AMD Unveils World’s First Hardware-Based Virtualized GPU Solution at VMworld 2015

By Vigneshwar

| Updated: Friday, October 30, 2015, 12:39 [IST]

AMD today at VMworld 2015 demonstrated the world's first hardware-based GPU virtualization solution, the AMD Multiuser GPU.

AMD Unveils World’s First Hardware-Based Virtualized GPU

This new solution from AMD enables a virtualized workstation-class experience with full ISV certifications and local desktop-like performance.

With the AMD Multiuser GPU, IT pros can easily configure these solutions to allow up to 15 users on a single AMD GPU. Demonstrations of AMD virtualization solutions can be found at VMworld 2015 booth 447.

"The AMD graphics cards are uniquely equipped with AMD Multiuser GPU technology embedded into the GPU delivering consistent and predictable performance," said Sean Burke, AMD corporate vice president and general manager, Professional Graphics.

"When these AMD GPUs are appropriately configured to the needs of an organization, end users get the same access to the GPU no matter their workload. Each user is provided with the virtualized performance to design, create and execute their workflows without any one user tying up the entire GPU."

Built around industry standard SR-IOV (Single Root I/O Virtualization) technology, the AMD Multiuser GPU continues AMD's embracement of non-proprietary open standards.

R-IOV is a specification developed by the PCI SIG, and provides a standardized way for devices to expose hardware virtualization.

Created for GPU-accelerated workflows such as GPU compute and OpenCL, the AMD Multiuser GPU is designed to overcome the limitations of software-based virtualization such as reduced end-user performance.

AMD Multiuser GPU - Key Features

Compute capabilities based on OpenCL supported by industry leading GPU virtualization
Full feature set support including DirectX^TM 12 and OpenGL 4.4
OpenCL 2.0 acceleration support
Stable, predictable performance
User-owned share of local memory providing additional security
15 maximum users per physical GPU