u-$\mu$P: The Unit-Scaled Maximal Update Parametrization
Keywords: maximal update parametrization, learning dynamics, hyperparameter transfer, efficiency, training, stability, scaling, numerics, fp8, low precision
TL;DR: We improve µP by combining it with Unit Scaling, leading to a simpler scheme with better default hyperparameters, lower loss, more efficient sweeping and simple FP8 training.
Abstract: The Maximal Update Parametrization ($\mu$P) aims to make the optimal hyperparameters (HPs) of a model independent of its size, allowing them to be swept using a cheap proxy model rather than the full-size target model. We present a new scheme, u-$\mu$P, which improves upon $\mu$P by combining it with Unit Scaling, a method for designing models that makes them easy to train in low-precision. The two techniques have a natural affinity: $\mu$P ensures that the scale of activations is independent of model size, and Unit Scaling ensures that activations, weights and gradients begin training with a scale of one. This synthesis opens the door to a simpler scheme, whose default values are near-optimal. This in turn facilitates a more efficient sweeping strategy, with u-$\mu$P models reaching a lower loss than comparable $\mu$P models and working out-of-the-box in FP8.
Primary Area: foundation or frontier models, including LLMs
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Submission Number: 6104
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