AMD FirePro graphics accelerating Bullet Physics in Maya to show at Autodesk’s NAB booth April 16-19

NAB begins next week,  April 16-19 2012, at the Las Vegas Convention Centre and AMD FirePro graphics will be featured in the Autodesk Booth #SL-3315.

The primary demos will focus on Eyefinity multi-display technology and the open source Bullet Physics Library plug-in for Maya. The Bullet physics engine is OpenCL-accelerated and used in hyper-realistic video games and feature film visual effects. It offers 3D collision detection, soft and rigid body dynamics, and more. Autodesk and AMD partnered to optimize development and performance of the Bullet plug-in in Maya. It is included with the Maya 2012 subscription update, no extra downloads or 3rd party software required.

AMD FirePro Art-to-Engine creative asset pipeline workflows at GDC 2012 - Booth #914

If you are attending Game Developers Conference this year, be sure to check out the AMD Booth #914. Of course AMD will be showing off their gaming prowess with the Radeon HD 7970 and Fusion APU laptops.

But more interesting to me: Showing in the FirePro pod at the booth will be showing:

• Art-to-Engine pipeline demos with AutoDesk Maya
• Autodesk will be showing Maya Bullet Physics & a new Maya character skinning plugin - both powered by OpenCL
• AutoDesk will also be showing many creative asset creation workflows using 3ds Max and Mudbox across 3 displays using AMD Eyefinity technology

AMD Engineering Speaking Sessions

• Physics for Game Programmers
  Tuesday, March 6, 10:00-6:00 Room 3022, West Hall, 3rd Fl
• Enhancing Graphics in Unreal Engine 3 Titles using New Code Submissions
  Thursday, March 8, 11:30-12:30 Room 2000, West Hall, 2nd Fl
• Partially-Resident Textures on Next-Generation AMD GPUs
  Thursday, March 8, 2:30-3:30 Room 2000, West Hall, 2nd Fl
• Game Development Optimization and Debugging using AMD's GPU PerfStudio 2
  Thursday, March 8, 4:00-5:00 Room 2000, West Hall, 2nd Fl

Performance Comparison in AutoCAD between NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800 and AMD FirePro V5800

This article was contributed by: Antonio Fontenele - http://www.antoniofontenele.arq.br

This article is also available as a downloadable pdf.

The main objective of this article is to compare the performance of two graphics adapters which are certified by Autodesk to use with AutoCAD. The test methodology started with the installation of Windows 7 Ultimate 64-bit in a formatted hard disk, and then all fixes of Windows Update were applied. Further, AutoCAD 2011 Trial was installed, as well, all graphic benchmarking software were installed too. Then, we installed NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800 in a PCI Express 2.0 slot, and we installed the latest graphics driver certified by Autodesk (based on its Graphic Hardware List). So, we started the first performance tests, and we captured all the possible screen images of them. Finally, we installed AMD FirePro V5800 also with the latest graphics driver certified by Autodesk, and we started again the same performance tests, and we captured all the screen images of them.

With GPU-Z 0.5.1 software from TechPowerUp, we identified the technical specifications of boths graphics cards:

In the first sight, we can verify that FirePro has more memory than Quadro, and it also has a fastest GPU. There is some differences in the adopted memory technologies: GDDR3 memories works with 2 data per clock pulse while GDDR5 works with 4 data per clock pulse. In Amazan.com web site, Quadro is more expensive than FirePro.

However, the question is: Will FirePro has more performance than Quadro due its technical specifications?

Windows 7 Experience Index:

First, we started with the simplest test by using the Windows 7 Experience Index. This index rates the performance of key hardware components such as the CPU, disk drive, and graphics card. The PC is then given a score between 1.0 and 7.9.

Through Windows 7 Experience Index, Quadro earned 6.7 points while FirePro earned a higher score equal to 7.3. This is means about 108.95% performance gain.

FurMark v1.8.2:

FurMark is a very intensive OpenGL benchmark that uses fur rendering algorithms to measure the performance of the graphics card. Fur rendering is especially adapted to overheat the GPU and that's why FurMark is also a perfect stability and stress test tool (also called GPU burner) for the graphics card. After all tests, it gives a score to the graphics card:

In FurMark v1.8.2 test, Quadro earned 1399 points while FirePro earned a higher score equal to 2408 points. This is means about 172.12% performance gain for algorhythms that simulates animal's fur, grass and vegetation.

Passmark Performance Test 7.0:

Passmark company developed a software called Performance Test which also evaluates DirectX 3D graphics system performance. After all tests, it gives a score to the graphics card:

Performance Test 7.0 test, Quadro earned 770.1 points while FirePro earned a higher score equal to 1702.9 points. This is means about 221.12% performance gain for DirectX 3D graphics, therefore, the double.

3DMark06:

The famous 3DMark06 was created by FutureMark company and it was developed the test DirectX9 graphics performance. It tested more than 8.5 million of systems around the world, and it was chosen by graphics companies as of the best benchmark software for graphics cards. After all tests, it gives a score to the graphics card:

 NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800 Score

 AMD FirePro V5800 Score

In 3DMark06 test, Quadro earned 9689 3DMarks while FirePro earned a higher score equal to 15295 3DMarks. This is means about 157.86% performance gain for DirectX9 graphics.

Cadalyst Systems Benchmark c2011:

The famous CAD magazine Cadalyst created the Cadalyst Systems Benchmark to test and compare systems running AutoCAD. We installed Cadalyst Systems Benchmark 2011 release. As NVIDIA and AMD offer optimized drivers for AutoCAD, we downloaded the latest release of theses drivers, and we tested AutoCAD using it, and using the Autodesk default driver.

In Cadalyst Systems Benchmark 2011 test, Quadro a little faster than FirePro while using AutoCAD default drivers due c2011_8.dwg file score, but it was slower than FirePro in the other files (where FirePro was 102.32% faster). However, using AutoCAD optimized drivers, Quadro earned 613 points while FirePro earned a higher score equal to 2060 points. This is means about 336.05% faster in AutoCAD 2011.

Summing Up

After all tests, we verified that AMD FirePro V5800 is faster than NVIDIA Quadro FX 1800, and both has similar price, while in AutoCAD FirePro with its optimized drivers was 3.4 times faster than Quadro.

Performance Measurement Information:

• Processor: Intel Core i7 2600 K 3.40 GHz
• Motherboard: Asus P8 H67-M EVO
• Memory: 16 GB RAM DDR3
• Hard Disk: Samsung 80 GB 5.400 RPM

Test Date:

• September 24th, 2011.

Dados do Autor do Teste:

Antonio "Toni" Fontenele is a 40 year-old Brazilian architect that lives in Brazil's southeast region in the city of Itajai, in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil. He started to work with computers when he was just 12 years old. He began to use Autodesk software in 1992 starting with AutoCAD R10 and 3D Studio R1. Since then, he's taught many building design professionals. He also writes articles for the most popular Brazilian CAD magazine, CADesign, where he talks about CAD management, AutoCAD and Autodesk Architectural Desktop. Since 2000, He and his design team developed more than 360 residential architectural designs using ADT and more than 6,000 presentation renderings using 3D Studio Viz R3. He was also invited to join Autodesk's Beta Program helping test their software in real-environment tasks. AutoCAD 2012 has a feature suggested by him: A blip to mark the first point of a polyline, while the user is drafting one. At the end of 2000, Autodesk's Usability Team brought him to the attention of AUGI and he was invited to join a team that translated the old AUGI website from English to Portuguese. Since then, he has been involved with the AUGI Training Program faculty for many semesters. He still occasionally helps AUGI members with translating Portuguese messages to and from other AUGI members. He is an ATC Instructor and he was certified by Autodesk as AutoCAD 2009/2010/2011 Certified Professional, AutoCAD 2009/2010/2011 Certified Associate, AutoCAD Architecture 2009 Certified Professional and AutoCAD Architecture 2009 Certified Associate at Autodesk University 2008/2009/2010.

Video of AMD FirePro at Autodesk University 2011

This is quick video tour of the AMD FirePro presence at Autodesk University 2011. Many examples of Eyefinity technology in various Autodesk workflows.

Designing Formula 1 Motorsports cars using AMD FirePro Eyefinity graphics

This video give an example of how Formula 1 Motorsports uses a 3-display Eyefinity FirePro setup with the Autodesk design suite and models imported from Inventor and CATIA, to test that the engine block, transmission and differential housing designs can stand up to the stress of motorsports requirements. 

Autodesk Revit design workflow using 3-display AMD Eyefinity on HP EliteBook workstation laptop

This demo of the Autodesk Building Design Suite Ultimate shows running Revit Architecture, Navisworks and Revit MEP spreading the work across 3 displays using Eyefinity technology running on an an HP EliteBook 8760W mobile workstation (FirePro M5950 mobility graphics card).  It’s a pretty cool demo because it really makes clear the productivity angle of using Eyefinity.

AMD and Autodesk case study on development of custom Bullet plug-in for Maya

This case study from Autodesk, talks about the Autodesk Consulting team working with AMD on the implementation and development work for the Bullet Plug-in for Maya (think cloth simulation, rigid body dynamics).

Bullet is an open source physics engine that AMD and Autodesk have jointly integrated into Maya 2012. It enables Maya users to take advantage of 3D collision, soft and rigid body dynamics to enable their work to achieve more lifelike interactions. Bullet has been used in numerous games and visual effects for many movies. Bullet is well known and highly used within the digital content creation market.

The collaboration between AMD and Autodesk brings this functionality to Maya users in a highly integrated manner, it’s all included with the Maya 2012 subscription update, no extra downloads or 3rd party software required. Nvidia has a PhysX plug-in for Maya, but it is a separate package, you get it from Nvidia, AMD solution ships as part of Maya!

The Maya plug-in supports Bullet OpenCL acceleration of cloth simulation, so users with GPUs can take full advantage of OpenCL processing power when doing cloth simulation.

This is the first release of the plug-in, additional features and functionality will be included in the 2013 release.

PDF of Autodesk Bullet case study available is also available.

Autodesk incorporates OpenCL-based Bullet Physics plug-in into Maya 2012

At SIGGRAPH 2011, AMD and Autodesk announced that Autodesk Maya 2012 will incorporate the new open-source Bullet Physics plug-in, based on OpenCL. The Bullet Physics plug-in will open up the Maya 2012 software to more FirePro graphics hardware options, enable more realistic visuals and amazing special effects for innovative games and movies, and importantly introduce OpenCL programming interfaces into the Autodesk software line. This Advantage Pack update for Maya is due to ship in September.

AMD and Autodesk first publicly demonstrated the Bullet Physics plug-in technology at the Game Developers Conference earlier this year. The open source AMD Bullet Physics engine, engineered to handle large-scale, highly realistic dynamic simulations - featuring discrete and continuous 3D collision detection, and enabling the simulation of both soft and rigid bodies in a single system while using a rich set of constraints. At SIGGRAPH, there will be demonstrations running on systems powered by the latest AMD professional graphics products.

To quote a comment by Sandeep Gupte, GM for Professional Graphics at AMD “OpenCL has really come of age as a critical tool to facilitate development of powerful software… and simplify programming and remove barriers caused by proprietary technologies, which can restrict a developer’s creativity.”

Autodesk XpoCast covers Pro vs Consumer graphics cards - the real differences

Autodesk XpoCast has good presentation that covers the key differences between consumer grade and professional graphics, how using the right or wrong solution can impede or boost your productivity (including Eyefinity), and how to identify the right tool for the job. Worth checking out.

I yanked out one segment as a teaser, on the real differences between consumer and professional graphics. AMD’s Robert Miller goes over hardware differences, unique features such as framelock/genlock or SDI sync, longevity, and of course highly tuned drivers for specific professional apps (as opposed to games). Also includes a very telling demo of running professional apps on a good consumer card vs even a low-end professional card.

AMD at AU 2010 - check out this Eyefinity multi-screen video

Great video capture from AutoDesk University 2010 showing off Eyefinity on FirePro video cards.  You see Eyefinity in games all of the time, but it is really amazing (to me) to see it running in professional applications.

Each of these video snippets shows a single graphics card driving anywhere between 3-6 displays, and one or more apps.