Mixed GPUs
29 Jun 2014 23:52:17 UTC
Topic 197619
(moderation:
I have an old Nvidia GTS 8800 happily started crunching for e@h but I seem unable to get the project to utilize the HD4600 in my i5 CPU as well.
I have a live monitor connection on both GPUs, so Windows recognizes both of them.
Both GPUs are recognized by the BOINC client, but the manual "Update" requests only NVIDIA tasks.
The client Event Log mentions "Config: use all coprocessors".
Can anybody please enlighten me as to what I'm missing in my config?
Mixed GPUs
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Did you check to use the AMD GPU in your project preferences in your account?
RE: Did you check to use
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Good advice, but better to check the "Use INTEL GPU" flag instead, since the issue is with an Intel iGPU :)
However, I assume this already have been set since the log reports it has 2 GPUs: CUDA and Intel GPU. (or is that just reporting physical GPUs and not what the user has selected to use for Boinc?)
RE: Good advice, but better
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Good catch, I was answering from my phone at the time. And with anything called HD I automatically think AMD.
That just reports what is available, not what is allowed to fetch work from this project. That has to be set separately, per project.
I had already set my project
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I had already set my project preferences to use both GPUs, ie explicitly said yes to using the Intel GPU.
Bizarrely, after a few hours and about three reboots, all of a sudden, the client decided to fetch some Intel GPU workunits and is now thrashing away happily.
I have no idea why it didn't play ball to start with - no errors to run with.
But at least it appears to be OK now.
Thanks to those of you who tried to help.
May I ask how you made BOINC
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May I ask how you made BOINC see 2 GPU's. I have a Nvidia 7950 sitting on my desk with an empty slot on the motherboard.
I have had both of them in the machine before, both running fine. Boinc never used the Nvidia 7950. IT would be cool to put the hardware to use rather than collect dust being a paper weight.
RE: May I ask how you made
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Easy to do if you use a file like this:
1
Put it in the hidden folder c:\program data\boinc and restart boinc and you will be using both gpu's in no time. There are a couple of potential pitfalls, but in general it should work just like that.
One pitfall could be the necessity to load the gpu drivers twice, once for each gpu, if you have both an AMD and an Nivida this will be required though.
A second pitfall is the possibility of having to use a 'dummy plug' to make Windows see the 2nd gpu. Windows sometimes tries to 'save resources' by disabling thing that don't have anything plugged into them, so could disable the 2nd gpu. If this happens there are two solution one is to just plug in a 2nd monitor during boot up after which you can remove it until the next reboot. Or you can go the 'dummy plug' route and plug in a small resistor that will make Windows think a monitor is plugged when in fact it isn't. You can make your own 'dummy plug' with less then 5 dollars in parts for a local Radio Shack or other electronics store, here is a webpage detailing how:
http://www.overclock.net/t/384733/the-30-second-dummy-plug
It is easier then it looks, just pay attention to which hole you put the resistors in and you will be good to go. And NO it won't shock you when it is being used, at least mine never have!!