[Bf-cycles] Switch to CUDA Toolkit 4.2

[David Black]

Hey Thomas,

Thank you for the download link.  Here are my findings so far...
Mike Pan BMW test scene:  Tried several times, re-rendering same scene 
plus closing and opening Blender to being rendering, no crashes on 
either GTX 460 or GTX 580M, render begins almost instantly thanks to 
Brecht's amazing optimized BVH building.

Render times for CUDA Toolkit 4.2.9:

*GTX 460
1:03*

*GTX 580M
1:09*

Can render almost a second faster if use the GTX 580M to run Blender 
interface but then interface becomes too sluggish during long GPU 
rendering, regrettably /(as you previously mentioned)/ using integrated 
Intel graphics to run Blender interface means no Viewport GPU 
rendering.  Why does Viewport GPU rendering work using a 9600 GT for 
display and a GTX 460 just for compute, it definitely uses the GTX 460 
just for calculations?

Anyway I digress!

Only problem with 4.2.9 toolkit, there are errors rendering certain 
materials, render results are identical for both GTX 460 and GTX 580M .  
Below are compare images to highlight the problem areas.
*
Official Blender 263*
http://www.pasteall.org/pic/31044

*Blender 263.1 CUDA 4.2.9 test version*
http://www.pasteall.org/pic/31045

Hope this is helpful,

David
-- 

3d-designs-davidblack.blogspot.com 
<http://www.3d-designs-davidblack.blogspot.com>


On 30/04/2012 12:40, Thomas Dinges wrote:
> Hi David,
> thanks for offering help. :)
>
> Here is a current version of Trunk for win64, compiled with the 
> Toolkit 4.2 and kernels 13, 20, 21 and 30.
> http://blender.dingto.org/builds/trunk_win64_46104.7z
>
> Best regards,
> Thomas
>
> Am 29.04.2012 22:31, schrieb David Black:
>> Hi Thomas,
>>
>> Do you have a download link for your compiled version with 4.2.9?  If 
>> helpful, can test it for you with both a 1GB GTX 460 and 2GB GTX 580m 
>> then let you know the results, if it crashes/freezes or not.
>>
>> Hope you're having a great weekend!
>>
>> David
>> -- 
>>
>> 3d-designs-davidblack.blogspot.com 
>> <http://www.3d-designs-davidblack.blogspot.com>
>>
>>
>> On 29/04/2012 17:29, Thomas Dinges wrote:
>>> Hi everyone,
>>> I did some extensive testing today with the new (stable release 4.2.9)
>>> CUDA Toolkit with Blender 2.63 (45996) and current Trunk.
>>>
>>> The results are fine (at least on my GT540 card), could not test other
>>> cards yet.
>>> Render time was the same, or in some cases a few seconds better.
>>>
>>> However I experienced 1 serious issue with the Mike Pan BMW Test scene.
>>> 2.63 compiled with Toolkit 4.2 did not want to render, it frooze at the
>>> "Packing BVH Triangles". I was unable to kill the Blender process, I had
>>> to force shut down my computer. This happened 2 times (I did not want to
>>> test it further).
>>> I think that this might be a bug in Cycles, because the same scene works
>>> fine in current Trunk (with the improved BVH code).
>>>
>>> So I would suggest to stick with Toolkit 4.0 for a possible Blender
>>> 2.63a, but switch to Toolkit 4.2 in SVN and for 2.64. I could not find
>>> an issue with it and current Trunk.
>>>
>>> Best regards,
>>> Thomas
>>>
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Bf-cycles mailing list
>> Bf-cycles at blender.org
>> http://lists.blender.org/mailman/listinfo/bf-cycles
>
>
> -- 
> Thomas Dinges
> Blender Developer, Artist and Musician
>
> www.dingto.org
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Bf-cycles mailing list
> Bf-cycles at blender.org
> http://lists.blender.org/mailman/listinfo/bf-cycles
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