swDNN: A Library for Accelerating Deep Learning Applications on Sunway TaihuLight

Abstract

To explore the potential of training complex deep neural networks (DNNs) on other commercial chips rather than GPUs, we report our work on swDNN, which is a highly-efficient library for accelerating deep learning applications on the newly announced world-leading supercomputer, Sunway TaihuLight. Targeting SW26010 processor, we derive a performance model that guides us in the process of identifying the most suitable approach for mapping the convolutional neural networks (CNNs) onto the 260 cores within the chip. By performing a systematic optimization that explores major factors, such as organization of convolution loops, blocking techniques, register data communication schemes, as well as reordering strategies for the two pipelines of instructions, we manage to achieve a double-precision performance over 1.6 Tflops for the convolution kernel, achieving 54% of the theoretical peak. Compared with Tesla K40m with cuDNNv5, swDNN results in 1.91-9.75x performance speedup in an evaluation with over 100 parameter configurations.