NVIDIA Claims to Add Supercomputing to Workstations, Thanks to Pascal Architecture

NVIDIA has introduced a range of Quadro products, all based on its Pascal architecture, that, as claimed, transform desktop workstations into supercomputers with breakthrough capabilities for professional workflows across many industries.

Workflows in design, engineering and other areas are evolving rapidly to meet the exponential growth in data size and complexity that comes with photorealism, virtual reality and deep learning technologies. To tap into these opportunities, the new NVIDIA Quadro Pascal-based lineup provides an enterprise-grade visual computing platform that streamlines design and simulation workflows with up to twice the performance of the previous generation, and ultra-fast memory.

"Professional workflows are now infused with artificial intelligence, virtual reality and photorealism, creating new challenges for our most demanding users," said Bob Pette, vice president of Professional Visualization at NVIDIA. "Our new Quadro lineup provides the graphics and compute performance required to address these challenges. And, by unifying compute and design, the Quadro GP100 transforms the average desktop workstation with the power of a supercomputer."

The new generation of Quadro Pascal-based GPUs -- the GP100, P4000, P2000, P1000, P600 and P400 -- enables millions of engineers, designers, researchers and artists to:

Unify simulation, HPC, rendering and design - The GP100 combines unprecedented double precision performance with 16GB of high-bandwidth memory (HBM2) so users can conduct simulations during the design process and gather realistic multiphysics simulations faster than ever before. Customers can combine two GP100 GPUs with NVLink technology and scale to 32GB of HBM2 to create a massive visual computing solution on a single workstation.

Explore deep learning - The GP100 provides more than 20 TFLOPS of 16-bit floating point precision computing  -- making it an ideal development platform to enable deep learning in Windows and Linux environments.

Incorporate VR into design and simulation workflows - The "VR Ready" Quadro GP100 and P4000 have the power to create detailed, lifelike, immersive environments. Larger, more complex designs can be experienced at scale.

Reap the benefits of photorealistic design - Pascal-based Quadro GPUs can render photorealistic images more than 18 times faster than a CPU.

Create expansive visual workspaces - Visualize data in high resolution and HDR color on up to four 5K displays.

Build massive digital signage configurations cost effectively - Up to 32 4K displays can be configured through a single chassis by combining up to eight P4000 GPUs and two Quadro Sync II cards.

The new cards complete the entire NVIDIA Quadro Pascal lineup including the previously announced P6000, P5000 and mobile GPUs. The entire NVIDIA Quadro Pascal lineup supports the latest NVIDIA CUDA 8 compute platform providing developers access to powerful new Pascal features in developer tools, performance enhancements and new libraries including nvGraph.

Leading OEMs, customers and partners are enthusiastic about the latest Quadro Pascal-based GPUs:

"Customers count on Dassault Systèmes' simulation tools to easily create often massively detailed models, while minimizing cost and inefficiencies. We have seen significant acceleration of our Abaqus FEA software simulations on the new Quadro GP100, which helps unify traditional design and simulation workflows, and are eager for our customers tap into its power to gain a competitive advantage," added Sumanth Kumar, Vice President, Growth, SIMULIA, Dassault Systèmes.

"As a leader in workstation technology we know that all of our Dell Precision users rely on the best performance to push the boundaries of their creativity. The new Pascal based Quadro graphics help push the most powerful mobile workstation, the Precision 7720, to become the first VR-Ready notebook in its class, as well as enabling our tower workstations to create photorealistic renders faster than ever," said Rahul Tikoo, vice president and general manager of Precision workstations, Dell.

"VR has had a huge impact on the AEC industry, having become an important part of design, planning and building. It is transforming Hensel Phelps' workflow and how we communicate designs and changes to our clients. We are excited about NVIDIA's new VR Ready P4000 as it delivers a terrific VR experience and because it's cost-effective. Now even more architects, designers and contractors will be able to tap into the power of VR on their desktops to give their clients the best experience and well communicated finished product possible," said  Drew Rebman, lead VDC engineer, Hensel Phelps Construction Company.

"HP Z Workstation customers are some of the most demanding GPU and CPU customers on the planet. Quadro Pascal will be supported across the HP Z Desktop Workstations portfolio, enabling our professional users to push their creative boundaries in product development, media and entertainment, AEC and anywhere that professional graphics are required," said Josh Peterson, vice president of worldwide product management for HP Workstations, HP Inc.