Any way to graphics cores on APU as CPU cores? (AMD A8-5600K)

skullcrusher956 · Apr 23, 2015

I know this sounds absolutely ridiculous, but I decided to take a shot. Any way to graphics cores on APU as CPU cores? I'm pretty sure I know the answer, but I just wanted to check. I have Windows 8, Asus A88x-PRO Mobo, Standard Geforce GTX 760 GPU, and AMD A8-5600K APU. I originally got an APU on my pc because I wanted to use it while I was saving up for a
GPU. Now, I don't use the GPU cores on it and would like to use them as CPU cores, if possible. I am pretty sure this isn't possible, but wanted to check. Thanks!

oskerw · Apr 23, 2015

Afraid not for the same reasons you can't turn the CUDA cores on your 760 into CPU cores.

Saberus · Apr 23, 2015

Pretty sure the answer is no, they are designed differently from normal CPU cores. There might be some programs out there that can use the GPU cores for processing, but it would be for very limited, highly parallel tasks like some BOINC projects.

If you had gotten an AMD-based GPU, you might have gotten the ability to use the Dual Display technology for some minor video performance boosts.

skullcrusher956 · Apr 23, 2015

So, there is like no CUDA-like option for my APU?

unreal9400 · Apr 23, 2015

skullcrusher956 · Apr 23, 2015

I know, but I was meaning something similar for the graphics cores on the AMD processor as it is like an imitation gpu integrated into a cpu. But, I got my answer, I didn't think it'd work. One last question. Are there any practical uses for those cores while I have a gpu? Like can I use them at all to speed up my pc even a little?

skullcrusher956 · Apr 29, 2015

Well, I originally built it that way in case my GPU failed, then maybe I could have a backup GPU until I get a new one.

skullcrusher956 · Apr 30, 2015

When you buy intel, you are paying for the name, it is waaaay too expensive for what it is. I'd be paying like 300 for an intel chip where I can pay like 80 for AMD that's only a little worse. Plus my a8 can run games at ultra paired with my gtx 760. I ran Shadow of Mordor at max settings with no lag at all. I have my a8 overclocked to 4.5 ghz and i've gotten it to 5.0, but it had rare stability crashes which drove me nuts.

gamerk316 · Apr 30, 2015

^^ An i3 processor at about $130 would beat the pants off the a8 in gaming; Intel is only more expensive at the top.

There is ZERO reason to purchase an APU with a dGPU.

skittle · Apr 30, 2015

Everyone in this thread is wrong. Absolutely you can use your APU for GPU computing. I use it occasionally for parallel finite difference computations.

CUDA is an proprietary Nvidia technology but there is also a competing (Open Source) computing language for Nvidia, AMD and Intel GPUs. "OpenCL"

On the Wikipedia page there is code that implements the Fast Fourier Transform in OpenCL.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/OpenCL
http://developer.amd.com/tools-and-sdks/opencl-zone/

*note: this doesn't mean that you can turn your GPU into an extra general purpose computing unit. Only specially written algorithms can be efficiently run on a GPU.

skullcrusher956 · May 2, 2015

Wait, so if I get what you're saying correctly, I can use it in parallel with my gpu for additional gpu computing?

skittle · May 2, 2015

Yes if you have a specific application that is written in OpenCL you can run it on an APU. As a minimum you probably need to know how to code in C before attempting to utilize OpenCL. It is only useful for specific algorithms that can be efficiently implemented as many parallel computations (like the example FFT algorithm on the wikipedia page)

skullcrusher956 · May 2, 2015

Do you know where I can get said program? Because I know some C++...

LookItsRain · May 2, 2015

skittle :

Correct, took people a bit to read through the poorly written question.

skullcrusher956 · May 13, 2015

How can I achieve this?

skittle · May 13, 2015

Getting started with OpenCL:

http://developer.amd.com/tools-and-sdks/opencl-zone/opencl-resources/getting-started-with-opencl/

LEOKAMBOJ · Aug 15, 2017

I got some briefings by someone for using the AMD APP SDK 3.0 for turning A10 7890k's 8 GPU cores into CPU ones! But I've never tried being a user of the sa me cpu.

yann.beneult · Jan 26, 2018

LEOKAMBOJ :

Any way you could find how to do this ? I got a A10-7700K APU + R9 270X GPU and can't stand the fact that i'm not using the GPU part of my APU.
Thanks !

Corwin65 · Jan 26, 2018

Just to be clear It could only be used if you wrote your own code, for your own specific purpose. It could not be used say to improve your CPU performance for gaming.

Any way to graphics cores on APU as CPU cores? (AMD A8-5600K)

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