v8.1.18 Performance Observations

[Catalina588]

Configuration: Kaby Lake Pentium (2C/4T @ 3.1GHz), 8GB DDR-4, 2 x RTX 2080, Linux Mint 21.3

1. The old 7.21 client runs at 106% of CPU. In other words, not enough CPU to run two GPU clients and background tasks. The new v8.1.18 client runs at 53% of available CPU. You can run full blast on a $58 Pentium! Just not the CPU client with GPU.

2. v8.1.18 uses 4.4 GB of memory versus 3.3 in the 7.21 client.

3. Memory use gradually builds over a week of folding to exceed real memory. I suspect a memory leak, which is not surprising in beta software.

4. I got started with a clean install of Linux Mint 21.3 and the v8 users guide. It was not difficult.

Let's get v8 into production! It's gonna be a useful version.

--Catalina588

[jchang6]

I ran the 8.x beta briefly on my Raptor Lake system. I believe it was correctly using the P and E core. that is, in dividing work according to ability, instead of threads on the P cores being slowed down by the rate of work on the E cores. With 7.6.21, I was seeing erratic PPD due to uneven core loading? that said, I would like to see better ability to regulate CPU on my normal use desktop, and suspend folding when I need for measurement (work)