Performance Analysis

When analyzing the performance of a GPU program, what is the most appropriate thing to check first?

  1. AThe GPU fan speed
  2. BThe color of the GPU memory
  3. CHow total time divides among kernel execution, CPU-GPU data transfers and CPU-side processing
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Answer: C. How total time divides among kernel execution, CPU-GPU data transfers and CPU-side processing

In GPU programs, even when kernels are fast, data transfers or CPU-side preparation often keep the whole from speeding up. A GPU profiler's timeline shows how much each part takes and whether transfers overlap computation. If kernels dominate, investigate their memory access patterns and occupancy; if transfers dominate, reduce or overlap them.

  • A. Cooling status is not the first clue in performance analysis.
  • B. Color is irrelevant.
  • C. Correct. It shows what to improve.
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More Performance Analysis questions

  1. When choosing servers for a data center, which is NOT a consideration beyond peak performance?
  2. When evaluating a claim that "the new method is 100× faster," what is most important to check?
  3. Why is SSD performance often stated not only as sequential read bandwidth (MB/s) but also as 4 KB random-read IOPS (I/O operations per second)?
  4. Measuring per-element time for repeatedly reading an array while gradually growing its size shows time rising in steps at certain sizes. Why?
  5. Which is the basic formula for a program's CPU execution time?