For the past two years, AMD has clandestinely backed ZLUDA, a transformative initiative aimed at bridging the gap between CUDA and Radeon hardware. Despite discontinuing direct support, AMD has graciously permitted the project’s dissemination as open-source software. The implications are profound: native CUDA code now boasts unparalleled performance on AMD GPUs, often surpassing that of AMD’s own Radeon HIP code.
ZLUDA: Unleashing the Power Originally conceived as part of Intel’s OneAPI endeavor, ZLUDA underwent a metamorphosis with AMD’s patronage, achieving its ultimate objective of enabling CUDA execution on Radeon architecture. While ZLUDA doesn’t currently support Nvidia Optix code, it seamlessly handles CUDA binaries without necessitating any modifications. This breakthrough means myriad native CUDA applications are now compatible with AMD hardware.
Seamless Integration, Superior Performance ZLUDA empowers users to effortlessly run unaltered CUDA applications with near-native efficiency on AMD GPUs. Despite its alpha status, ZLUDA has already proven its mettle across various CUDA applications, including but not limited to Geekbench, 3DF Zephyr, Blender, Reality Capture, LAMMPS, NAMD, waifu2x, OpenFOAM, and a proof of concept for Arnold.
Benchmarking Brilliance ZLUDA’s benchmark performance speaks volumes about its transformative impact. Notably, in Blender 4.0, Radeon graphics cards equipped with ZLUDA outpace AMD’s own Radeon HIP code, showcasing the prowess of native CUDA support. Furthermore, ZLUDA demonstrates superior performance compared to OpenCL code on AMD GPUs, albeit with some exceptions where certain applications experience slower execution.
A Vision for the Future Andrez Janik, the mastermind behind ZLUDA, remains committed to its advancement. However, in the absence of financial backing, Janik’s focus will be on enhancing workloads aligned with his personal interests. This includes endeavors like enabling DLSS functionality on Radeon GPUs, underscoring ZLUDA’s ongoing evolution.
Unraveling the Mystery Despite its transformative potential, the cessation of AMD’s funding for ZLUDA remains shrouded in mystery. While AMD’s adoption of HIP technology has surged in recent years, the allure of non-Nvidia compute hardware continues to grow. AMD’s latest datacenter GPUs are witnessing robust demand, fueled by heightened interest in alternative computing solutions. While native CUDA support would undoubtedly bolster AMD’s appeal, its absence doesn’t undermine the company’s competitive edge in the hardware market.
In conclusion, ZLUDA stands as a testament to innovation, transcending barriers to unlock the full potential of AMD Radeon graphics cards. As the computing landscape evolves, ZLUDA remains a beacon of progress, heralding a new era of compatibility and performance in GPU computing.
