Abstract
This study investigates the performance of the EGSnrc computer code coupled with a Cell-based hardware in Monte Carlo simulation of radiation dose in radiotherapy. Performance evaluations of two processor-intensive functions namely, HOWNEAR and RANMAR{sub G}ET in the EGSnrc code were carried out basing on the 20-80 rule (Pareto principle). The execution speeds of the two functions were measured by the profiler gprof specifying the number of executions and total time spent on the functions. A testing architecture designed for Cell processor was implemented in the evaluation using a PlayStation3 (PS3) system. The evaluation results show that the algorithms examined are readily parallelizable on the Cell platform, provided that an architectural change of the EGSnrc was made. However, as the EGSnrc performance was limited by the PowerPC Processing Element in the PS3, PC coupled with graphics processing units or GPCPU may provide a more viable avenue for acceleration.
Chow, James C L;
Lam, Phil;
Jaffray, David A, E-mail: james.chow@rmp.uhn.on.ca
[1]
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Toronto and Radiation Medicine Program, Princess Margaret Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M9 (Canada)
Citation Formats
Chow, James C L, Lam, Phil, and Jaffray, David A, E-mail: james.chow@rmp.uhn.on.ca.
Monte Carlo dose calculation using a cell processor based PlayStation 3 system.
United Kingdom: N. p.,
2012.
Web.
doi:10.1088/1742-6596/341/1/012028.
Chow, James C L, Lam, Phil, & Jaffray, David A, E-mail: james.chow@rmp.uhn.on.ca.
Monte Carlo dose calculation using a cell processor based PlayStation 3 system.
United Kingdom.
https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/341/1/012028
Chow, James C L, Lam, Phil, and Jaffray, David A, E-mail: james.chow@rmp.uhn.on.ca.
2012.
"Monte Carlo dose calculation using a cell processor based PlayStation 3 system."
United Kingdom.
https://doi.org/10.1088/1742-6596/341/1/012028.
@misc{etde_22019195,
title = {Monte Carlo dose calculation using a cell processor based PlayStation 3 system}
author = {Chow, James C L, Lam, Phil, and Jaffray, David A, E-mail: james.chow@rmp.uhn.on.ca}
abstractNote = {This study investigates the performance of the EGSnrc computer code coupled with a Cell-based hardware in Monte Carlo simulation of radiation dose in radiotherapy. Performance evaluations of two processor-intensive functions namely, HOWNEAR and RANMAR{sub G}ET in the EGSnrc code were carried out basing on the 20-80 rule (Pareto principle). The execution speeds of the two functions were measured by the profiler gprof specifying the number of executions and total time spent on the functions. A testing architecture designed for Cell processor was implemented in the evaluation using a PlayStation3 (PS3) system. The evaluation results show that the algorithms examined are readily parallelizable on the Cell platform, provided that an architectural change of the EGSnrc was made. However, as the EGSnrc performance was limited by the PowerPC Processing Element in the PS3, PC coupled with graphics processing units or GPCPU may provide a more viable avenue for acceleration.}
doi = {10.1088/1742-6596/341/1/012028}
journal = []
issue = {1}
volume = {341}
journal type = {AC}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {2012}
month = {Feb}
}
title = {Monte Carlo dose calculation using a cell processor based PlayStation 3 system}
author = {Chow, James C L, Lam, Phil, and Jaffray, David A, E-mail: james.chow@rmp.uhn.on.ca}
abstractNote = {This study investigates the performance of the EGSnrc computer code coupled with a Cell-based hardware in Monte Carlo simulation of radiation dose in radiotherapy. Performance evaluations of two processor-intensive functions namely, HOWNEAR and RANMAR{sub G}ET in the EGSnrc code were carried out basing on the 20-80 rule (Pareto principle). The execution speeds of the two functions were measured by the profiler gprof specifying the number of executions and total time spent on the functions. A testing architecture designed for Cell processor was implemented in the evaluation using a PlayStation3 (PS3) system. The evaluation results show that the algorithms examined are readily parallelizable on the Cell platform, provided that an architectural change of the EGSnrc was made. However, as the EGSnrc performance was limited by the PowerPC Processing Element in the PS3, PC coupled with graphics processing units or GPCPU may provide a more viable avenue for acceleration.}
doi = {10.1088/1742-6596/341/1/012028}
journal = []
issue = {1}
volume = {341}
journal type = {AC}
place = {United Kingdom}
year = {2012}
month = {Feb}
}