Is There A Way To Upgrade to OpenCL 2.0?

Question

There is a feature in OpenCL 2.0 that I would like to use.

I dual boot Ubuntu and Mac OS (Graphics: GTX 670 + HD Graphics 4600). Is it possible to install OpenCL 2.0?

This may be a dumb question - from what I have read, it seems like 2.0-compatible drivers may not be written yet? And also possibly my hardware will not support the new spec?

Basically, when will OpenCL 2.0 be easy/available?

Answer 1

There is some support for OpenCL in Clang 3.0 and from the LLVM organisation.

See the CLang 3.0 release notes

http://llvm.org/releases/3.0/docs/ClangReleaseNotes.html

Here's an LLVM presentation on OpenCL

http://llvm.org/devmtg/2009-10/OpenCLWithLLVM.pdf

Here's another Stackoveflow answer on Clang 3.0 for OpenCL

How to use clang to compile OpenCL to ptx code?

So there are some good folks working on an open source version of OpenCL that compiles to PTX for NVida cards. Not having used it and not being familiar with these efforts, I can't say if there are plans or when when they can get to the OpenCL 2.0 spec.

Answer 2

You mentioned you have an NVidia GTX 670; you should note that NVidia's drivers only support OpenCL 1.1, not 1.2.

NVidia have(*) refrained over the past several years from updating their drivers to support the newer OpenCL standard, even though the hardware obviously supports it and CUDA has all the relevant functionality... so don't expect 2.0 to happen so soon on your hardware.

(*) - Due to being Evil™.

Answer 3

There are no OpenCL 2.0 drivers yet. The specification just became final yesterday. I don't believe any public statements have been made yet about when drivers will become available, and for what hardware. You'll have to wait for whatever fun new feature you wanted. Better yet, let your favorite vendors know that you'd like them to support OpenCL 2.0!