GPU usage drops suddenly every few minutes?
17 Feb 2013 12:52:17 UTC
Topic 196809
(moderation:
I recently built a new PC and I've started running Einstein@home again. I'm using a 3.4GHz Core i5 and AMD HD7970 OC'd to max and I'm amazed how much faster the GPU is. A 140,000 GFLOP pulsar search computation takes only 10 minutes with it. This is compared to 20-30 hours on my old laptop!
Anyway, I've noticed that GPU usage drops suddenly to 0% about every minute or so, and then instantly resumes up to 80%. What causes these drops? Is it normal? It's not 80% constantly.
GPU usage drops suddenly every few minutes?
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Does the GPU usage drop happen at 12.5%, 25%, 37.5%, ... progress?
Pulsar searches (specifically, the Binary Radio Pulsar searches you would be doing on a GPU) are made up of eight separate sub-tasks, and there is inevitably a pause while one task unloads and the next is loaded.
On the other hand, if you have it "OC'd to max", it may just be overheating and pausing to cool down. Very high overclocks are rarely wise for steady, continuous, scientific work over a long duration. And if you overclock, you need to invest in a good positive cooling solution, too.
RE: I recently built a new
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How do you know it's dropping? what program are you using to see the GPU? Try not overclocking to max. What are the temps? Need more info than you listed...
PC setup MSI-970A-G46 AMD FX-8350 8 core OC'd 4.45GHz 16GB ram PC3-10700 Geforce GTX 650Ti Windows 7 x64 Einstein@Home
RE: How do you know it's
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google for gpu-z. You will find a free download.
for cpu look for cpu-z
RE: RE: How do you know
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I know the programs to use... I have both... it's EoinS i am not sure what they are using and if any... that's why I posted what I posted and how I posted... to find out...
PC setup MSI-970A-G46 AMD FX-8350 8 core OC'd 4.45GHz 16GB ram PC3-10700 Geforce GTX 650Ti Windows 7 x64 Einstein@Home
RE: Anyway, I've noticed
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In addition to what Richard already mentioned, this could also be caused by checkpointing. At configurable intervals (the default is 1 minute IIRC, matching your observation), the app will dump information to the disk which it will need to resume work later if it should get terminated before completing the task.
Cheers
HB
Thanks for the help. Yes,
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Thanks for the help. Yes, it's pausing slightly at 12.5%, 25% and 37.5% so it must be what Richard mentioned. I'm using ASUS GPU Tweak to monitor clock rate, usage, temperature and other functions.
On a related note, is there a reason why it generally only uses 75% and not 100% GPU? I assume it's to allow for rendering of the screen?
I don't know what your
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I don't know what your settings are but if you want to make more use of the GPU % rate you can have it to work on more than 1 unit at a time. Do note that running more than 1 unit changes the times but most run 2 or more units at 1 time. 10 mins can change to 20 mins and so on. Have a look at http://einsteinathome.org/node/196795
It may help ya...
PC setup MSI-970A-G46 AMD FX-8350 8 core OC'd 4.45GHz 16GB ram PC3-10700 Geforce GTX 650Ti Windows 7 x64 Einstein@Home
hi Mate not a good idea
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hi Mate not a good idea running gpu's at 100% .Better make shore your running software that will shut system down if gpu fan stops .Also running 100% will hang system makeing windows open and close with a few seconds delay .Allready lost 1 graphic card because of it . but up to you hope you can afford to outlay for new system or graphic card if there is a problem .good luck