-forceasm -advmethods

[LiGGyMan]

-forceasm -advmethods

what do these additions do?

:confused:

[Bruce]

The Gromacs core contains more than one analysis method. It can use the SIMD instructions on your chip if it has them, or it can use standard instructions. The standard instructions give a dependably accurate answer whereas the SIMD instructions with assembly language optimizations are significantly faster but, on occasion, have been know to be unstable - - and that part of your CPU is often relatively untested.

If your computer crashes (including loss of power or whatever) the Gromacs core cannot tell whether it caused the crash or not, so it assumes it did. Gromacs disables the SIMD method and reverts to the standard analysis. If you need to force Gromacs to reattempt the optimized analysis, you use the -forceasm flag. If your chip doesn't support SSE or 3DNow-extended, or if you're already using the optimized code, or if you're not running a Gromacs WU, it does nothing.

New code - - or the new WU that use that code - - are first tested in-house at Stanford. Once they seem pretty stable, they are released for Beta testing. More bugs are found and fixed. When that looks pretty stable, it is released to the general public. Unfortunately there were still bugs, so the Pande Group decided they need two levels of Beta Testing: One called Beta Test, and one called "Advanced Methods testing". Now once something seems pretty stable in beta testing but it may not be ready for unmonitored machines, it is released to those who specify their willingness to run advanced methods testing.

At the present time, several segments of the Gromacs core seem relatively stable in Beta testing, and other code segments are still having troubles. If you're willing to take some risks, specify -advmethods.

What you didn't ask was "What's Gromacs?"

Gromacs is an advanced folding software being developed at www.gromacs.org and the biggest roll-out is happening at Stanford's FAH. Because of the extremely optimized code, many people can get 2x to 3x as much folding done in a given amount of time. This benefits Stanford by doing more work more quickly, and it benefits you and your team by increasing your points-per-day by 2x to 3x.

For more information, visit http://forum.folding-community.org/

[Miles]

The user guide page is located here. (http://folding.stanford.edu/console-userguide.html)

HTH

EDIT: I like Bruce's reply better. :D

[Bruce]

:D

I do tend to use too many words, don't I. ;)

[Miles]

Originally posted by Bruce
:D

I do tend to use too many words, don't I. ;)

I would say it's just about right. I'm glad to have you out front on this project. Your a great asset to the team and thanks for your efforts on our behalf.

[Medic193]

OK I'm going to be running ALOT of machines that are unmonitered. I'll be using firedaemon with the text client. When I setup my client can I put in these flags or not? If not, is it that big a deal if I don't have them?

[X-Calibur]

Yes you can. Firedeamon allows you to specify additionnal -flags
Otherwise, the flags are contained in the .bat launching folding or in a seperate file (just a guess as I don't run the client at the moment, you can add them there on your own and copy it on the machines to be borgged.
Now I'm sure Bruce can be more complete and understandable then my dribble...

Good luck!

[Medic193]

Thanks. BTW, it's your dribble that I look forward to. :)

[dnar]

What did he say? :confused: Something about a combrumpter pre-processor? :eek:

[Medic193]

X, you were right. I can put them in right after the -service parameter. Found it here..

Parameters with firedaemon (http://www.nozero.org/FireDaemonFAH.htm)

dnar, I'm a bit slow.... :) what in the heck does that mean? :o