Intel talks about Graphics Performance Analyzer toolset
Steve Winburn – Senior Graphics Product Evangelist talks about Intel’s recently announced Graphics Performance Analyzer toolset
Show Notes
1. What is Intel GPA (Graphics Performance Analyzers)?
Intel® Graphics Performance Analyzers (Intel® GPA) are a suite of software tools providing in-depth application analysis and the flexibility for customization to help game developers pinpoint bottlenecks and optimize games for Intel® Integrated Graphics–based PCs. Use Intel GPA to reach new customers and prepare your software for the future of mobile gaming.
2. What are the GPA system requirements?
GPA requires a PC with 1GHz or faster processor, 512MB RAM (1GB recommended), 100MB for the final product and 5GB free disk space for installation, and Microsoft Windows XP* OS 32 bit edition with Service Pack 3, or Microsoft Windows Vista* (32 or 64 bit version) with Service Pack 1.
3. Why do I want to use GPA?
The Intel GPA tool offers many benefits to developers including support for Intel Integrated Graphics-based PCs, in-depth analysis tools, an intuitive user interface, the ability to customize test libraries, and a remote analysis capability that eliminates processing overhead. Perhaps most important for developers, the Intel GPA tool allows them to quickly and efficiently identify bottlenecks in their games, enabling games to play well on a broader range of PCs, growing the opportunity for sales
4. Who is your intended target audience for Intel GPA?
Currently GPA is targeted for Game developers on IIG While GPA was developed specifically with input from game developers, there is nothing preventing developers from using the tools to analyze the performance of other visual computing applications.
5. What tools are included in the Intel GPA suite?
–System Analyzer
–Frame Analyzer
–GPA SDK
6. Are there developers currently using Intel GPA to analyze their games?
Many developers are currently using GPA to demonstrate improved performance of games on Intel integrated graphics-based PCs. Many of these games can be found in the Game Gallery at http://software.intel.com/sites/billboard/index.php. A partial list of titles includes Demigod™ from Gas Powered Games, Empire: Total War from Sega, and Ghostbusters, The Video Game from Terminal Reality. The performance gains in these games have been measured both in frames per second and increased visual features.
7. How does GPA compare with other Intel products such as Intel® vTune™ Performance Analyzer and Intel® Parallel Studio?
The System Analyzer is intended to be used for very high level analysis. One of the main goals of System Analyzer is to help determine if the game is CPU bound or GPU bound. If the game is CPU bound, we recommend that the customer use V-Tune or other CPU tools as a next step. If the game is GPU bound, we recommend that the customer use the GPA Frame Analyzer – and we enable the user to capture a frame and immediately transition to the Frame Analyzer from the System Analyzer. The Frame Analyzer is intended to be a deep dive frame analysis tool. It interactively displays metrics from the frame level, to the region or render target level, all the way down to the individual draw call level. This is the tool that will enable a customer to make large performance gains.
8. What are the benefits to developers who use the Intel GPA tools?
GPA was developed in close cooperation with game developers and offers many advantages as a graphics performance tool suite. These advantages include:
a. A networked analysis capability to eliminate processing overhead. Developers can analyze the performance of the game or application only, not the analysis tool.
b. The ability to customize the exact parameters being tested through the GPA SDK allowing developers to pinpoint data specific to their title.
c. A unified interface for both high level activity and detailed, frame level analysis.
d. Support for Intel integrated graphics-chipsets
9. Intel has partnered with Gas powered games for Intel® GPA. What have we done with them?
–Launched the game at GDC and showcased Demi-God
–White Paper in Gamasutra
–Showcased at KRI in Russia as well as article in Russian
–Quoted in multiple presentations
10. What is the Support Model for the product?
Main support can be found on the GPA support forums or visit http://software.intel.com/en-us/forums/intel-graphics-performance-analyzers/. There will be additional levels of support as well
11. What’s the cost of GPA?
o The GPA tool is available at no charge to members of Intel’s Visual Adrenaline Developer Program. For more information on membership in this free program, visit www.intel.com/software/visualadrenaline. Additionally, GPA can be purchased for $299 from the Intel Business Exchange at bx.intel.com.
12. How do developers get more information about the Intel GPA tools?
To find out more about the GPA tool suite, visit www.intel.com/software/gpa. The product site provides detailed information about the tool, detailed content on.
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