Graphics Processing Unit Pre-Caching

1 . A method comprising:

searching storage media of a computing appliance for application-specific configuration files by executing a configuration utility from a non-transitory storage medium of the computing appliance;

upon finding an application-specific configuration file, directing a graphics processing unit (GPU) driver to partition a portion of GPU random access memory (RAM) as cache; and

loading data specified in the configuration file to the cache portion partitioned in the GPU RAM.

2 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining whether the GPU driver is compatible with the configuration utility; and

if not, downloading and installing a compatible driver.

3 . The method of claim 2 further comprising:

enabling a user to determine whether or not to download the compatible driver.

4 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

downloading one or more of the configuration utility, GPU driver, and data from an Internet-connected server.

5 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

executing the configuration utility by executing the GPU driver, the configuration utility being a part of code of the GPU driver.

6 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

determining if there is sufficient GPU RAM available prior to partitioning.

7 . The method of claim 6 further comprising:

creating an error log when there is insufficient GPU RAM available.

8 . The method of claim 1 further comprising:

after initiating the configuration utility, opening an interactive interface enabling a user to select configuration options.

9 . An apparatus comprising:

a computing appliance executing instructions by a processor from a non-transitory storage medium, the instructions causing the processor to perform a process comprising:

searching storage media of the computing appliance for application-specific configuration files by executing a configuration utility from a non-transitory storage medium of the computing appliance;

upon finding an application-specific configuration file, directing a graphics processing unit (GPU) driver to partition a portion of GPU random access memory (RAM) as cache; and

loading data specified in the configuration file to the cache portion partitioned in the GPU RAM.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

causing the processor to determine whether the GPU driver is compatible with the configuration utility; and

if not, downloading and installing a compatible driver.

11 . The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

enabling a user to determine whether or not to download the compatible driver.

12 . The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

downloading one or more of the configuration utility, GPU driver, and data from an Internet-connected server.

13 . The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising:

executing the configuration utility by executing the GPU driver, the configuration utility being a part of code of the GPU driver.

14 . The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

determining if there is sufficient GPU RAM available prior to partitioning.

15 . The apparatus of claim 14 further comprising:

creating an error log when there is insufficient GPU RAM available.

16 . The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising:

after initiating the configuration utility, opening an interactive interface enabling a user to select configuration options.

17 . The method of claim 1 wherein the graphics processing unit (GPU) and a central processing unit (CPU) are implemented on a common die, and the processing units share a common random access memory (RAM), a portion of the RAM being dedicated to the GPU, and a portion of the GPU RAM being partitioned as cache.

18 . The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the graphics processing unit (GPU) and a central processing unit (CPU) are implemented on a common die, and the processing units share a common random access memory (RAM), a portion of the RAM being dedicated to the GPU, and a portion of the GPU RAM being partitioned as cache.