Abstract—Ray tracing is a computer graphics renderingtechnique. Different from the traditional rasterizationalgorithm, the ray tracing algorithm simulate the realvision process. Being able to deliver highly realisticgraphics effects, it has been considered as the fundamentalgraphics rendering mechanism for high-end applicationsand is also likely to be adopted as the work-horse of futuregraphics hardware. However, the high computational effortis the major stumbling block for ray tracing to be deployedin real-time applications. In this paper we present adetailed characterization of the ray tracing algorithm byfocusing on ray tracing algorithm based on BVHacceleration structure. Using a state of art graphicsprocessor unit (GPU) simulator, we are able to provide keyinsight on improving the performance of ray tracing onGPUs. We propose thread migration technique to reducethe cache miss rate and enhance the processing throughputof primary and secondary rays.  

Index Terms—ray tracing, graphic processing unit, threadmigration

Cite: Xingxing Zhu and Yangdong Deng, "Evaluation and Improvement of GPU Ray Tracing with a Thread Migration Technique," International Journal of Signal Processing Systems,  Vol. 1, No. 1, pp. 111-115,  June 2013. doi: 10.12720/ijsps.1.1.111-115