Nvidia finally switches on GeForce GPU Passthrough

Virtual machines can now take advantage of your Nvidia GeForce GPU

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.

If you have aNvidia GPU, you’ll now be able to use GeForce GPU Passthrough when runningvirtual machineson Windows.

While the feature has been used for a while now, the company didn’t officially support the technology in the past but this has changed with the announcement thatGeForce GPU Passthrough for Windows Virtual Machineis now in beta.

GeForce desktop graphics cards that are based on the Kepler, Maxwell or Pascal architectures or newer will be able to take advantage of GPU passthrough when running a virtual machine on Windows. Users that want to leverage GPU passthrough on alaptopthough will need a GPU based on the Maxwell architecture or newer.

By using GPU passthrough, developers can use virtual machines to test software and even games on differentoperating systemswhile only using one machine.Linuxusers on the other hand will be able to play Windows-based games using a virtual machine with GPU passthrough enabled.

GeForce GPU Passthrough

In order to start using GeForce GPU Passthrough on your system, you’ll need to ensure that you have theR465 driverinstalled.

While GPU passthrough could be a godsend for developers that want to test code in both Windows and Linux on one machine, there are some limitations.

For instance,Nvidia’s GeForce GPU Passthrough technology only allows for one virtual machine to access the host machine’s GPU. If you need to run multiple virtual machines using a single GPU, the company’s GeForce graphics cards won’t suffice. Instead you’ll need to upgrade to either aTeslaorQuadrographics card.

Are you a pro? Subscribe to our newsletter

Sign up to the TechRadar Pro newsletter to get all the top news, opinion, features and guidance your business needs to succeed!

Now that Nvidia officially supports GPU passthrough, we’ll likely see further enhancements and features that leverage the technology in the future.

ViaWccftech

After working with the TechRadar Pro team for the last several years, Anthony is now the security and networking editor at Tom’s Guide where he covers everything from data breaches and ransomware gangs to the best way to cover your whole home or business with Wi-Fi. When not writing, you can find him tinkering with PCs and game consoles, managing cables and upgrading his smart home.

Adobe’s decision to eliminate perpetual licensing for its Elements software has stirred controversy among consumers

VIPRE Security Group says its new endpoint protection tools can stamp out even the latest cybersecurity threats

Sonos Arc Ultra review: the best one-box Dolby Atmos soundbar for the price, with one grating flaw