GTX 470/480 cards not folding yet; bug in FAH core

[chrisk]

There was some speculation on the folding forums (Folding Forum • View topic - GTX470 / GTX480 support?) that there is an issue with the nVidia folding cores (fah_11 and fah_14) that prevents them from running on the GTX 4xx series cards.

This has been confirmed, and Fah Addict has this posted:

Imran Haque has identified a bug in both current nVidia cores (FahCore_11 v1.31 and FahCore_14 v1.26) which may be contributing to this issue. The bug has been fixed in the latest revisions of both cores, which are currently undergoing internal testing.

FAH-Addict : News - A bug has surfaced that prevents the GTX4xx from folding

Looks like a fix is on the way.

Update: Looks like it could be the end of April, or a little longer:

Vijay Pande has posted some more information about the pending support for nVidia's Fermi/GTX4xx cards in Folding@home. It has not been a trivial fix to make the cores work on these new cards, and a new client will be required to support the cards, as well as some behind-the-scenes changes to the Pande Group's software.

The upside of this extra effort should mean that the new core will utilise these more powerful cards far more effectively than the current cores would have if they worked on Fermi. However as a result support for the GTX4xx series is still a few weeks away, whilst the new code undergoes thorough internal testing, so your cards will need to remain idle for a little longer. Or maybe give you an excuse to dig out those dust-covered PC games

Figured this might be useful for any of us that obtain a Fermi card and will try to fold with it.

[Arinoth]

Hopefully it doesn't take them that long otherwise owning a 400 series will generate 0 ppd

[Pelt]

Speaking of folding and new video cards. Has anyone been able to get a 5000 series ATI card to fold yet?

[chrisk]

I'll file this under interesting but not confirmed, but this guy over at Evga says he has two GPU clients running on a single 470, for a total of 14K PPD:
possible way to fold on gtx 400 card comming soon as i can verify is stable

Worth keeping an eye on.

[Arinoth]

That seems a little low as its 2 gpu clients kicking out 14k ppd instead of 1. Hopefully thats just temporary and the 470 can kick that out on 1 gpu client instead.

[chrisk]

Originally Posted by Arinoth

That seems a little low as its 2 gpu clients kicking out 14k ppd instead of 1. Hopefully thats just temporary and the 470 can kick that out on 1 gpu client instead.

Two GPU clients on one card for 14k is pretty good. About the same as a 295.

[stoanee]

Originally Posted by chriskwarren

I'll file this under interesting but not confirmed, but this guy over at Evga says he has two GPU clients running on a single 470, for a total of 14K PPD:
possible way to fold on gtx 400 card comming soon as i can verify is stable

Worth keeping an eye on.

Cool, once all the dust settles I will probably spring for a 480 and slap it into my gpu folding box in the garage. I don't think I want it in the house in the summer.

[Arinoth]

Originally Posted by chriskwarren

Two GPU clients on one card for 14k is pretty good. About the same as a 295.

Well we can still hope for more when all the kinks are worked out, at least i can anyways (even if i'm not folding right now)

[fruity]

he is running 1 card. except it's 2 clients on 1 card. that is unless i've misread his post

[chrisk]

Originally Posted by fruity

he is running 1 card. except it's 2 clients on 1 card. that is unless i've misread his post

That is my understanding also.