Summary: Nsight Systems 2020.2 is a powerful tool for system-wide performance analysis, designed to help developers tune and scale software across CPUs and GPUs. This release introduces several new features, including support for Direct3D12 multi-GPU, Windows video memory usage graph, and improved feature parity on PowerPC and ARM Server Base System Architecture.

Nsight Systems 2020.2: Unlocking Performance Across CPUs and GPUs

Nsight Systems is part of a larger family of Nsight tools, designed to help developers analyze and optimize the performance of their software. With Nsight Systems 2020.2, developers can now take advantage of several new features and improvements to enhance their performance analysis capabilities.

Key Features and Improvements

Direct3D12 Multi-GPU Support

Nsight Systems 2020.2 now supports Direct3D12 multi-GPU, allowing developers to analyze and optimize the performance of their applications across multiple GPUs. This feature is particularly useful for developers working on high-performance computing applications, such as gaming and scientific simulations.

Windows Video Memory Usage Graph

The new release includes a Windows video memory usage graph, which provides developers with a detailed view of video memory usage over time. This feature helps developers identify memory bottlenecks and optimize their applications for better performance.

Paging Queue and Page Eviction Events

Nsight Systems 2020.2 now includes support for paging queue and page eviction events, allowing developers to analyze and optimize the performance of their applications in terms of memory management.

Hotkey to Insert User Annotation Markers (NVTX)

The new release includes a hotkey to insert user annotation markers (NVTX), making it easier for developers to annotate their code and analyze performance metrics.

OpenMP 5 Support

Nsight Systems 2020.2 now supports OpenMP 5, allowing developers to analyze and optimize the performance of their parallel applications.

New CLI Stats Command

The new release includes a new CLI stats command, which provides developers with a quick and easy way to analyze performance metrics from the command line.

Thread Utilization Estimates for More Secure Environments

Nsight Systems 2020.2 now includes thread utilization estimates for more secure environments, allowing developers to analyze and optimize the performance of their applications in secure environments.

Improved Feature Parity on PowerPC and ARM Server Base System Architecture

The new release includes improved feature parity on PowerPC and ARM Server Base System Architecture, making it easier for developers to analyze and optimize the performance of their applications across different architectures.

Using Nsight Systems 2020.2

To get started with Nsight Systems 2020.2, developers can download the tool from the NVIDIA website. The tool is part of a larger family of Nsight tools, including Nsight Compute and Nsight Graphics.

Integration with Visual Studio

Nsight Systems 2020.2 can be integrated with Visual Studio using the NVIDIA Nsight Integration extension. This extension allows developers to access the power of Nsight Systems from within Visual Studio, making it easier to analyze and optimize the performance of their applications.

#Table: Nsight Systems 2020.2 Key Features

Feature Description
Direct3D12 Multi-GPU Support Analyze and optimize performance across multiple GPUs
Windows Video Memory Usage Graph Detailed view of video memory usage over time
Paging Queue and Page Eviction Events Analyze and optimize memory management
Hotkey to Insert User Annotation Markers (NVTX) Easy annotation of code for performance analysis
OpenMP 5 Support Analyze and optimize parallel applications
New CLI Stats Command Quick and easy performance analysis from the command line
Thread Utilization Estimates for More Secure Environments Analyze and optimize performance in secure environments
Improved Feature Parity on PowerPC and ARM Server Base System Architecture Enhanced performance analysis across different architectures

Table: Nsight Systems 2020.2 System Requirements

Platform Supported
Windows x86_64 Yes
Linux x86_64 Yes
MacOS Yes
Linux PowerPC Yes
Linux aarch64 sbsa Yes
DRIVE OS QNX aarch64 Yes
DRIVE OS Linux aarch64 Yes

Table: Nsight Systems 2020.2 Supported NVIDIA GPU Architectures

Architecture Supported
Ampere: A100 with Multi-Instance GPU, GA10x Yes
Turing: TU1xx Yes
Volta: GV100, GV10B Yes

Conclusion

Nsight Systems 2020.2 is a powerful tool for system-wide performance analysis, designed to help developers tune and scale software across CPUs and GPUs. With its new features and improvements, developers can now take advantage of enhanced performance analysis capabilities to optimize their applications for better performance. Whether you’re working on high-performance computing applications or developing games, Nsight Systems 2020.2 is an essential tool for any developer looking to unlock the full potential of their software.