Hassle-free video adapter

[lars_the_bear]

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.

[jpsollie]

[lars_the_bear]

[jpsollie]

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?
_________________
The power of Gentoo optimization (not overclocked): [img]https://www.passmark.com/baselines/V10/images/503714802842.png[/img]

[lars_the_bear]

[flysideways]

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.

[lars_the_bear]

@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.

[NeddySeagoon]

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.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

[lars_the_bear]

[NeddySeagoon]

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.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.

[lars_the_bear]

[NeddySeagoon]

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.
_________________
Regards,

NeddySeagoon

Computer users fall into two groups:-
those that do backups
those that have never had a hard drive fail.