Laptop for GPGPU computing

[karthikvm]

Hi All,

I need to buy a laptop for GPGPU computing research.
Can I have any recommendations? I came across 2 deals:

1) AMD Radeon HD7730M 2GB [ http://configure.us.dell.com/dellstore/config.aspx?CS=19&kc=6vaff&oc=fncwm46h&dgc=CJ&cid=24471&lid=566643&acd=10550055-1260291-d2b.V4LU9F3N4VAKMFQWMKFCE4JSSS ]

2) NVIDIA GeForce GT650M 2GB [ http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:item.detail?GroupID=457&Code=59360114&category_id=6716C35E262487E9B548B6298FE58D3B ]


Since I am just starting in the GPGPU field what GPU should I choose? Please let me know your comments.

Cheers,
karthik

 

[s3anister]

If you're going to be doing GPGPU you should be looking almost exclusively at higher end Radeon parts based of the GCN architecture.

Edit: The Radeon HD7730M is a really low end GCN part that is even slower than the desktop HD 7750 which is terrible in terms of GPGPU performance. You should be looking at Radeon HD 79xxM parts or at the absolute least Radeon HD 78xxM parts.

 

[wannabepro]

What's your budget?

 

[karthikvm]

If you're going to be doing GPGPU you should be looking almost exclusively at higher end Radeon parts based of the GCN architecture.

Edit: The Radeon HD7730M is a really low end GCN part that is even slower than the desktop HD 7750 which is terrible in terms of GPGPU performance. You should be looking at Radeon HD 79xxM parts or at the absolute least Radeon HD 78xxM parts.

Thanks a lot for quick reply. I am basically a student and I check deals websites for good deals.

Since the deals may not come with the best GPUs, I think I will go for a system without any GPU
and add my own GPU later based on my needs and cost. Can we do this on a laptop? Kindly let me know.

I tried to check the price range for Radeon HD 79xxM, 78XXM but with little success. Can you give a range?
My budget range is around $800 - $900.

Cheers,
karthik

 

[karthikvm]

What's your budget?

Thanks for your reply wannabepro. I am a student and my budget is around $800 - $900.

Cheers,
karthik

 

[s3anister]

Thanks a lot for quick reply. I am basically a student and I check deals websites for good deals.

Since the deals may not come with the best GPUs, I think I will go for a system without any GPU
and add my own GPU later based on my needs and cost. Can we do this on a laptop? Kindly let me know.

I tried to check the price range for Radeon HD 79xxM, 78XXM but with little success. Can you give a range?
My budget range is around $800 - $900.

Cheers,
karthik

Unfortunately the majority of laptops that sport such GPUs are going to be in the $1000+ range. As for custom built laptops as far as I know MSI is the only company that sells build it yourself laptops and they're still expensive. Your alternative would be getting a laptop with Thunderbolt and using an external enclosure with a desktop GPU but the technology to do such a thing is still very much in its beta stages.

So this begs the question, do you really need a laptop that is capable of high throughput GPGPU? Or do you just need a laptop for experimentation? Because even the lowly Intel HD Graphics 4000 has support for OpenCL.

 

[karthikvm]

So this begs the question, do you really need a laptop that is capable of high throughput GPGPU? Or do you just need a laptop for experimentation? Because even the lowly Intel HD Graphics 4000 has support for OpenCL.

Exactly this is the question I am looking for the answer too. I am not looking for a high throughput computation. My work will be on synchronization primitives for GPUs. Hence I feel a normal GPU should be more than enough. But I prefer Nvidia because the CUDA framework is more supported than OpenCL. Any comments on this is more welcome.

 

[s3anister]

So this begs the question, do you really need a laptop that is capable of high throughput GPGPU? Or do you just need a laptop for experimentation? Because even the lowly Intel HD Graphics 4000 has support for OpenCL.

Exactly this is the question I am looking for the answer too. I am not looking for a high throughput computation. My work will be on synchronization primitives for GPUs. Hence I feel a normal GPU should be more than enough. But I prefer Nvidia because the CUDA framework is more supported than OpenCL. Any comments on this is more welcome.

Well, I suppose what I'd recommend to you is try to find a laptop with at least a GTX 650M. I know Alienware's M14x sells for $999 and has the 650M standard. You can however, find laptops with the 650M inside for cheaper.

In any case it sounds like you're a student, if you are shouldn't your professor be able to give some suggestions on minimum or recommended hardware?

 

[karthikvm]

Thanks a lot S3anister. That answers my question. The deal (http://shop.lenovo.com/SEUILibrary/controller/e/web/LenovoPortal/en_US/catalog.workflow:item.detail?GroupID=457&Code=59360114&category_id=6716C35E262487E9B548B6298FE58D3B) has Core i7 3630QM Processor and nVidia GeForce GT 650M card.

But the CPU does not have intel VT-d feature. I run virtual machines as part of my research and I am little bit hesitant whether I should go for this or wait for some more time to get intel VT-d featured processor. Your comments are more welcome. Thanks a lot for your insights they are more helpful.

BTW I am starting the research in GPU side out of my own interest. My professors field of expertise is CPU. Hence I wanted to check experts opinion before I put money in the laptop. Thank you.

 

[karthikvm]

Sorry I was down with cold and fever. I could select your answer as best only today. Thanks for your time and expertise.

Cheers,
karthik