Prime95 and graphics cards

2011-12-03, 19:53

I did a search for this and hope I didn't miss an answer. My question is:

Graphics cards/GPUs are designed to do number crunching. They actually crunch numbers better than a CPU. That is why GPUs are utilized in programs designed to break cryptographs (and used in cryptography/anti-cryptography programs). Why doesn't Prime95 have the capability to utilize one's GPU?

No flames, please! I'm new to this forum. I'm curious if there's a programming reason behind not utilizing one's GPU for Prime95).

Keith Schmidt

Dubslow · 2011-12-03, 20:31

Short answer: There are multiple programs available that use GPU's; in fact we have a GPU Computing subforum. There are FAQ threads for TF on GPU and LL on GPU; there is also a PDF guide available from either of the above threads.

Long answer: All coding for GIMPS is done on a volunteer basis by people with full time jobs. The GPU programs (as of yet) are not mature enough to be integrated into Prime95; however, when the coders have volunteered enough of their own time to get the programs as best as they can be, they will be integrated into P95, hopefully within a couple of years. Maybe not the answer you were looking for, but as I said, these people volunteer their time around the rest of their lives.

(Edit: 6, 6, 6, the number of the beast! Sacrifice is going on tonight!)

Dubslow · 2011-12-04, 09:00

Well, at the time of the post, that was my 666th post, which would have been evident on the left :P:P

cheesehead · 2011-12-04, 18:39

Quote:

Originally Posted by keithschmidt

I did a search for this and hope I didn't miss an answer.

Look in the GPU Computing sub-forum of the Hardware forum: http://www.mersenneforum.org/forumdisplay.php?f=92

davieddy · 2011-12-05, 03:28

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubslow

Long answer: All coding for GIMPS is done on a volunteer basis by people with full time jobs. The GPU programs (as of yet) are not mature enough to be integrated into Prime95; however, when the coders have volunteered enough of their own time to get the programs as best as they can be, they will be integrated into P95, hopefully within a couple of years. Maybe not the answer you were looking for, but as I said, these people volunteer their time around the rest of their lives.

(Edit: 6, 6, 6, the number of the beast! Sacrifice is going on tonight!)

Prime95 is both George and his program (customized for Intel processors since 1895 as the name suggests).
Primenet is the organizing website which supposedly
coordinates our efforts.
P95 is the the name of the folder I keep the stuff in.
Recently there has been an influx of young blood, doing
wonders with their newfound hardware.

David

PS When I stated that there was unanimous
opinion that 72 was a sensible level for TF ATM,
Dubslow retorted "Who said?"
Chalsall for one.

Christenson · 2011-12-05, 04:52

Quote:

Originally Posted by davieddy

PS When I stated that there was unanimous
opinion that 72 was a sensible level for TF ATM,
Dubslow retorted "Who said?"
Chalsall for one.

Chalsall, in particluar, made it possible to work on getting things to 72 bits at maximum effectiveness...it's just that it's a massive computational effort, and it therefore takes time.

@dubslow: perfect answer!

Dubslow · 2011-12-05, 05:09

Thanks. As far as 72 bits go, I'm still not convinced. It takes a buttload of time on my GPU, relatively speaking. As soon as my current assignment is done, I think I'm dropping to 71 bits.

davieddy · 2011-12-05, 05:22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubslow

Thanks. As far as 72 bits go, I'm still not convinced. It takes a buttload of time on my GPU, relatively speaking. As soon as my current assignment is done, I think I'm dropping to 71 bits.

Apart from Prime95, there are two reasons "we" have
found 13 Mersenne Primes:
1) Computing distributed among ~100K participants.
2) A lucky streak.

David

davieddy · 2011-12-05, 05:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Christenson

Chalsall, in particluar, made it possible to work on getting things to 72 bits at maximum effectiveness...it's just that it's a massive computational effort, and it therefore takes time.

@dubslow: perfect answer!

@ Lycorn (maybe inter alia)

David

Dubslow · 2011-12-05, 07:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by davieddy

Apart from Prime95, there are two reasons "we" have
found 13 Mersenne Primes:
1) Computing distributed among ~100K participants.
2) A lucky streak.

David

Agreed.
[/thread hijacking]

Christenson · 2011-12-06, 13:36

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dubslow

Thanks. As far as 72 bits go, I'm still not convinced. It takes a buttload of time on my GPU, relatively speaking. As soon as my current assignment is done, I think I'm dropping to 71 bits.

Dubslow, you are bumping up on the second truism of TF: It's not a very smart algorithm, and it soon bumps into an exponential wall, where every additional bit level costs twice the previous. So there is a distinct limit to the amount of additional TF that can be done, even with these HOT GPUs doing 100x as much as CPUs.

2011-12-03, 19:53	#1
keithschmidt 2,287 Posts	Prime95 and graphics cards I did a search for this and hope I didn't miss an answer. My question is: Graphics cards/GPUs are designed to do number crunching. They actually crunch numbers better than a CPU. That is why GPUs are utilized in programs designed to break cryptographs (and used in cryptography/anti-cryptography programs). Why doesn't Prime95 have the capability to utilize one's GPU? No flames, please! I'm new to this forum. I'm curious if there's a programming reason behind not utilizing one's GPU for Prime95). Keith Schmidt

2011-12-03, 20:31	#2
Dubslow Basketry That Evening! "Bunslow the Bold" Jun 2011 40<A<43 -89<O<-88 3×29×83 Posts	Short answer: There are multiple programs available that use GPU's; in fact we have a GPU Computing subforum. There are FAQ threads for TF on GPU and LL on GPU; there is also a PDF guide available from either of the above threads. Long answer: All coding for GIMPS is done on a volunteer basis by people with full time jobs. The GPU programs (as of yet) are not mature enough to be integrated into Prime95; however, when the coders have volunteered enough of their own time to get the programs as best as they can be, they will be integrated into P95, hopefully within a couple of years. Maybe not the answer you were looking for, but as I said, these people volunteer their time around the rest of their lives. (Edit: 6, 6, 6, the number of the beast! Sacrifice is going on tonight!) Last fiddled with by Dubslow on 2011-12-03 at 20:33

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2011-12-04, 09:00	#3
Dubslow Basketry That Evening! "Bunslow the Bold" Jun 2011 40<A<43 -89<O<-88 3×29×83 Posts	Well, at the time of the post, that was my 666th post, which would have been evident on the left :P:P

2011-12-05, 05:09	#7
Dubslow Basketry That Evening! "Bunslow the Bold" Jun 2011 40<A<43 -89<O<-88 3·29·83 Posts	Thanks. As far as 72 bits go, I'm still not convinced. It takes a buttload of time on my GPU, relatively speaking. As soon as my current assignment is done, I think I'm dropping to 71 bits.