Rethinking What to Cache in Few-Step Diffusion Transformers: Solver-Aware Target Selection

Abstract:Diffusion Transformers (DiTs) can generate high-quality images and videos, but generating each sample requires multiple costly DiT forward passes. Two common ways to accelerate DiT sampling are step distillation, which reduces the number of sampling steps, and caching, which skips some DiT evaluations by reusing a tensor computed at an earlier step. Most caching methods decide in advance which tensor to reuse. After distillation, adjacent sampling steps are farther apart. Reusing a tensor across this larger gap introduces more error, so choosing what to cache becomes especially important. We therefore introduce AutoTarget, a method that chooses the cached tensor for a given model, solver, and reuse schedule. AutoTarget uses a small set of runs without cache reuse to measure the error caused by reusing each candidate tensor, then selects the candidate with the lowest error. We also analyze how an error at one reuse step affects the final sample. For Euler sampling, we identify cache targets that produce the same trajectory and show why a stored solver update may not. Experiments on distilled image and video DiTs show that the best cache target changes with the model, image resolution, and solver. AutoTarget reduces DiT evaluations and retained cache storage. Generation quality remains close to the corresponding uncached run. On the tested PixArt-LCM and FLUX.1-schnell settings, its calibration ranking matches the ranking from held-out cached runs. To help others reproduce the method, we provide its core implementation on GitHub at this https URL.

Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition (cs.CV); Artificial Intelligence (cs.AI)

arXiv:2610.03577 [cs.CV]

(or arXiv:2610.03577v1 [cs.CV] for this version)

https://doi.org/10.48550/arXiv.2610.03577 Focus to learn more arXiv-issued DOI via DataCite (pending registration)

arXivLabs is a framework that allows collaborators to develop and share new arXiv features directly on our website.

Both individuals and organizations that work with arXivLabs have embraced and accepted our values of openness, community, excellence, and user data privacy. arXiv is committed to these values and only works with partners that adhere to them.

Have an idea for a project that will add value for arXiv's community? Learn more about arXivLabs.