Benefit of Separate GPU for Unraid 6

[akira62]

Hello,

 

I want to Upgrade the next week up to Unraid 6. I just want to know if it makes sense to add a separete GPU (AMD 7850) to the System (8GB and an A10 from AMD)? Will it help to make the System faster for Plex (as Server) and also to run a Virtual Machine on the System (I am not sure if I go with Windows or Linux yet)? Furthermore I like to add OpenElec on the System I think with a separate GPU will be here the best benefit.

 

 

[jonp]

A add on GPU is required if you want to use the OpenELEC VM, although some have reported success using the on board CPU based graphics device (I believe) with the A10 processor.

 

That said, a GPU will not do anything for you with respect to Plex Media Server and transcoding, as that is a CPU bound process.

[akira62]

Thank you for the information, I will give it a try, because I have a spare here. Will there be a benefit if I run a Windows VM with the separate GPU? Or even "Gaming" VM? Can they make use of the Hardware?

 

I am not up to date with VM. Thank you for youre help.

[00b5]

Thank you for the information, I will give it a try, because I have a spare here. Will there be a benefit if I run a Windows VM with the separate GPU? Or even "Gaming" VM? Can they make use of the Hardware?

 

I am not up to date with VM. Thank you for youre help.

 

Only if you can pass the video card through to the VM (IMMOU). You can simply use google to narrow down (its not unraid specific). Start with your MB. See if anyone reports that they have gotten IMMOU working. Then, check that the CPU supports it. THEN, check that KVM supports your hardware doing it. And this all assumes you have a reason to passthrough a video card (a VM that is doing HD video, gaming, photoshop, whatever).

 

Otherwise, use the onboard video, and don't add heat/waste power for the unRAID machine

[trurl]

Thank you for the information, I will give it a try, because I have a spare here. Will there be a benefit if I run a Windows VM with the separate GPU? Or even "Gaming" VM? Can they make use of the Hardware?

 

I am not up to date with VM. Thank you for youre help.

 

Only if you can pass the video card through to the VM (IMMOU). You can simply use google to narrow down (its not unraid specific). Start with your MB. See if anyone reports that they have gotten IMMOU working. Then, check that the CPU supports it. THEN, check that KVM supports your hardware doing it. And this all assumes you have a reason to passthrough a video card (a VM that is doing HD video, gaming, photoshop, whatever).

 

Otherwise, use the onboard video, and don't add heat/waste power for the unRAID machine

Shouldn't that be IOMMU?

[akira62]

 

Only if you can pass the video card through to the VM (IMMOU). You can simply use google to narrow down (its not unraid specific). Start with your MB. See if anyone reports that they have gotten IMMOU working. Then, check that the CPU supports it. THEN, check that KVM supports your hardware doing it. And this all assumes you have a reason to passthrough a video card (a VM that is doing HD video, gaming, photoshop, whatever).

 

Otherwise, use the onboard video, and don't add heat/waste power for the unRAID machine

 

Thank you for youre help. I have make a quick research and it looks like that the Motherboard will support IOMMU, I think I will give it a try. I am aware that with such a GPU I will add heat (it is complete passive system) and will mainly waste power but I have my server up 24/7 and with this I can make use it for more and different thinks than right now and this will be great.