Constant Memory vs Texture Memory vs Global Memory in CUDA

Question

I am trying to find the differences between constant memory vs texture memory vs global memory in CUDA.

I am able to find the following relevant articles, but not able to find the answer to my question

An article which deals with the performance implications of all the three : http://forum.beyond3d.com/showthread.php?t=52510

This is pretty well explained in the CUDA Programming Guide. Have you checked there? — harrism
– harrism, Commented Nov 29, 2011 at 7:13
What do you mean my "theoretical differences"? As written it isn't a particular specific question......... — talonmies
– talonmies, Commented Nov 29, 2011 at 8:04

c_prog_90 · Accepted Answer · 2011-11-29 08:49:04Z

Constant Memory:

This is where constants and kernel arguments are stored

Slow, but with cache (8 kb)

Constant memory is optimized for broadcast

Texture Memory:

Cache optimized for 2D spatial access pattern

Reads have some advantages like address modes and interpolation that can be used at no extra cost

Global Memory:

Slow & uncached(1.0),cached(2.0)

Requires sequential & aligned 16 byte reads and writes to be fast (coalesced read/write)

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