AMD to finally focus on CPU optimization for its GPU drivers

Posted on Monday, February 23 2015 @ 15:13 CET by Thomas De Maesschalck
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Several tech sites noticed AMD put up a new job offering at LinkedIn for a CPU performance engineer with 3D graphics driver experience. The job listing explains AMD wants to identify CPU bottlenecks in its GPU drivers, optimize the drivers, and provide optimization actions to game publishers.

As TechPowerUp notes, AMD's GPU drivers are much more CPU-heavy than NVIDIA's drivers. This is not really noticeable when you benchmark on high-end systems but when you test a more typical configuration of a budget/mainstream card bundled with a budget/mainstream processor and compare that performance with what you get on a system with a high-end processor you'll see that the performance of AMD's cards drops much more than that of NVIDIA's cards because they tax the CPU harder.
Job description
Preferred Location: Boxborough, MA or Sunnyvale, CA
Will also consider other locations

We are looking for a CPU performance engineer working with highly talented 3D graphics driver developers to optimize graphics drivers. The responsibilities include analyzing CPU bound benchmarks and games to identify a variety of CPU bottlenecks in drivers, optimizing the drivers, and providing optimization actions to ISVs. The candidate will analyze new CPU architecture impact on driver performance and translate into actionable tasks. This position requires the candidate to collaborate with graphics and CPU architects at multi-sites across multiple graphics driver components.

Qualifications and skills
  • Must hold a B.S or higher degree in Computer Science/Engineering
  • Strong programming skills in C and C++ with in depth knowledge of assembly code
  • Have 5+ years of CPU performance tuning and optimization experience
  • Familiar with multiprocessing and multi-thread programing
  • Understand CPU and computer system architecture
  • Experience on AMD CPUs, 3D graphic driver development, Windows OS memory management, CPU ASIC design/debug, and performance tools like CodeXL is a big plus
  • Ability to communicate, cooperate, and thrive in a team environment


  • About the Author

    Thomas De Maesschalck

    Thomas has been messing with computer since early childhood and firmly believes the Internet is the best thing since sliced bread. Enjoys playing with new tech, is fascinated by science, and passionate about financial markets. When not behind a computer, he can be found with running shoes on or lifting heavy weights in the weight room.



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