Knowledge Base

Install a Graphics Card for Deep Learning

Aim

To give general information about the installation of an advanced graphics card (Graphics Processing Unit, or GPU).

Note: This topic is not exhaustive and is not focused on a particular graphics card. If you need more details, see the documentation provided by the card's manufacturer.

Prerequisites

• Space requirements. Ensure that there is enough space around the card in its final position. Other cards could reduce ventilation and cause overheating. If necessary, remove those cards and place them on another slot. Plan additional space for the cables.
  • The NVIDIA T1000 needs 15.5 cm x 6.9 cm (6.1" x 2.7"). This card occupies one PCIe slot.
  • The NVIDIA RTX 4060 dual fan needs 24.7 cm x 13 cm x 4.1 cm (9.8" x 5.1" x 1.6"). This card occupies two PCIe slots.
• Power requirements. Ensure that the computer has a Power Supply Unit (PSU) that can provide enough power to the graphics card. Some graphics cards need additional power. For example:
  • The NVIDIA T1000 has a maximum power consumption of 50 W and a suggested PSU of 250 W.
  • The NVIDIA RTX 4060 dual fan has a maximum power consumption of 115 W and a suggested PSU of 300 W.
• Power cables. Make sure your Power Supply Unit has the correct connectors to support the graphics card. Cheap PSUs may offer fewer options and shorter lengths. Check with your motherboard and graphics card documentation to determine which connector types are needed.
  • The NVIDIA T1000 does not need an additional power supply.
  • The NVIDIA RTX 4060 needs a power cable with a PCIe 8-pin connector.
• A graphics card must support the CUDA software. Check the following page if you have an NVIDIA graphics card: https://developer.nvidia.com/cuda-gpus

Procedure

Important: Before installation, disconnect the AC main source and place the computer on a stable surface. Discharge your body's static electricity by touching a grounded surface, for example, the computer chassis. Do not install near water or when your hands or body are wet.

1. Remove the cover/side panel of the computer.
2. Remove any existing graphics card (if there is one).
3. Remove one or two adjacent slot brackets. Some graphics cards are double-wide and require removing two slot brackets.
4. Plug the graphics card into the Primary PCI Express (PCIe) x16 slot on your motherboard. This is often the slot closest to the CPU. Sometimes this slot has a color different from the others (for example, blue instead of black), or has a retention lever on one end.
5. Most graphics cards need additional power. For this reason they have their own power connector. Connect the 6-pin (or 6+2 pin, or 8 pin) power connector from the PC's power supply to the power connector on the card. Note: The connector and socket on the graphics card have a unique shape and connect one way only.
6. Put the cover back on your computer and reconnect any cables that you removed earlier.
7. Install the drivers that come with the card. When possible, choose to activate the automatic update of the drivers.
8. Restart the computer.

Update the Neural Network Model After Installing a New GPU

Follow the procedure below if you installed a new GPU and you have used the deep learning-based tracking technique on that computer.

Background information: The deep learning trackers use a built and serialized model specific for the GPU. This needs to be rebuilt when a different GPU is used. Do one or both of the following depending on what applies to your situation:

• When tracking one subject per arena: Open the folder C:\ProgramData\Noldus\Components\Ethovision\TrackerInterfaceNN\3 (or latest version number). Remove the file modelnn.trt and model_hoodednn.trt. If that does not solve the issue, in Control Panel > Programs and Features remove the component Noldus – Tracker Interface NN – x64 Package – 3. Next, repair EthoVision XT from the installation package (choose Repair in the start screen).
• When tracking two subjects per arena: Open the folder C:\ProgramData\Noldus\Components\Ethovision\TrackerInterfaceMST\1. Remove the file model_mstnn.trt. If that does not solve the issue, in Control Panel > Programs and Features remove the component Noldus – Tracker Interface MST – x64 Package – 1. Next, repair EthoVision XT from the installation package (choose Repair in the start screen).

Notes

• Install the graphics card into the primary PCI Express x16 slot. If you install the graphics card into the secondary slot, your system may not recognize the graphics card and there will be nothing displayed on the monitor. When your PC has more than one PCI Express x16 slot, you can configure the physical location of the primary slot in the motherboard's BIOS.