Summary NVIDIA has announced Nsight Graphics 2018.7, a powerful tool for graphics developers. This release includes several new features and improvements, such as enhanced ray tracing support, Vulkan debugging capabilities, and an improved GPU Trace. Here, we’ll dive into the details of these updates and explore how they can help developers create more efficient and high-quality graphics.
Enhanced Ray Tracing Support
Nsight Graphics 2018.7 introduces a new feature that allows developers to visualize the scene Bounding Volume Hierarchy (BVH). This is a standardized acceleration structure used in real-time ray tracing. With this feature, developers can now inspect the entire BVH by freely navigating the camera around the structure, using colors to identify each BLAS (Bottom-Level Acceleration Structure), and focus the view by selectively rendering each piece of geometry.
Bounding Volume Hierarchy Viewer
The BVH viewer is supported on applications using DirectX Raytracing and NVIDIA’s Vulkan Ray Tracing Extension. This feature is particularly useful for developers who want to optimize their ray tracing performance. By visualizing the BVH, developers can identify potential bottlenecks and optimize their scene for better performance.
Improved Vulkan Debugging Capabilities
Nsight Graphics 2018.7 also includes improved Vulkan debugging capabilities. One of the key features is the addition of Vulkan Pixel History. This feature allows developers to inspect the pixel’s color at each revision, how many samples passed or failed, the failure reason if it failed, and the associated event.
Vulkan Pixel History
Vulkan Pixel History is a powerful tool for understanding how a particular pixel changed throughout the creation of a frame. This feature is particularly useful for developers who want to optimize their rendering performance. By inspecting the pixel history, developers can identify potential issues and optimize their rendering pipeline for better performance.
Improved GPU Trace
Nsight Graphics 2018.7 also includes an improved GPU Trace. The GPU Trace now includes a faster way to help developers determine how busy the GPU was for a selected region. This region could be a frame, perfmarker region, or a single event.
GPU Busy Indicator
The GPU busy indicator is a useful feature for developers who want to optimize their GPU performance. By quickly identifying how busy the GPU was for a selected region, developers can optimize their code for better performance.
Additional Features
Nsight Graphics 2018.7 also includes several additional features, such as:
- DirectX11 NVAPI Metacommand Support: This feature enables analysis of DirectX11 titles utilizing DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling).
- SMP Assist API (NVAPI) For VR Titles: This feature supports VRWorks SDK and enables users to profile VR Works applications.
- Vulkan Meshlets Support (VK_NV_mesh_shader): This feature is supported in Frame Debugging, Frame Profiling, and C++ Capture Activities.
Table: Key Features of Nsight Graphics 2018.7
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Bounding Volume Hierarchy Viewer | Visualize the scene Bounding Volume Hierarchy (BVH) for real-time ray tracing. |
| Vulkan Pixel History | Inspect the pixel’s color at each revision, how many samples passed or failed, the failure reason if it failed, and the associated event. |
| GPU Busy Indicator | Quickly identify how busy the GPU was for a selected region. |
| DirectX11 NVAPI Metacommand Support | Enable analysis of DirectX11 titles utilizing DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling). |
| SMP Assist API (NVAPI) For VR Titles | Support VRWorks SDK and enable users to profile VR Works applications. |
| Vulkan Meshlets Support (VK_NV_mesh_shader) | Support Frame Debugging, Frame Profiling, and C++ Capture Activities. |
Conclusion
Nsight Graphics 2018.7 is a powerful tool for graphics developers. With its enhanced ray tracing support, improved Vulkan debugging capabilities, and improved GPU Trace, developers can create more efficient and high-quality graphics. The additional features, such as DirectX11 NVAPI Metacommand Support and Vulkan Meshlets Support, make Nsight Graphics 2018.7 a comprehensive tool for graphics development. Whether you’re a professional developer or a hobbyist, Nsight Graphics 2018.7 is a valuable resource for creating stunning graphics.