GPU programming

[druidelder]

Searched and didn't see, but I apologize if this has been posted before.

This (http://developers.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=03/12/21/169200&mode=flat&tid=1%2052&tid=185) little article has some info about a new compiler for GPUs. GPUs are faster than any CPU out for certain things (though they are limited at the same time, read the article and discussion for more). In any event, it could be something fun to do with all those old PCI vid cards.

[XWRed1]

Old pci vid cards wouldn't be usable for this.

The reason you can do any sort of remotely-normal programming on them at all is because modern ones are coming to resemble cpus because of T&L, Pixel/vector shading, etc.

[druidelder]

Well, I wasn't really thinking Voodoo old. I was thinking more along the lines of the last couple of years. To me, a single year in computers is like 1-2 generations in human years (20-40). There are a lot of cards out there (and in my house) that fit the bill from upgrading socket 7 400+ MHz AMD systems.

[XWRed1]

Geforce3s came out way after everyone stopped trying to use socket7 processors for anything serious.

Geforce3 might not even be featureful enough... but anything before it certainly isn't.

[druidelder]

Well, maybe not everybody does, but there are several packrats out there (like myself) that have several such machines up and running. Between Gf4 Ti4xxxs, ATI 8500s, ATI 9000s, and Gf3s I've probably got ten PCI cards that would foot the bill fine. While they wouldn't get nearly the same perfomance as the FX 5900 Ultra used in the article, they should still be good enough for having some fun with. However, looking at the compiler page, they currently only support ATI 9700s and higher/nVidia FX series cards. So unless they work on that, or somebody else does I guess those won't work either. Still, thought people might like the read.

[XWRed1]

You weren't using all those cards inside a K6-2 were you?

Looking at the Brook page, it also doesn't look like it is as general purpose as plain old C.

[druidelder]

Not in one K6-2/3, but in several (and a couple Pentium Pros and a couple Penitum IIs with no AGP port). But those systems don't really need it and I could swap them out for older PCI cards that I have.