AMD rolled out the ATI FirePro V9800 which features a 4GB GDDR5 frame buffer and six mini DisplayPorts to drive up to six HD displays. AMD is clearly targeting a new market focused on low-cost video walls for design/review, large volume data sets (medical, oil/gas) digital mockups, 4k video compositing, and client presentations. Unlike a multi-card GPU solution, the FirePro using Eyefinity has all memory in the same memory block, so almost any CAD or DDC software offers high performance across all of the displays out of the box (See Develop3D story).
Of course the FirePro V9800 offers full DX11, OpenGL 4.X and OpenCL 1.X support, as well as stereo3D.
Eighty-one-year-old Frank Gehry is a legend in architecture. This video talks about using 3D CAD and Dassault Systèmes CATIA in particular, to do things that architects traditionally couldn’t.
The video is worth watching, even if just to see the Gehry work and to understand how 3D CAD really changes how architects can take more control and deliver better work, in less time at lower cost.
AMD is a major Dassault Systèmes technology partner and a preferred hardware solution provider in the the DS PLM MarketPlace, helping architects and technical designers to render models at maximum GPU performance levels.
TroubleMaker Studios is up to it again, using the AMD FirePro V8800 and 6-core Opterons for post-production on the the upcoming film “Machete” on a compressed schedule. A team of ten artists accomplished 500 final shots in just six months.
Shots from three different digital camera models, one film camera, camera tracking work using PFTrack, 3D special effects work using Softimage, and compositing work using Nuke, all came together through AMD hardware.
Such added effects include extensive set damage, a huge number of bullet holes, and wide-ranging set extensions. AMD hardware also played a part in sophisticated particle simulations helped more accurately render realistic blood spatters that interact with each other, the actors and objects in the environment.
AMD announced that several technology partners will be releasing Eyefinity-validated DisplayPort to DVI adapters.
“The availability of the inexpensive Single Link DisplayPort-to-DVI adapter, with a suggested retail price of $30 US, expands the ATI Eyefinity ecosystem to include the massive number of LCD monitors with DVI connectors and resolutions up to 1920 x1200. This encompasses the vast majority of monitors sold today, with many models available for well under $200 each. Now, ATI Eyefinity multi-monitor solutions are within reach of virtually everyone, from die-hard gaming enthusiasts to individuals wanting more screen real estate to improve workflow.”
Related: I am not a huge gamer, but for those of you who are, and if you haven’t seen Eyefinity in person, check out the Eyefinity simulator tool to see how Eyefinity really does transform the experience of gaming. Personally I’d love to see the same simulator tool for professional CAD examples - I’ve seen these kinds of demos at trade shows and the mutli-display thing is impressive to say the least.
Maybe it is a stereotypical guy thing, but how could you not enjoy watching these virtual crash test simulations!
In these two videos Altair Engineering uses the new ATI FirePro V8800 with HyperWorks to simulate virtual crash tests of this Ford Explorer & Taurus in near real-time. The frontal crash simulation vehicles have millions of polygons so this is impressive technically as well as visually!
HyperWorks has been in the HPC news recently for achieving processing breakthroughs to for industries like car companies, developing products that require complex virtual prototype testing to address and improve crashworthiness, consumer safety, reliability and quality.
Altair HyperWorks was also recently optimized and certified for use with the FirePro line.
The certification of FirePro accelerators by software application vendors assures professional engineers, designers and animators that the FirePro line delivers a stable and high performance workstation graphics environment on both Windows and Linux platforms. Certification is one of the big differences between consumer and professional graphics cards. (see video).
Altair Engineering and SpaceClaim are the two latest application ISVs to be certified for the FirePro line
Altair Engineering is one of the key strategic players in engineering simulation CAE and HPC space – they are part of all workflows in the major automotive OEMs in the 3 regions.
SpaceClaim leads the 3D Direct Modeling market by delivering break-through product and technology. The founder of SpaceClaim is the father of Pro/E and SolidWorks: Michael Payne. ANSYS just selected SpaceClaim as their front end modeler.
The ATI FirePro RG220 graphics card is an integrated graphics card that includes display compression and IP transmission. It compresses dual-display graphic data at the host and outputs it over a regular IP network to a remote thin client device.
If you listen past the marketing hype, this video is actually pretty informative, describing how the card works, where it fits in, and who it will benefit. It’s a real cloud computing solution to offer serious graphics power to “thin clients”. Think small, quiet, cool, and secure. Wonder if I could use this for serious graphics on my iPad?
Just saw this in my RSS feed from Vizworld. If you’re a designer, recent graduate, student or talented young gun in Italy, now is your chance to shine and bring your work to a wider audience. To enter the Autodesk-sponsored contest post a link to your 3D visualization or design visualization showreel in any format, along with a description under 140 characters as to why you think you’re the hottest design visualization talent around.
The grand prize winner receives a high-end ATI FirePro graphics card with the two runners up receiving mid-range FirePro cards. The contest will run from September 1st to October 1st.
AMD will give a first-look at it's latest high end graphics card (all we know is it "will expand on the FirePro V8800") at IBC (Hall 7, J30). In addition they will show the FirePro RG220 Remote Workstation Graphics card (think low-power and energy efficiency for cloud computing graphics).
FirePro technology will be shown in partner demos including with VizRT, StudioGPU, Ventuz, MainConcept, Dell, HP, Barco, The Foundry, and Planar. Highlights include:
HP and Dell - workstations will be available to view on the stand, including AMD support for 30-bit colour in Adobe Photoshop with the HP Dream Color monitor
VizRT showcasing its broadcast graphics solutions with a 12-screen video wall demo
StudioGPU showcasing its MachStudio Pro (version 2?) real-time 3D graphics solution
Cosworth has more than 40 years of experience supplying engines to Formula 1, and currently works alongside four independent teams in the 2010 FIA Formula One Championship. It is critical to Cosworth’s communications strategy that they have high-quality visualizations of the engines and high-performance electronics that it supplies. These enable Cosworth engineers, customers and fans to see the complex designs in a visually clear and accurate way.
Check out the video which clearly spells out the what and why of the ATI FirePro and Eyefinity choice.
Dell also features a Case Study since these were Dell Workstations!
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.
