List of software that can utilize OpenCL ?

[fixmdude]

With the new Mac Pro arriving soon, having 2 separate graphics cards likely not combined via Crossfire, it appears that Apple is planning on promoting this system for OpenCL users. OpenCL is the open-source version of nVidia's CUDA, and it's intent is to allow software to access and utilize various types of processors in a computer rather than just the CPU. The first graphics card could run the monitor(s) and the second graphics card could be used only to add more processing power to an application, above and beyond the CPU, to make it run faster.

As a non-graphics/video/3D/CAD computer user, here are my amature questions:

1) Are there any other advantages to having 2 separate graphics cards, besides 1) running up to 6 monitors, or 2) running 3 monitors plus OpenCL to make your processor seem even faster)?

2) Is there a list of software applications, either OSX or Windows based, which support OpenCL? For example, if I wanted to run VMWARE Workstation with multiple servers running various applications, it would be nice to know if the servers or applications would benefit from having that second video card or not. I didn't find a list on the net of apps that support OpenCL. (I know that OSX and Windows both "support" OpenCL, but does that mean the OS actually runs faster, or just that they allow you to run other OpenCL apps within them?)

Thank you.

 

[joshhedge]

Nothing has been stated as to whether the Mac Pro will utilise a form of crossfire yet or not. It would seem like a massive waste of compute power should they not.

 

[runawayprisoner]

1) The dual graphics card configuration is there for future 4K displays. 4K displays run at such massive resolution that most graphics tasks would be noticeably slower than before. For perspective, 2 4K displays is akin to 8 1080p displays in pixel count. The new Mac Pro support up to 3 of those, so that's equivalent to driving 12 1080p displays... a dual graphics card configuration is then not just a luxury but also a requirement to keep performance even on par with older generations.

2) Aside from accelerating linear calculations, and... well, accelerating linear calculations (that's just ONE thing, in case you didn't catch that), the benefit of OpenCL for general computing tasks (sorting, searching, checking conditions, etc...) is absolutely... zero. So no, it won't help when you run VMWare Workstation.

The short answer is that the new Mac Pro was made to be a graphics workhorse. It's clear since they are touting 4K display support and the likes. If you'd like to run multiple VMs, it's far more economical to custom build your own server farm. The key is to have as many CPU cores and as much RAM as possible. Storage be damned.

 

[serpretetsky]

I think there was some media creation programs that support opencl, but I dont remember which ones (Photo editing, Video editing, 3d rendering.)

 

[GWestphal]

OpenCL isn't a software add on, your application has to be written/compile with openCL support, it can't be added after the fact.

I believe OpenCL is supported by Photoshop CS6 and CC and Premeire. Those are the big ones so far, though I haven't kept up. MATLAB has CUDA support internally and through accellereyes. Scientific, Image, and Signal related things are the target.

OpenCL only gains performance with parallel tasks, VMs are not the type of parallel tasks we are talking about. Independent parallel things, like image or signal processing are where you get speed ups.

To my knowledge VMWare does not have a binary that utilized openCL, nor do I think it would increase performance in anyway.

CUDA and openCL use does not preclude the use of the card for graphics. You just have access the the cores that aren't in use.