Running a distributed computing project (BOINC)

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Level 1

29 points

Running a distributed computing project (BOINC)

I have a 2021 24" M1 iMac - purchased brand new just under a year ago. I am wondering if anyone here uses theirs to crunch for distributed computing projects such as BOINC, and how the iMac copes with that kind of intensive load? I have run BOINC in the past on Windows and Linux machines, but never on an Apple device. Would love to be able to contribute again, but just not sure if it's worth the risk.

Any comments/experiences welcomed.

iMac 24″, macOS 13.2

Posted on Feb 12, 2023 4:27 PM

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Answer 1

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Justakiwi Author

Level 1

29 points

Feb 17, 2023 1:13 PM in response to BobHarris

Thanks! Boinc is multi-threaded but I have it set to use max of 75% of CPUs and 75% of CPU time. GPU computing is suspended when computer is in use (I'm not even sure if it is doing any GPU computing - not sure how to tell that). I also have it set to suspend when non-ionic CPU usage is above 25%.

I have done some experimenting and have found I am best to suspend one work unit when I'm using the computer for other things (it is usually working on two tasks at the same time) - that keeps the temp down around 60C whereas running two while using the computer, bumps the temps up to the 90s.

At night when I'm sleeping I let it two tasks simultaneously.

I did notice the fan getting loud one day, while running two tasks, and using the computer for other stuff, on a hot day. Suspending one task, dropped the temp quickly and the fan returned to normal. I am avoiding that now with the above strategy.

It might be the low end model, but it can crunch! Gets through significantly more work units than any other device I've ever run bionic on.

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Answer 2

BobHarris

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55,073 points

Feb 12, 2023 4:46 PM in response to Justakiwi

If you already trust BOINC, then the only downside I can see, is that I think BOINC still runs x86-64 intel code, and thus on your M1 iMac will run under Rosetta. Less efficient, but it should still run OK.

If it is not working as desired, you can always remove BOINC from your iMac.

Again, it is a matter of Trust that BOINC is not going to do something malicious on your Mac, and that is something you have to decide, just like you made that decision for Windows and Linux.

If BOINC gets around to generating an Apple Silicon (M1/M2) based version of BOINC, it would run more efficiently, but that is up to BOINC.

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Answer 3

Justakiwi Author

Level 1

29 points

Feb 12, 2023 5:00 PM in response to BobHarris

The version I installed, appears to support the Silicon architecture. Download is: boinc_7.20.4_macOSX_universal.

I trust BOINC - I'm more concerned about whether running it will cause overheating issues - given that my iMac is the base version (which only has one fan).

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Answer 4

BobHarris

Level 9

55,073 points

Feb 17, 2023 11:47 AM in response to Justakiwi

The M1 (and M2) based Macs are very low power, and at worse will throttle the CPU if it starts to get too hot.

Also if BOINC is single threaded, then it will only use a single CPU core. If it is multi-threaded, then it might start to push the Mac, and maybe cause the fan to speed up.

If you look at

Applications -> Utilities -> Activity Monitor -> View (menu) -> All Processes -> CPU (tab)

And BOINC is using greater than 100% CPU, then it is using multiple cores.

Also if Activity Monitor shows 'kernel_task' using 100's percent CPU, then that is a sign that your CPU chip is overheating as this is the 'kernel_task' putting the CPU chip into a low power idle mode to allow it time to cool off.

The worse that will happen, is you will notice the fan getting loud, and Activity Monitor will show BOINC using lots of CPU.

If that happens, just uninstall BOINC.

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Answer 5

Justakiwi Author

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29 points

Mar 3, 2023 5:43 PM in response to BobHarris

Sorry, I have only just seen your reply. Thanks for this as I wasn't aware of it. What does red signify on the history graph? Mine are showing mostly green, but there are some showing red at the bottom of the graph bars.

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Answer 6

BobHarris

Level 9

55,073 points

Mar 5, 2023 1:51 PM in response to Justakiwi

The GPU History I displayed is in Blue, so I'm guessing you are talking abou the per CPU Core History which has Green and Red.

I think the Green is CPU using in user address space, and Red is CPU usage in kernel address space.

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Answer 7

brpierce

Level 1

12 points

Apr 10, 2023 5:06 AM in response to Justakiwi

Folding@home runs well enough on my M2 MBA. It's not optimized for Apple silicon but only seems to run on the efficiency CPU cores.

I'm not aware of any distributed computing project that runs on Apple GPUs yet.

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Answer 8

Justakiwi Author

Level 1

29 points

Apr 10, 2023 1:18 PM in response to brpierce

Thanks. World Community Grid runs on GPU - I can see in the event log, where it suspends GPU computing when the computer is in use, so from what I can tell, it does use the GPU when computer is idle. I am also running Dennis@home, and Rosetta@home - but work is very intermittent for both of them.

I have mucked around to find a "sweet spot" that doesn't bump the temps too high. If I am not using the computer I let two tasks run, but if I'm using it and see the temps rise too high, I suspend one temporarily. Probably erring on the side of caution, but iMacs are not cheap over here in NZ, so I can't afford to overheat/damage it.

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