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lars_the_bear
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Joined: 05 Jun 2024
Posts: 520
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 Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2024 12:16 pm Post subject: Hassle-free video adapter |
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Hi folks
I've dusted off a 2015-era ThinkStation, with an ancient NVidia video adapter, which doesn't seem to be very reliable. I'm wondering whether it might be less painful to replace it than to try to make it work.
My graphics needs are modest, or so it seems to me. However, for best use of Darktable, I would like OpenCL support. I only have the haziest notion what OpenCL is, but I know that if I click the 'use OpenCL' button on a machine that supports it, Darktable is much faster.
What I'm looking for is a recommendation for something that would be hassle-free. The impression I get is that nothing made by NVidia is likely to fall into that category, but I really know very little about this subject. Of course, I want to spend the absolute minimum money. But I'd spend more money to get less hassle, if that is the trade-off.
If OpenCL support is too difficult, or too expensive, I can manage without. I'm sorry if this is a vague request -- I know nothing about graphics.
Any suggestions welcome.
BR, Lars. |
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jpsollie
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Joined: 17 Aug 2013
Posts: 322
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| Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2024 12:22 pm Post subject: Re: Hassle-free video adapter |
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| lars_the_bear wrote: | Hi folks
I've dusted off a 2015-era ThinkStation, with an ancient NVidia video adapter, which doesn't seem to be very reliable. I'm wondering whether it might be less painful to replace it than to try to make it work.
My graphics needs are modest, or so it seems to me. However, for best use of Darktable, I would like OpenCL support. I only have the haziest notion what OpenCL is, but I know that if I click the 'use OpenCL' button on a machine that supports it, Darktable is much faster.
What I'm looking for is a recommendation for something that would be hassle-free. The impression I get is that nothing made by NVidia is likely to fall into that category, but I really know very little about this subject. Of course, I want to spend the absolute minimum money. But I'd spend more money to get less hassle, if that is the trade-off.
If OpenCL support is too difficult, or too expensive, I can manage without. I'm sorry if this is a vague request -- I know nothing about graphics.
Any suggestions welcome.
BR, Lars. |
it would be nice here if we could get some info about the GPU you're talking about.
OpenCL is supported for almost any GPU device since 2010, but the version (1.0, 1.1, ..., 2.0...) somehow limits what you can do with it.
Your driver preference (which is influenced by your GPU version) will probably the most important factor to check whether openCL will be running properly.
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lars_the_bear
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Joined: 05 Jun 2024
Posts: 520
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| Posted: Mon Sep 23, 2024 12:27 pm Post subject: Re: Hassle-free video adapter |
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| jpsollie wrote: |
it would be nice here if we could get some info about the GPU you're talking about.
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Thank you, but I'm afraid I have no idea, because I haven't bought it yet. I was hoping for some suggestion what to buy. There's already a thread discussing my existing GPU, and I've been told that OpenCL support is impossible for it.
BR, Lars. |
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jpsollie
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Joined: 17 Aug 2013
Posts: 322
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| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2024 4:27 am Post subject: |
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if you want to go for a new GPU, and you want to put it in an old PC, buy a mid-range older graphics card:
1) mid-range newer graphics cards tend to use PCIe x8, which may limit the performance as your motherboard will only be pcie 3.0
2) high-end graphics cards suck a lot of power
I've been told the intel arc GPUs are good with openCL, but not sure about that one. They are indeed mid-range, so maybe it's worth a shot?
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lars_the_bear
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Joined: 05 Jun 2024
Posts: 520
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| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2024 7:08 am Post subject: |
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| jpsollie wrote: |
1) mid-range newer graphics cards tend to use PCIe x8, which may limit the performance as your motherboard will only be pcie 3.0
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Thanks. Do you know (or does anybody know) whether a GPU that is advertised as 'PCIe 4' will actually work at all on a PCIe 3 motherboard? Assuming it even fits in the slot, of course. I just fitted a PCIe 4 NVMe adapter, and it works fine; but it was advertised as being backward compatible. GPUs manufacturers never seem to say whether they have any backward compatibility.
I was expecting to be able to get an AMD or Intel GPU of about the same age as the computer from eBay or something; but there don't seem to be many for sale, and those that are, aren't listed with much technical information.
BR, Lars. |
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flysideways
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Joined: 29 Jan 2005
Posts: 490
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| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2024 8:37 am Post subject: |
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Lars,
This site has a lot of gpu info, https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/?sort=name , it can even be searched by year of introduction for the gpu/video card.
Important is the slot that is available on your motherboard, also, what additional power is available for the video card. As performance increases, so does the power requirement, don't get a card you cannot power with your existing power supply. Confirm that if the card has additional power connectors, that your computer has the needed connectors available.
Go to the website I posted, search year introduced, and browse about.
As an example, the 2015 introduced Gigabyte R9 380X Gaming card, https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/gigabyte-r9-380x-g1-gaming.b3526 , supports OpenCL 2.1 and has a 1x8 pin power connector.
If you are looking at used video cards, that site is a good resource. |
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lars_the_bear
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Joined: 05 Jun 2024
Posts: 520
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| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2024 8:55 am Post subject: |
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@flysideways
Thanks. I think the PSU is up to the job, because the computer was designed to host eight spinning disks and three GPUs. But I doubt there are any supplementary power connectors, so I'd need a card that is powered from the bus. Or some sort of power adapter, which I doubt I would understand.
BR, Lars. |
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NeddySeagoon
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Joined: 05 Jul 2003
Posts: 54577
Location: 56N 3W
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| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2024 12:20 pm Post subject: |
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lars,
You car get Molex to GPU power adaptors. GPUs only use the 12v and 0v.
Molex is the power connector on spinny HDO.
PCIe versions are supposed to be backwards compatible. They mostly are.
GPU cards have gotten wider as time has passed.
Be sure that any card you choose wrll fit in the space you have.
The PCIe connector has not changed with the generations, only the way the and speed that the data is encoded on the bus.
Check the mechanical fit before you buy.
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Regards,
NeddySeagoon
Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail. |
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lars_the_bear
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Joined: 05 Jun 2024
Posts: 520
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| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2024 12:58 pm Post subject: |
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| NeddySeagoon wrote: |
GPU cards have gotten wider as time has passed.
Be sure that any card you choose wrll fit in the space you have.
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Thanks. Um... I should have read that before ordering :/ Oh well, I've ordered a 2017 RX 550 from a refurbisher, so I'll only be out of pocket by twenty quid if it doesn't fit.
I didn't realize how fat GPU cards are now. I didn't realize that many require supplementary power as well. There's nothing I will ever do with a computer, that requires a GPU with a supplementary power connection.
BR, Lars. |
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NeddySeagoon
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Joined: 05 Jul 2003
Posts: 54577
Location: 56N 3W
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| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2024 1:44 pm Post subject: |
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lars,
If you do not connect the supplemenary power, one of two things will happen.
1. it won't work at all.
2. it will performance limit, at the bus bower limit.
I have a Rx 550 too. From memory, its a short dual width bus pouered card
That is, it will block the PCIe x1 slot next door.
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Regards,
NeddySeagoon
Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail. |
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lars_the_bear
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Joined: 05 Jun 2024
Posts: 520
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| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2024 2:36 pm Post subject: |
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| NeddySeagoon wrote: |
I have a Rx 550 too. From memory, its a short dual width bus pouered card
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Yeah.... Thanks. in the advertisement it was described as "dual slot" which, in my ignorance, I assumed meant that it plugged into two slots at the same time. Well, how would I know?  I haven't installed a GPU since the mid-90s. So maybe it will fit, after all. Fingers crossed.
Incidentally -- I think I have to set VIDEO_CARDS="amdgpu radeonsi". But do I have to remove the existing 'nouveau' as well? Or will X be able to figure out which card is actually connected, and load the right driver? The last time I did this was in the days when we had to create an Xorg.conf manually. I'm assuming those days are gone?
BR, Lars. |
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NeddySeagoon
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Joined: 05 Jul 2003
Posts: 54577
Location: 56N 3W
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| Posted: Thu Sep 26, 2024 3:50 pm Post subject: |
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lars_the_bear,
You need amdgpu in the kernel too.
With kernel and VIDEO_CARDS support for both cards, the autoblackmagic will do 'the right thing'.
You can even fit both cards at the same time, space and power permitting.
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Regards,
NeddySeagoon
Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail. |
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