matuschek Send message Joined: 28 Dec 08 Posts: 58 Credit: 231,884,297 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8344 - Posted: 10 Apr 2009 \| 14:58:20 UTC - in response to Message 8340.
	Thanks, GDF. So there is an issue. Here is a new one: 513712 on another Intel-quad. So this issue don't belong to a certain PC. Both current WUs of this GTX 295 show the same behavior: one WU (83% done) runs for 24 hours up to now, the other (15% done) 4 hours. ____________
	ID: 8344 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

Paul D. Buck Send message Joined: 9 Jun 08 Posts: 1050 Credit: 37,321,185 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8354 - Posted: 10 Apr 2009 \| 18:37:17 UTC - in response to Message 8344.
	Thanks, GDF. So there is an issue. Here is a new one: 513712 on another Intel-quad. So this issue don't belong to a certain PC. Both current WUs of this GTX 295 show the same behavior: one WU (83% done) runs for 24 hours up to now, the other (15% done) 4 hours. Yes, but is it a problem with the tasks or BOINC version 6.6.20? The only task where I saw the same LOOOONNNNNGGG step interval was when I ran 6.6.20 also ... Since we only run tasks once, it is hard to say. Now, if GDF would hand RE-ISSUE that task to, say, me ... we could see if it runs fine on a GTX295 while running 6.5.0 ...
	ID: 8354 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

Dieter Matuschek Send message Joined: 28 Dec 08 Posts: 58 Credit: 231,884,297 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8358 - Posted: 10 Apr 2009 \| 21:10:23 UTC - in response to Message 8354.
	@ Paul From message 8325: This behavior already took place earlier on other quads with a GTX 295 and other versions of BOINC 6.6.x It may be that it is due to BOINC 6.6.x. (I truely hope that it's no damage of the GTX 295.) The only task where I saw the same LOOOONNNNNGGG step interval was when I ran 6.6.20 also ... At least, I am not alone ... ____________
	ID: 8358 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

Paul D. Buck Send message Joined: 9 Jun 08 Posts: 1050 Credit: 37,321,185 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8370 - Posted: 11 Apr 2009 \| 4:29:55 UTC - in response to Message 8358.
	@ Paul From message 8325: This behavior already took place earlier on other quads with a GTX 295 and other versions of BOINC 6.6.x It may be that it is due to BOINC 6.6.x. (I truely hope that it's no damage of the GTX 295.) The only task where I saw the same LOOOONNNNNGGG step interval was when I ran 6.6.20 also ... At least, I am not alone ... It did not damage mine ... been back to 6.5.0 for some time now and been fine. I have been tying to get up the energy to re-install a 6.6.2x version (now up to 6.6.22) to see if the problem comes back and I can turn on logs and capture an indication of what is causing the error. Sigh ... Not only do I not get paid for this, I lose work, and yammer-heads on the mailing lists have been accusing me of denigrating the efforts of the developers. I only do THAT on the boards ... :) (And for issues that they well deserve denigration FOR ... like complaining that people won't help them and then ignoring input or not applying fixes for issues which are clearly identified and for which changes have been suggested/developed, or for applying changes to one version and then not doing proper configuration control and losing the change in subsequent versions). Anyway, we will see when I can try ...
	ID: 8370 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

Michael Goetz Send message Joined: 2 Mar 09 Posts: 124 Credit: 46,573,744 RAC: 115,639 Level Scientific publications	Message 8372 - Posted: 11 Apr 2009 \| 4:49:32 UTC - in response to Message 8370.
	I've been running with 6.6.20 since it came out, and haven't noticed any WUs with unusually long step times. But I'm only running a single GPU (GTX280). Is everyone who is seeing this problem running multiple GPUs? ____________ Want to find one of the largest known primes? Try PrimeGrid. Or help cure disease at WCG.
	ID: 8372 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

Paul D. Buck Send message Joined: 9 Jun 08 Posts: 1050 Credit: 37,321,185 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8374 - Posted: 11 Apr 2009 \| 8:40:04 UTC - in response to Message 8372.
	I've been running with 6.6.20 since it came out, and haven't noticed any WUs with unusually long step times. But I'm only running a single GPU (GTX280). Is everyone who is seeing this problem running multiple GPUs? I was ... And I think the other person that posted (may be a different thread) also had at least two GPUs ... I asked for a small change in the next drop to maybe let me see if one of the things I am suspicious of is happening ... instead of saying "1 CUDA" it would say "CUDA x" with x being the device used. This was also the reason that I was asking if there is a good tool to tell you if you are actually running something on the card or not ... so far all the suggestions have not panned out, possibly because I don't see the magic option needed ...
	ID: 8374 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

uBronan Send message Joined: 1 Feb 09 Posts: 139 Credit: 575,023 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8762 - Posted: 23 Apr 2009 \| 6:41:45 UTC Last modified: 23 Apr 2009 \| 6:43:59 UTC
	Well i am running just 1 device and must say i only have "cheap" stuff compared to most of u guys here, i have a 9600 GT which did some units with 6.6.20 and in general it took longer to finish the units. After i changed it to 6.6.23 it seems more like the old values with the 6.5.0 but time will tell, second some units seem to need more time in general (gianni units). So i guess its not hardware related if and when units run longer. I allready read on other forums people suspecting 6.6.20 slowing down their progress so it seems to be the boinc client. It maybe sounds silly but since that the client can exactly give the time calculated on the units i see a slow down in progress in the units in general.
	ID: 8762 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

Hydropower Send message Joined: 3 Apr 09 Posts: 70 Credit: 6,003,024 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8845 - Posted: 24 Apr 2009 \| 15:52:45 UTC - in response to Message 8762. Last modified: 24 Apr 2009 \| 16:02:57 UTC
	I can positively confirm that BOINC 6.6.20 is four times as slow in GPU crunching as BOINC 6.4.7 I just reverted back to 6.4.7 and my stats are flying again on the same workunit with the same GPUGRID client. I am running a GTX295.
	ID: 8845 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

Dieter Matuschek Send message Joined: 28 Dec 08 Posts: 58 Credit: 231,884,297 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8855 - Posted: 24 Apr 2009 \| 18:03:14 UTC - in response to Message 8845.
	I can positively confirm that BOINC 6.6.20 is four times as slow in GPU crunching as BOINC 6.4.7 Well, I can't confirm that. On my computers huge time per step has occurred only rarely. Usually there is no difference in computing time to notice. (I am using BOINC 6.6.20 since its release.) ____________
	ID: 8855 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote

Paul D. Buck Send message Joined: 9 Jun 08 Posts: 1050 Credit: 37,321,185 RAC: 0 Level Scientific publications	Message 8865 - Posted: 24 Apr 2009 \| 19:54:39 UTC
	There is an unconfirmed bug in 6.6.20 ... I was on the track of it when they made some changes leading to 6.6.23 ... which seems to have fixed that issue... broke others a little worse ... but addressed that one ... The reason most people don't notice the issue with 6.6.20 is that as best as I can tell it only shows up on systems with multiple GPUs...
	ID: 8865 \| Rating: 0 \| rate: / Reply Quote