Issues with screensaver and use of video
6 Feb 2007 0:05:44 UTC
Topic 192391
(moderation:
Sometimes (often) when I open my laptop running BOINC the video for the screensaver will flicker as if I'm recording it with a video camera on a non-interlaced monitor.
When I move my mouse to exit from the screensaver, the video on my screen will freeze up and I cannot get out of this nor can I see my task bar or start menu.
I then have to set my laptop to hibernate as the only means to 'nicely' recover from this.
A separate but related issue:
On other occasions when the above does not happen, and I am able exit from the screensaver without ill effect, I find that using any form's scroll bars to be then flickery and lagged. Also OpenGL, SDL and DirectX video usage is also lagged.
I suspect that either BOINC or the screensaver software (I'm currently running only Einstein and Spinhenge.) is improperly using the video card or is leaving some fragments of it's usage in system memory taking up resources and stalling my video.
Perhaps a very deep look into the code that manages video access is required. If I cannot resolve these issues I'll be forced to sece use of BOINC so that I can ensure the safety of my own system, which would be a deep and utter shame as I do believe in the science that comes from these projects.
Many thanks for any help with these issues.
Issues with screensaver and use of video
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As an option, you can choose another Windows screen saver (a non 3d one works best) or just set your monitor to blank and power down.
I never use a screen saver and have it set to power down the monitor after 5 minutes.
Cycles that go to the screen saver are that many less that go to the actual data crunchin'.
Kathryn :o)
Einstein@Home Moderator
Ok fair enough, but how else
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Ok fair enough, but how else do I get BOINC to run the programs without the screensaver only when my system is idle?
I still use my system for home use amoung other things including gaming from time to time. When I'm using my system I want all of the CPU juice, when I'm not then BOINC can use it all it wants.
What exactly is the settings for doing this if any? I'm under the impression that you have to use the screensaver if you want it to only run when the system is idle. If you can prove me wrong, I' be glad.
In Windows set the screen
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In Windows set the screen saver to none. (Rightclick anywhere on an open space on your desktop, properties, screen saver, select screen saver drop down menu, set it to none).
Now when you wait until the computer goes idle, it won't show a screen saver.
RE: Ok fair enough, but how
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In the General preferences on your account page, set the option to work while the computer’s in use to “no�. By default BOINC will suspend all activity until three minutes after your last interaction via the keyboard or mouse, but that interval is configurable as well.
RE: In the General
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Excellent, video issue solved it seems.
I'm used to the old SETI@home software where you'd have to run the screensaver for the software to function. Glad to see that things have gotten smarter since then. ;)
Thanks all for the help!