Big Speed Boost for Electromagnetic Simulations

By DE Editors

Remcom Inc. (State College, PA) has released a new generation of its XStream GPU (graphics processing unit)  acceleration for XFdtd, the company’s 3D electromagnetic simulation tool. Remcom says that its new generation of XStream enables XFdtd Release 7.0 (XF7)  calculations to finish in minutes as compared to hours using a CPU only,  potentially saving users months of development time.

XStream improves EM (electromagnetic) simulation performance by using NVIDIA’s CUDA architecture to leverage the NVIDIA GPUs on your graphics accelerator card. NVIDIA’s CUDA architecture and its associated C Compiler toolkit enable developers to use the CPU and the GPU together in a co-processing model to decrease time to results. The XStream CUDA-enabled technology uses the massively parallel computing capability of the GPU to produce ultra-fast FDTD (finite difference time domain) numerical computations that, says Remcom, provides the capacity to solve EM simulation problems up to 300 times faster than on a 64-bit CPU alone.

“Existing XStream customers will experience speeds up to twice as fast as the previous release without the need to upgrade their existing hardware,” said Jim Stack, manager of Remcom’s training, applications and consulting team, in the press announcement. “By employing the power and flexibility of NVIDIA’s CUDA architecture, all customers will enjoy the freedom to choose from a broader range of GPUs to fit their particular budget and simulation speed needs.”

XF7 is the latest version of Remcom’s 3D EM simulation tool for antenna design and analysis, biological EM analysis, microwave circuit design, and other EM simulation applications. It offers a simplified and streamlined user interface and such features as dynamic and interactive graphing that allows results to be viewed and automatically updated as simulation data changes. Features include parameter control for increased automation, a scripting API that enables you to create custom features, fast meshing that enables previewing of finished meshes with materials prior to simulation, guided modeling processes, an editable modeling history, and the ability to edit imported CAD files.

XF7 runs natively on Windows, Mac OS X, and Linux platforms,  and is available in both Pro and Bio-Pro versions. Both versions include 32- or 64-bit analysis module, geometric modeler and postprocessor, shared memory multiprocessor (MPM) at eight cores, and a variety of 3D CAD import modules. The Bio-Pro version also includes SAR capability and high-fidelity human body meshes.

New XF7 Pro or XF7 Bio-Pro users receive the XStream capability automatically with their purchase. Users can purchase additional capability for multiple GPUs, and current XStream users are entitled to another license for an additional GPU. XFdtd customers with an active Remcom Professional Support contract can enable the new functionality immediately by downloading a free upgrade.

“Speed has become one of the most critical requirements in performing EM simulations. The ability to perform complex calculations in less time is a competitive necessity,” said Scott Langdon, product manager for Remcom’s EM software tools, in a press statement. “With the increased accessibility of high-end GPUs, Remcom realized that providing this extra boost in speed, at no cost, would provide an even greater benefit to our customers. We felt this extra value should simply be a standard part of the software.”

XStream requires a CUDA capable GPU. Remcom recommends NVIDIA CUDA-enabled Quadro FX or Tesla series GPU. Through the end of 2009,  Remcom will provide new customers a voucher for a CUDA-enabled NVIDIA GPU (value up to $1300). For more information about XStream and its use in speeding EM simulations, visit Remcom’s website.

Go here to learn more about XFdtd Release 7.0.

Access videos on XFdtd EM simulation software.

Download the XFdtd Release 7.0 brochure.

Read why DE’s Editors made XStream for XFdtd 7.0 their Pick of the Week.