Rendering with Maximus

Rendering with Nvidia Maximus

Nvidia Maximus is a new workstation technology that enables users to work freely in a 3D application, while running a full speed rendering or simulation in the background. AEC caught up with Nvidia to find out more.

by Greg Corke

Long gone are the days of DOS when only run one application could run at a time. Today’s workstations need to support Building Information Modelling (BIM) workflows where users swap between design, simulation and rendering at will.

The problem is, however powerful the workstation, once compute intensive tasks are assigned, performance can be unpredictable as multiple processes fight for resources.

Run multiple renders or simulations at the same time, and you may as well forget doing anything other than writing an email.

This is all fine if you leave all your compute intensive work to the end of the day, but feedback is most useful at all stages of the design process. There’s little use preparing a handful of scenes to render overnight, only to find out in the morning a key part of the design was flawed or the lighting was all wrong. Or, for a structural engineer to prepare design some candidates for simulation, only to find out they’ve all failed in the same place or were overdesigned. GPU compute For rendering and simulation, most software still uses Central Processing Units (CPUs). Only some of these tasks are being handled by Graphics Processing Units (GPUs).

Ansys and Simulia now have solvers in their simulation software that are GPU enabled, while Autodesk and Bunkspeed can use GPUs for computational rendering.

Despite being able to offload compute intensive tasks to the GPU, so-called GPUcompute workstations can suffer from bottlenecks.

If compute tasks are offloaded to the GPU, interactive graphics performance can suffer. Even when a workstation has two GPUs, software can get confused and try to use the graphics card instead of the dedicated highperformance GPU compute device.

This means the calculation takes longer and the entire system can slow down as software fights for CPU and GPU resources.

It is against this backdrop that Nvidia has launched Maximus, a new GPU compute technology designed to deliver dedicated floating-point horsepower for interactive design graphics as well as computational simulation or computational rendering. It’s about being able to work on a new design at the same time that you are running a simulation or rendering on another iteration.

Nvidia says that Maximus is like having two workstations in one — a full performance interactive design workstation and a full performance computational simulation workstation. With two GPUs and two CPUs inside a high-end Maximus workstation, this is not far from the truth.

GPU ‘A’ is a Nvidia Quadro graphics card used exclusively for interactive 3D graphics, while GPU ‘B’ is a specialist Nvidia Tesla GPU compute card reserved for rendering or simulation.

CPU ‘A’ is ring fenced for system and interactive applications, while CPU ‘B’ is reserved for simulation or rendering, dividing jobs and moving data to and from the GPU compute card.

Entry-level Maximus workstations feature a single processor, so instead of a dedicated CPU tasks are assigned a number of CPU cores.

While the concept of having two GPUs in a workstation is nothing new, Nvidia says all the clever stuff happens in the unified Nvidia Maximus driver. This allocates jobs to each GPU making sure graphics calls go to the Quadro and that the computational rendering or simulation calls go to the Tesla.

There is also a special mode that makes the Tesla GPU look exclusively like a compute device, so Windows doesn’t try to treat it as a display device.

Software does not need to be ‘Maximusenabled’ to benefit from the new technology. Nvidia says that a Maximus workstation will work with any simulation or rendering software that has GPU compute capabilities. This includes software built with CUDA, Nvidia’s API or OpenCL, the open standard. Simulation Nvidia is currently promoting Maximus with two key Computer Aided Engineering (CAE) applications — Simulia Abaqus and Ansys — presenting benefits for workflow as well as raw performance.

A Maximus workstation that dedicates six CPU cores and a Tesla GPU is said to solve

Nvidia Maximus is ideally suited to 3ds Max Design 2012, where Nvidia’s Tesla card can use iRay for rendering, leaving the Nvidia Quadro graphics card free to work with 3D models in real time.the benefit of the cloud to designers

an Ansys simulation almost twice as fast as a workstation which dedicates 12 CPU cores and no GPU (N.B. Nvidia’s test machine features the Intel Xeon X5670 CPU, which is not the highest specification Xeon processor currently available).

Any standard high-end GPU compute workstation should be able to achieve these levels of performance, but Nvidia says Maximus comes into its own when working on an interactive design at the same time as running a simulation, as both processes can run close to full speed. Visualisation With Maximus, visualisation runs on exactly the same principle as simulation software — render and design at the same time with no discernible performance slow down.

The one big difference is that multiple GPUs can be used at the same time. In a high-end Maximus system this could be a Quadro 6000 and a Tesla C2075 — both of which offer the same computational performance. This would give a useful boost when deadlines loom, but would mean real time 3D performance would take a hit.

Maximus works with any iRay-enabled GPU rendering application, including 3ds Max Design 2012 and Bunkspeed Shot. Nvidia says that while iRay does not support motion blur or depth of field, there is no difference from a ray tracing perspective to the CPU renderer, mental ray. Conclusion In a world where compute intensive operations often fight for workstation resources, Maximus makes a lot of sense. Whether you’re a structural engineer running simulations or a design visualization specialist rendering architectural scenes, if tasks can be carried out concurrently without hindering productivity this means more iterations or compressed timescales.

Of course, Maximus is just one way to offload compute intensive operations so your workstation doesn’t slow down – clusters, render farms and cloud-based compute services all have a role to play. But the key thing about Maximus is that it’s local. It enables architects or engineers to have instant access to compute capabilities when they need them, rather than having to compete for time on shared resources or move large datasets across slow networks.

While those heavily into design visualisation will not be giving up their render farms any time soon Maximus can still offer a supportive role. It can help explore ideas and fine tune composition and lighting and then the final renders can be sent to the farm.

Nvidia Maximus workstation

Maximus workstations are available from HP, Dell, Lenovo and Fujitsu. These are tested and certified to run a whole range of professional 3D applications including DS Simulia Abaqus 6.11-1 or newer, Ansys Mechanical 13.0 SP2 / 14.0, 3ds Max 2012 featuring iRay, and Bunkspeed ProSuite 2012.2y. CORE SPECIFICATIONS Interactive graphics Nvidia Quadro 600 (1GB) or Quadro 2000 (1GB) or Quadro 4000 (2GB) or Quadro 5000 (2.5GB) or Quadro 6000 (6GB) Compute GPU Nvidia Tesla C2075 (6GB) CPU (processor) One or two x86 CPUs

Memory 8 to 72GB RAM Driver Certified Nvidia Maximus. driver

Scan 3xs i7 Eyefinity

Take one workstaton, add three displays and you have got yourself a highly productive system for design and visualisation.

by Greg Corke

At AEC Magazine we tend to AMD Eyefinity automatically corrects for there are potentially huge productivity benreview standalone workstations, the bezelled edge that surrounds each efits as it pretty much gives you instant rarely one that comes with a dis- screen. It cuts out a bit of the image so you access to all your key software applications play and certainly not one that do not get a stepping effect when an image and datasets. comes with multiple screens. But we have spans across multiple displays. It is a neat Setting aside the centre display for the core made an exception for Scan’s new 3XS i7 feature as it tricks your eyes into thinking design application, the flanking monitors can Eyefinity workstation, which includes three you have one continuous display, but can be be used to dip into different datasets, or any professional Dell UltraSharp displays, driv- a little frustrating as from time to time parts combination of email, browser, spreadsheet, en by a single AMD FirePro graphics card. of the design are hidden by a bezel. rendering, simulation or document manage-

Powered by AMD Eyefinity technology, Bezel correction can be adjusted in the ment software. It is worth spending a little the FirePro V5900 is one of a handful of FirePro driver, and it can be turned off so no time setting up your workspace to get the AMD professional graphics cards that can information is hidden, but we would not rec- most of the technology — you can even move support three displays. It uses its two ommend this as it tends to make images look toolbars or model libraries off the main CAD DisplayPort and one DVI outputs to drive a bit odd. One way of getting around this is display to maximise the modelling space. three of Dell’s impressive 24-inch While the three monitor Dell UltraSharp U2410 displays. UltraSharp is Dell’s professional display brand and all ‘‘ When you first start using three setup is something out of the ordinary, the Scan 3XS i7 Eyefinity workstation itself monitors feature Image Plane displays side by side it feels like a bit of a is much more familiar. The Switching (IPS) technology, which not only delivers crisp luxury but you soon find an important processor, Intel’s Core i7 2700K, is an evolution of the images and excellent colour use for every last pixel 2600K, a mainstay of workreproduction, but boasts much wider viewing angles than budget displays. The U2410 features ’’ stations in 2011 and a great CPU for general CAD or Building Information a resolution of 1,920 x 1,200, slightly bigger to buy a monitor with a thin bezel. Modelling (BIM). There is a little bit more than standard HD (1,920 x 1,080). Samsung’s MD230 is a good example — also performance on offer here though, with the

Apart from quality, one of the best things sold by Scan, but not as a standard option. 3.5GHz chip, clocked up to 4.6GHz. about the UltraSharp U2410 is that it can Spanning a 3D CAD model across three This is backed up with 16GB DDR3 operate in landscape or portrait mode. While displays and rotating it on screen did have 1600Mhz memory, which means the landscape mode is likely to be the most com- an impact on performance, but not by a huge machine is equipped to handle some pretty mon use in a three-display array, in portrait amount — frame rates were reduced by sizeable datasets. For storage, a 128GB mode they combine to form one giant desk- about 25%. Some CAD applications, where Corsair Performance Pro Marvell Solid top with a colossal 3,600 x 1,920 resolution. the CPU is the bottleneck, rather than the State Drive (SSD) is used for the operating

In portrait mode we felt fully immersed in GPU (Graphics Processing Unit), probably system and applications, while a 2TB our design, which spanned across all three would not notice any difference. Seagate Barracuda, 7,200rpm is for data. displays. After a while, we even managed to Landscape mode is likely to be used more Prices of hard drives have gone up in ignore the bezels that surround each display day and day out and here we found the recent months following major flooding in and break up the image. three displays less spectacular. However, Thailand, the hard drive capital of the world,

Scan’s new Core i7 workstation comes with three Dell UltraSharp U2410 displays

but not so much to make a big impact on FirePro V5900 can connect to a legacy DVI or overall system cost. VGA monitor via adapters, and this is fine if you want to run different applications on difDelivery and setup ferent screens. However, in order to span a Being a journalist is not the glamorous life single BIM model across three displays in poryou may imagine, so when some- trait mode, it is important to use one offers to not only deliver a Product spec identical displays. The Dell system, but also unpack it ready UltraSharp U2410 is an excellent to go, you jump at the chance. ■ Intel Core i7 2700K (clocked to 4.6GHz), all round monitor, though some

This is not some veiled attempt (Quad Core) may prefer a display that feaon behalf of Scan to win favour ■ 16GB (4x4GB) tures a smaller bezel. This is less with lazy journalists it is a new Corsair Vengeance of an issue in landscape mode. service where a trained installer DDR3 1600Mhz When you first start using drives down from Bolton and memory three displays side by side it sets everything up for you — and ■ AMD FirePro V5900 graphics (2GB) feels like a bit of a luxury — in all for no additional charge, just ■ Asus P8Z68-V PRO/ much the same way as it does the standard £35 delivery fee. GEN3, Intel Z68 when moving from one to two

While this may not interest mainboard displays — but you soon find an hardened IT managers, we can ■ 128GB Corsair important use for every last attest it was a welcome introduction to setting up a workstation Performance Pro Marvell SSD + 2TB Seagate Barracuda, pixel. It is certainly not for everyone, and if you only use one with three displays. We were 7,200rpm drives design application, day in day given an introduction to how to ■ Microsoft Windows out, plus a bit of email and web configure AMD Eyefinity, such 7 Professional 64 Bit browsing, then two monitors as how to make sure the right ■ 3 x 24” Dell U2410 should be more than enough. image appears on the right Ultrasharp displays But when you move into portrait screen. The Eyefinity software is ■ 3XS System Delivery and setup mode, it offers an entirely differpretty simple to use, but it was ■ 3 year warranty — ent experience. It is perfect for great being given a helping hand 1st Year onsite, years design/review sessions or when to get you started. 2 & 3 return to base you need to see a lot of detail at £2,310 the same time, such as a site or Conclusion It is easy to forget about moni3xs.scan.co.uk/ x3deyefinity detailed BIM model. The real draw of Scan’s systors when buying a workstation. tem is the price. For just over At AEC Magazine we certainly update our £2,300 you get a powerful workstation machines more regularly than our displays. which can also improve productivity by

In order to get three screens running with helping enhance workflow. If you’re considthe Scan 3XS i7 Eyefinity workstation it is not ering a new workstation, maybe it’s time to mandatory to buy brand new displays. The think about updating the whole system.

Card choice

The AMD FirePro V5900 featured in our review machine is just one of a family of professional graphics cards from AMD that can support three monitors using Eyefinity technology. The FirePro V4900 is an entry-level card with 1GB GDDR5 memory. It features two DisplayPorts and one dual link DVI. It is ideal for entry level CAD or BIM software. The FirePro V7900 (pictured below) is a high-end card with 2GB GDDR5 memory. Its four DisplayPorts can drive up to four displays at the same time. These can be arranged side by side, or in a 2 x 2 array, by mounting them on a wall or on a dedicated stand. This makes it great for design visualisation or design review. The FirePro V8800 is double height high-end card, which features 2GB GDDR5 memory and four DisplayPorts. The FirePro V9800 takes things up a notch with 4GB GDDR5 memory and six Mini DisplayPorts. It can drive six displays, typically in a 3 x 2 array. Scan currently supports this with a six display bundle, complete with stand, based on Samsung’s thin bezel MD230 display.

■ amd.com/firepro

Comment Building rapport

Clear communication throughout the build process is essential, whether a domestic or commercial contract.

by Rob Jamieson

In the July/August 2011 edition of AEC Magazine I wrote about my house extension project and complained about the serial process that most builders want to work to. Now, it is January 2012. It is cold. It is time for an update.

My story examines parallels between domestic and commercial builds. The underlying theme is communication — between different groups of trades — whether a chippie and a plumber or a building services contractor and a steel contractor, problems happen everywhere due to poor communication.

On small-scale projects problems can be minimised by getting all trades to sit round a drawing once a week to plan properly. On a multi-million pounds construction project, investment in simulation software, such as Synchro 4D or Navisworks Timeliner, could save thousands. However advanced we like to think the modern construction process is, there are still plenty of horror stories where major clashes are only noticed once on site, bringing construction to a halt. Construction simulation software can help iron out major problems before they happen.

During my house refurbishment project (see image) there have been many examples of poor communication, but the most recent was the electrician who forgot to put a wire trench before the floor was laid. Yes there was a drawing that clearly showed the electric hob was supposed to sit in the middle island but of course nobody looked at that. One very big drill later the cable was fitted.

Between sessions of tearing my hair out, I have been trying to work out why these things happen. It is obvious that each trade only focuses on what they know. A plumber will notch out a joist to get pipes in, not realising that the structure is being weakened. When the carpenter realises what is happened it is too late and then big decisions need to be made over time/cost versus safety.

When a tradesman has been in the business a while, he understands more about how the trades can work together and becomes a main contractor. But he does not always have the time management skills to pull it off. Being mindful of the impact one tradesman can have on other trades is where time and money can be saved.

So why not pay more attention to co-ordination?

In my never-ending house extension project the doors are on and most of the kitchen is in, but we are still missing the odd pane of glass up high. We sourced a shallow heating trench to overcome the slab problem and watched the plumber fail to read the instructions before trying to use plasterboard to level it where it had adjustable feet; and should be facing the other way.

What I have found is the value in having the architect around to the end of the build. Ours has been there to chase the main contractor and help keep the original design intent.

There is generally so much going on in construction that job swaps for each trade or general apprenticeships as they do in Germany would help the process a lot. Even to the extent of getting architects building something so they can see some of the issues faced.

During the past year I have learned a lot — that main contractors need to be good with money and time, and how they interact. This is no mean feat.

I have also learned that there is a hierarchy in types of jobs each trade does with carpenters and plumbers near the top and general labourers at the bottom. I am not sure if this is down to intelligence or the rarity of some of the tradespeople and the reliability of them turning up to the job on time.

What else have I learned? Well radio stations played loud helps plasterers do their stuff and not all the younger tradesmen drink tea (fizzy pop is preferred).

The most important lesson learned is that every type of job has some form of hierarchy, and, as a customer, it is essential to be part of that. Keeping an eye on what has been done and being vocal about why something is being done a certain way is essential.

Problems can be compounded if you let them go the first time. It is all about communication in the end.

THE SMARTEST DESIGN FOR RENOVATION + REFURBISHMENT

Almost 50% of building projects are renovations and refurbishments – it’s complicated juggling designs for the existing and renovated building and trying to show what has to be added, moved or demolished. But ArchiCAD 15 makes this simple allowing you to see all aspects of your renovation design development. No co-ordination errors! No confusion! Just the smartest renovation design!

+ Renovation Status of Components Renovation Status is a new attribute of all building components in an ArchiCAD 15 BIM model showing “Existing,” “To Be Demolished” and “New”. This ensures the clearest understanding for clients, contractors, builders, and engineers.

+ Renovation Plan Types ArchiCAD 15 comes with pre-configured renovation plan types and drafting styles that either follow local standards and documentation conventions or allow you to create easily your own renovation plan types or styles.

+ In-Depth Renovation Workflow From initial survey, through design development, to final visuals and documentation (including accurate quantities) ArchiCAD 15 is at the heart of a great workflow for renovation design. Sustainability, MEP, NBS Specifications, and other requirements are covered with ArchiCAD’s powerful add-on solutions.

+ Find out more on YouTube by entering ArchiCAD 15

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