@osuemer could you tell me which version of pytorch you used and also the gcc version?
I am also facing troubles compiling pytorch on the IBM power8 machine (with 4 p100 gpus). I get a different error from yours
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sh: 1: Cannot fork
CMake Error at ATen_generated_THCTensorConv.cu.o.cmake:207 (message):
  Error generating
  /home/sathap1/Software/pytorch/torch/lib/build/aten/src/ATen/CMakeFiles/ATen.dir/__/THC/./ATen_generated_THCTensorConv.cu.o

src/ATen/CMakeFiles/ATen.dir/build.make:161: recipe for target 'src/ATen/CMakeFiles/ATen.dir/__/THC/ATen_generated_THCTensorConv.cu.o' failed
make[2]: *** [src/ATen/CMakeFiles/ATen.dir/__/THC/ATen_generated_THCTensorConv.cu.o] Error 1
make[2]: *** Waiting for unfinished jobs....
slurmstepd: error: get_exit_code task 0 died by signal