GPUGrid Maximum Output

[Nick Name]

If you want to maximize output and push your systems to the limit, you can apply the SWAN_SYNC environmental variable. This applies to both Windows and Linux systems. I don't know how it got its name, but the purpose is to force the system to keep one thread at 100%, which will speed up processing.

https://www.gpugrid.net/forum_thread.php?id=4813

https://www.gpugrid.net/forum_thread.php?id=4306

I've tried this before and found that while it worked it made my Windows (7) desktop too sluggish. On my Linux box, times increased around ten minutes, but other CPU tasks ran slower and overall output was down. Plus, it really pushed the card on PrimeGrid, temps went up by eight degrees. It wasn't worth it to me but as usual YMMV.

[Edit] This applies to Nvidia cards and should definitely affect any CUDA workload. I don't know if it also affects AMD cards and OpenCL apps. [/Edit]

 

[Nick Name]

I revisited this after seeing some more discussion over at the GPUGrid forum. Previously I was running two tasks at a time and I didn't change that when applying SWAN_SYNC. I did that a couple days ago and while the task mix makes comparison a little difficult, I have seen some improvement. I've also made sure to leave a core free for OS system operations etc., which is my usual practice. I must have overlooked that before as CPU times are the same. Also I just noticed a typo in my previous post. This:

On my Linux box, times increased around ten minutes

should have read DECREASED.

It's definitely worth trying.

 

[Nick Name]

There's a bit of a drought for GPU tasks right now, if you aren't getting your usual amount it's not just you.