Ok Guys, Please do not get mad as i am bringing the reference of CUDA here. I started to learn about GPGPU programming with CUDA and trying to map the issues here in OpenCL.
In CUDA there are two types of device memory , linear memory and CUDA arrays.
1. Linear Memory - used for normal data. This is the region of consecutive addresses in device memory. And they are accessed via pointers
2. CUDA array - used for textures.
In OpenCL , device memory is also categorized in the same manner i guess.
1. Linear memory created with clCreateBuffer().
2. For texturing operation we use clCreateImage2D()/clCreateImage3D().
Now 3D are to be represented in the linear manner as follows :
char *buffer = new char[width * height * depth *4];
What to use there clCreateBuffer or clCreateImage3D() ?
The same questions applies in the 2D case as well.
I think if there is no texturing operation involved then stay with clCreateBuffer instead. What do you think ?
The confusion arises because CUDA provides support for 3D object to be represented in a linear manner with cudaMalloc3D().
Looking forward to you feedback over this issue.
Thanks
Sajjadul