Coping with Wind

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Philip_Latheron
Posts: 8
Joined: Wed Jan 13, 2016 9:07 pm
Hardware configuration: 1> Dell i7 with 256 GB solid state "disc", GeForce GPU, Windows 10
2> Core 2/quad wih GeForce GPU, Windows Vista AND Ubuntu
3> Lenovo i7 with GeForce GPU, Windows 10
4> Acer netbook, dual Intel Atom, Ubuntu (was Windows XP until MS stopped support)
Location: Stevenage, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom

Coping with Wind

Post by Philip_Latheron »

I run a group, Bragbury_End_Folding and almost every Windows upgrade has stopped F@H working, usually with issues connected to opencl. Has Pande Lab tried to get Microsoft to not disrupt the contributers who are dependent on Windows? I also use several machines running Ubuntu which (so far) has not been broken by updates/upgrades. I have no particular desire to change my Windows machines to Ubuntu but may be forced to consider changing if the Windows upgrade process remains to invasive.
Ricky
Posts: 483
Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2015 1:34 am
Hardware configuration: 1. 2 each E5-2630 V3 processors, 64 GB RAM, GTX980SC GPU, and GTX980 GPU running on windows 8.1 operating system.
2. I7-6950X V3 processor, 32 GB RAM, 1 GTX980tiFTW, and 2 each GTX1080FTW GPUs running on windows 8.1 operating system.
Location: New Mexico

Re: Coping with Wind

Post by Ricky »

This is why I stick to win8.1 OS. I just bought my sister the same for her computer.
SteveWillis
Posts: 409
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2016 12:42 am
Hardware configuration: PC 1:
Linux Mint 17.3
three gtx 1080 GPUs One on a powered header
Motherboard = [MB-AM3-AS-SB-990FXR2] qty 1 Asus Sabertooth 990FX(+59.99)
CPU = [CPU-AM3-FX-8320BR] qty 1 AMD FX 8320 Eight Core 3.5GHz(+41.99)

PC2:
Linux Mint 18
Open air case
Motherboard: ASUS Crosshair V Formula-Z AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD
AMD FD6300WMHKBOX FX-6300 6-Core Processor Black Edition with Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - CPU Cooler with 120mm PWM Fan
three gtx 1080,
one gtx 1080 TI on a powered header

Re: Coping with Wind

Post by SteveWillis »

You can always set up VirtualBox to run your windows programs after you convert to Linux. That's what I've done and it works pretty well. Set up a second hard drive to run the VM from so if you have to reinstall Linux you don't have to redo the VM.
Image

1080 and 1080TI GPUs on Linux Mint
Ricky
Posts: 483
Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2015 1:34 am
Hardware configuration: 1. 2 each E5-2630 V3 processors, 64 GB RAM, GTX980SC GPU, and GTX980 GPU running on windows 8.1 operating system.
2. I7-6950X V3 processor, 32 GB RAM, 1 GTX980tiFTW, and 2 each GTX1080FTW GPUs running on windows 8.1 operating system.
Location: New Mexico

Re: Coping with Wind

Post by Ricky »

My next machine will probably be Linux. I am sure that I will have many stupid questions at that time. But first, I will need air conditioning!
SteveWillis
Posts: 409
Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2016 12:42 am
Hardware configuration: PC 1:
Linux Mint 17.3
three gtx 1080 GPUs One on a powered header
Motherboard = [MB-AM3-AS-SB-990FXR2] qty 1 Asus Sabertooth 990FX(+59.99)
CPU = [CPU-AM3-FX-8320BR] qty 1 AMD FX 8320 Eight Core 3.5GHz(+41.99)

PC2:
Linux Mint 18
Open air case
Motherboard: ASUS Crosshair V Formula-Z AM3+ AMD 990FX SATA 6Gb/s USB 3.0 ATX AMD
AMD FD6300WMHKBOX FX-6300 6-Core Processor Black Edition with Cooler Master Hyper 212 EVO - CPU Cooler with 120mm PWM Fan
three gtx 1080,
one gtx 1080 TI on a powered header

Re: Coping with Wind

Post by SteveWillis »

Ricky wrote: I will need air conditioning!
fyi I have a 12,000 btu window unit that barely keeps up with 3200 watts from the wall of computers. If I scale up any more I need to double that.
Image

1080 and 1080TI GPUs on Linux Mint
QuintLeo
Posts: 52
Joined: Sat Jun 17, 2017 5:43 am

Re: Coping with Wind

Post by QuintLeo »

Microsoft doesn't care - they think that automatic upgrades are a good thing, and have blown off user complaints about that issue for several Windows versions.
It's NOT just Folding that gets affected - but it's one of the reasons many or most folks that build dedicated folding machines put those machines on LINUX.

One good reason to stick with Windows 7 for folding dedicated machines if you DO run Windows - 7 made it a ton easier to turn OFF automatic updates.

As far as A/C goes - are you in an area that evaporative cooling works well in?
It's a LOT less expen$ive than standard "mechanical" A/C where it works.

Alternatively, computers can and do run fairly comfortably at a lot higher ambient temperature than humans are comfortable in, perhaps set the folding machines up in a room that can be isolated from the rest of your house (a closed door is usually plenty) and has 2 windows to run ventilation air in to / out of the room, or set them up in a garage?

If the computers are in a room you don't use a lot that has it's own A/C unit, you could try turning the temp up to 80-85F range on the A/C to help avoid it getting overloaded.

For perspective, 1000 watts of power used generates about 3400 BTU of heat per hour.
A standard room air conditioner with a SEER of 9.3 (I believe that's the minimum the Feds require for Energy Star certification but might be 9.2, you won't see anyone selling lower) will use appx 366 watts of power to cool that 3400 BTU.
Luckily almost ALL of that power usage is on the outside of the A/C unit and doesn't add MORE to the load it has to cool.
Ricky
Posts: 483
Joined: Sat Aug 01, 2015 1:34 am
Hardware configuration: 1. 2 each E5-2630 V3 processors, 64 GB RAM, GTX980SC GPU, and GTX980 GPU running on windows 8.1 operating system.
2. I7-6950X V3 processor, 32 GB RAM, 1 GTX980tiFTW, and 2 each GTX1080FTW GPUs running on windows 8.1 operating system.
Location: New Mexico

Re: Coping with Wind

Post by Ricky »

QuintLeo,

I appreciate your post. Yes, most people here use evaporative coolers. The house I bought has central heat with no cooling. We run fans at night in the windows. We browse the web with one machine. The other could be moved. It is just a dedicated folder. I told my wife that it is the spare computer. She knows better...

I will see if she is up to me moving it into the spare bedroom, with the door shut. I hope to add central ac maybe next year.

Thanks!
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