Where is my Cuda?

Hi There,

My first post. But I am really out of my wits here. I tried looking everywhere to solve this issue.

Mine is spanking new Sony VPCZ129GG i7 (bought from Singapore) Running Windows 7 Pro 64Bit. It says on top of it that is running nVidida Gefforce (330) WITH CUDA.

Two of the software that I use demand Cuda to be turned on. I assumed that would be the default. But Cuda is not on. I have googled everywhere to see where and how to on it.

So please help and show me the way. I am hoping no hacking is needed, but if there is a soft solution, I am more than happy to try it.

Thanks.

 

I'm gonna state the obvious. You are using those CUDA apps with the SPEED mode, right?

CUDA is there, and it is always on (well, it's supposed to be). What are the software that requires CUDA direct?

Because for all I care, CUDA is a noun and a marketing gimmick by nVidia. All recent GPUs today take on load that is demanding video-wise, whether the companies state they have the technology or not (ie, by saying they have CUDA for one). I'm pretty sure people here see this with the roll-out of HTML5.

 

I use several CUDA apps, including PowerDVD, Badaboom and MediaEspresso and
it also requires you to have the recent drivers and to turn it on in the software itself, not all of them though.
SO what software do you use?

 

For example I am using this software TMPGEnc KARMA..Plus
It is a video compression software from Japan.
When I run it it display a message that says:
Necessary CUDA software driver is not installed. plus addition information.
If I try to install the latest version of nVidia drivers, that I downloaded it gives me the error that the drivers are not compatible even though I know it is the one. I think it is related to the way Sony did their customization.

 

cuda version is different

 

I have the same problem with Cyberlink MediaEspresso 6.

1.First of all be sure you are in "Speed" mode, otherwise you will use the intel graphics which does NOT have CUDA.

2.Second, some of these features are driver dependent and because Sony doesnt updat there drivers frequently you miss out on a lot. You can not just go and install geforce drivers from the Nvidia site, Sony uses custom drivers for the graphics system.
Until they update the Gfx drivers, you wont be able to use some of the CUDA enhancements.

 

CUDA isn't anything seperate or anything like that. It's basically your graphics card's stream processors. The GT330m has 48 CUDA cores I believe, which are the same thing as stream processors. It's just in the driver stack you have that determines how certain programs can utilize those CUDA/SP cores. The newer NVIDIA drivers posted here in the forums should have CUDA support enabled. If not, I wouldn't be surprised. Sony has done worse. VT-x comes to mind. But having a sticker on the case that advertises CUDA support and not having a driver that supports it is false advertising, and is just something Sony would do.

 

Thanks HAL and Blue for your reply. It is false advertising as far as I am concerned.

I switched to Speed manually, though my Auto setup has already chosen it. Still I get the same error message that my CUDA is not turned on.
I know the latest drivers at nVidia website has the support for CUDA, and I assume even my current driver. BTW, the notebook was bought less than a month ago.

I guess I missing something.

 

The software you have does a bit of detecting during setup. I would uninstall it, make sure you are in speed so it can detect the nvidia and not the intel.

But in the end its all down to drivers.

 

I did what you recommended to no avail. I still get the same error message.

I am still puzzled why would Sony turn off this feature.

There has to be away. Mind you, I did some google, and followed some soft hacks, but the hacks meant for other Sony models, though they use the same graphic card model. It did not work. In fact I ended up having the Intel graphic card being the one used.

 

Yeah.. I thought so with Sony's hybrid drivers...

Anyways, try downloading GPU-Z (search google). Switch your graphics over to SPEED and open that app up. At the window and tab that it opens in, there should be a little, non-editable, tick-box at the bottom; is your CUDA box ticked?

If it is, and assuming you are using Sony's drivers and the original factory OS (not a clean-installed one), I'd be forced to assume that Sony, as many times before, messed up with the drivers. My suggestion for you is to try Nautis's drivers (search him up in the search box above) and see whether his drivers fare better for your needs.

If not, my absolute last course of action is to go download nVidia's drivers from the homepage. Though needless to say, you'll lose your hybrid switch, which to most here ain't a good thing considering the Z's main feature is hybrid graphics...

 

Thanks Sushi. I did what you advised me and found that the CUDA is turned on, but my software says nop.
As far as trying to use Natuis drivers, I think I will just have to wait for Sony to fix this issue. If they do not, we just have to never recommend another Sony to anyone of our friends.

 

I wouldn't count on it. During the one and a half or so years the VGN-Zs been around (5 generations-worth), there were 5x graphics drivers:
- 2x for Vista x64 and x86
- 2x for W7 x64 and x86
- 1x for Windows XP x86

The ones on W7 were updates from Vista, fixing some driver crashes, though unusable on Vista itself. Unless MS decides to release Windows 8 during the production run of VPC-Z, I actually would be surprised at Sony releasing a graphics driver update.

Sony only ever releases updates if they get enough complaints of system instability from across the globe. Their drivers page is quite evident of this as well... I'd assume that Sony's software department run on the motto 'as long as it runs it's fine'.

 

Considering how pricey it is, it is disappointing that they are not trying to fix this problem. Anyway, Thanks for taking the time to answer. When I have enough time, I will try something.

 

Did you try optimus drivers ? I don't know if the overlay is an issue for you, but it should allow you to use latest CUDA...