NVIDIA launches GRID Test Drive to demonstrate cloud-delivered graphics acceleration

NVIDIA has announced GRID Test Drive, a secure way to test NVIDIA’s GRID technology for cloud-delivered graphics acceleration from almost any location. The first of its type, GRID Test Drive is available now in Southeast Asia, Australia, mainland China, Taiwan, North America, and the UK.

NVIDIA GRID technology allows knowledge workers and high-end graphics users such as engineers and designers to utilise graphics-rich applications through the cloud anywhere on any device with the same quality and performance they would have on a professional workstation.

Hamilton talks about the future of graphics
processing at the GPU Technology Conference
South East Asia Workshop 2014.

The technology is expected to be embraced by virtualised desktop infrastructure (VDI) users, who are used to dealing with relatively low-quality graphics in VDI environments. NVIDIA’s GRID Test Drive allows anyone considering VDI, or those frustrated with the performance of their current VDI deployment, to what it is like to have powerful graphics behind their remote desktops and applications, without first having to build a proof-of-concept private cloud. 

The free trial provides users with two hours of access to NVIDIA GRID technology, which can be used over multiple sessions until the time is exhausted. The Test Drive enables users to securely enjoy graphics-rich applications including Autodesk AutoCAD, Google Earth and Siemens Teamcenter, on virtually any connected screen, anywhere. An extended GRID Test Drive using a persistent virtual desktop is available upon request for qualifying customers.

Marc Hamilton, VP, Solution Architecture & Engineering, NVIDIA, said during the GPU Technology Conference South East Asia Workshop 2014 in Singapore that it is all about returning to the data centre via the cloud. Hamilton noted that private clouds are powering 'enterprise virtualisation 2.0'. He pointed out that tablet users in the enterprise space are now demanding high quality graphics, which has been hindering their adoption of VDI applications. 

"What's required is a hypervisor. We've put graphics processing units (GPUs) into the data centre to enable that. NVIDIA GRID enables direct graphics acceleration," he said.

NVIDIA GRID will not only allow more detailed graphics to be displayed but enables the screen to update much more quickly when graphical elements are moved on-screen. 

NVIDIA GRID has experienced strong customer adoption and engagement among OEM and ISV partners, including Citrix, Dell, HP, Microsoft and VMware, which continue to add support for virtual GPUs in new product releases.