Using a GPU-macOS?

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paulcons
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2020 1:30 am
Hardware configuration: Mac Pro CMP, 2010, single 3.3G, 6 core CPU, GTX 980 GPU

Using a GPU-macOS?

Post by paulcons »

Am running a decent level GPU (GTX 980) and am curious about using it for folding. Basic question is, will using it use both my CPU AND the GPU? Second, can someone point me to some kind of documentation on how to set this up in macOS? If which OS is an issue, am running Sierra and in a few months HS, but won't even run anything after that (long story, the fruit is being a dick and won't let nVidia release drivers past HS).
Mac Pro CMP, 2010, single 3.3G, 6 core CPU
GTX 980 GPU, macOS 10.12.6
JimboPalmer
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Location: Greenwood MS USA

Re: Using a GPU-macOS?

Post by JimboPalmer »

Sadly, the saga of MacOS graphics has no happy ending.

For several OS revisions, Apple's OpenCL did not work 'correctly'.

By the time it did, most Macs used Intel GPUs, which are unsupported. (10.7 to 10.14)

Now that Macs are getting AMD graphics cards again, Apple has depreciated OpenCL.
https://www.extremetech.com/computing/2 ... ten-revolt

The result is that there is no time when investing in getting a MacOS Core working would have resulted in 'enough' work to justify it.

If you BootCamp into windows or Linux, you can use that card.

Real experts will be along later to argue fine details, but that is an overview.
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paulcons
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2020 1:30 am
Hardware configuration: Mac Pro CMP, 2010, single 3.3G, 6 core CPU, GTX 980 GPU

Re: Using a GPU-macOS?

Post by paulcons »

I kinda knew it was a bit of a crapshoot, but needed to confirm it, thanks.
Mac Pro CMP, 2010, single 3.3G, 6 core CPU
GTX 980 GPU, macOS 10.12.6
Joe_H
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Re: Using a GPU-macOS?

Post by Joe_H »

Decisions made in the past were based on a limited development staff and monetary resources. With the new interest in the F@h projects, a number of persons are donating software development assistance, so a number of things that have been held off on in the past are getting worked on. It remains to be seen if GPU folding for OS X becomes part of that.
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paulcons
Posts: 7
Joined: Sat Apr 18, 2020 1:30 am
Hardware configuration: Mac Pro CMP, 2010, single 3.3G, 6 core CPU, GTX 980 GPU

Re: Using a GPU-macOS?

Post by paulcons »

That's encouraging... happened to come across something about a new client (7.6.9)... NOW it works in Chrome and one can specify which project to work on good job!
Mac Pro CMP, 2010, single 3.3G, 6 core CPU
GTX 980 GPU, macOS 10.12.6
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