Summary
NVIDIA Nsight Graphics 2020.6 is a powerful tool for developers to debug, profile, and export frames built with various graphics APIs. This version introduces significant enhancements, including support for the final version of the Khronos Vulkan Ray Tracing extensions, DLSS 2.1, and improved features like batch histogram visualization and shader profiler support for Vulkan on Linux.
Embracing the Future of Graphics Development
NVIDIA Nsight Graphics 2020.6 marks a significant milestone in graphics development. With the release of this version, developers can now leverage the final version of the Khronos Vulkan Ray Tracing extensions, enabling cross-vendor, cross-platform ray tracing acceleration.
Key Features and Enhancements
Khronos Vulkan Ray Tracing Extensions
Nsight Graphics 2020.6 supports the ratified Khronos Vulkan Ray Tracing extensions, including VK_KHR_acceleration_structure, VK_KHR_deferred_host_operations, VK_KHR_pipeline_library, VK_KHR_ray_query, and VK_KHR_ray_tracing_pipeline. This support is crucial for developers aiming to create high-performance, ray-traced graphics.
DLSS 2.1 Support
The latest version of NVIDIA’s Deep Learning Supersampling (DLSS) technology is now supported in Nsight Graphics 2020.6. DLSS 2.1 makes it easier for developers to achieve 4K, ray-traced graphics at 60 FPS, often surpassing native resolution quality.
Batch Histogram Visualization
Developers can now visualize draw call batch sizes in the frame debugger using the batch histogram view. This feature allows for better understanding and optimization of draw calls within batches.
Shader Profiler for Vulkan on Linux
Nsight Graphics 2020.6 introduces shader profiler support for Vulkan applications running on Linux. This feature helps developers identify and fix performance issues caused by stalls in the shader instruction pipeline.
Improvements and Additional Changes
- Resources Viewer: The Resources View has been split into a separate ‘All Resources’ view and an individual Resource Inspector, providing more screen space for inspecting textures.
- GPU Trace: GPU Trace can now show Synchronization Objects when the new hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling feature is enabled.
- Nsight HUD: The Nsight HUD has been redesigned to streamline event scrubbing and now supports Vulkan on Windows.
- Shader Views: Shader views have been moved from a separate docked window into individual windows, and a “go to include” feature has been added.
- User Experience: A “Go to” facility has been added in the events view for navigating to perfmarkers, bookmarks, or other events. A command “Tools > Windows…” has been added to show all open windows.
Additional Support and Known Issues
- Vulkan Extensions: Support for VK_EXT_extended_dynamic_state and VK_EXT_external_memory_host extensions has been added.
- Known Issues: Certain NVLINK-enabled GPUs may fail with a device reset (TDR) in the Range Profiler with R455 drivers. DXIL shaders can sometimes show up as “None” in the Correlation column on the Summary tab of the Shader Profiler view.
Table: Key Features and Enhancements
| Feature | Description |
|---|---|
| Khronos Vulkan Ray Tracing Extensions | Supports VK_KHR_acceleration_structure, VK_KHR_deferred_host_operations, VK_KHR_pipeline_library, VK_KHR_ray_query, and VK_KHR_ray_tracing_pipeline. |
| DLSS 2.1 Support | Enables 4K, ray-traced graphics at 60 FPS, often surpassing native resolution quality. |
| Batch Histogram Visualization | Visualizes draw call batch sizes in the frame debugger. |
| Shader Profiler for Vulkan on Linux | Identifies and fixes performance issues caused by stalls in the shader instruction pipeline. |
| Resources Viewer | Split into ‘All Resources’ view and individual Resource Inspector. |
| GPU Trace | Shows Synchronization Objects with hardware-accelerated GPU scheduling. |
| Nsight HUD | Redesigned for streamlined event scrubbing and supports Vulkan on Windows. |
| Shader Views | Moved to individual windows with “go to include” feature. |
| User Experience | Added “Go to” facility and command to show all open windows. |
Table: Additional Support and Known Issues
| Feature/Issue | Description |
|---|---|
| Vulkan Extensions | Supports VK_EXT_extended_dynamic_state and VK_EXT_external_memory_host. |
| Known Issues | NVLINK-enabled GPUs may fail with TDR in Range Profiler with R455 drivers. DXIL shaders may show up as “None” in Shader Profiler view. |
Conclusion
NVIDIA Nsight Graphics 2020.6 is a critical tool for developers looking to push the boundaries of graphics performance and quality. With its support for the final Khronos Vulkan Ray Tracing extensions, DLSS 2.1, and numerous feature enhancements, it provides developers with the tools they need to create high-performance, visually stunning graphics applications. Whether you’re working on games, professional graphics applications, or other projects, Nsight Graphics 2020.6 is an indispensable resource for achieving peak performance and efficiency.