GPU for Ray Tracing?

[Chief-007]

Hi guys,

 

Very stupid question. I am new to rendering with CA, I am trying to use my GPU(NVIDIA 5070) instead of my CPU when using the ray tracing feature. I have read a few forums suggesting going into settings-> graphics card -> High performance. I have gone into the NVIDIA app as well as the control panel and made sure chief was added. I checked my video card status and it says the 5070 is being used. However, once I start ray tracing and open up control panel, it shows that only CPU is being used when ray tracing. I need to know if Ray tracing is CPU only or if I am doing something wrong and using my GPU IS possible.

[SHCanada2]

there are tow different types of ray tracing. CPU, and Realtime.

 

open up a floor camera, edit it's settings and change to "physically pabsed

 

[Chief-007]

Follow up question, are they the exact same thing?, the only difference being Physically based uses GPU and raytrace uses CPU? or is there a significant difference between physically based and ray trace?

[Rich_Winsor]

No they are significantly different. The most important

thing to know is that Chief has abandoned CPU ray

tracing in favor of PBR and are letting it die on the vine.

New features in PBR (like grass regions) are not being

adapted for CPU ray tracing use.

 

I for one am not convinced that PBR renderings are

of superior quality to CPU images, but mine is a voice

crying out in the wilderness. 

 

[Kbird1]

On 4/16/2025 at 4:41 PM, Chief-007 said:

Follow up question, are they the exact same thing?, the only difference being Physically based uses GPU and raytrace uses CPU? or is there a significant difference between physically based and ray trace?

 

Exactly the same no, as Rich said CPU RT has been around in Chief for 10-15yrs and is now deprecated and no longer worked on...... the Big difference is Speed by a magnitude of Order and should be very quick on a 5070 I imagine with sample set at say 250 but with either you will need to learn the basics of PBR as it isn't a single click and boom you have "photo" realistic Camera Views.

 

M. 

[SHCanada2]

7 hours ago, Kbird1 said:

basics of PBR as it isn't a single click and boom you have "photo" realistic Camera Views.

its 5 clicks to get something decent for interior  , background intensity, sunlight intensity, exposure, brightness....and make sure to add some lights

[SusanC]

On 4/15/2025 at 9:58 PM, Chief-007 said:

Hi guys,

 

Very stupid question. I am new to rendering with CA, I am trying to use my GPU(NVIDIA 5070) instead of my CPU when using the ray tracing feature. I have read a few forums suggesting going into settings-> graphics card -> High performance. I have gone into the NVIDIA app as well as the control panel and made sure chief was added. I checked my video card status and it says the 5070 is being used. However, once I start ray tracing and open up control panel, it shows that only CPU is being used when ray tracing. I need to know if Ray tracing is CPU only or if I am doing something wrong and using my GPU IS possible.

These videos might help.  Good introduction on how to use the GPU raytracing and they discuss the differences between CPU and GPU raytracing. 

https://www.chiefarchitect.com/videos/watch/1970/ray-tracing-an-introduction.html

[a5uperman]

Then do what Rene Rabbitt does, and run the PBR image through an A.I. filter. Don't know what he's using, but it really improves PBR renders.