GPU render for lightwave 2018 Will it ever exist?

[genesis1]

I'm running x99 system with a i7 5820k 6 core 12 thread processor and VPR doesn't half thrash the cpu fan. I think it would be a great help if an option for gpu rendering even just for vpr so as to help the cpu workload. At the moment its like a double thrash, as vpr does it first and then when you render out you get it again. Kind of expect it on render out, but would help the fan wear if we had gpu support for VPR. What do the rest of you guys think?

[RPSchmidt]

I personally think yes, it will exist... it's really just a matter of time and priorities, but I think it's inevitable.

For my part, while I would love to have GPU rendering, right now, my personal preference (besides bug-fixing) is that the developers focus on full Substance integration. The orders of magnitude of speed I would gain in my own development process from that would be huge.

[erikals]

don't think they have a choice.

i recall Jay Roth back in the days (15 years ago?) said yes, GPU rendering will come to LightWave eventually.

[TheLexx]

Re original post, some users elsewhere have observed that cpu is "kinder" on rendering wear and tear than gpu, but I'm puzzled by the cpu fan being any particular issue since a decent cpu would surely also have a decent fan like a Noctua or similar, especially if user built. Re gpu coming to native LW, does anyone know if any of the current render engine rewrite allows any groundwork for gpu, or are the two concepts not related ?

[Marander]

Many / most renderers offer Hybrid mode.

But I don't see it happening to LW, GPU render development requires specific skills and large dev efforts.

[Marander]

I agree.

For dev efforts and complexity, it depends on the base architecture but shows that for previous CPU only engines like Vray or Arnold, the efforts to allow GPU / Hybrid rendering are substantial.

[devin]

Compared to 2015, VPR in 2018 wreaks havoc on my MSI Ghost laptop. The laptop begins to generate a ton of heat and the fan kicks into overdrive. It's another reason that I've been avoiding using 2018.

[rustythe1]

As I said in another thread, GPU is bottlenecking badly, where as CPU has been accelerating fast, if you compare the 680 780 980 and 1080 there actually isn't that much advancement in speed and power, lot more and faster ram, but fps is probably only up 130% between those cards, and also GPU revisions got to a point of 6 months, but now its been 4 to 5 years for a major upgrade, where as we are seeing CPU cores x2 every 2 years again, I think less this time with the 28 core coming out q4, and amd are revising faster and faster getting back to how it was in the early 2000s Intel re road mapped as originally I think the next revision was way of an this year was only going to be mid i7 revisions, but now a whole new lake is on the way, I still think CPU is far more user friendly and customisable, GPU is limited to to a smaller range, what happens if nvidia discover the next best gaming tech and drop cuda? Its an area where the technology is too dependant on each other, I think CPU needs to start looking more towards paralleling, then that will become a game changer,

[erikals]

GPU is 3 times faster average,
+ there is room for 3 cards in one machine, and CPU power on top of that.

look at how Blender flies with GPU. in addition it supports (of course) CPU.

GPU+CPU is the future. (imo)

[hrgiger]

Don't know what you mean rustythe1, GPU just smokes CPU. And its much easier to add additional GPU processing.

And no, GPU rendering won't come to LW anytime soon. Either way, no point sitting around wishing for it, just get Octane.

[erikals]

i think he just refers to the rumor/trend...

GPU advancement is decreasing
CPU advancement is increasing

...not convinced AMD will continue the trend  (though i hope so)


as for GPU...
https://www.pcgamesn.com/intel-moores-law-no-more
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kenkam/.../#190e61a65e42

so, seems like CPU passing GPU is a rumor, not a trend (?)

[rustythe1]

Don't know what you mean rustythe1, GPU just smokes CPU. And its much easier to add additional GPU processing.

And no, GPU rendering won't come to LW anytime soon. Either way, no point sitting around wishing for it, just get Octane.

I didn't mean its as fast at the moment, my point was that development of gpu has stalled and its bound too as its limited to its PCIe and cpu is catching up at a faster rate, you may also find the new cards will be slower with some apps until they are redeveloped as the volta platform will likely be half cuda core half tensor core (as it already is on AI platforms), they could then drop cuda all together as tensor is 3x as fast, and everything becomes obsolete again?

[erikals]

and the price of Tensor will be?
https://www.extremetech.com/computin...ning-beta-test

i don't really care, just add power / price that can match rendering with 1 CPU + 3 GPU

[rustythe1]

the quadro is already tensor, gv and gp100, and as far as I knew the volta platform was going to have tensor too? but maybe only in titan to begin with as the gv is £8000 uk and your only allowed to own 1 unit! (looks like they are trying to limit bit mining?)

[prometheus]

GPU is 3 times faster average,
+ there is room for 3 cards in one machine, and CPU power on top of that.

look at how Blender flies with GPU. in addition it supports (of course) CPU.

GPU+CPU is the future. (imo)

yup, it does, huge difference when you switch to render blender hair between CPU and GPU ..whe GPU is much much faster, same with rendering prinicpled materials and product shots...and that comparison goes between blender and lightwave as well.
it also renders fluid smoke much faster...Though when you got too much going on with shaders ..hair,, or too large fluid sims, the GPU sometimes fails, and you need to switch to CPU.

With blender....You at least have a choice and can render some stuff very quickly..and only when you are going off limit you resort to CPU..while you are locked to the slower CPU rendering in lightwave, unless having octane of course.