mfaktc: a CUDA program for Mersenne prefactoring

[PsycO]

TheJudger: An hour later, i got an idea, more than making a complete gui that will handle all the automation job, maybe i can add a automatic job assignment, using the manual job request of the GIMPS site, by making a robot and a parser to fill the form, gos the work, than do the same for the result. But if someone i doing the same, i'll not do it. Just a GUI that will handle task automation with multicore support. So i wait your comment...

[James Heinrich]

Originally Posted by PsycO

i can't unleash my main computer without blocking me to do anything else like playing Skyrim. So i would really, really, appreciate if you can add a simple control to be able to pause/restart the app... when i wanna play, i can pause till i stop, restarting the crunching after.

What GPU do you have? Older GPUs (especially prior to compute 2.0) can benefit tremendously from tweaking some mfaktc.ini settings (such as GridSize).

You already have pause/continue functionality built into Windows: the Pause key on your keyboard. Hit "pause" and execution stops; hit any other key (e.g. <enter>) to resume processing. This applies to any CLI program running in Windows, and in many places outside Windows too (during POST, for example).

Originally Posted by PsycO

maybe i can add a automatic job assignment

Hold on for that, it's already being worked on and will be integrated properly into mfaktc in the near future.

[PsycO]

James Heinrich :

What GPU do you have? Older GPUs (especially prior to compute 2.0) can benefit tremendously from tweaking some mfaktc.ini settings (such as GridSize).

I have one GT-430(1.1) and one GTS-450(2.1). But this will not be these one in few weeks, i plan to transfert these two on one node of my cluster, and buy 2xGTX-470. But for the moment, maybe yes the GT-430 may need some tweaking, as it run 2.5 times less than the GTS-450. But i have done a hardware hack to be able to plug it in a 2xPCI-e, so maybe the transfert rate are for something here. I will change my motherboard for a sli of the same model as i already said. What do you suggest as tweaking for the GT-430, i can try it, maybe it will worth it!!

You already have pause/continue functionality built into Windows: the Pause key on your keyboard. Hit "pause" and execution stops; hit any other key (e.g. <enter>) to resume processing. This applies to any CLI program running in Windows, and in many places outside Windows too (during POST, for example).

Excellent, i will go to sleep a little less silly tonight!!! Haha Thanks!!! I don't like windows, but i stuck with it as in a gaming trip these days! I'm a Linux lovers, and my bash misses me a lot when i'm on win...

Hold on for that, it's already being worked on and will be integrated properly into mfaktc in the near future.

Alright, if someone is already working on it, that's perfect!!

If you are interested in a GUI for mfaktc/o, let me know, i will be please to make a universal launcher, for win and linux, that will handle the configuration and launching of the exe. It will detect the number of core and deal with the cmdline options. So let me know if someone is interested, i will be please to participate to the project!!

Another question is, does mfaktc do a lot of IO, on a temp file or to save backup?? This is to know if it is usefull to setup a ramdisk so all operation will stay in ram?? More info's on: http://memory.dataram.com/products-a...ftware/ramdisk

A last thing, for the pause button of the keyboard, do you know pressing the button issue what signal to windows(the shell)?? I wanna know that, this will surely have utility in one of my future project!!!

[Dubslow]

Originally Posted by PsycO

and my bash misses me a lot when i'm on win...

That totally gives you away as a Francophone... And sure enough, you're from Québec!
(Right? If not, I'm so sorry!)

(LaurV I meant Francophone :P) (Si je n'avais pas vu qu'il [ou qu'elle, je suppose] vient de Québec, je n'aurais rien dit.)

[LaurV]

[Dubslow]

Now an actual contribution occurs to me: Keep in mind that it is presumed (isn't it?) that mfaktc will eventually be integrated into Prime95, and thus building any sort of GUI would be at the bottom of the list. If on the other hand you still want to volunteer to do that, I suppose I can't stop you (nor do I have the authority anyways :P:) ).

[nucleon]

Originally Posted by PsycO

Another question is, does mfaktc do a lot of IO, on a temp file or to save backup?? This is to know if it is usefull to setup a ramdisk so all operation will stay in ram?? More info's on: http://memory.dataram.com/products-a...ftware/ramdisk

It's what I do. I find I get a few % more running from ramdisk.

That ramdisk software is excellent.

-- Craig

[bcp19]

When using this, how do you guard against data loss in the case of a power outage or some such?

[PsycO]

Dubslow: C'est Il, et oui mon anglais sort parfois du fond des rang du québec!!! hehe
And i have forgotten to take into account the possibility that he will be integrated into Prime95... Maybe i'll do one, but since there is no need for it, if i get bored to start it with the cmdline, this may be enough to mind me to do it!!

nucleon: Alright, i will try it i the next days!

And a last thing, the GT-430 is 2.1 not 1.1...

[Dubslow]

If kladner's around somewhere, he knows a lot about the cmd commands to open mfaktc/CUDALucas (read: he spent a lot of time experimenting). As for just opening it, I just use a shortcut, which accepts CLI commands in "Target" and then pin the shortcut to my taskbar. Then just click it and the CLI window appears and it starts automatically.

(Et aussi en anglais on dirait 'I miss my bash' qui serait litteralement en français 'Bash je le manque' ou quelque chose inversé comme ça. Je me souviens de cette différence qui ont confondu (est-ce le bon mot?) tous les élèves de mon cours de français.)

[nucleon]

Originally Posted by bcp19

When using this, how do you guard against data loss in the case of a power outage or some such?

This is why that specific ram drive is pretty cool.

It saves an image every x-seconds you specify. It loads the image on bootup. It also as a backup in case power failure during an image write. It's a lot safer now than the earlier versions.

Also as a secondary precaution, I rsync all mfaktc instances to my nas every hour.

Worst case for me I lose say 2 hours. I've been in this unit for about 2months - no power issues for me.

But if you're having a power issue <1/fortnight, I think you have greater issues :)

Another benefit - you can migrate the image to another PC if required. Complete file structure ready to go.

-- Craig