GPU-Z "only" reports the overall memory used, which includes the GPU-Grid WU and anything else running. If a card with 1024 MB shows 1045 MB used that won't slow the computer to a crawl. Everything except a whopping 21 MB still fit into the GPU memory. How often can this amount be transferred back and forth between system RAM and GPU at PCIe speeds? (rough answer: a damn lot)

It's only when the amount of memory needed significantly exceeds the amount of memory present on the card that things will become.. uncomfortable.

MrS

---

Scanning for our furry friends since Jan 2002

GPU-Z "only" reports the overall memory used, which includes the GPU-Grid WU and anything else running. If a card with 1024 MB shows 1045 MB used that won't slow the computer to a crawl. Everything except a whopping 21 MB still fit into the GPU memory. How often can this amount be transferred back and forth between system RAM and GPU at PCIe speeds? (rough answer: a damn lot)

It's only when the amount of memory needed significantly exceeds the amount of memory present on the card that things will become.. uncomfortable.

MrS

It could also be other things. As some of you remember from another thread I was having problems with my new GTX660 on a XFX MOBO. With a laggy system at times with 2GB RAM on the GPU and 12GB on the MOBO. Or the driver, or the driver in combination with another piece of software. I have put the GTX660 in another system and it works like a train (as we say in Dutch).

But how about the question from dskagcommunity about VRAM? His exact question:

Wow does that mean this units don't run on 1GB VRAM Hardware? (didn't tried)

As it can be swapped back and forth from system RAM to GPU than would the message that these WU's won't run on 1GB VRAM cards make no sense, or am I missing something important? I just want to learn here.

---

Greetings from TJ

This has been discussed before, and to some length - These WU's are only going to be slow on 768MB cards and 512MB cards; a few GTX460's, GTX450's and GT440's. Generally speaking the relative performance of Noelias' WU's on mid-range cards should be better as they won't be burdened with low bus/bandwidths. More the pity they don't have better credit and cant finish inside 24h...

---

FAQ's

HOW TO:
- Opt out of Beta Tests
- Ask for Help

You're right TJ, these WUs should run on cards with 1 GB VRAM. However, I think the signs are clear: don't anyone buy or recommend a card with 1 GB for GPU-Grid any more.

And there's the issue of algorithm selection. GFD once said that they've got (at least) 2 different algorithms, one is faster but needs more VRAM. The app selects the faster one if possible. Meaning cards with "low" VRAM may see reduced crunching speed even before running out of VRAM completely.

Oh, and regarding the reference to your strange GTX660 problem: the question here was not "what can make a system choppy" (lot's of possibilities, I agree) but rather "would exceeding the available VRAM slightly make a system choppy".

MrS

---

Scanning for our furry friends since Jan 2002

Ah good to read, hope the 1,28gb on my 24h crunchermachines are working still a longer time without swapping, i buyed them only few month ago ^^

---

DSKAG Austria Research Team: http://www.research.dskag.at

This has been discussed before, and to some length - These WU's are only going to be slow on 768MB cards and 512MB cards; a few GTX460's, GTX450's and GT440's. Generally speaking the relative performance of Noelias' WU's on mid-range cards should be better as they won't be burdened with low bus/bandwidths. More the pity they don't have better credit and cant finish inside 24h...

EXCEPT that no one has been talking about these WUs on sub 1GB cards. The first reports were referring to 650 Ti GPUs and so far reports have been that they're running even worse on the 2GB 660 and 660 TI cards. BTW, you can add a 1280MB 570 to the list of GPUs that don't like these new NOELIAS...

WELL..... new Noelias are filling the cache.... let´s see how these ones goes and hope for the best.

WELL..... new Noelias are filling the cache.... let´s see how these ones goes and hope for the best.

Well, my 650Ti doesn't seem to like them AT ALL! At least this one.

Slot: 0
Task: 063ppx8x1-NOELIA_klebe_run4-0-3-RND9577_0
Elapsed: 04:29
CPU time: 00:17
Percent done: 03.76
Estimated: 119:17
Remaining: 114:36

So, it will take something like 5 days to finish on my 650Ti! I wonder if there's a card out there that can finish these in the 24h window...

---

In Linux I can't check GPU utilization, so can't tell how well this NOELIA is using my card. Judging by the temperature of the card though (52C), utilization must be pretty low, as it normally goes up to 64-67C with NATHANs.

I'm wondering what to do, let it continue or abort it? It seems I'll finish it before its deadline, but looks like such a waste of both time and resources, doesn't it?

---

Zdenek, It might be a driver issue. Others have reported similar problems with 319.x on Linux.

Yes, you are right. Moved back to 310 and all is ok.

I have problem with my own distrrtgen app also. IMHO It stucks on synchronizing between CPU and GPU in cudaDeviceSynchronize().

All drivers above 319 (incl 325 beta) under linux still have problem with noelia tasks with 6xx gpus. Very slow. Low CPU usage.

I recommend to use 310 under linux.

You're so right! I removed 319 and installed 310.44 and immediately CPU usage went up (40-45% from 15-20%) and the GPU temp is at the usual 65C! Also, estimated total time is dropping rapidly.

Thanks for the great tip!

---

WELL..... new Noelias are filling the cache.... let´s see how these ones goes and hope for the best.

Well, my 650Ti doesn't seem to like them AT ALL! At least this one.

Slot: 0
Task: 063ppx8x1-NOELIA_klebe_run4-0-3-RND9577_0
Elapsed: 04:29
CPU time: 00:17
Percent done: 03.76
Estimated: 119:17
Remaining: 114:36

So, it will take something like 5 days to finish on my 650Ti! I wonder if there's a card out there that can finish these in the 24h window...

They are ok here. Finishing without errors in the usual 8:30/9:00 hrs in my 690s and 770s. Driver 320.49

Yeah, it seems it was the driver (319.17). I downgraded to 310.44 and it's working much better now. If my calculations are not off, it should take ~18.5h for my 650Ti to complete such a WU, which is very similar to NATHAN_KIDs. This particular NOELIA I'm crunching right now will of course take longer, as I did the first 6% very slowly.

---

They are ok here. Finishing without errors in the usual 8:30/9:00 hrs in my 690s and 770s. Driver 320.49

It is linux and noelia tasks problem only. Win are ok. Nathans tasks and linux are ok also.

This Noelia task http://www.gpugrid.net/result.php?resultid=7034770 appeared to lock up my Linux box so I aborted it (after two reboots). It had previously failed on two Windows boxes.

On all 3 of my GTX 460/768 GPUs:

CRASH!

Problem signature:
Problem Event Name: APPCRASH
Application Name: acemd.2865P.exe
Application Version: 0.0.0.0
Application Timestamp: 511b9dc5
Fault Module Name: acemd.2865P.exe
Fault Module Version: 0.0.0.0
Fault Module Timestamp: 511b9dc5
Exception Code: 40000015
Exception Offset: 00015ad1
OS Version: 6.1.7601.2.1.0.256.1
Locale ID: 1033
Additional Information 1: ef57
Additional Information 2: ef57694f685d7e60ac50a2030c6fbaf6
Additional Information 3: 907e
Additional Information 4: 907ef510ab2fa0efd4b93de2612b25ed

Seems they need at least 1GB, thanks for the heads up, not...

They did not failed on my hosts so far.
Their credit per sec and their GPU usage are ok. (on WinXP x64 and x32)
They still don't use a full CPU thread (with Kepler GPUs), however it does not decrease their GPU usage.
No complaints from me this time. So far. :)

I thought you were going to abort the current Noelia runs...?

I had one that was stuck at 6% and aborted it. But I keep getting other Noelia WUs as replacements. No Nathan runs anywhere in sight...

I am giving up on this project for now...

I have 1 box that doesn't like these NOELIA's so I'm going to swap in my 2 GTX670 backup cards and see if that works. I should just switch to Linux Debian now, I've been getting ready for sometime. Microsoft is going to stop supporting Windows XP 32 bit in April and XP x64 in September 2014 even though XP is still running on 38% of the worlds computers (Windows 7 is 44%).

So far no issues with current Noelia tasks on Linux but this beta had run for 11+ hrs before I noticed it & required a reboot to get the 660 working again.