Multiple GPUs

n.aspros123n.aspros123 Posts: 190

I have a Nvidia GTX 1080 Ti GPU and I might be able to find another. There used to be a technique where you could run two GPUs together with a SLI bridge to get more FPS.

My question: Anyone know if there is any benefit for shortening Render and dForce simulation times if there's two or more GPUs installed?

I would like to obtain one of the current gen nvidia 4090 or 4080 super's but in my currency, they're ridiculously overpriced. $3000+ for 4090.

 

Post edited by n.aspros123 on

Comments

  • GordigGordig Posts: 10,053

    I'd recommend shooting for a 2 or 3 series, both because the RTX features introduced with the 20X0 make the cards a lot more powerful and capable, and DS is currently using some of the VRAM on your 1080 to emulate those features, and also because they'll be more affordable so you could potentially geta lot more card for your money. If I remember correctly, SLI can't pool VRAM, but its replacement NVLink can. You still benefit from running more than one GPU in your system, even if they're not linked, with the caveat that the scene will only use a GPU to render if the scene fits in the GPU's VRAM.

  • franky85franky85 Posts: 133
    edited September 8

    NVLink cannot pool VRAM with consumer cards, you'd need a set of Titan RTX or higher-end like A6000 for that.

    One of my render computers has two 2080TIs with nvlink.. however to use both in Daz Studio you need to disable SLI, of course make sure both are enabled in the render settings, and also disable the "Hardware-accerated GPU scheduling" of Windows. otherwise it does not work in my case.

    dForce only ever uses 1 GPU.


    Also one 3090 renders faster than two 2080TIs, and has more than twice the usuable VRAM - something to keep in mind. I have to micro-manage assets in my scenes if I render it on the 2080TIs computer.

    Post edited by franky85 on
  • n.aspros123n.aspros123 Posts: 190
    edited September 8

    Looks like I will have to keep saving up and buy single GPU like a 4090 or 5090. Hope the 5090 is not outrageously priced when it's released.

    Post edited by n.aspros123 on
  • franky85 said:

    NVLink cannot pool VRAM with consumer cards, you'd need a set of Titan RTX or higher-end like A6000 for that.

    One of my render computers has two 2080TIs with nvlink.. however to use both in Daz Studio you need to disable SLI, of course make sure both are enabled in the render settings, and also disable the "Hardware-accerated GPU scheduling" of Windows. otherwise it does not work in my case.

    dForce only ever uses 1 GPU.


    Also one 3090 renders faster than two 2080TIs, and has more than twice the usuable VRAM - something to keep in mind. I have to micro-manage assets in my scenes if I render it on the 2080TIs computer.

    nVlink should work with your cards, though the memory sharing is for materials only.

  • n.aspros123 said:

    Looks like I will have to keep saving up and buy single GPU like a 4090 or 5090. Hope the 5090 is not outrageously priced when it's released.

    Going by past history it is likely to be at least afew months before the 50x0 cards work for Iray at all, buying early has landed people with a paperweight for a while with each of the previous (post-Iray) versions.

  • 16GB of system memory will be limiting, as will 8GB of GPU memory.

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