How to use GPU of Dual AMD FirePro D300 in my C++ calculations on MacOS?

Question

I have a MacPro computer with Dual AMD FirePro D300 GPU based on it. So I want to use that GPU for increasing my calculations in C++ on MacOS.

Can you provide me with some useful information on this subject? I need to boost my C++ calculations on my MacPro. This is my C++ code, I can change it as it needs to achieve the acceleration. But what should I read first, to use GPU of AMD FirePro D300 on MacOS? What should I know before I start to learn this hard work?

Answer 1

Before starting, as you say the hard work, you should know the basic concept of using GPU in distinction to CPU. In a very abstract way I will try to give this concept.

• Programming is to give data and instruction to processor, so processor will work on your data with that instruction.

• If you give one instruction and some data to CPU - CPU will work on your data step by step alternately. For example, CPU will execute the same instruction on each part of array in a loop.

• In GPU you have hundreds of little CPUs that will execute one instruction concurrently. Again, as example, if you have the same array of data, and the same instruction GPU will take your array, split it between CPUs and execute your instruction on all data concurrently.

• CPU is really fast in executing one instruction.

• One thread of GPU is much slower in it. (Like comparing Ferrari to a bus.)

And what I am implying to is that you will see the benefits of GPU only if you have to do huge amount of independent calculations in parallel.