Boinc Only Recognizing 2 of 4 Cores

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nick storm

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Message 24024 - Posted: 31 Mar 2009, 1:01:54 UTC

I just moved an AMD Phenom Quad Core Processor from one machine to another. Did a fresh install of BOINC on the new machine. Benchmarks only show 2 processors, and it only downloads 2 tasks. This same CPU/MB combo ran 4 BOINC tasks just fine for months (under Vista 64-bit). I'm wondering if the XP Pro 32-bit OS could be the culprit?

New machine is a Phenom 9850 Quad Core, XP Pro 32-bit, 2gb RAM, onboard video.

FYI, CPU tests out just fine on all 4 cores.

Suggestions would be appreciated.

Nick
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Richard Haselgrove
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Message 24028 - Posted: 31 Mar 2009, 8:46:51 UTC

Windows XP Pro should be fine - I ran 8 cores under it for a while. But check it out, just to be sure - how many CPU graphs do you see on the 'Performance' tab in Task Manager?
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nick storm

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Message 24041 - Posted: 31 Mar 2009, 20:23:20 UTC - in response to Message 24028.  

Task manager shows all 4 CPU graphs, with two of them running at 100% (the two running BOINC), and the other two varying with system activity. The AMD CPU utility shows all four processors as functional, running at full speed (2.5ghz). The "new" processor (an AMD Phenom X4 940) now runs in the Vista 64 system, and runs 4 tasks without missing a beat.

I've even tried uninstalling then reinstalling BOINC twice, so far. No change.
Every utility that looks at the processor shows all four cores (Speedfan is one of them). I have XP 64-bit, but some of my essential apps will only run under 32 bit, so I'm reluctant to make that change.

Thanks

Nick
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Profile Gundolf Jahn

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Message 24042 - Posted: 31 Mar 2009, 20:28:42 UTC - in response to Message 24041.  

Is there possibly a <max_cpus>2</max_cpus> entry in global_prefs.xml or global_prefs_override.xml?

Gruß,
Gundolf
Computer sind nicht alles im Leben. (Kleiner Scherz)
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Zoeff

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Message 24107 - Posted: 4 Apr 2009, 22:13:34 UTC
Last modified: 4 Apr 2009, 22:16:33 UTC

I've got the same problem, but only 1 core is being used. All questions asked above have the same answer for me, windows task manager finds all 4 cores shows a graph.

I've got the same problem on another PC in my house which has 2 cores - only 1 core is being used. This started when I updated them both to the latest version (6.4.7).

Both run WinXP SP3 (x86).

EDIT: I forgot to mention that since the upgrade the computer with the Quad Core found a CUDA device (8800GTX). For some reason, the one task it does perform is extremely slow (as in takes over 300 hours). Could this be related to that?
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Profile Jord
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Message 24109 - Posted: 4 Apr 2009, 22:45:04 UTC - in response to Message 24107.  

Could you please give a link to your account, or give your account ID number at Seti, or to the computers in question?
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Zoeff

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Message 24116 - Posted: 5 Apr 2009, 12:22:46 UTC - in response to Message 24109.  
Last modified: 5 Apr 2009, 12:28:40 UTC

Could you please give a link to your account, or give your account ID number at Seti, or to the computers in question?


Hmm, this stats page shows the CPU number as "1(4)", suggesting that it does indeed see 4 cores but only chooses to use 1 for whatever reason. Am I missing something?

http://boincstats.com/stats/boinc_host_stats.php?pr=bo&st=0&userid=5add6593d83a66cab8b55edd1f3aa684

EDIT: The one task is using all 4 cores but only at 25% each. If I set the affinity to just 1 core then it'll use that core at 100%.
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Profile Gundolf Jahn

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Message 24118 - Posted: 5 Apr 2009, 14:04:35 UTC - in response to Message 24116.  

Hmm, this stats page shows the CPU number as "1(4)", suggesting that it does indeed see 4 cores but only chooses to use 1 for whatever reason. Am I missing something?

http://boincstats.com/stats/boinc_host_stats.php?pr=bo&st=0&userid=5add6593d83a66cab8b55edd1f3aa684

EDIT: The one task is using all 4 cores but only at 25% each. If I set the affinity to just 1 core then it'll use that core at 100%.

I made your link clickable.

The legend at BOINCStats is
Number of CPU's (number of (virtual) cores) 1(4)

How many tasks are shown as "Running" in BOINC manager's Tasks tab (advanced view)?

Gruß,
Gundolf
Computer sind nicht alles im Leben. (Kleiner Scherz)
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Profile Jord
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Message 24123 - Posted: 5 Apr 2009, 17:47:25 UTC - in response to Message 24116.  
Last modified: 5 Apr 2009, 17:48:22 UTC

Are you even doing Seti? Or is this a QMC task that's running? What other project is it for if neither Seti nor QMC?

That's why I asked for a link to your computer at the project, so we would know a) what project it was for and b) what your possible settings there are. Else, please please alsjeblieft, give the information yourself, as we here at the BOINC forums are in no position to guess these things based on assumed names people use on these forums.
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Zoeff

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Message 24124 - Posted: 5 Apr 2009, 22:43:57 UTC - in response to Message 24123.  
Last modified: 5 Apr 2009, 22:54:10 UTC

Hmm, this stats page shows the CPU number as "1(4)", suggesting that it does indeed see 4 cores but only chooses to use 1 for whatever reason. Am I missing something?

http://boincstats.com/stats/boinc_host_stats.php?pr=bo&st=0&userid=5add6593d83a66cab8b55edd1f3aa684

EDIT: The one task is using all 4 cores but only at 25% each. If I set the affinity to just 1 core then it'll use that core at 100%.

I made your link clickable.

The legend at BOINCStats is
Number of CPU's (number of (virtual) cores) 1(4)

How many tasks are shown as "Running" in BOINC manager's Tasks tab (advanced view)?

Gruß,
Gundolf


Just 1, with another one completed (Ready to report). Both are from QMC.

Are you even doing Seti? Or is this a QMC task that's running? What other project is it for if neither Seti nor QMC?

That's why I asked for a link to your computer at the project, so we would know a) what project it was for and b) what your possible settings there are. Else, please please alsjeblieft, give the information yourself, as we here at the BOINC forums are in no position to guess these things based on assumed names people use on these forums.


I'm guessing you've got me mixed up with the thread starter, I'm not running the Seti one - just the 2 shown in the above link.

If you must have the project links directly, here they are:
http://qah.uni-muenster.de/show_user.php?userid=52157
http://lhcathome.cern.ch/lhcathome/show_user.php?userid=123503
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Profile Gundolf Jahn

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Message 24125 - Posted: 6 Apr 2009, 7:08:22 UTC - in response to Message 24124.  

Just 1, with another one completed (Ready to report). Both are from QMC.

Your hosts are listed as having 4 (resp. 2) cores by BOINC. From your task list it seems that there are no tasks "Ready to start" besides the already running task. So, might it be that QMC doesn't send enough tasks?

I don't know if the setting of "On multiprocessors, use at most XX % of the processors" is reflected in the number of processors on the status page, so double check that you have set it to 100% (local and remote).

Perhaps you should try to attach to another project, to check if it's just QMC (from what I hear LHC doesn't have much work either).

Gruß,
Gundolf
Computer sind nicht alles im Leben. (Kleiner Scherz)
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Zoeff

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Message 24132 - Posted: 6 Apr 2009, 11:15:08 UTC - in response to Message 24125.  

Just 1, with another one completed (Ready to report). Both are from QMC.

Your hosts are listed as having 4 (resp. 2) cores by BOINC. From your task list it seems that there are no tasks "Ready to start" besides the already running task. So, might it be that QMC doesn't send enough tasks?

I don't know if the setting of "On multiprocessors, use at most XX % of the processors" is reflected in the number of processors on the status page, so double check that you have set it to 100% (local and remote).

Perhaps you should try to attach to another project, to check if it's just QMC (from what I hear LHC doesn't have much work either).

Gruß,
Gundolf


Ah, I attached Einstein@Home and it filled the remaining cores! I guess QMC doesn't have much to do at the moment. A bit confusing when that happened just as I updated my BOINC. :)
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Message boards : Questions and problems : Boinc Only Recognizing 2 of 4 Cores

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