GPU question
- jfederer
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GPU question
A few months ago I dropped (as in, on the pavement) my old reliable Surface Pro 3 and upgraded to a Surface Book 2. One of my considerations in selecting the new-to-me machine was that it has a GPU - Graphics Processing Unit. I thought this would accelerate the rendering, but I have never seen the GPU activated. Does Vectric software not access the GPU? For that matter, I have never seen Affinity Photo or TurboCAD use it either. Am I missing some setting?
Joe Federer
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- Adrian
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Re: GPU question
Rendering in Vectric products is software based. It's the CPU power that is most important not the GPU in that scenario.
I don't know for sure but I'm guessing it's to do with maintaining a wide range of compatibility across multiple systems.
I don't know for sure but I'm guessing it's to do with maintaining a wide range of compatibility across multiple systems.
- jfederer
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Re: GPU question
I don't know when or how a GPU is activated, I assumed that the OS would handle that task. It's not a big deal, the performance on this machine is fine in any case. I was more curious for when I get into 3D modelling and rendering, which I hope to do over the next few months.
Joe Federer
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Re: GPU question
I have a Surface Book 3 and I have never seen the GPU active either regardless of what is running. I don't do games on that machine so perhaps it is used then. If you Google you will find many online comments regarding the idle GPU.
- jfederer
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Re: GPU question
I finally saw the GPU active. This morning I reviewed some OpenSCAD tutorials and decided that it wasn't appropriate for what I have in mind, so I downloaded the "free for personal use" version of other software. It uses the GPU even while just loading the program. So my guess that the usage of the GPU is controlled by the program in use appears to have been correct.
I haven't done an online search on this issue, but I'm not surprised there's a lot of discussion about it.
Edit: "other software" being the filtered version of "software produced by the originator of CAD, and named for the joining of several materials".
I haven't done an online search on this issue, but I'm not surprised there's a lot of discussion about it.
Edit: "other software" being the filtered version of "software produced by the originator of CAD, and named for the joining of several materials".
Joe Federer
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Re: GPU question
On laptops with both integrated and separate graphics card, you usually have the option to assign specific GPU's to specific software, usually by right clicking on the desktop and going to the GPU properties. But, if the software won't use it, there's nothing you can do.
Gerry - http://www.thecncwoodworker.com
- jfederer
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Re: GPU question
Gerry, thanks for that pointer. I manually added VCarve to the GPU list and selected the NVidea as the default. It's still not being used, so I conclude that VCarve programmers don't think it's necessary. As Adrian mentioned earlier, it's probably to improve compatibility. It was just a point of curiosity anyway, the performance is entirely adequate as it is.
Joe Federer
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- sharkcutup
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Re: GPU question
A graphics processing unit (GPU) is a specialized electronic circuit designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display device. GPUs are used in embedded systems, mobile phones, personal computers, workstations, and game consoles.
In my own opinion GPU's were needed when video gaming came about. It was needed for the speed in which gaming graphics needed to be displayed without hesitation. Under normal circumstances (static visual display) the CPU could handle but under fast quick turnaround changes to be displayed something else was needed thereby the GPU was created to alleviate the strain on the CPU.
Just my opinion/thoughts!!!
Sharkcutup
In my own opinion GPU's were needed when video gaming came about. It was needed for the speed in which gaming graphics needed to be displayed without hesitation. Under normal circumstances (static visual display) the CPU could handle but under fast quick turnaround changes to be displayed something else was needed thereby the GPU was created to alleviate the strain on the CPU.
Just my opinion/thoughts!!!
Sharkcutup
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Re: GPU question
I run a Dell Precision M4800 workstation-class laptop. It has an Intel i7-4900 CPU, nVidia Quadro K2100 GPU, 32 GB RAM and SATA3 SSD. While rotating a 3D toolpath preview my fans kicked on. I checked Task Manager and saw the CPU peg at 95% while I rotated the object and quickly drop to 0% when stationary.
if Vectric offered the option to GPU accelerate the 3D graphics in Aspire and VCarve this 3D preview would take a few percent of CPU and a few percent of GPU.
Unfortunately this could be difficult for Vectric if they are trying to keep system requirements low for their products.
The downside to letting the CPU do all this work is this will drain your laptop battery faster. My battery life is terrible with this monster no matter what I do so I keep it plugged in constantly. I don't mind the power consumption but others that run on battery would probably appreciate using GPU rendering to reduce overall power consumption.
Ken
if Vectric offered the option to GPU accelerate the 3D graphics in Aspire and VCarve this 3D preview would take a few percent of CPU and a few percent of GPU.
Unfortunately this could be difficult for Vectric if they are trying to keep system requirements low for their products.
The downside to letting the CPU do all this work is this will drain your laptop battery faster. My battery life is terrible with this monster no matter what I do so I keep it plugged in constantly. I don't mind the power consumption but others that run on battery would probably appreciate using GPU rendering to reduce overall power consumption.
Ken