This software takes advantage of GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) to improve analysis time.
Through GPU technology, you can benefit from the following:
- Reduced load on the CPU
- GPU cards have their own built-in memory and have the ability to resolve complex simulations. The additional built-in processing power in GPUs relieves task-intensive strain on the CPU, enabling your application to run faster.
- Shortened analysis time
- The software leverages the processing power offered by GPU cards. This allows analyses to run at a much greater speed, thus resulting in faster analysis times. On a very large model, this can reduce the analysis time by a few hours.
- Efficient use of data-parallel computing
- GPU technology and our parallel solver complement each other. If you use GPU technology in conjunction with a parallel solver, you can achieve even greater speed improvements.
By default, the software automatically detects and uses the GPU if one is available on the computer and it is able to deliver a speed enhancement compared with using the CPU.
Note: Use of GPU technology is supported in 3D Fill+Pack analyses.
Compatible graphics card
You will benefit from speed enhancements offered by GPU technology only if you have a compatible graphics card installed.
To determine if you have a compatible GPU card installed, please check the specifications provided by the card's manufacturer.
The minimum required hardware is a card capable of double-precision (64-bit floating point precision) computations:
- NVIDIA GPU card
- These cards utilize CUDA technology. Cards which meet these requirements will have a CUDA Compute Capability of 1.3 or higher.
- AMD GPU card
- These cards utilize OpenCL technology.
For optimal performance when using a GPU card, it is important that the latest drivers are installed.
Note: The automatic Windows Update function may not install the most recent version of the drivers.
Supported operating system
GPU technology is available on all Windows operating systems supported by Autodesk Simulation Moldflow products, for both 32-bit and 64-bit systems.