AMD's Hidden $100 Stable Diffusion Beast!

Level1Techs
27 Apr 202309:22

TLDRThe video discusses the rapid advancements in machine learning and the potential for general artificial intelligence within the next five years. It highlights AMD's progress in the supercomputer space, particularly with the AMD stack used in Oak Ridge. The focus then shifts to the AMD Instinct MI25, a GPU available for around a hundred dollars on eBay, which is capable of running machine learning tasks efficiently despite being older technology. The video provides a guide on how to modify the MI25 to work with certain setups, flash the V BIOS to become a WX 9100, and utilize its 16GB of VRAM for tasks like stable diffusion. It also touches on the challenges of cooling and software support for older cards, and the potential for AI to create personalized content, such as replacing characters in movies with specific actors. The summary praises the value and performance of the MI25 for those willing to put in the work to adapt it for modern machine learning applications.

Takeaways

  • 🚀 The machine learning space is advancing rapidly, with the potential for General Artificial Intelligence (AI) to emerge within the next five years.
  • 🔍 AMD is gaining ground on Nvidia in the GPU market, particularly in the supercomputing space where AMD has a strong presence.
  • 💰 AMD's Instinct MI25 GPUs can be found for around a hundred dollars on eBay, offering a cost-effective option for those looking to experiment with machine learning.
  • 🔩 The MI25 is based on the Vega 10 architecture and comes with 16GB of VRAM, which is still quite useful for many machine learning tasks despite newer models requiring more.
  • 🔥 Flashing the V BIOS on an Instinct MI25 can transform it into a WX 9100, almost doubling the power limit of the card if it can be kept cool.
  • 🛠️ A bit of DIY work is involved to get the MI25 working optimally, including potentially modifying cooling solutions for stability.
  • 📈 Stable diffusion and other machine learning models can run on the MI25, offering a good balance between cost and performance.
  • 🔗 AMD has partnered with PyTorch, making it easier for Python users to get started with machine learning on their hardware.
  • 📚 There's a community guide available for getting the MI25 up and running with machine learning tasks, thanks to a forum member named Gigabuster.
  • 🏆 AMD's CDNA line, which includes the MI25, is separate from their gaming GPUs and is more focused on compute tasks and data centers.
  • ♨️ Cooling is a significant challenge when working with the MI25, but with the right setup, it can be a powerful tool for machine learning.

Q & A

  • What is the potential timeline for the development of General Artificial Intelligence (AI) according to the speaker?

    -The speaker suggests that we could see General AI or something resembling it within the next five years, which is a timeline that has been discussed since the 1980s but is now possibly closer to fruition.

  • Why is AMD gaining attention in the supercomputer space despite Nvidia's dominance?

    -AMD is catching up fast in the supercomputer space due to their strong presence and performance in this area, as evidenced by the AMD stack being used by Oak Ridge for their operations.

  • What is the Instinct mi-25 and why is it considered a good deal on eBay?

    -The Instinct mi-25 is a GPU that is about a hundred dollars on eBay because it is being phased out by data centers in favor of more expensive options. Despite its age, it offers 16 gigabytes of VRAM, making it a good deal for certain machine learning tasks.

  • How can the Instinct mi-25 be modified to work with certain setups?

    -The Instinct mi-25 can be flashed with a V BIOS to become a WX 9100 and has a single Mini DisplayPort out. This modification, along with increasing the power limit of the card, can make it stable for use, provided it is kept cool.

  • What is the significance of the 16 gigabytes of VRAM in the context of machine learning?

    -While some machine learning models require up to 40 gigabytes of VRAM, having 16 gigabytes allows for a significant amount of work to be done, including stable diffusion and other tasks, making it a viable option for those on a budget.

  • What is the challenge with using the Instinct mi-25 for machine learning?

    -The main challenge is cooling. The mi-25 requires a robust cooling solution, which can be tricky to implement, especially in existing systems. It's not recommended for beginners or as a first project.

  • What is the role of the Radeon Pro v540 in the context of the discussion?

    -The Radeon Pro v540 is mentioned as an example of a GPU that is not ideal for the tasks discussed in the script. It is a dual GPU solution that was used by Amazon and might be more suitable for VFIO GPU pass-through rather than machine learning.

  • How does AMD's CDNA architecture relate to their gaming GPUs?

    -AMD's CDNA (Compute DNA) and RNDA (Radeon DNA) are separate lines. CDNA cards are used in data centers and are optimized for compute tasks, whereas RNDA is used for gaming GPUs. The speaker suggests that while both are powerful, they serve different purposes.

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  • What is the potential future for AI as discussed in the script?

    -The speaker envisions a future where AI can be used to create personalized content, such as substituting favorite actors into movies, indicating a significant advancement in AI's ability to understand and manipulate complex data.

  • What is the current state of AMD's support for AI and machine learning?

    -AMD is actively supporting AI through partnerships, such as with PyTorch, and is working on improving support for their 7000 series GPUs and beyond, with developments in their CDNA architecture.

  • What are the cooling solutions suggested for the Instinct mi-25?

    -The script suggests using a 3D printable shroud and a bfb1012h brushless blower motor, which can be wired to the motherboard for effective cooling, allowing the GPU to run at higher wattages.

  • What is the performance of the Instinct mi-25 in terms of machine learning tasks?

    -The mi-25 can run 768 by 768 models with stable diffusion, achieving 2.56 to 2.57 iterations per second at that resolution, and only uses 12 gigabytes of VRAM, which is under its 16-gigabyte limit.

Outlines

00:00

🚀 Advancements in Machine Learning Hardware and Software

The script discusses the rapid pace of advancements in the field of machine learning, suggesting that we might see General Artificial Intelligence (AI) within the next five years. It touches on the challenges of experimenting with hardware like GPUs, where options like AMD's Instinct MI-25s can be a cost-effective choice despite their age. The video also highlights the importance of VRAM and the potential of using these GPUs for machine learning tasks such as stable diffusion. It mentions the software support and the need for cooling solutions when using these GPUs, and it praises the work of 'gigabuster' on the forum for figuring out how to make these older cards work with newer software.

05:01

🤖 AI's Growing Capabilities and the Future of Personal Assistants

The second paragraph focuses on the growing capabilities of AI, with the speaker expressing excitement about the potential for AI to create personalized content, such as replacing characters in movies with specific actors. It talks about the support AMD is providing for AI through partnerships like the one with PyTorch, and the accessibility of their hardware for machine learning tasks. The paragraph also mentions the challenges of using older hardware like the Radeon Pro V540 for machine learning and the progress being made with GPU pass-through technology. It concludes by emphasizing the impressive performance of AMD hardware for running AI models and the potential for future developments in this area.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡AMD

AMD, or Advanced Micro Devices, is a multinational semiconductor company that develops computer processors and related technologies for business and consumer markets. In the video, AMD is highlighted for its role in the supercomputer space and its growing relevance in the machine learning and AI sectors. The video discusses AMD's Instinct MI25 GPU, which is presented as a cost-effective option for machine learning tasks.

💡Machine Learning

Machine learning is a type of artificial intelligence (AI) that enables systems to learn and improve from experience without being explicitly programmed. In the video, the rapid advancements in machine learning are discussed, with a focus on how AMD's technology is being used to support these advancements, particularly in the context of stable diffusion models.

💡General Artificial Intelligence (AGI)

General Artificial Intelligence, often abbreviated as AGI, refers to highly autonomous systems that can outperform humans at most economically valuable work. The video script suggests that AGI might be closer than previously thought, with AMD's technology playing a significant role in this progress.

💡GPUs

GPUs, or Graphics Processing Units, are specialized electronic circuits designed to rapidly manipulate and alter memory to accelerate the creation of images in a frame buffer intended for output to a display device. In the context of the video, GPUs are crucial for machine learning tasks, with AMD's GPUs being highlighted as a cost-effective and powerful option.

💡VRAM

VRAM, or Video Random-Access Memory, is a type of computer memory used for storing image data used in computer graphics. The video emphasizes the importance of VRAM for machine learning, particularly when handling large models that require substantial memory to function effectively.

💡Instinct MI25

The AMD Instinct MI25 is a GPU designed for machine learning and data center applications. The video discusses how this particular GPU, available at a relatively low cost, can be repurposed and optimized for machine learning tasks, offering significant value for those looking to experiment with AI and machine learning.

💡Stable Diffusion

Stable diffusion refers to a type of machine learning model used for generating images from textual descriptions. The video demonstrates the use of AMD's Instinct MI25 for running stable diffusion models, showcasing its capability to handle complex AI tasks.

💡eBay

eBay is an online marketplace where individuals and businesses buy and sell a wide variety of goods and services. In the video, eBay is mentioned as a platform where one can find AMD's Instinct MI25 GPUs at a reduced price, highlighting the cost-effectiveness of using this technology for machine learning.

💡Python

Python is a high-level, interpreted programming language that is widely used for general-purpose programming. The video mentions Python in the context of machine learning, as it is one of the primary languages used for developing and implementing machine learning models and algorithms.

💡Pi Torch

PyTorch is an open-source machine learning library based on the Torch library, used for applications such as computer vision and natural language processing. The video discusses AMD's partnership with PyTorch, which facilitates the use of AMD's GPUs for machine learning applications.

💡Vega 10

Vega 10 is a microarchitecture of graphics chips developed by AMD, which powers the Instinct MI25 GPU discussed in the video. It is noted for its 16 gigabytes of VRAM and high memory bandwidth, making it suitable for machine learning tasks despite being an older architecture.

💡Danny DeVito

Danny DeVito is an American actor and filmmaker mentioned humorously in the video as part of a hypothetical scenario where AI is used to replace all characters in the Lord of the Rings movies with his image. This serves as an example of the potential creative applications of advanced AI and machine learning technologies.

Highlights

The machine learning space is evolving rapidly, with the potential for general artificial intelligence to emerge within the next five years.

AMD is catching up fast in the supercomputer space, with Oak Ridge using AMD technology for their operations.

The Instinct MI-25 GPUs can be found for around a hundred dollars on eBay, offering significant value for machine learning applications.

AMD has partnered with PyTorch for easier integration of machine learning tasks using Python.

With some effort, an Instinct MI-25 can be flashed with a V BIOS to become a WX 9100, nearly doubling its power limit.

The MI-25, based on the Vega 10 architecture, has 16 gigabytes of VRAM, suitable for many machine learning models.

Stable diffusion models can run on the MI-25, offering high-fidelity previews in a reasonable time frame.

The MI-25 has dual 8-pin power connectors and a standard GPU style connector, making it compatible with existing systems.

Cooling is the main challenge when using the MI-25, but with the right setup, it can run at 170 Watts without issues.

The MI-25's performance is impressive for its price, allowing for stable diffusion at 768x768 resolution.

AMD is supporting AI and machine learning with updates to their Instinct line, making older cards like the MI-25 more viable.

The potential for AI to replace actors in movies with personalized characters is becoming a reality, showcasing the power of current technology.

The MI-25's 16GB HBM2 memory offers a great deal for $100, especially for those willing to put in the work to set it up.

AMD's CDNA and RNDA are separate lines, with CDNA being more focused on data center and compute tasks.

AMD is working on improving support for their 7000 series GPUs and beyond, with higher VRAM capacities.

The MI-25 is an excellent candidate for experimentation in machine learning, despite being an older model.

The guide provided by Level One offers a comprehensive setup for using the MI-25 with PyTorch, showcasing its capabilities.

The future of AI and machine learning looks promising, with hardware like the MI-25 paving the way for more accessible and powerful solutions.

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