GPU activate/deactivate in BOINC's options

Message boards : GPUs : GPU activate/deactivate in BOINC's options
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AmigaForever

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Joined: 14 Jun 11
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Message 40180 - Posted: 14 Sep 2011, 22:26:32 UTC

I was wondering why it is still not possible to activate or deactivate the GPU use from within BOINC's options. I mean globally - use it or leave it. Or even better, to select it for every single project.

Instead you have to edit the cc_config.xml file (which is quite easy to do for a pro like me, but not everyone is a pro), but I think if you choose to offer that possiibility with BOINC you should put the on/off button inside the options.

And yes, I know it is possible to select that on each project's webpage, but why not include it into BOINC directly? And make it more obviously and easily?

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Profile Jord
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Message 40181 - Posted: 14 Sep 2011, 23:23:09 UTC - in response to Message 40180.  

I was wondering why it is still not possible to activate or deactivate the GPU use from within BOINC's options. I mean globally - use it or leave it.

The default setting for use of both the CPU and the GPU is only when the computer is idle. If that's not good enough, one can disable the use of either through the project's preferences, or change the way that they should be used through the global preferences. One way to completely disable the GPU from being detected is as you said through the cc_config.xml file.

Editing the core client configuration (cc_config.xml) file will become much easier in BOINC 7. Then it'll be available through the local advanced view's preferences.
Or even better, to select it for every single project.

Whether or not a GPU can be selected as hardware is a project's option. The project preferences will only show the option to allow the use of the Nvidia or ATI GPU when there is an actual CUDA, CAL or OpenCL application available in the project's applications list. The BOINC server software automatically enables these preferences when a project adds one of those applications to its applications list.

As long as the project has no GPU application, it won't need the option to allow or disallow the use of that GPU.
And yes, I know it is possible to select that on each project's webpage, but why not include it into BOINC directly? And make it more obviously and easily?

BOINC was made for allowing associated projects to send you applications that use your spare CPU & GPU cycles in mind. That's why it will at default only start up when you're not using the computer. It should be easy for everyone to step into. Adding all those options in plain sight will scare some of the technically non-savvy people away, a goal that the developers want to prevent from happening.

But moreover, enabling or disabling which applications you want to use is a project level decision. Which means that enabling or disabling the CPU or GPU is at that level as well. It's not for BOINC to decide whether or not they can be used, as it goes against why BOINC was made.
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Profile Jord
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Message 40184 - Posted: 15 Sep 2011, 0:38:26 UTC - in response to Message 40183.  

It will suspend GPU usage, but won't disable the GPU. It also won't stop the GPU work requests people see in their messages. Only deactivating the GPU detection or telling BOINC to ignore the GPU will stop those.
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Message boards : GPUs : GPU activate/deactivate in BOINC's options

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