Abaqus 6.8 Graphics Devices

SIMULIA tests specific graphics devices to insure adequate performance with Abaqus/CAE and Abaqus/Viewer; the graphics devices that have been tested (or scheduled for testing) are listed in the table below. However, we cannot certify that these devices are completely compatible with all possible hardware and software configurations. Other devices may be compatible but have not been tested.

NOTE: Newer driver versions for the graphics card listed on this page are expected to work, but may not be compatible. We recommend that you use the tested driver version if you experience problems.

We may update graphics tuning parameters for graphics devices. These changes are intended to configure Abaqus to best utilize individual graphics devices. Updated graphics tuning parameters are included in the graphicsConfig.env file, which can be downloaded and placed in your Abaqus installation.

The use of graphics hardware acceleration on Windows platforms may cause display problems with some graphics adapters or drivers. Users may wish to disable graphics hardware acceleration to determine if a particular issue is specific to their graphics adapter or graphics driver.

• Windows/x86-32
• Windows/x86-32(laptop)
• Windows/x86-64
• Linux/x86-32
• Linux/x86-64

Unless otherwise specified, the tested configuration of the display settings for all the graphics adapters is as follows:

Additional Information

In case the graphics device you are interested in is not listed on this page, you may submit a Request for Enhancement.
>> See Answer 940

To determine your graphics card and graphics card driver for Windows systems

It is best to use the system Display Properties dialog to get this information, but if there is difficulty finding it or only a remote access to the system is possible the findVid program can be utilized.

1. Download the findVid program appropriate for your system (32-bit or 64-bit)
   
   • findVid32.exe
   • findVid64.exe
2. Then run the executable in a command prompt window using '-sv' as a command line argument
   
3. The following is an example output from running the findVid.exe command
   

=============================================
C:\Temp>findVid32.exe -sv
CurrentRefreshRate => 75 (0x4B)
DeviceID => "VideoController2"
Name => "NVIDIA Quadro FX 5600"
SystemName => "SEAHAWK"
VideoModeDescription => "1280 x 1024 x 4294967296 colors"
VideoProcessor => "Quadro FX 5600"
InfDriverDate => "07/13/2007"
InfDriverVersion => "6.14.11.6250"
============================================

Updating your graphicsConfig.env file

Follow these instructions for updating your graphicsConfig.env file. You should update each release of Abaqus 6.8 that you have installed (e.g. 6.8-1, 6.8-2, ...). The examples given in the instructions show updating Abaqus 6.8.

1. Find your Abaqus 6.8 version install directory and set your current directory to the site directory for that version.

          % abaqus whereami
          Abaqus 6.8-001
          Abaqus Site ID: 
   
          Abaqus is located in the directory /disk2/abaqus/6.8-1
                    /disk2/abaqus/6.8-1/cae/External/ebt
          Sequence Information:
            /disk2/abaqus/6.8-1/cae: 2008_01_10-12.21.05 85388
   
         % cd /disk2/abaqus/6.8-1/site

2. Rename the existing graphicsConfig.env file

         % cp graphicsConfig.env graphicsConfig.env.old

3. Download the new graphicsConfig.env file by clicking on the file name in the browser window.
4. Select the  save as option, and save the file in your Abaqus 6.8-1 site directory. In the current example, the path to this directory is
   /disk2/abaqus/6.8-1/site.
5. Reset the permissions on the graphicsConfig.env file.

         % chmod 644 graphicsConfig.env