GPU Processing Options
For researchers with a need to perform signal processing or image reconstruction using GPUs, Verasonics offers GPU Toolkit with GPU Direct, to accelerate Vantage NXT Research Ultrasound System data transfer, which reduces latency and improves frame rate. This option also provides programming tools and capabilities that can assist with the overall development process.
Accelerate Vantage® NXT / Vantage data transfer
Available as a licensable option, GPU Toolkit with GPU Direct is packages as a bundle that includes an NVIDIA GPU card, software license(s) and a Verasonics’ Host Controller.
This option includes the following features:
1) User selected memory allocation of the Vantage buffers utilized in the image reconstruction process. The current default for the system is the CPU, new choices include:
- CUDA allocated host memory – enabling up to 2X faster asynchronous memory copies between the host computer and the GPU device
- CUDA allocated unified memory – simplifying CUDA programming by utilizing NVIDIA’s unified memory architecture
2) An Event Profiling Tool that allows users to see timing information for each operation in the event sequence, which can help to identify and eliminate bottlenecks.
3) A 1-step compilation of CUDA source code into .mex files that does not require the MATLAB® Parallel Computing Toolbox.
4) Example scripts illustrating implementation of RF or IQ data processing. These examples can be tested to run synchronously or asynchronously with different memory allocation methods for comparison.
Verasonics understands that many researchers have already invested time and money in their own GPU hardware. A GPU diagnostic tool (gpuDiag), available starting with the Vantage 4.7.6 release, can be used by existing Vantage users to determine if their GPU card(s) are compatible with GPU Toolkit option features. Support for GPU Toolkit options vary, the Verasonics sales team can assist with customer questions.
Direct Data Transfer
For users performing their own reconstructions on the GPU, GPU Toolkit with GPU Direct allows researchers to move data directly from Vantage Systems to the graphics card.
Researchers accelerating their processing by using a GPU may receive benefits by taking advantage of this Verasonics technology.
GPU Toolkit with GPU Direct – only available in a Linux OS environment – allows Vantage hardware to DMA (Direct Memory Access) the acquired RF data directly to the GPU’s memory, bypassing the CPU and host RAM.
This will benefit applications by:
• Reducing latency
• Increasing throughput
• Freeing up the CPU for other tasks
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