Hardware Selection Advice: Difference between revisions

TUFLOW HPC on GPU hardware still uses the CPU to compute and store data (in CPU RAM) during model initialisation and for all 1D calculations. While we are working on improving our CPU RAM usage, currently we tend to find that CPU RAM is often the limiter to the size of the model domain you can run, particularly if using running over multiple GPU cards. During initialisation and simulation a model will typically require 4-6 times the amount of CPU RAM relative to GPU RAM. As an example, a model that utilises 11GB of GPU RAM (typical memory for high-end gaming card, and corresponds to about a 50 million cell model) the CPU RAM required during initialisation will typically be in range 44GB to 66GB. A model that fully utilises two 11 GB GPUs (i.e. a 100 million cell model) may require as much as 128GB of CPU RAM during initialisation. Note that for more than 256GB of CPU RAM, a workstation level motherboard may be required at a higher price class.