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OpenCL Benchmarks and Support for Both MacBook Pro GPUs

I get really odd results running this OpenCL thing on my Early 2008 MBP. The first time I ran it... it look more than 14 seconds on the GPU... which is an 8600M GT

The second time I ran it I got under 3 secs:

Number of OpenCL devices found: 2
OpenCL Device # 0 = GeForce 8600M GT
Device 0 is an: GPU with max. 940 MHz and 32 units/cores
Now computing - please be patient....
time used: 2.931 seconds

OpenCL Device # 1 = Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU T8300 @ 2.40GHz
Device 1 is an: CPU with max. 2400 MHz and 2 units/cores
Now computing - please be patient....
time used: 15.104 seconds


... but sometimes when I run it takes more than 4 seconds on GPU...
 
Mac Pro 3.2Ghz Early 2008

Number of OpenCL devices found: 2
OpenCL Device # 0 = GeForce 8800 GT
Device 0 is an: GPU with max. 1500 MHz and 112 units/cores
Now computing - please be patient....
time used: 0.686 seconds

OpenCL Device # 1 = Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU X5482 @ 3.20GHz
Device 1 is an: CPU with max. 3200 MHz and 8 units/cores
Now computing - please be patient....
time used: 2.848 seconds

Now checking if results are valid - please be patient....
:) Validate test passed - GPU results=CPU results :)
 
Here is mine:
...........................................................
.................. OpenCL Bench V 0.25 by mitch ...........
...... C2D 3GHz = 12 sec vs Nvidia 9600GT = 0,93 sec ......
... time results are not comparable to older version! .....
...........................................................

Number of OpenCL devices found: 1
OpenCL Device # 0 = Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5462 @ 2.80GHz
Device 0 is an: CPU with max. 2800 MHz and 8 units/cores
Now computing - please be patient....
time used: 3.248 seconds

Now checking if results are valid - please be patient....
:) Validate test passed - GPU results=CPU results :)
 
aside from the fact that this benchmark is bogus...

Aren't all of you uMBP owners completely F***ing ecstatic that both GPUs can run OpenCL at the same time? This is amazing.

:):):):)
 
People to read this, this benchmark is of limited value!!!!

2002cbr600f4i said:
Agreed. This is pretty much a worthless benchmark. There's nothing complex taking place, no hard memory thrashing, no difficult calculations.

It's just taking 2 arrays with 5000 numbers in them and adding them together into a new array of 5000 numbers. Simple atomic add operations of 2 numbers over and over and over. The more cores you have the more you can split the array up (4 cores = each core processes 1250 items, 32 cores = each core processes 156.25 items.) and the faster clock means that each item gets processed faster.

This is NOT AT ALL indicative of a real OpenCL app that will be doing hundreds of thousands of difficult computations, with dependancies between the dat and working across huge datasets.

I'd say ignore every result we get out of this app. It's not at all indicative of real-world performance in the least.
Click to expand...

Repeating; people should read the above closely. This teast is of limited value.

I'm interested though in info related to what GPU improvements Apple has made in Quartz. The interface is so much better I have to believe that Apple has expanded GPU use. The question is this; is that via OpenCL or through Quartz's traditional acceleration.


Dave
 
my 3.06GHz iMac with 8800 GS results:

Number of OpenCL devices found: 2
OpenCL Device # 0 = GeForce 8800 GS
Device 0 is an: GPU with max. 1250 MHz and 64 units/cores
Now computing - please be patient....
time used: 0.927 seconds

OpenCL Device # 1 = Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Duo CPU E8435 @ 3.06GHz
Device 1 is an: CPU with max. 3060 MHz and 2 units/cores
Now computing - please be patient....
time used: 12.255 seconds
Click to expand...
 
depulse said:
When will Apple release an update for Logic that allows Logic to offload some of the effects and synth plugins to the GPU?

No need for dedicated DSP solutions anymore (except for being used as a hardware dongle). UAudio on a Macbook Pro without the Expresscard.
Click to expand...

Im Wondering this too...

But will all our au plugs need to be updated to?
Or just logic?
 
Interesting stuff here. Some points to note:

1. When will Apple release OpenCL supporting versions of iLife suite and how dramatic will the improvments be (ie: iMovie encode times, etc).
2. What effect will taxing the GPU + CPU have in terms of internal temperatures for all the various models (iMac, Mini, MacBook Pros). I wouldn't worry much about the Mac Pros. Also how much more of a drain will it be on the notebook batteries when not plugged in?
3. How difficult/easy will it be for developers to release new versions of their apps that can take advantage of this?
4. How about Grand Central dispatch, when will we see apps taking full advantage of multiple cores?
5. Will we start seeing some more movement in the games area as a result of this?

The next year or so should be interesting! :)
 
My early 2009 Mac Pro benchmark

This is a single cpu, quad-core Nehalem Xeon (2.66Ghz), with the standard GeForce GT 120 (512MB) video card.

Code: 
...........................................................
.................. OpenCL Bench V 0.25 by mitch ...........
...... C2D 3GHz = 12 sec vs Nvidia 9600GT = 0,93 sec ......
... time results are not comparable to older version! .....
...........................................................

Number of OpenCL devices found: 2
OpenCL Device # 0 = GeForce GT 120
Device 0 is an: GPU with max. 1400 MHz and 32 units/cores 
Now computing - please be patient....
time used:  1.701 seconds

OpenCL Device # 1 = Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU           W3520  @ 2.67GHz
Device 1 is an: CPU with max. 2659 MHz and 8 units/cores 
Now computing - please be patient....
time used:  1.921 seconds

Now checking if results are valid - please be patient....
:) Validate test passed - GPU results=CPU results :) 
logout
 
aardwolf said:
This is a single cpu, quad-core Nehalem Xeon (2.66Ghz), with the standard GeForce GT 120 (512MB) video card.

Code: 
...........................................................
.................. OpenCL Bench V 0.25 by mitch ...........
...... C2D 3GHz = 12 sec vs Nvidia 9600GT = 0,93 sec ......
... time results are not comparable to older version! .....
...........................................................

Number of OpenCL devices found: 2
OpenCL Device # 0 = GeForce GT 120
Device 0 is an: GPU with max. 1400 MHz and 32 units/cores 
Now computing - please be patient....
time used:  1.701 seconds

OpenCL Device # 1 = Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU           W3520  @ 2.67GHz
Device 1 is an: CPU with max. 2659 MHz and 8 units/cores 
Now computing - please be patient....
time used:  1.921 seconds

Now checking if results are valid - please be patient....
:) Validate test passed - GPU results=CPU results :) 
logout
Click to expand...

You have no worries.

Safe to say it blew away my early '08 15-inch 2.4ghz MBP with 4gb RAM. ;)
 
*LTD* said:
You have no worries.

Safe to say it blew away my early '08 15-inch 2.4ghz MBP with 4gb RAM. ;)
Click to expand...

I only wish I had one at home... I'm lucky I could convince them to buy this for me at work, considering most of my job involves using Visual Studio (which I have to run in Windows via VMWare Fusion.) At least Fusion runs fast. :)
 
Mac Pro 2.8Ghz Early 2008

Number of OpenCL devices found: 2
OpenCL Device # 0 = GeForce 8800 GT
Device 0 is an: GPU with max. 1500 MHz and 112 units/cores
Now computing - please be patient....
time used: 0.706 seconds

OpenCL Device # 1 = Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU X5462 @ 2.80GHz
Device 1 is an: CPU with max. 2800 MHz and 8 units/cores
Now computing - please be patient....
time used: 3.246 seconds

Now checking if results are valid - please be patient....
:) Validate test passed - GPU results=CPU results :)

Now, based on the crazy/insane times people are reporting for the GTX 285 whether it makes sense to upgrade?

Also, I know everyone is going gaga over the fact that OpenCL on the uMBP can make use of BOTH GPUs but if I get a GTX 285 and put it in my MP can it make use of BOTH GPUs in that machine too?
 
results from my 2nd Mac Pro - Mac Pro 3,1

...........................................................
.................. OpenCL Bench V 0.25 by mitch ...........
...... C2D 3GHz = 12 sec vs Nvidia 9600GT = 0,93 sec ......
... time results are not comparable to older version! .....
...........................................................

Number of OpenCL devices found: 2
OpenCL Device # 0 = GeForce 8800 GT
Device 0 is an: GPU with max. 1500 MHz and 112 units/cores
Now computing - please be patient....
time used: 0.697 seconds

OpenCL Device # 1 = Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5462 @ 2.80GHz
Device 1 is an: CPU with max. 2800 MHz and 8 units/cores
Now computing - please be patient....
time used: 3.208 seconds
 
Looks like my Hackintosh fares pretty well.
...........................................................
.................. OpenCL Bench V 0.25 by mitch ...........
...... C2D 3GHz = 12 sec vs Nvidia 9600GT = 0,93 sec ......
... time results are not comparable to older version! .....
...........................................................

Number of OpenCL devices found: 3
OpenCL Device # 0 = GeForce GTX 280
Device 0 is an: GPU with max. 1350 MHz and 240 units/cores
Now computing - please be patient....
time used: 0.315 seconds

OpenCL Device # 1 = GeForce GTX 280
Device 1 is an: GPU with max. 1296 MHz and 240 units/cores
Now computing - please be patient....
time used: 0.309 seconds

OpenCL Device # 2 = Intel(R) Core(TM)2 Quad CPU Q6600 @ 2.40GHz
Device 2 is an: CPU with max. 2400 MHz and 4 units/cores
Now computing - please be patient....
time used: 8.727 seconds

Now checking if results are valid - please be patient....
:) Validate test passed - GPU results=CPU results :)
logout

[Process completed]
 
A few niggles

A couple of issues:

(1) several posts have noted the synthetic nature of the benchmark, but unless I'm missing something, even on those terms it seems to be comparing the wrong things.

Instead of comparing just OpenCL performance on GPU versus CPU, shouldn't the comparison also include NON-OpenCL on CPU, i.e., static compiled code, timings?

Otherwise the "leave on CPU" option is being slowed by OpenCL overheads it doesn't need to have?

(2) several posts have noted that Macs with dual GPUs have up till now had to choose one or the other for OpenGL, but can use either for OpenCL, and have speculated about the benefits of using both, say one for OpenGL graphics and another for physics.

Even if the setup/take down overheads of OpenCL don't preclude real-time interactions of this kind, these days GPUs often run hotter than CPUs, so running both in a machine which was designed only to run one or the other may not be a thermally sound option — that is to say, you might fry the motherboard.

I'd like to see a statement from Apple on this for the affected machines, and just point out gently that if there is a problem here, the fabled "MacMidiTower" would fix it...

(3) several posts imply that their makers are seriously considering changing their hardware on the basis of this test. If so, you have a "John McEnroe" issue: you *cannot* be serious ;)
 
2002cbr600f4i said:
OMFG... WHY do people get so pissed about this?

Seriously - What does your MB NOT do today that you could do with it yesterday? If OpenCL is your ONLY issue, then I really gotta ask, what programs are you running that you think OpenCL is going to buy you some huge performance improvement with? OpenCL is not a "flip a switch and everything is faster" technology! It's not like a Turbo charger than you bolt onto an engine and suddenly the whole car is faster.

Heck, I'm betting there won't even be any decent OpenCL apps out for a good 6 months at least. By that time, your "slightly more than a year old MacBook" will be around 2 years old... Most people I know don't even keep a laptop more than 3 years because they become so outdated in that time.

By the time you'd see any sort of improvements in the apps you run from OpenCL you're going to be due for a new machine anyhow!

CHILL. BREATHE. You didn't get screwed. You have a perfectly good, useful, viable Macbook that you've already gotten a year's worth of use out of, and it will continue to give you another couple years of use...
Click to expand...

Well said! Look at me, am I upset my 10 year old iBook G4 is left out? Na! LOL

As a FCPro user for work, I am drooling about my MacPro though! I used to use two graphics cards for two ACD 30s but found FCPro didn't like working across two cards so took one out and shared one GT8800, however I wonder what happens to OpenCL if there were two? Do they even have to have a monitor attached to be used by OpenCL?
 
Digitalclips said:
Well said! Look at me, am I upset my 10 year old iBook G4 is left out? Na! LOL

As a FCPro user for work, I am drooling about my MacPro though! I used to use two graphics cards for two ACD 30s but found FCPro didn't like working across two cards so took one out and shared one GT8800, however I wonder what happens to OpenCL if there were two? Do they even have to have a monitor attached to be used by OpenCL?
Click to expand...


That's exactly what I was asking above. If I don't need a second monitor, I see a compelling case to get a GTX 285 and throw it in the machine for the added performance. That said, there's not too many applications on the market that can take advantage of OpenCL yet...
 
This is AWESOME! :D It's like I just trippled the number of processors in my MacBook Pro! :D

P.S. Does anyone know if the new Final Cut Studio is all optimised for Open CL and Grand Central? I don't remember hearing anything about that when it just came out. Also, was it really all rewritten in Cocoa now? :confused:
 
In 6 months or so...

Give it six months or so for software developers to sink their teeth into OpenCL and see how it fits into their applications. Since OpenCL can dynamically run things on either a CPU or GPU (meaning one code base to rule them all) I can't wait for projects like x264, ffmpeg, handbrake, etc, to incorporate OpenCL into their projects. I don't know about all the aspects of encoding but they seem like a perfect fit for each other (data parallelism, SIMD, vector operations on matrices). Suddenly MBPs with 9600M GTs will be performing like Mac Pros before 10.6 & OpenCL came along (with regards to encoding video and audio).
 
Michael73 said:
That's exactly what I was asking above. If I don't need a second monitor, I see a compelling case to get a GTX 285 and throw it in the machine for the added performance. That said, there's not too many applications on the market that can take advantage of OpenCL yet...
Click to expand...

Sorry didn't see your post. I have to think Apple will optimize the Pro apps ASAP! I hope someone can answer the question of utilizing additional cards on a Mac Pro. I suspect it may be a different thing from the either or on a MacBook Pro.
 
belltree said:
2. What effect will taxing the GPU + CPU have in terms of internal temperatures for all the various models (iMac, Mini, MacBook Pros). I wouldn't worry much about the Mac Pros. Also how much more of a drain will it be on the notebook batteries when not plugged in?
3. How difficult/easy will it be for developers to release new versions of their apps that can take advantage of this?
4. How about Grand Central dispatch, when will we see apps taking full advantage of multiple cores?
5. Will we start seeing some more movement in the games area as a result of this?
Click to expand...

2. No real negative effect. The temps and fan speeds will be comparable to high end gaming. The hardware is built to deal with this.
3. It was stated to be quite easy because it is hardware independent and easy to code but only Apps that are working hughly in parallel threads can take full advantage of the GPU. Apps with a lot of syncking and dependencies in their threads will remain CPU apps for the forseeable future.
4. Probably sooner than OpenCL but the advantages will be MUCH tinier.
5. ID Software is using Open CL in Rage so YES but I doubt the benefits will be HUGE because the GPU is already working hard in Games nowadays.

So Please A Companies (Adobe, Apple, Autodesk) give us full Open CL apps!
 
MacFly123 said:
This is AWESOME! :D It's like I just trippled the number of processors in my MacBook Pro! :D
Click to expand...

No... more like :apple: tripled the [count of actively used] processors in your MBP ;)

MacFly123 said:
Does anyone know if the new Final Cut Studio is all optimised for Open CL and Grand Central?
Click to expand...

Probably 3ish years, it needs to be written in Cocoa first, and while doing so taking advantage of the new API's...
 
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