With the rise in the number of hybrid work users, there is a demand for graphics processing units (GPUs), particularly for Virtual Desktop Infrastructure (VDI), that create a more responsive and graphically pleasing user experience without sacrificing performance or budget.
Intel has heeded the call by releasing our Data Center GPU Flex Series –a single GPU solution built to flexibly handle a wide range of workloads without compromising performance or quality. It helps lower and optimize the total cost of ownership for diverse private cloud workloads like media delivery, AI, metaverse, and more.
Along with LoginVSI, we’ve been hard at work benchmarking our GPUs in VDI with the industry-standard Login Enterprise product for various Reference Workloads with great results.
Testing GPUs in VDI
The Knowledge Worker Profile is a Login Enterprise virtual user profile representing a typical office worker who regularly uses common Microsoft applications like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Edge, and Outlook. So far, our results are promising, and we look forward to sharing the results shortly.
But while testing the existing Knowledge Worker profiles we realized: something was missing.
What about the workers who regularly use basic office applications and require higher definition in their video conferencing? What about our knowledge workers who would benefit from a better user experience with basic 3D rendering? This cohort of workloads still needed to be represented with a benchmarking reference profile, and we set out to fix that.
The NEW GPU Reference Workload
Recognizing the need, Intel and LoginVSI worked together closely to identify and create the GPU Reference Workload that exercises the GPU by establishing a set of pre-determined workloads in a consistent fashion that more closely matches today’s work paradigm.
Building off the standard Login Enterprise Knowledge Worker (KW) profile tasks, the GPU Reference Workload also incorporates:
- High-definition Video applications (1080p video playback)
- Common 3D graphics rendering applications (Windows 3D Viewer)
- Zoom Meetings with video collaboration (optional)
By adding these applications to the KW profile, we’ve more accurately represented an everyday workload once overlooked by preexisting reference profiles in the industry-standard benchmarking tool.
The GPU Reference Workload profile is now available in the LoginVSI application template library, where you can access it for free as a tool to benchmark your own VDI solutions. Intel is currently testing Intel Data Center Flex GPUs in a VDI environment to exercise the GPU Reference Workload profile for frame rate, latency, and GPU offload. So far, the results are promising - more on that coming soon!
In the meantime, if you’re interested in GPUs for VDI, you can learn more about them here. You can also learn about LoginVSI, check out the new Login Enterprise GPU Reference Workload, or watch their recent webinar, Decoding the GPU Dilemma.
Glenn Le Vernois is the Sales Enablement Manager in Intel’s Data Center Segment Marketing organization.
Over the past 5 years, he has led the VDI solution development efforts, working across the industry to enable better user outcomes with adoption of GPUs and new technologies as organizations have transitioned to support a hybrid work model. After joining Intel in 2005, Mr Le Vernois has held positions in the Sales & Marketing Group, Data Center and A&I Group, Client Computing Group, Software and Services Group, among others. A 35-year veteran of the computer industry, Mr. Le Vernois has held prior Senior Management positions with Sequent Computer Systems, Xerox, and IBM.
Mr. Le Vernois holds a B.S. in Computer Science from Pacific Lutheran University, and an MBA from the University of Portland.