Lowering lag on mfaktc possible?

manfred4 · 2014-08-20, 22:08

Is it possible to change some option in mfaktc so that the LLTF and similar assignments so that the desktop and videos on youtube etc. are more responsive? In CudaLucas there is that "polite" option that does exactly what I would be asking for.

I found that playing some non-resource-intensive games is working fine with mfaktc running at the same time, others are not.

Currently I am doing some Assignments like 500M from 65 to 66 while playing, because at those assignments everything runs smooth, but I would like to let the "normal" work run all the time, so please let me know if there is some option to run mfaktc a little more polite or at less than 100% I missed.

Mark Rose · 2014-08-20, 23:09

In mfaktc.ini, you can try setting GridSize=1.

Myself, I just stop mfaktc.exe when I set down and start it when I get up. I use three scripts to make my life easier, running multiple mfaktc.exe's in screen:

mf-stop:

Code:

#!/bin/bash
killall mfaktc.exe 2> /dev/null
while pgrep -c mfaktc.exe > /dev/null ; do sleep 0.5 ; done

mf-start:

Code:

#!/bin/bash
mf-stop
cd ~/mfaktc0 && screen -d -m -S mf0 ./mfaktc.exe -d 0
cd ~/mfaktc1 && screen -d -m -S mf1 ./mfaktc.exe -d 1

mf-background:

Code:

mf-stop
cd ~/mfaktc1 && screen -d -m -S mf1 ./mfaktc.exe -d 1

I chmod u+x the scripts and put them in my PATH. I run mf-start when I get up and mf-background when I sit down. Both call mf-stop so I don't get two copies running. My primary card is the 0 device, a GTX 760. The secondary card in this box, device 1, a GT 430, is basically run all the time using these scripts.

manfred4 · 2014-08-20, 23:26

The gridSize does nothing for me, it says to improve on older GPUs, but I don't think that a 670 is meant by that.

And for the scripts: I don't need any of those, I simply open a cmd in that directory, there I can start by pressing the up key and enter and stop by pressing Ctrl+C, easy enough.

So there is no real option to change that behavior? And just why works everything much better with the 5xxM 65-66 assignments? Is it the communication CPU-GPU not fast enough there? Because I can see there that the card is not used 99% all the time, but rather just 90% and the rest 10% are used for Desktop, games etc. and works fine then.

kladner · 2014-08-20, 23:35

Somewhere around are batch files by SWL551, and a program by minigeek. I have looked a bit, but have not tracked them down.

Regardless, reducing 'GPUSieveSize' in mfaktc.ini will reduce the GPU usage. On a GTX 580, running at 797 MHz, changing from the maximum of 128 to the minimum of 4 reduces the throughput from about 450 GHz-days/day, to about 350. This reduces GPU usage from 98-99%, to ~84%. This should leave a lot more headroom for other GPU dependent programs.

Xyzzy · 2014-08-21, 00:28

http://www.mersenneforum.org/showthread.php?t=18088

kladner · 2014-08-21, 00:44

Quote:

Originally Posted by Xyzzy

http://www.mersenneforum.org/showthread.php?t=18088

Thanks, Mike!

manfred4 · 2014-08-21, 15:24

Thanks a lot guys, that option change helps a lot! Now that GPU can carry on working more time of the day :)

That program looks nice, but since I found more than 3 different settings for different Programs / Games, I just adjust what I need at the right location, fast enough for me.

2014-08-20, 22:08	#1
manfred4 Mar 2014 Germany 2³×3×5 Posts	Lowering lag on mfaktc possible? Is it possible to change some option in mfaktc so that the LLTF and similar assignments so that the desktop and videos on youtube etc. are more responsive? In CudaLucas there is that "polite" option that does exactly what I would be asking for. I found that playing some non-resource-intensive games is working fine with mfaktc running at the same time, others are not. Currently I am doing some Assignments like 500M from 65 to 66 while playing, because at those assignments everything runs smooth, but I would like to let the "normal" work run all the time, so please let me know if there is some option to run mfaktc a little more polite or at less than 100% I missed.

2014-08-20, 23:09	#2
Mark Rose "/X\(‘-‘)/X\" Jan 2013 https://pedan.tech/ 3184₁₀ Posts	In mfaktc.ini, you can try setting GridSize=1. Myself, I just stop mfaktc.exe when I set down and start it when I get up. I use three scripts to make my life easier, running multiple mfaktc.exe's in screen: mf-stop: Code: #!/bin/bash killall mfaktc.exe 2> /dev/null while pgrep -c mfaktc.exe > /dev/null ; do sleep 0.5 ; done mf-start: Code: #!/bin/bash mf-stop cd ~/mfaktc0 && screen -d -m -S mf0 ./mfaktc.exe -d 0 cd ~/mfaktc1 && screen -d -m -S mf1 ./mfaktc.exe -d 1 mf-background: Code: mf-stop cd ~/mfaktc1 && screen -d -m -S mf1 ./mfaktc.exe -d 1 I chmod u+x the scripts and put them in my PATH. I run mf-start when I get up and mf-background when I sit down. Both call mf-stop so I don't get two copies running. My primary card is the 0 device, a GTX 760. The secondary card in this box, device 1, a GT 430, is basically run all the time using these scripts.

2014-08-20, 23:35	#4
kladner "Kieren" Jul 2011 In My Own Galaxy! 2·3·1,693 Posts	Somewhere around are batch files by SWL551, and a program by minigeek. I have looked a bit, but have not tracked them down. Regardless, reducing 'GPUSieveSize' in mfaktc.ini will reduce the GPU usage. On a GTX 580, running at 797 MHz, changing from the maximum of 128 to the minimum of 4 reduces the throughput from about 450 GHz-days/day, to about 350. This reduces GPU usage from 98-99%, to ~84%. This should leave a lot more headroom for other GPU dependent programs. Last fiddled with by kladner on 2014-08-20 at 23:35

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
MFAKTC wont run on a GTX 980	Peter	GPU Computing	19	2014-10-19 15:26
mfaktc not starting in Mac OSX	bayanne	GPU Computing	0	2014-05-10 14:38
mfaktc on a Mac	bayanne	GPU Computing	0	2013-10-18 09:59
mfaktc (0.20)	fairsky	Software	9	2013-09-24 12:58
mfaktc	tichy	GPU Computing	4	2010-12-03 21:51

2014-08-20, 23:26	#3
manfred4 Mar 2014 Germany 2³·3·5 Posts	The gridSize does nothing for me, it says to improve on older GPUs, but I don't think that a 670 is meant by that. And for the scripts: I don't need any of those, I simply open a cmd in that directory, there I can start by pressing the up key and enter and stop by pressing Ctrl+C, easy enough. So there is no real option to change that behavior? And just why works everything much better with the 5xxM 65-66 assignments? Is it the communication CPU-GPU not fast enough there? Because I can see there that the card is not used 99% all the time, but rather just 90% and the rest 10% are used for Desktop, games etc. and works fine then.

2014-08-21, 00:28	#5
Xyzzy Aug 2002 2×3²×13×37 Posts	http://www.mersenneforum.org/showthread.php?t=18088

2014-08-21, 15:24	#7
manfred4 Mar 2014 Germany 2³·3·5 Posts	Thanks a lot guys, that option change helps a lot! Now that GPU can carry on working more time of the day :) That program looks nice, but since I found more than 3 different settings for different Programs / Games, I just adjust what I need at the right location, fast enough for me.