Re: CUDA Support Issues on Current Laptops
- To: mathgroup at smc.vnet.net
- Subject: [mg114096] Re: CUDA Support Issues on Current Laptops
- From: adakkak <adakkak at gmail.com>
- Date: Tue, 23 Nov 2010 06:01:00 -0500 (EST)
- References: <ic5iap$3uj$1@smc.vnet.net> <ic9lhf$o1l$1@smc.vnet.net> <icdo1v$67g$1@smc.vnet.net>
On Nov 22, 7:35 am, telefunkenvf14 <rgo... at gmail.com> wrote: > On Nov 20, 5:27 pm, Yves Klett <yves.kl... at googlemail.com> wrote: > > > > > I can affirm that for my battered Dell M4200 with NVidia QuadroFX 360 > > graphics: The "newest" (anno 2008) Dell driver does not work with > > CUDALink, while the current NVIDIA driver for this card works fine. > > > Beware: This is not to say that switching to "unofficial" drivers will > > not do any kind of damage - it just worked in my case (so far). I rather > > think that Dell does not keep up driver maintenance for older machines > > and graphics cards. > > > Regards, > > Yves > > > Am 19.11.2010 11:08, schrieb telefunkenvf14: > > > > Short version: > > > > Before you purchase a new laptop make sure to thoroughly research the > > > CUDA support and ability to upgrade graphics drivers. Do you have to > > > use OEM drivers or can you install drivers directly from NVIDIA? > > > > Long version: > > > > For those interested in CUDA on a newer laptop, or those interested in > > > purchasing a new laptop because it claims to support CUDA, a warning: > > > > Lack of support from your laptop manufacturer may make it difficult to > > > dive right in to CUDA programming in Mathematica 8. (So don't blame > > > WRI, or even NVIDIA, if/when it doesn't work!!!) Based on what I've > > > learned, the warning is especially valid for machines with some sort > > > of switchable graphics. > > > > Why? > > > > Drivers for these systems are a combination of Intel and (in my case) > > > NVIDIA drivers, and a lot of tweaks go into making them play nice > > > together. As such, the NVIDIA drivers currently packaged in OEM laptop > > > drivers (from companies like Dell, Sony, Acer, etc.) are often way out > > > of date in terms of CUDA version support. > > > Even more frustrating is the fact that these companies appear > > > unconcerned with maintaining updated graphics drivers and CUDA > > > support. I say this given that they continue to sell supposedly CUDA > > > compliant machines---ok, yeah, but it's CUDA version 2 or 2.2. (These > > > versions are waaaay out of date in CUDA land.) **I'm not aware of > > > Apple's CUDA support, but presume it's probably better.** > > > > Aren't there some workarounds? > > > > Not really unless you are willing to try either: > > > > (1) bios hacks (so you can shut switchable graphics off completely and > > > force the NVIDIA driver to be used full time). Windows *might* then > > > let you install the new version of the appropriate driver. Of course, > > > you might also void your warranty and/or brick your machine. Great > > > combo! :D > > > > (2) hacking together newer versions of Intel and NVIDIA drivers for > > > your machine, or trying hacked driver packages produced by others and > > > downloaded from shady corners of the web. This is also PITA because > > > you'll have to deal with driver signing on 64-bit versions of Windows. > > > > -RG > > > > FYI: I've been using the last two prereleases of Mathematica v8 and > > > haven't been able to get any version of CUDA working on my brand new > > > Sony Z12 laptop. I love the laptop overall---check the specs on these > > > things and you'll see why---but, after all this hassle, I wish I'd > > > just gone with a new MacBook Pro or at least Googled Sony Z CUDA > > > Support prior to ordering. > > Be thankful you can at least 'force' install the correct NVIDIA > drivers. This is not possible on my Sony due to the way they > implemented switchable graphics. And so I wait, hoping for an > update... > > -RG You might want to look at http://forums.laptopvideo2go.com/ they have drivers that have been tweaked so that they would install even if the "official" drivers do not. I had this issue a few months ago when I bought a laptop specifically for CUDA development to find out that it came with a driver from last year. The OEM did not have updated driver, and the official drivers would not install. Installing the unofficial drivers worked, however.