Fix cudaErrorInvalidImage: Invalid CUDA Binary

Overview

cudaErrorInvalidImage indicates the CUDA binary is incompatible with the GPU, usually due to architecture mismatch.

Error Messages

CUDA error: invalid image
cudaErrorInvalidImage

Common Causes

• •Compiled for different GPU architecture
• •Corrupted binary
• •Missing fat binary architectures

Solutions

nvcc -arch=sm_86 kernel.cu  # For RTX 3090

nvcc -gencode arch=compute_75,code=sm_75 \
     -gencode arch=compute_86,code=sm_86 kernel.cu

Prevention Tips

• ✓Build fat binaries
• ✓Include PTX for forward compatibility
• ✓Test on target hardware

Code Examples

Before (Problematic)

Won't work on newer GPUs.

nvcc -arch=sm_50 kernel.cu  # Only Pascal

After (Fixed)

Multiple archs + PTX.

nvcc -gencode arch=compute_75,code=sm_75 \
     -gencode arch=compute_86,code=sm_86 \
     -gencode arch=compute_86,code=compute_86 kernel.cu

Frequently Asked Questions

Related Errors

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