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What does compute capability 2.0 add over 1.3, 2.1 over 2.0, and 3.0 over 2.1?

Roger Dahl
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Ari B. Friedman
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    [The relevant section of the wikipedia article](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CUDA#Version_features_and_specifications) has a reasonably good overview. – huon Jun 09 '12 at 13:35
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    I voted to reopen. I think the question is on topic. – Roger Dahl Dec 16 '12 at 16:56
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    The question is absolutely on topic. Voting to reopen again. – jogojapan Apr 19 '13 at 04:05
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    Now cuda compute capability 6.1 (as well as 6.0, 5.2) is out, and I would like to learn what's new. Voting to reopen the question to enable new answers and editing. The question is absolutely on topic and affects programming a lot: some CUDA frameworks set limits on the minimal compute capability. – Serge Rogatch Aug 02 '16 at 16:16

1 Answers1

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The Compute Capabilities designate different architectures. In general, newer architectures run both CUDA programs and graphics faster than previous architectures. Note, though, that a high end card in a previous generation may be faster than a lower end card in the generation after.

From the CUDA C Programming Guide (v6.0):

Table of Compute Capabilities

Roger Dahl
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  • Thanks, that helps. It's a shame they're splitting the compute and graphics lines, as I suspect that will make the compute lines way more expensive since they'll not benefit from the cost advantages that come with being for the mass graphics market. – Ari B. Friedman Jun 09 '12 at 15:02
  • given this, does it make any sense to compile for a lower compute capability (eg 1.1 instead of 3.0), even if your card supports 3.0 - will it run faster? – mcmillab Dec 16 '12 at 04:37
  • @user1191840: Why would it run faster if you compile for an older architecture? – Roger Dahl Dec 16 '12 at 16:33
  • no idea why, but I thought that's what I observed, yet to go back and test it properly though. I thought it could be possible just because nvidia is trying to limit compute performance on later (geforce) cards, and this could be linked to compute version. – mcmillab Dec 16 '12 at 21:03
  • Kindly refer to the official reference of [Compute Capability](https://docs.nvidia.com/cuda/cuda-c-programming-guide/#features-and-technical-specifications) for more updated information. – Yeo Nov 23 '15 at 18:51