[CE 16] How is multiple gpu supported by Microstation

Hi,

Just want to find out if a system has 2 gpus, does Microstation have a say in which gpu it will use? Or is that decided by Windows?

For example, I have the Microstation window displayed in monitor 1 which is connected to gpu 1. Does that mean only GPU 1 is used to Microstation? I'm aware that Windows 10 allows for setting specific gpu used per app, but just want to understand if that means what I think it means. 

Best regards,

Tuan Le

  • Hi, GPU assignment is done by the Windows scheduler and - as you said - you can let it decide which GPU is better for an app or manually assign an app to the low-power vs high performance option. The GPU used by an application is not necessarily the one that is driving the display as one GPU - especially the CPU integrated one - can work as a "pass-through" while the other one does computation. 

    If you have two discrete GPUs in a desktop, I would attach the video cable to the one that you also want to use with MicroStation.

    HTH

  • Thanks for the insight Marco, I think I've got the information I'm after. 

  • Hi Tuan,

    some more comment to Marco's answer, because you do not share complete picture of your HW configuration, and I also think one scenario is missing in Marco's explanation.

    In my opinion, there are 3 different scenarios possible:

    • 2 (or more) discrete GPUs are installed, serving different monitors: It's not usual configuration, but possible (when anybody used e.g. SLI in the past). In such case, both GPUs are used, when MicroStation is displayed on both monitors.
    • Integrated + external GPUs are installed: It's common typically in notebooks, when there is integrated GPU and external mobile graphics. As Marco wrote, in such case it depends on Windows configuration, and typically integrated GPU is used in low-performance mode (battery is used), and external GPU is used for high-performance mode (power is used). Control applications usually allows to change this default rule individually for every application.
    • Not mentioned is VUE rendering: It tries to utilize "as much as possible", so when both CPU and GPU (supporting OpenCL) are found, rendering is computed at both. I have had no chance to try CPU + GPU + GPU configuration, but I guess everything will be used in such case. Also, when specifically Nvidia is available, it can be used for denoiser.

    When you are not sure whether GPU is used (or what GPU when more are installed), use Windows Task manager, where all basic statistics are displayed. Also, both AMD and Nvidia provides own control panels, allowing to monitor GPU parameters and utilization.

    With regards,

      Jan

  • Hi Jan, 

    Thanks for the insight. SLI isn't on our radar. A question was raised in our office: "any benefit if we have more gpu". For day to day 3D and 2D, sans rendering, I think for most simplistic use case, answer seems to be "yes". Just want to make sure that is the case. 

  • Jan is correct about VUE, I didn't mention it as the question seemed more general but it is good information. When rendering with VUE, MicroStation will try to use all available GPUs.

    I had some false reading with task manager when using a laptop with an integrated and a discrete GPU as task manager would report most of the load on the integrated GPU, which is always used as a pass-through. In those very specific cases you can find some GPU profiling app to give you a better picture of what is being used, should you require that level of detail.