Someone is selling a Nvidia card that apparently runs 2 D programs OK, but randomly crashes on 3D programs. Changing the video BIOS helped a bit but didn't cure it. Is it correct to assume that GPU enabled BOINC projects would also crash?

Thanks in advance for any guidance.

What particular card is it?

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

Nvidia GTX 980ti

There seem to be two main chips on a card. The Video BIOS and the Graphics Processor. I just randomly thought that if Boinc programs only use the main processor chip it might work.

Gpus don't work like that. All gpus in current production or past are monolithic chips. Just one. There are two major engine pathways in a gpu. They can be simplified as a math pathway and a rasterization pathway. Most BOINC gpu applications only use the math pathway and almost nothing in the rasterization pathway. The 3D part you are talking about is the rasterization pathway. It won't get used much and the card may be fine in the 2D or math pathway.

One way to prove this to yourself is to run a Milkyway or Einstein gpu application and look at the graphical utilization in a program like GPU-Z. The Video utilization will be almost nil while the card is running.

But all this is to say that the card you are talking about is not performing at its intended function the best. It might be a case where it is overheating from clogged cooling fins or dried up TIM on the gpu chip.
Up to you to decide whether it is worth it to purchase. Older cards are not as energy efficient as more modern generations.

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Seti@Home classic workunits:20,676 CPU time:74,226 hours

A proud member of the OFA (Old Farts Association)

Unfortunately now is not a good time to need a new video card, and because of that even second hand video cards are way over priced (2 year old cards are often selling for (or even more than) their original release price). And there's no sign of things improving in the short term, and even in to next year they are expected to remain tight until the second quarter. Maybe, if we're lucky.

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Grant
Darwin NT

Yes you are quite correct, s/h cards are still gong for silly money, being snapped up I'm told by the mining people. GTX 98ti's are going for £175-£200 on Ebay. This one is 1/2 that and seems to be able to work with Boinc GPU projects. I might take a punt. and if no go, sell it on.

Very helpful info, thankyou.

I am thinking if I want to upgrade my 2070. Is there a tool/site that will give you information on different run time for different tasks or are you just better to go to each website and compare run times with whichever card you are thinking about upgrading too? I will always compare with a windows machine in my case.
Or is there a better way to go about deciding. I did think about swapping to ATI however it looks like most projects run better on Nvidia TIA

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First off, the published "benchmarks" for GPUs are not that reliable in predicting their actual performance when running a particular project.
The was a project that collated the data from just about every BOINC based project and I think that data included per-GPU data, but sadly that project is in the process of winding down ( https://wuprop.boinc-af.org/ ).

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Bob Smith
Member of Seti PIPPS (Pluto is a Planet Protest Society)
Somewhere in the (un)known Universe?

Thanks Rob, yes I can remember the project along with a site that gave the information (timings) that you mention. Unfortunately I can't remember what it's called. I completely agree that you cannot read into benchmarks. I will do my best to try and find the the information because it certainly would assist me in choosing

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I am thinking if I want to upgrade my 2070.

I personally wouldn't bother doing so at least until some time next year.
Video card prices, while they have come down quite a bit, are still ridiculously overpriced- well above their recommended retail price (many are still more than double).

NVidia re expected to release their RTX 4000 series later this year, and Intel are meant to be releasing their discrete video cards around the middle of this year. In spite of the chaos the Russian invasion of the Ukraine is causing the supply chain for electronic components should continue to improve overall. And the type of mining work that has made GPUs so popular for Crypto miners is slowly reducing deu to it's increasing level of difficulty resulting in reducing levels of return, along with several countries that have been big centres for Crypto mining banning it.

The end result (with a bit of luck) is that by the end of this year, or early next year, prices for existing model GPUs should be very close to their recommended retail pricing. And newly released models should only be somewhat above the recommended retail price instead of 2 or even 3 times over it.

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Grant
Darwin NT

Thanks for your feedback Grant. It's a case of you wait until the 4000 series comes out then it's like no let's wait until the 5000 series come out then go on know why not wait for the 6000 series. Where should I draw the line?

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Thanks for your feedback Grant. It's a case of you wait until the 4000 series comes out then it's like no let's wait until the 5000 series come out then go on know why not wait for the 6000 series. Where should I draw the line?

Like i said, late this year or early next year.

If someone really needs a new video card now, then they need it. But to spend $800 (or more) on something that will most likely be selling for around $450-$500 by the end of the year or early next year when you don't actually have to, doesn't make any sort of sense to me.

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Grant
Darwin NT

Thanks for your feedback Grant. It's a case of you wait until the 4000 series comes out then it's like no let's wait until the 5000 series come out then go on know why not wait for the 6000 series. Where should I draw the line?

Like i said, late this year or early next year.

If someone really needs a new video card now, then they need it. But to spend $800 (or more) on something that will most likely be selling for around $450-$500 by the end of the year or early next year when you don't actually have to, doesn't make any sort of sense to me.

Taking into consideration the conversion rate I have never being able to buy a new GPU for $546.27 NZ/500 AU. Personally I would be surprised if prices even for secondhand would be that low later this year or early next. A high percentage of the time in my experience whenever you go and buy something it will always be cheaper the following day.

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RTX 4090 Founders Edition reviews are staring to be posted.
Yes, it chews huge amounts of power, but it also delivers with it's performance.

TechSpot Nvidia GeForce RTX 4090 Review

Bottom line, the gaming experience with the GeForce RTX 4090 Founders Edition is breathtaking, and surprisingly practical as well. We were able to run it just fine with our old Corsair RM850x 850w PSU using the included adapter. The FE model running under full load for extended periods of time is very quiet, no louder than a quality mid-range graphics card, and as we've said power consumption wasn't outrageous.

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Grant
Darwin NT