GPU Memory optimization

donovancolbert

I just wrote this post with a product suggestion: 

http://www.daz3d.com/forums/discussion/141281/scene-memory-optimization-wizard

But I have a few questions about optimizing GPU memory to try and prevent the render from defaulting to CPU mode. 

First off - I have an USFF with video integrated into the mother board and a 750ti in the PCIe slot. I understand that part of my problem is that the GPU is being used to drive the system display too. 

Can I use both the integrated video on the system and the GPU at the same time? It isn't exactly DSLI? The problem there is that this is a general purpose rig, so I use it for PC gaming too. I imagine I'm going to have to unplug monitors and plug them back in and mess with drivers every time I want to play a game if I go this way. Truth is though, that I don't do much gaming anymore and this might make sense. 

Are there ways to minimize the memory used for system display? I've got a 2GB card, and my log says a scene that is 880mb is running out of memory. My feeling is that 1.2GB of memory just for driving a single display isn't right? I figured that most of that 2GB would be available for scenes. I've got some desktop items and no background, running Windows 10. What else can be using up GPU memory? Just having DAZ opened? I generally don't have anything else running and shut down taskbar items when I open DAZ up. 

If you've got an entire set, does content that is not in the frame count against your total memory use? Do items that are in the scene but not visible because you've turned off the little "show in render" icon in the scene view count against consumed memory - that is, would it be better to delete them out of the scene completely? Should you delete walls, textures, anything that isn't in the current frame that you can? I mean, logic says that DAZ has to look at the entire 3D scene to calculate light bouncing around even if it is out of the frame, in IRAY...

Any other tips, tricks, tutorials or other discussion that might help me get a better understanding of all of this? 

donovancolbert

For that matter, are there any recommended actual utilities for PC that will allow me to monitor and optimize my GPU memory at the system level, outside of DAZ?