Intel releases Alpha OpenCL SDK

[cbn]

http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-opencl-sdk/

Currently supports CPU only.

 

[ModestGamer]

So begins the decline of cuda, sadly it won't be missed.

 

[Idontcare]

Haswell is coming, these guys are doing everything you'd expect a professional organization to be doing in preparation of that.

 

[ModestGamer]

Haswell is coming, these guys are doing everything you'd expect a professional organization to be doing in preparation of that.

Well, maybe or this is more for the APU products comming.

 

[grimpr]

Great, i guess the code would run on Bulldozer based cpus and apus with no extra effort just perfect. Just like AMD does with its OpenCL CPU SDK, right?

 

[ModestGamer]

Great, i guess the code would run on Bulldozer based cpus and apus with no extra effort just perfect. Just like AMD does with its OpenCL CPU SDK, right?

Intel code optimizations working on AMD processors ? I doubt it and why should they ?

 

[grimpr]

Well, i dont know thats why i'm asking, OpenCL cpu from AMDs Stream SDK seems to support perfect every CPU with SSE3, why would Intel jeopardize the whole point of OpenCL? I guess we will find out sooner or later.

 

[Vesku]

AMD being the littler x86 maker has a lot less to gain from making development tools exclusive. It sure would be nice if Intel doesn't artificially lock features to their products when it comes to a standard such as OpenCL. Guess we'll see how it goes.

 

[grimpr]

Ok, found it, case closed.

Page 33 from Performance Guide.

http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-opencl-sdk/

 

[Markfw]

Ok, found it, case closed.

Page 33 from Performance Guide.

http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-opencl-sdk/

"This Alpha release of the Intel® OpenCL SDK contains optimizations that require the Intel® Streaming SIMD Extensions 4.1 (SSE 4.1) instruction set. It will work only with processors that support Intel® SSE 4.1 or higher.
For full list of supported Intel processors see Release Notes.

This SDK version supports the following operating systems:

* Microsoft* Windows* 7 (32-bit / 64-bit )
* Microsoft* Windows Vista* (32-bit / 64-bit )

Installation will fail on unsupported hardware or on unsupported operating systems."

So I haven't looked at my X6 (the only AMD I have left running) Does it support SSE4.1 ?

 

[Idontcare]

Ok, found it, case closed.

Page 33 from Performance Guide.

http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-opencl-sdk/

While Intel believes our compilers and libraries are excellent choices to assist in obtaining the best performance on Intel® and non-Intel microprocessors, Intel recommends that you evaluate other compilers and libraries to determine which best meet your requirements. We hope to win your business by striving to offer the best performance of any compiler or library; please let us know if you find we do not.​

​

 

[Nemesis 1]

Ya thats the new harsh agreement Intel has to comply to under Fcc orders LOL . Only a disclaimer required. When I read that . In the settlement . It just broke me up a laughed so hard.

But seriously , go back and check . I have honestly believed Intels is the company that must really be behind OPEN CL. Its just makes so much sense, Than for APPLE to be behind anything open . I raged in here about the Elbrus compiler and we discussed What kind of intel processor would take full advantage of this compiler. SB starts it .and haswell with ondie vertex engine defines it. The almost perfect 22nm processor at the peak of effiecancy for its time . Look for apple to release really neet software with SB release or shortly there after.

 

[grimpr]

Are you definetely sure that Intel was and is the mastermind behind OpenCL? and Apple will release neet software using Intels alpha OpenCL CPU only kit. Guess we will find sooner or later.

I too await eagerly Soviet tech in Haswell. It would rock the comm.

 

[Nemesis 1]

Actually you would really enjoy the true story behind Sparc processor. Was a time the enfo was easy to find on the net but it got harder some how.

 

[nyker96]

http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-opencl-sdk/

Currently supports CPU only.

why am I not so surprised by the 'cpu only' part? but I take it the codes written could be compiled for gpu as well later when the gpu compiler is out.

 

[Idontcare]

While Intel believes our compilers and libraries are excellent choices to assist in obtaining the best performance on Intel® and non-Intel microprocessors, Intel recommends that you evaluate other compilers and libraries to determine which best meet your requirements. We hope to win your business by striving to offer the best performance of any compiler or library; please let us know if you find we do not.​

Ya thats the new harsh agreement Intel has to comply to under Fcc orders LOL .

What I found particularly amusing was the last phrase of the paragraph:

...please let us know if you find we do not.

I don't know why but it conjured up this imagery in my mind of some mobster goons leaning on a business owner while saying:

So's you wants to buy somes insurance ya sees, and if ya's feel that our services - so to speak - are NOT to ya's satisfaction then me and the boys here would most definitely likes to see you give us that feedback...

 

[Nemesis 1]

Yep its the 1 thing I would have never expected this agreement to lay out in such clear language! Slaps Head! (mutters) Me Oh! My Oh!

 

[Absolution75]

I don't see how people are making conclusions from an ALPHA release. . . .

Its not even beta - no one is actually going to use it in production code. Its basically a way for people to start looking at the implementation or make some simple test programs.

Who knows if SSE 4.1 will be required when its officially released. Specifications change, maybe SSE 4.1 will be the norm once its finally released anyway.

 

[Nemesis 1]

http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-opencl-sdk/

Currently supports CPU only.

Ya but but but 2600K cpu is considered a 4 core 8 threaded processor that means Intel considers theIGP as part of the core processor SoC, Intels SB IGP is CL1.1 complaint . So I thinK intel is including the overlays for IGP. As cpucore.

 

[cbn]

http://blogs.amd.com/fusion/2010/11/19/opencl-momentum-grows/

OpenCL momentum grows

November 19, 2010 by John Taylor

Parodying the words of Dan Patrick: OpenCL is en fuego. In the last several days, both Intel and ARM made major OpenCL commitments. This Parallel Processing-themed party just got interesting.

In August 2009, AMD was the first company to submit a certification for an OpenCLTM SDK for x86 multi-core CPUs. This was a small but important step toward providing developers the necessary tools to harness this important programming environment across platforms. But we knew this was just one incremental step in our much larger and impactful strategy to drive power-efficient parallel processing forward.

In October of 2009, we again were the first to extend our SDK to include GPU support for OpenCL, and we now offer full OpenCL 1.1 support as part of our Stream SDK v2.2. In fact, we remain the only company with OpenCL support for both x86 CPUs and GPUs. But equally as important, we have a dedicated OpenCL information portal for developers to find more information and to help guide them along in the process – OpenCL Zone. Supporting both CPU and GPU is of course central to how software developers are accessing the full compute power of our new AMD Fusion Family of APUs.

When it comes to fostering true mainstream adoption of OpenCL, we understand this is a marathon, not a sprint. And, it is always easier to finish the marathon at a brisk pace when you have others running with you.

To date, AMD has worked closely with the Khronos group to help cultivate OpenCL, but we’ve been pleased to see both Intel and ARM embrace OpenCL in recent weeks. Specifically, Intel has released an alpha OpenCL SDK for Intel Core processors, while ARM introduced an embedded graphics chip with OpenCL support. In fact, ARM went so far as to say OpenCL will be on every smartphone by 2014. And, quite frankly, we couldn’t be happier than to see this happen.

As an industry, we are at an important inflection point. The advances in computer hardware have been incredible – particularly in GPUs. Look no further than the launch of our latest AMD RadeonTM HD 6800 series GPUs and the imminent launch of our AMD Fusion Family of APUs. Yet, we have only scratched the surface for what these processors can do when it comes to software. They are not just for gaming. When we can apply far more powerful, and power-efficient, GPUs to general purpose computing applications – everything ranging from financial modeling to visual applications like facial recognition – your PC experience fundamentally transforms. It becomes faster, richer and more engaging.

How do we get there? Open standards such as OpenCL.

While AMD can acknowledge that proprietary solutions helped pioneer GPGPU (including CUDA and Brook+, a standard which AMD supported for years), history has proven that open solutions tend to benefit the industry more in the long run. And in order for an open solution to really be successful, it requires broad industry support. You could say that AMD took a risk being the first processor vendor to truly embrace OpenCL and offer tools for both x86 CPUs and GPUs – but today it’s clear it was a risk worth taking as Intel, ARM and others join us. Let the parallel processing party begin.

How have you begun using OpenCL and where do you see it going from here?

John Taylor is a Director of Product Marketing at AMD. His postings are his own opinions and may not represent AMD’s positions, strategies or opinions. Links to third party sites, and references to third party trademarks, are provided for convenience and illustrative purposes only. Unless explicitly stated, AMD is not responsible for the contents of such links, and no third party endorsement of AMD or any of its products is implied.