upFront ezine is an independent newsletter and great resource for anyone in the CAD industry. The latest issue is filled with news and interviews from SolidWorks World 2010 including an interview with AMD’s World Wide Senior Product Marketing Manager for Workstation Graphics, Bahman Dara. I’m going to repeat several of the Q&As here, but check out the newsletter for the full scoop.
“How do you distinguish yourselves from nVidia,” was my first question.
For one, AMD focuses on workstation and DCC graphics only. (DCC is digital content creation, those guys who create graphics for games and TV commercials.) For another, their graphics boards cost less than those from nVidia, when measured by performance per dollar. (nVidia skipped this show; in their place was retail proxy PNY.) AMD has just two product names: Radeon for consumers and FirePro for professionals. FirePro is divided into:
- FirePro V-series for CAD and DCC.
- FirePro Multi-View for multimonitor “text” users like financial traders.
And then both are available in desktop and notebook ("mobile") versions.
“And what about the future?” I wondered.
Mr Dara told me that AMD is working on remote graphics, using compression to deliver graphics from a central server through a cable to desktops via Ethernet or USB.
See the issue to learn more about the SolidWorks World keynotes, future plans for SolidWorks, as well more on AMD plans.
I have written quite a bit about OpenCL, and have started assuming everyone just knows what it is. So it was good to come across this article in Develop3D on What is OpenCL.
Quick summary: OpenCL allows the GPU to help the CPU do the computing or data crunching, to enable faster and more efficient processing. By allowing the CPU and the GPU to work together, OpenCL allows more computing to be done in a shorter amount of time than a single processor could ever achieve on its own. Arguably, the most important element of OpenCL is that it is open; it is based on standards created by a group of companies, and therefore all vendors involved in this project have a vested interest in making it work. (contrast this to Nvidia-controlled CUDA and MS-controlled DirectCompute).
SIGGRAPH's Computer Graphics Quarterly Newsletter features an article titled "Ending the Tradeoff of Time vs. Quality when Creating 3D Computer Graphics Content - Stepping Up the Production Workflow with Real-Time Rendering Software".
The article is about MachStudio Pro specifically, but more generally about how today's fully programmable hardware GPUs (e.g. FirePro V8750) can be optimally tapped by writing software that structures advanced rendering effects as separate independent processing passes.
"MachStudio Pro exploits a confluence of enablers emerging on the 3D graphics scene to address a glaring and unfilled need. Real-time rendering coupled with a comprehensive 3D workspace streamlines workflow, ending the compromise between time and quality."
I go to presentations to learn about what the speaker has to say, but it never hurts that there are random drawings for cool prizes at the end . At SolidWorks World 2010, the AMD crew were giving out FirePro cards at several of the presentations. In the pics below the winners from the talks on “Creating Great Images Easily With RealView and PhotoView 360”, “SolidWorks Graphics Performance Analysis & Tuning”, and a winner just for showing up at the AMD booth at the right time of day!
Albert Chosky: Uses a V8700 today. Has been working for 10 years as a graphics designer, 4 years as a photo-retoucher and is moving into working with Maya to add animation and compositing to his work. He used to buy Nvidia, but when he was looking for a high-end card, the V8700 was 1/3rd the price of a comparable Nvidia card. He’s been using his v8700 for a couple of months now and loves it!
Jayson Morales: aspiring graphics game animator. Has a V3750 today, and is working on his last 4 courses for a computer engineering degree.
Larry Kevin: media communications at the East Bay Coast guard center. He uses ATI FirePro at work and has an older Nvidia board at home.
Also the next phase of the Innovation Revolution 2010 Contest: Win a FirePro V5700!
A short video from first night at SolidWorks World 2010. It was an open cocktail evening and people came over to the AMD booth with the Eyefinity display and just had fun!
AMD has a strong presence at SolidWorks World 2010 (hence the timing of last week's news that the entire FirePro family is certified for SolidWorks 2010 running Windows 7).
The 3 Eyefinity screens look pretty amazing as you can see in the photos below from the AMD booth.
The research section at SolidWorks World has some pretty cool things showing.
Two things really stood out:
The Microsoft Surfaces touch table – more advanced than last year
The Infinite Z immersive virtual-holographic display. It offers interactive experience through direct interaction with virtual holographic models using a stylus and 3D glasses. This demo was really impressive - full color, full motion, 100% in space. Tony Stark's design lab in Ironman anyone?
The entire family of ATI FirePro professional graphics has been certified by Dassault Systemes SolidWorks Corp for SolidWorks 2010 on Microsoft Windows 7.1 SolidWorks software is optimized to work in tandem with ATI FirePro professional graphics and Windows 7 to deliver fast performance and advanced stability for professionals working with mechanical designs.
FireUser.com is a community resource for visualization, 3D, video and engineering professionals to learn about the latest acceleration and display technologies, discuss support issues, as well as influence the features and direction of the FireGL and FirePro accelerator line.
The winners in the 
