How to Set A Specific GPU In Tensorflow?

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To set a specific GPU in TensorFlow, you can follow the steps mentioned below:

  1. Import the necessary TensorFlow and CUDA libraries:
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import tensorflow as tf
from tensorflow.python.client import device_lib


  1. Verify the available GPUs:
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print(device_lib.list_local_devices())


This will display a list of all available devices including GPUs.

  1. Set the desired GPU as the default device:
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tf.config.set_visible_devices(GPU_INDEX, 'GPU')


Replace GPU_INDEX with the index of the GPU you want to use. Index starts from 0 for the first GPU, 1 for the second GPU, and so on.

  1. Limit TensorFlow memory growth (optional):
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gpus = tf.config.experimental.list_physical_devices('GPU')
if gpus:
    try:
        tf.config.experimental.set_memory_growth(gpus[GPU_INDEX], True)
    except RuntimeError as e:
        print(e)


If you encounter out of memory errors, this step can help by automatically allocating memory as needed instead of locking the entire GPU memory.

  1. Verify the selected GPU:
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with tf.device('/GPU:{}'.format(GPU_INDEX)):
    print('GPU: {}'.format(GPU_INDEX), 'Available: Yes' if tf.test.is_gpu_available() else 'Available: No')


This will confirm whether the desired GPU is successfully set and available for TensorFlow operations.


Remember to replace GPU_INDEX with the index of the GPU you want to use in steps 3 and 5.

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What is the recommended GPU for Tensorflow deep learning projects?

The recommended GPU for TensorFlow deep learning projects depends on the complexity of the models you are working with and your budget. However, NVIDIA GPUs are generally recommended because TensorFlow has excellent support for them. The following NVIDIA GPUs are commonly used for TensorFlow deep learning projects:

  1. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090: This is currently one of the most powerful consumer GPUs available, offering high-performance capabilities for deep learning tasks. It has a large memory capacity and great compute power.
  2. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080: Another powerful consumer GPU that offers excellent performance. Although it has slightly lower specifications compared to the RTX 3090, it still provides great deep learning capabilities.
  3. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070: A more budget-friendly option that can still deliver good performance for general deep learning tasks. It offers a reasonable balance between price and performance.
  4. NVIDIA Titan RTX: This GPU is specifically designed for deep learning and offers high performance with additional memory capacity. It is a popular choice for researchers and professionals.
  5. NVIDIA Quadro RTX Series: These GPUs are designed for professional workstations and offer great performance for deep learning tasks. They are commonly used for advanced research and development.


It is important to note that the recommended GPU also depends on the specific requirements of your deep learning project. For smaller models and datasets, you may be able to use a lower-end GPU, while larger and more complex models may require higher-end GPUs.


How to select a specific GPU in Tensorflow with multiple GPUs?

To select a specific GPU in TensorFlow when using multiple GPUs, you can follow these steps:

  1. Import the TensorFlow library:
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import tensorflow as tf


  1. Enable GPU memory growth for all GPUs, which avoids allocating the entire GPU memory initially, allowing multiple TensorFlow processes to share the GPU:
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gpus = tf.config.experimental.list_physical_devices('GPU')
for gpu in gpus:
    tf.config.experimental.set_memory_growth(gpu, True)


  1. Specify the GPU device using the CUDA_VISIBLE_DEVICES environment variable. This will limit TensorFlow to use only the specified GPU(s):
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import os
os.environ["CUDA_VISIBLE_DEVICES"] = "<gpu_index>"


Replace <gpu_index> with the index of the GPU you want to use. For example, if you want to use the third GPU, specify "2".

  1. Verify that TensorFlow recognizes the specified GPU(s) using the following command:
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tf.config.experimental.list_physical_devices('GPU')


This should display a list of the selected GPU(s) recognized by TensorFlow.

  1. Create and run your TensorFlow model as usual. TensorFlow will now use only the specified GPU(s) for computations.


Note: TensorFlow GPU indexing starts from 0. Therefore, if you have four GPUs, the indices will be "0", "1", "2", and "3".


What is the CUDA compute capability requirement for Tensorflow?

The CUDA compute capability requirement for TensorFlow depends on the version of TensorFlow you are using.


As of TensorFlow 2.0, the minimum CUDA compute capability required is 3.5. However, some features may require higher compute capabilities.


It is recommended to check the official TensorFlow documentation for the specific compute capability requirement of the version you are using, as requirements may change with different versions.

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