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    Windows 7, will it use GPU for non graphic applications

    Discussion in 'Windows OS and Software' started by permka, Jan 9, 2009.

  1. permka

    permka Notebook Consultant

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    I have read somewhere (but I didnt manage to find again the link, I think it was engadget or the likes of it) that Windows 7 will be able to use the GPU processing power(which if I understand correctly is comparable to CPU) in order to do non graphic stuff, thus accelerating the PCs.

    Do you know if this is true? Now that the beta is out, is there any way to check for it?

    P.S.
    To be honest I didn't browse through the >1500 thousands posts of the Windows 7 discussion thread, so if this question has been answered can you link the thread?
     
    permka, Jan 9, 2009
    #1
  2. emike09

    emike09 Overclocking Champion

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    No, it will not use the GPU to perform Wiin7 stuff. That would require a complete rewrite of the OS Kernal. However, many applications running in Vista now use GPGPU.
     
    emike09, Jan 9, 2009
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  3. Hahutzy

    Hahutzy Notebook Deity

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    I think it's the other way around; Win7 can use CPU to do GPU stuff.
     
    Hahutzy, Jan 11, 2009
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  4. EnterKnight

    EnterKnight Notebook Evangelist

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    That is correct, Hahutzy.
     
    EnterKnight, Jan 11, 2009
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  5. Ice Cold

    Ice Cold Notebook Deity

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    What do you think this is Mac OS X. go get that if you want GPU acceleration of operating system functions

    Microsoft is not smart enough to take advantage of a very powerfull GPU just sitting there.


    Probably better off it would eat up battery life.


    But thats why iTunes is Buttery smooth on Mac machines and cluncky and slow on PC's
     
    Ice Cold, Jan 11, 2009
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  6. mrXniick

    mrXniick 8

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    that would make a lot more sense, since in most cases the GPU is the system bottleneck (on mainstream computers)
     
    mrXniick, Jan 12, 2009
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  7. dbam987

    dbam987 wicked-poster

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    Yep, Windows 7 will have support to have the CPU handle GPU-specific tasks: http://bink.nu/news/windows-7-allows-directx-10-acceleration-on-the-cpu.aspx
     
    dbam987, Jan 12, 2009
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  8. emike09

    emike09 Overclocking Champion

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    Mac OS X uses the GPU to accelerate visual functions, not OS functions. Vista and 7 do the same exact things. Both OS's have applications that run GPGPU functions.

    Edit:
    We'll see what 10.6 brings to the table.
    http://www.tgdaily.com/content/view/37868/140/
     
    emike09, Jan 12, 2009
    #8