A unique multi-GPU system featuring two Intel Arc B580 graphics cards and an Nvidia Titan Xp has been unveiled by Dr. Moritz Lehmann, a GPU Software Development Engineer at Intel and the developer behind FluidX3D.
The system, shared on Reddit under the username u/ProjectPhysX, combines the power of three GPUs to achieve a total of 36GB of VRAM for computational fluid dynamics simulations. At its core, the build uses an Intel i7-13700K processor paired with an Asus Z790 ProArt motherboard, all powered by an 800-watt power supply unit.
Dr. Lehmann, who developed FluidX3D - software designed to simulate fluid interactions with environments - noted that the dual B580 setup delivers performance comparable to an RTX 3090, but at a substantially lower cost than the used Nvidia flagship GPU.
The system leverages OpenCL via PCIe to utilize the combined VRAM across all three graphics cards. This setup specifically targets scientific computing rather than gaming, as modern games rarely support multi-GPU configurations.
This isn't Dr. Lehmann's first venture into hybrid GPU setups. He previously demonstrated FluidX3D's multi-GPU capabilities using an Intel Arc A770 combined with the same Nvidia Titan Xp GPU.
As an Intel employee who contributed extensively to XeSS Frame Generation and Super Resolution GPU kernels, Dr. Lehmann had early access to the B580 cards for this specialized build.
The successful integration of Intel and Nvidia GPUs in this system showcases the potential for mixed-vendor GPU configurations in specialized computational workloads, offering cost-effective alternatives for professional applications.