Introuduction To GPU Computing

Goals of GPU Computing

• More computing power

• Reduced cost, power and space requirements

• Growth more than Moore’s law

 

GPU – Graphics Processing Unit

– An ASIC that implements special purpose graphics operations

– Basically, our Stream Processor

– Sits on a PCI Express board with dedicated, high-speed on-board memory, aka Graphics card, Video Adapter, Graphics Sub-system

 

Why GPU Computing?

• GPUs are faster

• GPUs are programmable

• GPUs are available everywhere and cheap

• Change in Computing Paradigm

– Traditional super-scalar architectures have their limits for intensive workloads

– Parallel Computing becoming common-place

 

Why are GPUs getting faster

• Arithmetic intensity - The specialized nature of GPUs makes it easier to use additional transistors for computation

• Economics - Multi-billion dollar video game market drives innovation

• Intense competition – Fast moving industry with no clear winner – nVidia, AMD, Intel, SONY are major players