Anyway to have CPU usage different from all or nothing? I have a quad core CPU and would like it to use all cores when I am not on the computer, but when I am I'd like it to step down to 2 or three cores (depending on what I set it to). Is there anyway to do this other than manually changing it from 100% to 75%?

No, BOINC can't do that.

All science applications will run at lower than normal priority (almost idle priority), so they'll give way to whatever else you start up.

---

I have seen significant increases in performance in programs after suspending BOINC, so I don't think it is fully taking a back seat to things like it should.

If you're talking about games and videos, then there's an option in cc_config to have BOINC check for the names of user supplied programs. When detected, BOINC stops and allows the program(s) to run.
I've forgotten the details, but check here.

Thank you for that. I found the option...

<exclusive_app>
BOINC will suspend computing whenever the executable is running (e.g., a game). Multiple applications can be specified.
Warning: Do check your system for other applications with the same name. Since there will be no path used, any application with this name will suspend BOINC, not just the one you want (like a game).
looks like this... <exclusive_app>important.exe</exclusive_app>

but where and how do I put in what .exe I want to trigger it. Right now I have <cc_config>
<options>
<exclusive_app>RelicCOH.exe</exclusive_app>
</options>
</cc_config>

and it isn't doing anything

Are you sure that's the name of running program, and not just a 'loader' program?

You could try it with something simpler to check that you've got it right.
Perhaps a download game; they should be simple enough to not use fancy startups.

Do make sure you load cc_config.xml, by loading it from Boinc Manager (Advanced view->Advanced->Read config file), or fully exiting and restarting Boinc (Not just BOINC manager, the client must be restarted as well).

Boinc will tell that it loaded the preferences, like so:

27-Mar-10 10:58:16 Config: don't compute while SpybotSD.exe is running
27-Mar-10 10:58:16 Config: don't compute while Revision.exe is running
27-Mar-10 10:58:16 Config: don't use GPUs while FEAR.exe is running

---

I have done that, and I just rebooted my machine, and still nothing.

I am running win7 x64
Boinc version 6.10.18

<cc_config>
<options>
<exclusive_app>RelicCOH.exe</exclusive_app>
<exclusive_app>DAOrigins.exe</exclusive_app>
</options>
</cc_config>

and RelicCOH.exe is currently running, with no effect (4 climateprediction.net models are running)

I have done that, and I just rebooted my machine, and still nothing.

What do you mean by 'still nothing?', do you get any messages from Boinc at all?,
the cc_config.xml needs to be in the Boinc Data folder for Boinc to use it.

Claggy

BOINC runs as if the cc_config file isn't there (C:\Program Files\BOINC). I read it in through the advance menu...

3/27/2010 8:14:06 AM Re-reading cc_config.xml
3/27/2010 8:14:06 AM Re-read config file
3/27/2010 8:14:06 AM log flags: file_xfer, sched_ops, task

nothing about the exclusive apps

BOINC runs as if the cc_config file isn't there (C:\Program Files\BOINC). I read it in through the advance menu...

Of course, as it isn't there! You've put it into the program directory, but it needs to be in the BOINC data directory, as Claggy already mentioned.

The path to the data dirctory is listed in the Messages tab after a restart. The directory itself may be hidden by windows. If you find the file client_state.xml, you've found the data directory.

Gruß,
Gundolf

---

Computer sind nicht alles im Leben. (Kleiner Scherz)

The default directory where BOINC will install the data files to is:

- Windows 2000/XP: C:\Documents and Settings\All Users\Application Data\BOINC\ (*)
- Windows Vista/Windows 7: C:\ProgramData\BOINC (*)

(*) This directory may well be hidden, so either put the path to it directly into Windows Explorer, or instruct Windows Explorer to show hidden files and folders.

---

ahhh, usually that whole correct folder thing seems to work best....in this case though I got the same result (or lack there of). My head is starting to hurt with this.

Check the file extension of the cc_config.xml, make sure it's not cc_config.xml.txt, as Windows by default hides the file extension.

Claggy

it is showing up as a .xml. When I open it, it automatically opens in explorer.

I think that I read once that opening it in Explorer causes extra, hidden, characters to be added to the file.
Only open it with Notepad.

Just made a new one in notepad, loaded it, no glory. and it does add characters, it adds -'s before the first two lines.

I think that I read once that opening it in Explorer causes extra, hidden, characters to be added to the file.
Only open it with Notepad.

Explorer adds characters to the display of the file but never changes the content of the file.

However, notepad does add hidden characters when the file is saved with UTF-8 character set. In that case, BOINC shows an error message though, when reading the file.

Gruß,
Gundolf

either way, does anyone have any ideas on why it still isn't woring as intended?

either way, does anyone have any ideas on why it still isn't woring as intended?

O.K, make the following cc_config.xml with Notepad, save it as cc_config.xml with ANSI encoding,
afterwards right click on it and select Edit, it should open in Notepad, make sure it does say cc_config.xml in the top left corner,
Copy the file into the same directory as in your Boinc start up messages,
then restart Boinc, and then post your startup messages,
the second line should say 'Config: use all coprocessors', while the third line should have a couple of extra log flags.

Claggy

<cc_config>
<log_flags>
<sched_op_debug>1</sched_op_debug>
<cpu_sched>1</cpu_sched>
<work_fetch_debug>0</work_fetch_debug>
<dcf_debug>0</dcf_debug> 
<debt_debug>0</debt_debug>
<coproc_debug>0</coproc_debug>
<checkpoint_debug>0</checkpoint_debug>
<debt_debug>0</debt_debug>
<rr_simulation>0</rr_simulation>
<guirpc_debug>0</guirpc_debug>
<state_debug>0</state_debug>
<task_debug>0</task_debug>
<http_debug>0</http_debug>
<http_xfer_debug>0</http_xfer_debug>
<task>0</task>
</log_flags> 
<options>
<use_all_gpus>1</use_all_gpus>
<save_stats_days>760</save_stats_days>
<exclusive_app>RelicCOH.exe</exclusive_app>
<exclusive_app>DAOrigins.exe</exclusive_app>
</options>
</cc_config>