Help me better understand my GPU?

My system:

CPU: i3-540 dual core hyper thread @ 3.06 ghz
SYS RAM: 4 GB
OS: 14.04 Kubuntu 64 bit
GPU: Nvidia GTS-250 1 GB Driver Version 331.113

I use my GPU for the Einstein project. Everything works well but I just want to better understand what is happening.

My Nvidia monitoring program shows:

Total Memory: 1024 MB
Total Dedicated Memory: 1024 MB
Used Dedicated Memory: 334 MB (this value changes somewhat)
GPU Utilization: 58% (this value changes every second or two)
Video Engine Utilization: 0% (this has always been 0%)

In particular:

* What is "dedicated" memory?
* Why is my "used dedicated" memory no where near the 1024 MB total?
* What is "Video Engine Utilization"?

My hope is that I can better understand what is happening and perhaps crank more usage from the GPU.

Thank you in advance.

* What is "dedicated" memory?

Memory physically on the videocard. So it isn't shared with memory of your computer.

* Why is my "used dedicated" memory no where near the 1024 MB total?

Because the Einstein task does not completely fill the memory. If you want to fill memory on the videocard to the tops, go play games with all the eye-candy set to very high/ultra.

On newer GPUs you can run multiple tasks at the same time. A thing you shouldn't try on your GTS-250 because it's not equipped to handle that.

* What is "Video Engine Utilization"?

A Linux way of saying "Video Engine Load" or "GPU Load". So just the load on the GPU, when running a task, or when doing other GPU intensive things (such as gaming).

---

Would the "used dedicated" memory include what my OS uses just to run stuff? Would it include other BOINC programs I run at the same time?

Thank you.

Would the "used dedicated" memory include what my OS uses just to run stuff?

Yes, anything that is shown on the monitor uses memory on the videocard. Aside from the resolution itself. Higher resolutions take up more memory than lower ones, screen candy in the operating system or programs take up memory as well.

Would it include other BOINC programs I run at the same time?

Not unless you managed to get the screen saver working under Linux, or you're using the GPU for calculations.

---