Optimizing Quantum & Computational
Algorithms on NEC Vector Engine
A Comprehensive Study
Mithilesh Gaikwad
Introduction
- NEC Vector Engine (VE) is a high-performance
computing (HPC) accelerator.
- Focused on optimizing quantum and
computational algorithms.
- Objectives:
- Leverage VE for quantum computing.
- Optimize performance for matrix-based
operations.
NEC Vector Engine - Hardware
Specifications
Feature Details
Processor NEC Vector Engine Type 30A
Cores 16 Vector Cores, 1.6 GHz Clock Speed
Peak Performance 4.91 TFlops (Double Precision)
Memory 96 GB HBM2, 2.45 TB/s Bandwidth
Cache 64 MB
Architecture 2.5D Implementation with HBM2
NEC Vector Engine - Software Ecosystem
- Operating System: VEOS (Vector Engine OS)
- Compilers: NCC (NEC C Compiler) with auto-
vectorization support
- Libraries: NLC (NEC Numerical Library
Collection), NLCPy (NumPy for VE)
- Parallel Frameworks: MPI, OpenMP for
distributed computing
Implemented Projects
- Performance Benchmarking: Analyzed NCC vs.
GCC for TFlops efficiency.
- Vectorization Techniques: Loop Fusion,
Interchange, Inline Expansion, etc.
- Quantum Fourier Transform
(QFT) :Implemented in C, Python, MPI, OpenMP.
- Matrix Multiplication Optimization: Applied VE
vectorization techniques.
- Quantum Algorithm Simulation: MPI-based
qubit simulations.
Performance Optimization Techniques
- Compiler Optimizations: -O3, -O4 flags for
maximum performance.
- Memory Management: Data alignment to
optimize VE bandwidth.
- Dynamic Vector Handling: Adjust computations
based on vector lengths.
Benchmarking Results
- Performance Comparison: Execution time for
various implementations.
- Speedup from Vectorization: Increased
efficiency in matrix operations.
- Memory Utilization: Optimized memory access
and bandwidth usage.
Challenges & Solutions
- Memory Alignment Issues: Optimized data
structures for alignment.
- Vector Length Dependencies: Used dynamic
vector handling techniques.
- Compiler Trade-offs: Fine-tuned optimization
flags for best performance.
Key Takeaways
- NEC VE accelerates quantum and HPC
workloads significantly.
- Vectorization and parallelization improve
performance drastically.
- Scalable implementations demonstrate
potential for large-scale computing.
Future Work
- Implementing advanced quantum algorithms.
- Investigating NEC VE’s use in deep learning.
- Comparing NEC VE with other HPC
accelerators.