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World Community Grid Forums
Category: Support
Forum: GPU Support Forum
Thread: 8400GS on PCI Bus? |
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Thread Status: Active Total posts in this thread: 10
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
My son was having fun messing with desktops and picked up a used Lenovo ThinkCentre M55. Updated BIOS and swapped processors so now it has a dual core 2.66 Ghz processor. Had a spare disk drive and swapped it in giving it 750 Gigs of storage. Bumped memory up to 4 Gigs.
We wanted to see how much we could wring out of the used E-Bay special, and were thinking of a GPU Card. We saw that BOINC can support some PCI GPU cards and found a used 8400GS that appears to work in some BOINC projects. Has anyone tested an 8400GS in WCG? I know it wouldn't be terribly fast, but we might be able to get a bit more processing out of it. Are we good so long as we make sure it supports CUDA? Any recommendations for PCI bus GPU cards? |
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Coleslaw
Veteran Cruncher USA Joined: Mar 29, 2007 Post Count: 1343 Status: Offline Project Badges: 
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I have tried testing it in the BETA work for HCC GPU. (This is the only GPU work at WCG right now.) Though some (but not all) 8400GS meet the specs on paper, I have not seen the 8400GS actually produce valid results. My failed to even launch due to it taking too long to load. (as far as my research has suggested anyways.) So, I wouldn't hold my breath just yet on it working here. I have used it on other projects just fine. Especially those projects that code their apps using CUDA rather then OpenCL. If you are looking for a very low end card like the 8400GS that is really cheap, I would not recommend it. The 210 is basically the same card only a third of the electric draw. Brand new, these cards can be found as low at $10 after rebate and typically fluctuate between $15-$25. (US dollars) If you want a decent card that isn't much more ($25-$50 depending on deals), I would recommend seeking out a 430. You would also find that since WCG is using OpenCL, AMD seems to be king in efficiency and output. Like I said...the work is still BETA and isn't set in stone.
----------------------------------------Edit: Sorry...I just noticed you mentioned the card on the PCI bus. So, your options are very limited on options since nVidia pretty much stopped on the 8400GS on PCI. You may find AMD to have something better, but you may be out of luck here. Don't spend too much.     [Edit 1 times, last edit by Coleslaw at Sep 17, 2012 3:47:00 PM] |
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
Hello thx712517,
My search seems to show that all mentions of the 8400GS on this forum do not claim that it has been successfully tested on the GPU Beta tests. Once we have a working GPU project, we will quickly build a list of boards that work on at least some systems. Until then, everything is uncertain. Lawrence |
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
Thanks for the info! I think my limiting factor is PCI bus rather than PCI Express. We might be able to get it working for other projects, but we want to keep the desktop dedicated to World Community Grid. I was reading on GPU Grid that PCI graphics cards are too slow - so will assume it would be too slow for WCG as well.
Perhaps we'll put cash aside to go for another inexpensive build, this time looking for PCI-E bus desktops as a starting point. No harm in stacking 'em! |
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nanoprobe
Master Cruncher Classified Joined: Aug 29, 2008 Post Count: 2998 Status: Offline Project Badges: 
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List of cards that will not be able to run the WCG GPU project.
----------------------------------------https://secure.worldcommunitygrid.org/forums/...815_lastpage,yes#lastpost
In 1969 I took an oath to defend and protect the U S Constitution against all enemies, both foreign and Domestic. There was no expiration date.
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Coleslaw
Veteran Cruncher USA Joined: Mar 29, 2007 Post Count: 1343 Status: Offline Project Badges:
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The speed of PCI might not be the biggest factor, but rather the limited option of cards you can find for it and their rather high costs. If you have even a PCI express 1X slot, you could still use a 16X to 1X cable to get much better deals on cards that would still outperform the 8400GS and would be compatible here. That's just something to consider if you have the option.
----------------------------------------[Edit 2 times, last edit by Coleslaw at Sep 17, 2012 7:26:30 PM] |
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
Time for me to crack open a book. It's a model 8808, small form factor. Should have one PCI slot and one PCI Express 1 slot. Will eyeball it and hope the A+ Cert book tells me how to identify PCI Express.
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Coleslaw
Veteran Cruncher USA Joined: Mar 29, 2007 Post Count: 1343 Status: Offline Project Badges:
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A PCI express X1 slot is very small compared to all the other slots.
----------------------------------------This link has a picture that shows the different versions. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/PCI_Express |
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Former Member
Cruncher Joined: May 22, 2018 Post Count: 0 Status: Offline |
Thanks for the link. The first PCI slot is standard, ancient PCI. The second slot is for a DVI PCIe ADD2 adapter only. It's an odd looking interface.
A pic for it is on e-bay: http://www.ebay.com/itm/280646005178 Think I'm staying away from GPU stuff for now. |
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mikey
Veteran Cruncher Joined: May 10, 2009 Post Count: 821 Status: Offline Project Badges: 
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List of cards that will not be able to run the WCG GPU project. https://secure.worldcommunitygrid.org/forums/...815_lastpage,yes#lastpost Well that leaves out this pci card then: 9500GT, oh well!   |
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