From d378567cc66b7055f6625f1ea70d77c024fa1311 Mon Sep 17 00:00:00 2001
From: Awni Hannun <awni@apple.com>
Date: Fri, 31 Oct 2025 14:12:15 -0700
Subject: [PATCH] refactor for regular cuda malloc

---
 mlx/array.cpp                                 | 11 +++--
 mlx/array.h                                   |  9 +++--
 mlx/backend/common/binary.h                   | 14 +++----
 mlx/backend/common/compiled.cpp               |  8 ++--
 mlx/backend/common/compiled.h                 |  4 +-
 mlx/backend/common/copy.h                     | 10 +++--
 mlx/backend/common/ternary.h                  | 10 ++---
 mlx/backend/common/unary.h                    |  9 +++--
 mlx/backend/cuda/allocator.cpp                | 31 +++++++++-----
 mlx/backend/cuda/allocator.h                  |  6 +++
 mlx/backend/cuda/arange.cu                    |  2 +-
 mlx/backend/cuda/arg_reduce.cu                |  4 +-
 mlx/backend/cuda/binary/binary.cuh            | 24 ++++++-----
 mlx/backend/cuda/binary_two.cu                | 34 +++++++++-------
 mlx/backend/cuda/conv.cpp                     |  7 ++--
 mlx/backend/cuda/conv/gemm_conv.cu            |  6 +--
 mlx/backend/cuda/conv/gemm_grouped_conv.cu    |  6 +--
 mlx/backend/cuda/copy.cu                      | 16 ++++++++
 mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_contiguous.cu      |  4 +-
 mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_general.cu         |  4 +-
 mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_general_dynamic.cu | 12 +++---
 mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_general_input.cu   |  4 +-
 mlx/backend/cuda/cudnn_utils.cpp              |  4 +-
 mlx/backend/cuda/cudnn_utils.h                |  5 ++-
 mlx/backend/cuda/custom_kernel.cpp            |  4 +-
 mlx/backend/cuda/distributed.cu               | 10 ++---
 mlx/backend/cuda/gemms/cublas_gemm.cpp        | 18 ++++-----
 .../cuda/gemms/cublas_gemm_batched_12_0.cpp   | 16 ++++----
 .../cuda/gemms/cublas_gemm_batched_12_9.cu    | 40 +++++++++----------
 mlx/backend/cuda/gemms/gemv.cu                | 12 +++---
 mlx/backend/cuda/indexing.cpp                 |  2 +-
 mlx/backend/cuda/jit_module.h                 |  2 +-
 mlx/backend/cuda/kernel_utils.cuh             |  1 +
 mlx/backend/cuda/layer_norm.cu                | 18 ++++-----
 mlx/backend/cuda/logsumexp.cu                 |  4 +-
 mlx/backend/cuda/quantized/affine_quantize.cu | 16 ++++----
 mlx/backend/cuda/quantized/fp_quantize.cu     | 12 +++---
 mlx/backend/cuda/quantized/quantized.cpp      |  6 +--
 mlx/backend/cuda/random.cu                    | 14 +++----
 mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/all_reduce.cu         | 13 +++---
 mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/col_reduce.cu         | 12 +++---
 mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/init_reduce.cu        |  4 +-
 mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/reduce_utils.cuh      |  8 ++--
 mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/row_reduce.cu         | 10 ++---
 mlx/backend/cuda/rms_norm.cu                  | 16 ++++----
 mlx/backend/cuda/rope.cu                      | 28 ++++++-------
 .../cuda/scaled_dot_product_attention.cu      | 32 +++++++--------
 mlx/backend/cuda/scan.cu                      |  8 ++--
 mlx/backend/cuda/softmax.cu                   |  4 +-
 mlx/backend/cuda/sort.cu                      | 30 +++++++-------
 mlx/backend/cuda/ternary.cu                   | 29 ++++++++------
 mlx/backend/cuda/unary/unary.cuh              | 13 +++---
 mlx/backend/cuda/utils.h                      | 12 ++++++
 mlx/backend/gpu/copy.cpp                      | 13 +-----
 mlx/backend/metal/copy.cpp                    | 13 ++++++
 55 files changed, 370 insertions(+), 294 deletions(-)

diff --git a/mlx/array.cpp b/mlx/array.cpp
index a05e8dfa7..a8c77d150 100644
--- a/mlx/array.cpp
+++ b/mlx/array.cpp
@@ -64,7 +64,7 @@ array array::unsafe_weak_copy(const array& other) {
       other.strides(),
       other.flags(),
       [](auto) {});
-  cpy.array_desc_->data_ptr = other.array_desc_->data_ptr;
+  cpy.array_desc_->offset = other.array_desc_->offset;
   return cpy;
 }
 
@@ -141,7 +141,7 @@ bool array::is_tracer() const {
 
 void array::set_data(allocator::Buffer buffer, Deleter d) {
   array_desc_->data = std::make_shared<Data>(buffer, d);
-  array_desc_->data_ptr = buffer.raw_ptr();
+  array_desc_->offset = 0;
   array_desc_->data_size = size();
   array_desc_->flags.contiguous = true;
   array_desc_->flags.row_contiguous = true;
@@ -156,7 +156,7 @@ void array::set_data(
     Flags flags,
     Deleter d) {
   array_desc_->data = std::make_shared<Data>(buffer, d);
-  array_desc_->data_ptr = buffer.raw_ptr();
+  array_desc_->offset = 0;
   array_desc_->data_size = data_size;
   array_desc_->strides = std::move(strides);
   array_desc_->flags = flags;
@@ -172,9 +172,8 @@ void array::copy_shared_buffer(
   array_desc_->strides = strides;
   array_desc_->flags = flags;
   array_desc_->data_size = data_size;
-  auto char_offset = sizeof(char) * itemsize() * offset;
-  array_desc_->data_ptr = static_cast<void*>(
-      static_cast<char*>(other.array_desc_->data_ptr) + char_offset);
+  array_desc_->offset =
+      sizeof(char) * itemsize() * offset + other.array_desc_->offset;
 }
 
 void array::copy_shared_buffer(const array& other) {
diff --git a/mlx/array.h b/mlx/array.h
index 4e9a5ae63..b7ae8996c 100644
--- a/mlx/array.h
+++ b/mlx/array.h
@@ -352,12 +352,13 @@ class array {
   // Return a raw pointer to the arrays data
   template <typename T>
   T* data() {
-    return static_cast<T*>(array_desc_->data_ptr);
+    return reinterpret_cast<T*>(
+        (static_cast<char*>(buffer().raw_ptr()) + array_desc_->offset));
   }
 
   template <typename T>
   const T* data() const {
-    return static_cast<T*>(array_desc_->data_ptr);
+    return const_cast<array&>(*this).data<T>();
   }
 
   enum Status {
@@ -461,8 +462,8 @@ class array {
     // can share the underlying data buffer.
     std::shared_ptr<Data> data;
 
-    // Properly offset data pointer
-    void* data_ptr{nullptr};
+    // Offset from beginning of data pointer
+    int64_t offset{0};
 
     // The size in elements of the data buffer the array accesses
     size_t data_size;
diff --git a/mlx/backend/common/binary.h b/mlx/backend/common/binary.h
index ac6e1891d..78607ef07 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/common/binary.h
+++ b/mlx/backend/common/binary.h
@@ -38,20 +38,20 @@ inline void set_binary_op_output_data(
     const array& a,
     const array& b,
     array& out,
-    BinaryOpType bopt) {
+    BinaryOpType bopt,
+    std::function<allocator::Buffer(size_t)> mallocfn = allocator::malloc) {
   bool b_donatable = is_donatable(b, out);
   bool a_donatable = is_donatable(a, out);
   switch (bopt) {
     case BinaryOpType::ScalarScalar:
-      out.set_data(
-          allocator::malloc(out.itemsize()), 1, a.strides(), a.flags());
+      out.set_data(mallocfn(out.itemsize()), 1, a.strides(), a.flags());
       break;
     case BinaryOpType::ScalarVector:
       if (b_donatable) {
         out.copy_shared_buffer(b);
       } else {
         out.set_data(
-            allocator::malloc(b.data_size() * out.itemsize()),
+            mallocfn(b.data_size() * out.itemsize()),
             b.data_size(),
             b.strides(),
             b.flags());
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ inline void set_binary_op_output_data(
         out.copy_shared_buffer(a);
       } else {
         out.set_data(
-            allocator::malloc(a.data_size() * out.itemsize()),
+            mallocfn(a.data_size() * out.itemsize()),
             a.data_size(),
             a.strides(),
             a.flags());
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ inline void set_binary_op_output_data(
         out.copy_shared_buffer(b);
       } else {
         out.set_data(
-            allocator::malloc(a.data_size() * out.itemsize()),
+            mallocfn(a.data_size() * out.itemsize()),
             a.data_size(),
             a.strides(),
             a.flags());
@@ -88,7 +88,7 @@ inline void set_binary_op_output_data(
           b_donatable && b.flags().row_contiguous && b.size() == out.size()) {
         out.copy_shared_buffer(b);
       } else {
-        out.set_data(allocator::malloc(out.nbytes()));
+        out.set_data(mallocfn(out.nbytes()));
       }
       break;
   }
diff --git a/mlx/backend/common/compiled.cpp b/mlx/backend/common/compiled.cpp
index 44e2a432b..e5e1d4350 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/common/compiled.cpp
+++ b/mlx/backend/common/compiled.cpp
@@ -114,7 +114,9 @@ void compiled_allocate_outputs(
     const std::vector<array>& inputs,
     std::vector<array>& outputs,
     const std::function<bool(size_t)>& is_constant,
-    bool contiguous) {
+    bool contiguous,
+    const std::function<allocator::Buffer(size_t)>&
+        mallocfn /* = allocator::malloc */) {
   if (contiguous) {
     int o = 0;
     Strides strides;
@@ -140,7 +142,7 @@ void compiled_allocate_outputs(
     }
     for (; o < outputs.size(); ++o) {
       outputs[o].set_data(
-          allocator::malloc(data_size * outputs[o].itemsize()),
+          mallocfn(data_size * outputs[o].itemsize()),
           data_size,
           strides,
           flags);
@@ -163,7 +165,7 @@ void compiled_allocate_outputs(
       }
     }
     for (; o < outputs.size(); ++o) {
-      outputs[o].set_data(allocator::malloc(outputs[o].nbytes()));
+      outputs[o].set_data(mallocfn(outputs[o].nbytes()));
     }
   }
 }
diff --git a/mlx/backend/common/compiled.h b/mlx/backend/common/compiled.h
index e92a6d0ad..3be371333 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/common/compiled.h
+++ b/mlx/backend/common/compiled.h
@@ -58,7 +58,9 @@ void compiled_allocate_outputs(
     const std::vector<array>& inputs,
     std::vector<array>& outputs,
     const std::function<bool(size_t)>& is_constant,
-    bool contiguous);
+    bool contiguous,
+    const std::function<allocator::Buffer(size_t)>& mallocfn =
+        allocator::malloc);
 
 // Collapse contiguous dims ignoring scalars and constants.
 std::tuple<bool, Shape, std::vector<Strides>> compiled_collapse_contiguous_dims(
diff --git a/mlx/backend/common/copy.h b/mlx/backend/common/copy.h
index c23d2e79a..859ce0410 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/common/copy.h
+++ b/mlx/backend/common/copy.h
@@ -22,7 +22,11 @@ enum class CopyType {
   GeneralGeneral
 };
 
-inline bool set_copy_output_data(const array& in, array& out, CopyType ctype) {
+inline bool set_copy_output_data(
+    const array& in,
+    array& out,
+    CopyType ctype,
+    std::function<allocator::Buffer(size_t)> mallocfn = allocator::malloc) {
   if (ctype == CopyType::Vector) {
     // If the input is donateable, we are doing a vector copy and the types
     // have the same size, then the input buffer can hold the output.
@@ -31,14 +35,14 @@ inline bool set_copy_output_data(const array& in, array& out, CopyType ctype) {
       return true;
     } else {
       out.set_data(
-          allocator::malloc(in.data_size() * out.itemsize()),
+          mallocfn(in.data_size() * out.itemsize()),
           in.data_size(),
           in.strides(),
           in.flags());
       return false;
     }
   } else {
-    out.set_data(allocator::malloc(out.nbytes()));
+    out.set_data(mallocfn(out.nbytes()));
     return false;
   }
 }
diff --git a/mlx/backend/common/ternary.h b/mlx/backend/common/ternary.h
index 233708ec3..c63a57261 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/common/ternary.h
+++ b/mlx/backend/common/ternary.h
@@ -46,7 +46,8 @@ inline void set_ternary_op_output_data(
     const array& b,
     const array& c,
     array& out,
-    TernaryOpType topt) {
+    TernaryOpType topt,
+    std::function<allocator::Buffer(size_t)> mallocfn = allocator::malloc) {
   auto maybe_donate = [&out](const array& x) {
     if (is_donatable(x, out)) {
       out.copy_shared_buffer(x);
@@ -57,13 +58,12 @@ inline void set_ternary_op_output_data(
 
   switch (topt) {
     case TernaryOpType::ScalarScalarScalar:
-      out.set_data(
-          allocator::malloc(out.itemsize()), 1, b.strides(), b.flags());
+      out.set_data(mallocfn(out.itemsize()), 1, b.strides(), b.flags());
       break;
     case TernaryOpType::VectorVectorVector:
       if (!(maybe_donate(a) || maybe_donate(b) || maybe_donate(c))) {
         out.set_data(
-            allocator::malloc(out.itemsize() * b.data_size()),
+            mallocfn(out.itemsize() * b.data_size()),
             b.data_size(),
             b.strides(),
             b.flags());
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ inline void set_ternary_op_output_data(
       if (!((a.flags().row_contiguous && maybe_donate(a)) ||
             (b.flags().row_contiguous && maybe_donate(b)) ||
             (c.flags().row_contiguous && maybe_donate(c)))) {
-        out.set_data(allocator::malloc(out.nbytes()));
+        out.set_data(mallocfn(out.nbytes()));
       }
       break;
   }
diff --git a/mlx/backend/common/unary.h b/mlx/backend/common/unary.h
index a27a1f45c..b19fc98ed 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/common/unary.h
+++ b/mlx/backend/common/unary.h
@@ -7,19 +7,22 @@
 
 namespace mlx::core {
 
-inline void set_unary_output_data(const array& in, array& out) {
+inline void set_unary_output_data(
+    const array& in,
+    array& out,
+    std::function<allocator::Buffer(size_t)> mallocfn = allocator::malloc) {
   if (in.flags().contiguous) {
     if (is_donatable(in, out)) {
       out.copy_shared_buffer(in);
     } else {
       out.set_data(
-          allocator::malloc(in.data_size() * out.itemsize()),
+          mallocfn(in.data_size() * out.itemsize()),
           in.data_size(),
           in.strides(),
           in.flags());
     }
   } else {
-    out.set_data(allocator::malloc(out.nbytes()));
+    out.set_data(mallocfn(out.nbytes()));
   }
 }
 
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/allocator.cpp b/mlx/backend/cuda/allocator.cpp
index 6ef2da907..dcc82a7f2 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/allocator.cpp
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/allocator.cpp
@@ -68,6 +68,7 @@ CudaBuffer* SmallSizePool::malloc() {
   next_free_ = next_free_->next;
   b->buf.data = static_cast<char*>(data_) + i * small_block_size;
   b->buf.size = small_block_size;
+  b->buf.managed = true;
   return &b->buf;
 }
 
@@ -94,16 +95,13 @@ CudaAllocator::CudaAllocator()
   CHECK_CUDA_ERROR(cudaMemGetInfo(&free, &total));
   memory_limit_ = total * 0.95;
   max_pool_size_ = memory_limit_;
-#if CUDART_VERSION >= 13000
-  cudaMemLocation loc;
-  loc.id = 0;
-  loc.type = cudaMemLocationTypeNone;
-  cudaMemGetDefaultMemPool(&cuda_pool_, &loc, cudaMemAllocationTypeManaged);
+  int loc = 0;
+  cudaDeviceGetDefaultMemPool(&cuda_pool_, loc);
+
   // TODO need a strategy for that
   uint64_t threshold = UINT64_MAX;
   cudaMemPoolSetAttribute(
       cuda_pool_, cudaMemPoolAttrReleaseThreshold, &threshold);
-#endif
 }
 
 Buffer CudaAllocator::malloc_impl(size_t size, cudaStream_t stream) {
@@ -133,12 +131,13 @@ Buffer CudaAllocator::malloc_impl(size_t size, cudaStream_t stream) {
     }
     lock.unlock();
     if (!buf) {
-      buf = new CudaBuffer{nullptr, size};
+      bool managed = stream == nullptr;
+      buf = new CudaBuffer{nullptr, size, managed};
       cudaError_t err;
-      if (stream != nullptr && cuda_pool_ != nullptr) {
-        err = cudaMallocFromPoolAsync(&buf->data, size, cuda_pool_, stream);
-      } else {
+      if (managed) {
         err = cudaMallocManaged(&buf->data, size);
+      } else {
+        err = cudaMallocFromPoolAsync(&buf->data, size, cuda_pool_, stream);
       }
       if (err != cudaSuccess && err != cudaErrorMemoryAllocation) {
         throw std::runtime_error(fmt::format(
@@ -266,7 +265,17 @@ void* Buffer::raw_ptr() {
   if (!ptr_) {
     return nullptr;
   }
-  return static_cast<cu::CudaBuffer*>(ptr_)->data;
+  auto& cbuf = *static_cast<cu::CudaBuffer*>(ptr_);
+  if (!cbuf.managed) {
+    void* new_data;
+    CHECK_CUDA_ERROR(cudaMallocManaged(&new_data, cbuf.size));
+    cbuf.managed = true;
+    CHECK_CUDA_ERROR(
+        cudaMemcpy(new_data, cbuf.data, cbuf.size, cudaMemcpyDefault));
+    CHECK_CUDA_ERROR(cudaFree(cbuf.data));
+    cbuf.data = new_data;
+  }
+  return cbuf.data;
 }
 
 } // namespace allocator
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/allocator.h b/mlx/backend/cuda/allocator.h
index eb69db3b4..a0f7d38db 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/allocator.h
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/allocator.h
@@ -18,8 +18,14 @@ using allocator::Buffer;
 struct CudaBuffer {
   void* data;
   size_t size;
+  bool managed;
 };
 
+template <typename T>
+T* gpu_ptr(Buffer buf) {
+  return static_cast<T*>(static_cast<cu::CudaBuffer*>(buf.ptr())->data);
+}
+
 class SmallSizePool {
  private:
   union Block {
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/arange.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/arange.cu
index 1c1f96a72..a8e406ba1 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/arange.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/arange.cu
@@ -57,7 +57,7 @@ void Arange::eval_gpu(const std::vector<array>& inputs, array& out) {
           num_blocks,
           block_dims,
           0,
-          out.data<OutType>(),
+          gpu_ptr<OutType>(out),
           out.data_size(),
           static_cast<CTYPE>(start_),
           static_cast<CTYPE>(start_ + step_) - static_cast<CTYPE>(start_));
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/arg_reduce.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/arg_reduce.cu
index 04bfe33ce..8dd77cc73 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/arg_reduce.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/arg_reduce.cu
@@ -173,8 +173,8 @@ void ArgReduce::eval_gpu(const std::vector<array>& inputs, array& out) {
           num_blocks,
           block_dim(),
           0,
-          in.data<T>(),
-          out.data<uint32_t>(),
+          gpu_ptr<T>(in),
+          gpu_ptr<uint32_t>(out),
           out.size(),
           const_param(shape),
           const_param(in_strides),
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/binary/binary.cuh b/mlx/backend/cuda/binary/binary.cuh
index 20bb199ec..47847e4d9 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/binary/binary.cuh
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/binary/binary.cuh
@@ -292,9 +292,9 @@ void binary_op_gpu_inplace(
                         {num_blocks_x, num_blocks_y},
                         block_dims,
                         0,
-                        a.data<InType>(),
-                        b.data<InType>(),
-                        out.data<OutType>(),
+                        gpu_ptr<InType>(a),
+                        gpu_ptr<InType>(b),
+                        gpu_ptr<OutType>(out),
                         rest,
                         const_param<dims_constant()>(shape),
                         const_param<dims_constant()>(a_strides),
@@ -310,9 +310,9 @@ void binary_op_gpu_inplace(
                       {num_blocks_x, num_blocks_y},
                       block_dims,
                       0,
-                      a.data<InType>(),
-                      b.data<InType>(),
-                      out.data<OutType>(),
+                      gpu_ptr<InType>(a),
+                      gpu_ptr<InType>(b),
+                      gpu_ptr<OutType>(out),
                       rest,
                       const_param(shape),
                       const_param(a_strides),
@@ -339,9 +339,9 @@ void binary_op_gpu_inplace(
                 num_blocks,
                 block_dims,
                 0,
-                a.data<InType>(),
-                b.data<InType>(),
-                out.data<OutType>(),
+                gpu_ptr<InType>(a),
+                gpu_ptr<InType>(b),
+                gpu_ptr<OutType>(out),
                 out.data_size());
           });
         }
@@ -365,7 +365,11 @@ void binary_op_gpu(
   auto& a = inputs[0];
   auto& b = inputs[1];
   auto bopt = get_binary_op_type(a, b);
-  set_binary_op_output_data(a, b, out, bopt);
+  auto& encoder = cu::get_command_encoder(s);
+
+  set_binary_op_output_data(a, b, out, bopt, [&](auto n) {
+    return cu::malloc_async(n, encoder.stream());
+  });
   binary_op_gpu_inplace<Op>(inputs, out, op, s);
 }
 
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/binary_two.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/binary_two.cu
index cd0fe2c46..edec2678f 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/binary_two.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/binary_two.cu
@@ -245,14 +245,18 @@ void binary_two_op_gpu_inplace(
   auto& out_a = outputs[0];
   auto& out_b = outputs[1];
   auto bopt = get_binary_op_type(a, b);
-  set_binary_op_output_data(a, b, out_a, bopt);
-  set_binary_op_output_data(a, b, out_b, bopt);
+  auto& encoder = cu::get_command_encoder(s);
+  set_binary_op_output_data(a, b, out_a, bopt, [&](auto n) {
+    return cu::malloc_async(n, encoder.stream());
+  });
+  set_binary_op_output_data(a, b, out_b, bopt, [&](auto n) {
+    return cu::malloc_async(n, encoder.stream());
+  });
 
   if (out_a.size() == 0) {
     return;
   }
 
-  auto& encoder = cu::get_command_encoder(s);
   encoder.set_input_array(a);
   encoder.set_input_array(b);
   encoder.set_output_array(out_a);
@@ -313,10 +317,10 @@ void binary_two_op_gpu_inplace(
                         {num_blocks_x, num_blocks_y},
                         block_dims,
                         0,
-                        a.data<InType>(),
-                        b.data<InType>(),
-                        out_a.data<OutType>(),
-                        out_b.data<OutType>(),
+                        gpu_ptr<InType>(a),
+                        gpu_ptr<InType>(b),
+                        gpu_ptr<OutType>(out_a),
+                        gpu_ptr<OutType>(out_b),
                         rest,
                         const_param<dims_constant()>(shape),
                         const_param<dims_constant()>(a_strides),
@@ -332,10 +336,10 @@ void binary_two_op_gpu_inplace(
                       {num_blocks_x, num_blocks_y},
                       block_dims,
                       0,
-                      a.data<InType>(),
-                      b.data<InType>(),
-                      out_a.data<OutType>(),
-                      out_b.data<OutType>(),
+                      gpu_ptr<InType>(a),
+                      gpu_ptr<InType>(b),
+                      gpu_ptr<OutType>(out_a),
+                      gpu_ptr<OutType>(out_b),
                       rest,
                       const_param(shape),
                       const_param(a_strides),
@@ -366,10 +370,10 @@ void binary_two_op_gpu_inplace(
                 num_blocks,
                 block_dims,
                 0,
-                a.data<InType>(),
-                b.data<InType>(),
-                out_a.data<OutType>(),
-                out_b.data<OutType>(),
+                gpu_ptr<InType>(a),
+                gpu_ptr<InType>(b),
+                gpu_ptr<OutType>(out_a),
+                gpu_ptr<OutType>(out_b),
                 out_a.data_size());
           });
         }
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/conv.cpp b/mlx/backend/cuda/conv.cpp
index e65de63e0..4f7a971ca 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/conv.cpp
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/conv.cpp
@@ -270,17 +270,16 @@ void Convolution::eval_gpu(const std::vector<array>& inputs, array& out_) {
   if (out_.size() == 0) {
     return;
   }
+  auto& s = stream();
+  auto& encoder = cu::get_command_encoder(s);
 
   assert(inputs.size() == 2);
   array in = inputs[0];
   array wt = inputs[1];
   array out = out_;
-  out.set_data(allocator::malloc(out.nbytes()));
+  out.set_data(cu::malloc_async(out.nbytes(), encoder.stream()));
   Dtype dtype = out.dtype();
 
-  auto& s = stream();
-  auto& encoder = cu::get_command_encoder(s);
-
   // Search cache.
   ConvCacheKey cache_key{
       encoder.device().cuda_device(),
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/conv/gemm_conv.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/conv/gemm_conv.cu
index 11a78a7ab..b2c151706 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/conv/gemm_conv.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/conv/gemm_conv.cu
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ array unfold_inputs_nd(
     int mat_N,
     ConvParams<NDIM>& params) {
   array unfolded({mat_M, mat_K}, in.dtype(), nullptr, {});
-  unfolded.set_data(allocator::malloc(unfolded.nbytes()));
+  unfolded.set_data(cu::malloc_async(unfolded.nbytes(), encoder.stream()));
   encoder.add_temporary(unfolded);
 
   int filter_size = params.C;
@@ -118,8 +118,8 @@ array unfold_inputs_nd(
         num_blocks,
         block_dims,
         0,
-        in.data<DataType>(),
-        unfolded.data<DataType>(),
+        gpu_ptr<DataType>(in),
+        gpu_ptr<DataType>(unfolded),
         filter_size,
         out_pixels,
         params);
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/conv/gemm_grouped_conv.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/conv/gemm_grouped_conv.cu
index 7ceb58166..788c640ff 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/conv/gemm_grouped_conv.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/conv/gemm_grouped_conv.cu
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ array grouped_unfold_transpose_inputs_nd(
     int mat_N,
     ConvParams<NDIM>& params) {
   array unfolded({mat_M, mat_K * params.groups}, in.dtype(), nullptr, {});
-  unfolded.set_data(allocator::malloc(unfolded.nbytes()));
+  unfolded.set_data(cu::malloc_async(unfolded.nbytes(), encoder.stream()));
   encoder.add_temporary(unfolded);
 
   int filter_size = params.C;
@@ -121,8 +121,8 @@ array grouped_unfold_transpose_inputs_nd(
         num_blocks,
         block_dims,
         0,
-        in.data<DataType>(),
-        unfolded.data<DataType>(),
+        gpu_ptr<DataType>(in),
+        gpu_ptr<DataType>(unfolded),
         filter_size,
         out_pixels,
         params);
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/copy.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/copy.cu
index 17e414f73..e36bcbdf6 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/copy.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/copy.cu
@@ -5,6 +5,22 @@
 
 namespace mlx::core {
 
+void copy_gpu(const array& in, array& out, CopyType ctype, const Stream& s) {
+  auto& encoder = cu::get_command_encoder(s);
+  bool donated = set_copy_output_data(in, out, ctype, [&](auto n) {
+    return cu::malloc_async(n, encoder.stream());
+  });
+  if (donated && in.dtype() == out.dtype()) {
+    // If the output has the same type as the input then there is nothing to
+    // copy, just use the buffer.
+    return;
+  }
+  if (ctype == CopyType::GeneralGeneral) {
+    ctype = CopyType::General;
+  }
+  copy_gpu_inplace(in, out, ctype, s);
+}
+
 void copy_gpu_inplace(
     const array& in,
     array& out,
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_contiguous.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_contiguous.cu
index 9c2aa9838..6f51734b1 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_contiguous.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_contiguous.cu
@@ -77,8 +77,8 @@ void copy_contiguous(
             num_blocks,
             block_dims,
             0,
-            in.data<InType>() + in_offset,
-            out.data<OutType>() + out_offset,
+            gpu_ptr<InType>(in) + in_offset,
+            gpu_ptr<OutType>(out) + out_offset,
             out.data_size());
       });
     });
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_general.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_general.cu
index 6ac42751a..fec110a86 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_general.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_general.cu
@@ -106,8 +106,8 @@ void copy_general(
             using InType = cuda_type_t<MLX_GET_TYPE(in_type_tag)>;
             using OutType = cuda_type_t<MLX_GET_TYPE(out_type_tag)>;
             using IdxT = std::conditional_t<large(), int64_t, int32_t>;
-            const InType* in_ptr = in.data<InType>() + offset_in;
-            OutType* out_ptr = out.data<OutType>() + offset_out;
+            const InType* in_ptr = gpu_ptr<InType>(in) + offset_in;
+            OutType* out_ptr = gpu_ptr<OutType>(out) + offset_out;
             int ndim = shape.size();
             size_t data_size = 1;
             for (auto& s : shape)
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_general_dynamic.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_general_dynamic.cu
index 7a7f0dca5..96cf6fb5c 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_general_dynamic.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_general_dynamic.cu
@@ -69,8 +69,8 @@ void copy_general_dynamic(
             using InType = cuda_type_t<MLX_GET_TYPE(in_type_tag)>;
             using OutType = cuda_type_t<MLX_GET_TYPE(out_type_tag)>;
             using IdxT = std::conditional_t<large(), int64_t, int32_t>;
-            const InType* in_ptr = in.data<InType>() + offset_in;
-            OutType* out_ptr = out.data<OutType>() + offset_out;
+            const InType* in_ptr = gpu_ptr<InType>(in) + offset_in;
+            OutType* out_ptr = gpu_ptr<OutType>(out) + offset_out;
             int ndim = shape.size();
             if (ndim <= 3) {
               dispatch_1_2_3(ndim, [&](auto dims_constant) {
@@ -90,8 +90,8 @@ void copy_general_dynamic(
                     const_param<dims_constant()>(shape),
                     const_param<dims_constant()>(strides_in),
                     const_param<dims_constant()>(strides_out),
-                    dynamic_offset_in.data<int64_t>(),
-                    dynamic_offset_out.data<int64_t>());
+                    gpu_ptr<int64_t>(dynamic_offset_in),
+                    gpu_ptr<int64_t>(dynamic_offset_out));
               });
             } else { // ndim >= 4
               auto [num_blocks, block_dims] = get_launch_args(out, large());
@@ -107,8 +107,8 @@ void copy_general_dynamic(
                   const_param(strides_in),
                   const_param(strides_out),
                   ndim,
-                  dynamic_offset_in.data<int64_t>(),
-                  dynamic_offset_out.data<int64_t>());
+                  gpu_ptr<int64_t>(dynamic_offset_in),
+                  gpu_ptr<int64_t>(dynamic_offset_out));
             }
           });
     });
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_general_input.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_general_input.cu
index ce8bb1b78..42a027ec5 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_general_input.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/copy/copy_general_input.cu
@@ -92,8 +92,8 @@ void copy_general_input(
             using InType = cuda_type_t<MLX_GET_TYPE(in_type_tag)>;
             using OutType = cuda_type_t<MLX_GET_TYPE(out_type_tag)>;
             using IdxT = std::conditional_t<large(), int64_t, int32_t>;
-            const InType* in_ptr = in.data<InType>() + offset_in;
-            OutType* out_ptr = out.data<OutType>() + offset_out;
+            const InType* in_ptr = gpu_ptr<InType>(in) + offset_in;
+            OutType* out_ptr = gpu_ptr<OutType>(out) + offset_out;
             int ndim = shape.size();
             int work_per_thread = 1;
             auto dim0 = ndim > 0 ? shape.back() : 1;
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/cudnn_utils.cpp b/mlx/backend/cuda/cudnn_utils.cpp
index 20280f2be..e93778056 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/cudnn_utils.cpp
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/cudnn_utils.cpp
@@ -133,13 +133,13 @@ bool prepare_cudnn_plan(
     F&& execute) {
   int workspace_size = plan.getWorkspaceSize();
   array workspace(
-      workspace_size > 0 ? allocator::malloc(workspace_size)
+      workspace_size > 0 ? cu::malloc_async(workspace_size, encoder.stream())
                          : allocator::Buffer(nullptr),
       {workspace_size},
       uint8);
 
   auto args = cudnn_frontend::VariantPackBuilder()
-                  .setWorkspacePointer(workspace.data<void>())
+                  .setWorkspacePointer(gpu_ptr<void>(workspace))
                   .setDataPointers(num_args, data_ptrs)
                   .setUids(num_args, uids)
                   .build();
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/cudnn_utils.h b/mlx/backend/cuda/cudnn_utils.h
index c35c5cac9..b28249678 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/cudnn_utils.h
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/cudnn_utils.h
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@
 #pragma once
 
 #include "mlx/array.h"
+#include "mlx/backend/cuda/allocator.h"
 #include "mlx/backend/cuda/device/config.h"
 #include "mlx/backend/cuda/utils.h"
 #include "mlx/dtype_utils.h"
@@ -23,7 +24,7 @@ class CommandEncoder;
 // Return pointer alignment of |x|'s data.
 inline uint8_t get_alignment(const array& x) {
   uint8_t alignment = 1;
-  uintptr_t address = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(x.data<void>());
+  uintptr_t address = reinterpret_cast<uintptr_t>(gpu_ptr<void>(x));
   for (; alignment < 32; alignment *= 2) {
     if (address % (alignment * 2)) {
       return alignment;
@@ -56,7 +57,7 @@ inline std::array<T, MAX_NDIM> vector_key(const Vec<T>& vec) {
 
 // Helpers used by get_data_ptrs to get pointers.
 inline void* get_data_ptr(const array& arr) {
-  return const_cast<void*>(arr.data<void>());
+  return const_cast<void*>(gpu_ptr<void>(arr));
 }
 
 template <typename T, typename = std::enable_if_t<std::is_scalar_v<T>>>
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/custom_kernel.cpp b/mlx/backend/cuda/custom_kernel.cpp
index ee1778fd8..958516746 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/custom_kernel.cpp
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/custom_kernel.cpp
@@ -279,6 +279,7 @@ void CustomKernel::eval_gpu(
     std::vector<array>& outputs) {
   nvtx3::scoped_range r("CustomKernel::eval_gpu");
   auto& s = stream();
+  auto& encoder = cu::get_command_encoder(s);
 
   std::vector<array> copies;
 
@@ -288,7 +289,7 @@ void CustomKernel::eval_gpu(
       copies.emplace_back(init_value_.value(), out.dtype());
       fill_gpu(copies.back(), out, s);
     } else {
-      out.set_data(allocator::malloc(out.nbytes()));
+      out.set_data(cu::malloc_async(out.nbytes(), encoder.stream()));
     }
   }
 
@@ -356,7 +357,6 @@ void CustomKernel::eval_gpu(
   dim3 grid((gx + tx - 1) / tx, (gy + ty - 1) / ty, (gz + tz - 1) / tz);
 
   // Call the kernel
-  auto& encoder = cu::get_command_encoder(s);
   for (const auto& in : checked_inputs) {
     encoder.set_input_array(in);
   }
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/distributed.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/distributed.cu
index 4d2658534..309ed423c 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/distributed.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/distributed.cu
@@ -15,8 +15,10 @@ void AllReduce::eval_gpu(
   assert(inputs.size() == 1);
   assert(outputs.size() == 1);
 
-  auto set_input_output =
-      [s = stream()](const array& in, array& out) -> std::pair<array, array> {
+  auto& s = stream();
+  auto& encoder = cu::get_command_encoder(s);
+  auto set_input_output = [&](const array& in,
+                              array& out) -> std::pair<array, array> {
     if (!in.flags().row_contiguous) {
       copy_gpu(in, out, CopyType::General, s);
       return {out, out};
@@ -24,19 +26,17 @@ void AllReduce::eval_gpu(
       out.copy_shared_buffer(in);
       return {in, out};
     } else {
-      out.set_data(allocator::malloc(out.nbytes()));
+      out.set_data(cu::malloc_async(out.nbytes(), encoder.stream()));
       return {in, out};
     }
   };
 
   auto [input, output] = set_input_output(inputs[0], outputs[0]);
 
-  auto& encoder = cu::get_command_encoder(stream());
   encoder.set_input_array(input);
   encoder.set_output_array(output);
 
   auto capture = encoder.capture_context();
-  auto& s = stream();
 
   switch (reduce_type_) {
     case Sum:
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/gemms/cublas_gemm.cpp b/mlx/backend/cuda/gemms/cublas_gemm.cpp
index 041784913..60ca2ccae 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/gemms/cublas_gemm.cpp
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/gemms/cublas_gemm.cpp
@@ -241,7 +241,7 @@ void CublasGemm::set_bias(cu::CommandEncoder& encoder, const array& bias) {
       CUBLASLT_MATMUL_DESC_EPILOGUE,
       &epilogue,
       sizeof(epilogue)));
-  auto* bias_ptr = bias.data<void>();
+  auto* bias_ptr = gpu_ptr<void>(bias);
   CHECK_CUBLAS_ERROR(cublasLtMatmulDescSetAttribute(
       matmul_desc_,
       CUBLASLT_MATMUL_DESC_BIAS_POINTER,
@@ -278,9 +278,9 @@ void CublasGemm::run(
 
   execute(
       encoder,
-      out.data<void>(),
-      a.data<void>(),
-      b.data<void>(),
+      gpu_ptr<void>(out),
+      gpu_ptr<void>(a),
+      gpu_ptr<void>(b),
       nullptr,
       alpha);
 }
@@ -321,10 +321,10 @@ void CublasGemm::run(
 
   execute(
       encoder,
-      out.data<void>(),
-      a.data<void>(),
-      b.data<void>(),
-      c.data<void>(),
+      gpu_ptr<void>(out),
+      gpu_ptr<void>(a),
+      gpu_ptr<void>(b),
+      gpu_ptr<void>(c),
       alpha,
       beta);
 }
@@ -374,7 +374,7 @@ void CublasGemm::execute(
         {static_cast<int>(heuristic_.workspaceSize)},
         int8);
     encoder.add_temporary(workspace);
-    workspace_ptr = workspace.data<void>();
+    workspace_ptr = gpu_ptr<void>(workspace);
   }
 
   auto capture = encoder.capture_context();
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/gemms/cublas_gemm_batched_12_0.cpp b/mlx/backend/cuda/gemms/cublas_gemm_batched_12_0.cpp
index 70df21fda..67b8c2754 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/gemms/cublas_gemm_batched_12_0.cpp
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/gemms/cublas_gemm_batched_12_0.cpp
@@ -25,9 +25,10 @@ void CublasGemm::run_batched(
   for (size_t i = 0; i < nbatch; ++i) {
     execute(
         encoder,
-        out.data<int8_t>() + out.itemsize() * i * batch_shape.back() * M_ * N_,
-        a.data<int8_t>() + a.itemsize() * a_it.loc,
-        b.data<int8_t>() + b.itemsize() * b_it.loc,
+        gpu_ptr<int8_t>(out) +
+            out.itemsize() * i * batch_shape.back() * M_ * N_,
+        gpu_ptr<int8_t>(a) + a.itemsize() * a_it.loc,
+        gpu_ptr<int8_t>(b) + b.itemsize() * b_it.loc,
         nullptr,
         alpha);
     a_it.step();
@@ -60,10 +61,11 @@ void CublasGemm::run_batched(
   for (size_t i = 0; i < nbatch; ++i) {
     execute(
         encoder,
-        out.data<int8_t>() + out.itemsize() * i * batch_shape.back() * M_ * N_,
-        a.data<int8_t>() + a.itemsize() * a_it.loc,
-        b.data<int8_t>() + b.itemsize() * b_it.loc,
-        c.data<int8_t>() + c.itemsize() * c_it.loc,
+        gpu_ptr<int8_t>(out) +
+            out.itemsize() * i * batch_shape.back() * M_ * N_,
+        gpu_ptr<int8_t>(a) + a.itemsize() * a_it.loc,
+        gpu_ptr<int8_t>(b) + b.itemsize() * b_it.loc,
+        gpu_ptr<int8_t>(c) + c.itemsize() * c_it.loc,
         alpha,
         beta);
     a_it.step();
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/gemms/cublas_gemm_batched_12_9.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/gemms/cublas_gemm_batched_12_9.cu
index 03aca99d6..c3b6fd379 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/gemms/cublas_gemm_batched_12_9.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/gemms/cublas_gemm_batched_12_9.cu
@@ -183,10 +183,10 @@ void CublasGemm::run_batched(
           num_blocks,
           block_dims,
           0,
-          pointers.data<int8_t*>(),
-          a.data<int8_t>(),
-          b.data<int8_t>(),
-          out.data<int8_t>(),
+          gpu_ptr<int8_t*>(pointers),
+          gpu_ptr<int8_t>(a),
+          gpu_ptr<int8_t>(b),
+          gpu_ptr<int8_t>(out),
           item_size,
           const_param<ndim_constant()>(batch_shape),
           const_param<ndim_constant()>(a_batch_strides),
@@ -200,10 +200,10 @@ void CublasGemm::run_batched(
         num_blocks,
         block_dims,
         0,
-        pointers.data<int8_t*>(),
-        a.data<int8_t>(),
-        b.data<int8_t>(),
-        out.data<int8_t>(),
+        gpu_ptr<int8_t*>(pointers),
+        gpu_ptr<int8_t>(a),
+        gpu_ptr<int8_t>(b),
+        gpu_ptr<int8_t>(out),
         item_size,
         const_param(batch_shape),
         const_param(a_batch_strides),
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ void CublasGemm::run_batched(
   encoder.set_input_array(b);
   encoder.set_output_array(out);
 
-  auto a_pointers = pointers.data<int8_t*>();
+  auto a_pointers = gpu_ptr<int8_t*>(pointers);
   auto b_pointers = a_pointers + batch_count;
   auto out_pointers = b_pointers + batch_count;
   execute(
@@ -271,11 +271,11 @@ void CublasGemm::run_batched(
           num_blocks,
           block_dims,
           0,
-          pointers.data<int8_t*>(),
-          a.data<int8_t>(),
-          b.data<int8_t>(),
-          c.data<int8_t>(),
-          out.data<int8_t>(),
+          gpu_ptr<int8_t*>(pointers),
+          gpu_ptr<int8_t>(a),
+          gpu_ptr<int8_t>(b),
+          gpu_ptr<int8_t>(c),
+          gpu_ptr<int8_t>(out),
           item_size,
           const_param<ndim_constant()>(batch_shape),
           const_param<ndim_constant()>(a_batch_strides),
@@ -290,11 +290,11 @@ void CublasGemm::run_batched(
         num_blocks,
         block_dims,
         0,
-        pointers.data<int8_t*>(),
-        a.data<int8_t>(),
-        b.data<int8_t>(),
-        c.data<int8_t>(),
-        out.data<int8_t>(),
+        gpu_ptr<int8_t*>(pointers),
+        gpu_ptr<int8_t>(a),
+        gpu_ptr<int8_t>(b),
+        gpu_ptr<int8_t>(c),
+        gpu_ptr<int8_t>(out),
         item_size,
         const_param(batch_shape),
         const_param(a_batch_strides),
@@ -312,7 +312,7 @@ void CublasGemm::run_batched(
   encoder.set_input_array(c);
   encoder.set_output_array(out);
 
-  auto a_pointers = pointers.data<int8_t*>();
+  auto a_pointers = gpu_ptr<int8_t*>(pointers);
   auto b_pointers = a_pointers + batch_count;
   auto c_pointers = b_pointers + batch_count;
   auto out_pointers = c_pointers + batch_count;
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/gemms/gemv.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/gemms/gemv.cu
index e1c755039..6966a583b 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/gemms/gemv.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/gemms/gemv.cu
@@ -149,13 +149,13 @@ void gemv(
     auto vec_strides = const_param(b_batch_strides);
 
     if (M == 1) {
-      mat = b.data<DataType>();
-      vec = a.data<DataType>();
+      mat = gpu_ptr<DataType>(b);
+      vec = gpu_ptr<DataType>(a);
       rows = N;
       std::swap(mat_strides, vec_strides);
     } else {
-      mat = a.data<DataType>();
-      vec = b.data<DataType>();
+      mat = gpu_ptr<DataType>(a);
+      vec = gpu_ptr<DataType>(b);
       rows = M;
     }
     uint32_t num_blocks_x = (rows + rows_per_block - 1) / rows_per_block;
@@ -177,7 +177,7 @@ void gemv(
             0,
             mat,
             vec,
-            out.data<DataType>(),
+            gpu_ptr<DataType>(out),
             rows,
             cols);
       } else {
@@ -189,7 +189,7 @@ void gemv(
             0,
             mat,
             vec,
-            out.data<DataType>(),
+            gpu_ptr<DataType>(out),
             rows,
             cols,
             const_param(batch_shape),
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/indexing.cpp b/mlx/backend/cuda/indexing.cpp
index 762a101c2..5c468d2ba 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/indexing.cpp
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/indexing.cpp
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ void append_indices_arg(
     int idx_ndim) {
   SmallVector<const void*> indices(nidx);
   for (int i = 0; i < nidx; ++i) {
-    indices[i] = inputs[i + 1].data<void>();
+    indices[i] = gpu_ptr<void>(inputs[i + 1]);
   }
   args.append(std::move(indices));
   SmallVector<int32_t> indices_shape(nidx * idx_ndim);
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/jit_module.h b/mlx/backend/cuda/jit_module.h
index e2fd0c8b8..801a699d5 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/jit_module.h
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/jit_module.h
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ struct KernelArgs {
   }
 
   void append(const array& a) {
-    append(reinterpret_cast<CUdeviceptr>(a.data<void>()));
+    append(reinterpret_cast<CUdeviceptr>(gpu_ptr<void>(a.buffer())));
   }
 
   template <typename T>
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/kernel_utils.cuh b/mlx/backend/cuda/kernel_utils.cuh
index d889cd590..bd5f7ef80 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/kernel_utils.cuh
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/kernel_utils.cuh
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@
 #include <type_traits>
 
 #include "mlx/array.h"
+#include "mlx/backend/cuda/allocator.h"
 #include "mlx/backend/cuda/device/utils.cuh"
 
 #include <cuda.h>
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/layer_norm.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/layer_norm.cu
index c1dc2833a..30cc6b837 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/layer_norm.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/layer_norm.cu
@@ -280,10 +280,10 @@ void LayerNorm::eval_gpu(
           n_rows,
           block_dim(),
           0,
-          x.data<DataType>(),
-          w.data<DataType>(),
-          b.data<DataType>(),
-          out.data<DataType>(),
+          gpu_ptr<DataType>(x),
+          gpu_ptr<DataType>(w),
+          gpu_ptr<DataType>(b),
+          gpu_ptr<DataType>(out),
           eps_,
           axis_size,
           w_stride,
@@ -393,11 +393,11 @@ void LayerNormVJP::eval_gpu(
                 n_rows,
                 block_dim(),
                 0,
-                x.data<DataType>(),
-                w.data<DataType>(),
-                g.data<DataType>(),
-                gx.data<DataType>(),
-                gw_temp.data<DataType>(),
+                gpu_ptr<DataType>(x),
+                gpu_ptr<DataType>(w),
+                gpu_ptr<DataType>(g),
+                gpu_ptr<DataType>(gx),
+                gpu_ptr<DataType>(gw_temp),
                 eps_,
                 axis_size,
                 w_stride);
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/logsumexp.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/logsumexp.cu
index e7641c05d..a3841a957 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/logsumexp.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/logsumexp.cu
@@ -151,8 +151,8 @@ void LogSumExp::eval_gpu(const std::vector<array>& inputs, array& out) {
           n_rows,
           block_dim(),
           0,
-          in.data<DataType>(),
-          out.data<DataType>(),
+          gpu_ptr<DataType>(in),
+          gpu_ptr<DataType>(out),
           axis_size);
     });
   });
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/quantized/affine_quantize.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/quantized/affine_quantize.cu
index a64597a88..da4b34135 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/quantized/affine_quantize.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/quantized/affine_quantize.cu
@@ -262,10 +262,10 @@ void affine_quantize(
             num_blocks,
             block_dims,
             0,
-            w.data<T>(),
-            wq.data<uint8_t>(),
-            scales.data<T>(),
-            biases.data<T>(),
+            gpu_ptr<T>(w),
+            gpu_ptr<uint8_t>(wq),
+            gpu_ptr<T>(scales),
+            gpu_ptr<T>(biases),
             w.size());
       });
     });
@@ -318,10 +318,10 @@ void affine_dequantize(
             num_blocks,
             block_dims,
             0,
-            wq.data<uint8_t>(),
-            scales.data<T>(),
-            biases.data<T>(),
-            w.data<T>(),
+            gpu_ptr<uint8_t>(wq),
+            gpu_ptr<T>(scales),
+            gpu_ptr<T>(biases),
+            gpu_ptr<T>(w),
             w.size());
       });
     });
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/quantized/fp_quantize.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/quantized/fp_quantize.cu
index 0f979dfb0..45c61baf5 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/quantized/fp_quantize.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/quantized/fp_quantize.cu
@@ -156,9 +156,9 @@ void fp_quantize(
           num_blocks,
           block_dims,
           0,
-          w.data<T>(),
-          wq.data<uint8_t>(),
-          scales.data<uint8_t>(),
+          gpu_ptr<T>(w),
+          gpu_ptr<uint8_t>(wq),
+          gpu_ptr<uint8_t>(scales),
           w.size());
     } else {
       throw std::runtime_error(
@@ -202,9 +202,9 @@ void fp_dequantize(
           num_blocks,
           block_dims,
           0,
-          wq.data<uint8_t>(),
-          scales.data<T>(),
-          w.data<T>(),
+          gpu_ptr<uint8_t>(wq),
+          gpu_ptr<uint8_t>(scales),
+          gpu_ptr<T>(w),
           w.size());
     } else {
       throw std::runtime_error(
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/quantized/quantized.cpp b/mlx/backend/cuda/quantized/quantized.cpp
index 58710834f..f221abc50 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/quantized/quantized.cpp
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/quantized/quantized.cpp
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ void fast::Quantize::eval_gpu(
     auto scales = ensure_row_contiguous(inputs[1], enc, s);
     auto& w = outputs[0];
 
-    w.set_data(allocator::malloc(w.nbytes()));
+    w.set_data(cu::malloc_async(w.nbytes(), enc.stream()));
 
     if (mode_ == QuantizationMode::Affine) {
       auto biases = ensure_row_contiguous(inputs[2], enc, s);
@@ -72,8 +72,8 @@ void fast::Quantize::eval_gpu(
     auto& wq = outputs[0];
     auto& scales = outputs[1];
 
-    wq.set_data(allocator::malloc(wq.nbytes()));
-    scales.set_data(allocator::malloc(scales.nbytes()));
+    wq.set_data(cu::malloc_async(wq.nbytes(), enc.stream()));
+    scales.set_data(cu::malloc_async(scales.nbytes(), enc.stream()));
     if (mode_ == QuantizationMode::Affine) {
       auto& biases = outputs[2];
       biases.set_data(allocator::malloc(biases.nbytes()));
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/random.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/random.cu
index 26a3eb8b7..68dcacdc7 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/random.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/random.cu
@@ -143,7 +143,9 @@ void RandomBits::eval_gpu(const std::vector<array>& inputs, array& out) {
 
   uint32_t elems_per_key = out.size() / num_keys;
   uint32_t bytes_per_key = out.itemsize() * elems_per_key;
-  out.set_data(allocator::malloc(out.nbytes()));
+  auto& s = stream();
+  auto& encoder = cu::get_command_encoder(s);
+  out.set_data(cu::malloc_async(out.nbytes(), encoder.stream()));
   if (out.size() == 0) {
     return;
   }
@@ -152,8 +154,6 @@ void RandomBits::eval_gpu(const std::vector<array>& inputs, array& out) {
   uint32_t half_size = out_per_key / 2;
   bool odd = out_per_key % 2;
 
-  auto& s = stream();
-  auto& encoder = cu::get_command_encoder(s);
   encoder.set_input_array(keys);
   encoder.set_output_array(out);
   dim3 grid_dims{num_keys, half_size + odd};
@@ -171,8 +171,8 @@ void RandomBits::eval_gpu(const std::vector<array>& inputs, array& out) {
         grid,
         block,
         0,
-        keys.data<uint32_t>(),
-        out.data<uint8_t>(),
+        gpu_ptr<uint32_t>(keys),
+        gpu_ptr<uint8_t>(out),
         grid_dims,
         odd,
         bytes_per_key);
@@ -182,8 +182,8 @@ void RandomBits::eval_gpu(const std::vector<array>& inputs, array& out) {
         grid,
         block,
         0,
-        keys.data<uint32_t>(),
-        out.data<uint8_t>(),
+        gpu_ptr<uint32_t>(keys),
+        gpu_ptr<uint8_t>(out),
         grid_dims,
         odd,
         bytes_per_key,
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/all_reduce.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/all_reduce.cu
index b815597bd..685bbefa8 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/all_reduce.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/all_reduce.cu
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ void all_reduce(
     Reduce::ReduceType reduce_type) {
   constexpr int N_READS = 8;
 
-  out.set_data(allocator::malloc(out.nbytes()));
+  out.set_data(cu::malloc_async(out.nbytes(), encoder.stream()));
 
   auto get_args = [](size_t size, int N) {
     int threads = std::min(512UL, (size + N - 1) / N);
@@ -100,14 +100,15 @@ void all_reduce(
   Dtype dt = in.dtype();
 
   // Cub doesn't like const pointers for load (sigh).
-  void* indata = const_cast<void*>(in.data<void>());
+  void* indata = const_cast<void*>(gpu_ptr<void>(in));
 
   // Large array so allocate an intermediate and accumulate there
   std::tie(blocks, threads, block_step) = get_args(insize, N_READS);
   encoder.set_input_array(in);
   if (blocks > 1) {
     array intermediate({blocks}, out.dtype(), nullptr, {});
-    intermediate.set_data(allocator::malloc(intermediate.nbytes()));
+    intermediate.set_data(
+        cu::malloc_async(intermediate.nbytes(), encoder.stream()));
     encoder.add_temporary(intermediate);
     encoder.set_output_array(intermediate);
     dispatch_all_types(dt, [&](auto type_tag) {
@@ -122,14 +123,14 @@ void all_reduce(
             threads,
             0,
             static_cast<T*>(indata),
-            intermediate.data<U>(),
+            gpu_ptr<U>(intermediate),
             block_step,
             insize);
       });
     });
 
     // Set the input for the next step and recalculate the blocks
-    indata = intermediate.data<void>();
+    indata = gpu_ptr<void>(intermediate);
     dt = intermediate.dtype();
     insize = intermediate.size();
     std::tie(blocks, threads, block_step) = get_args(insize, N_READS);
@@ -149,7 +150,7 @@ void all_reduce(
           threads,
           0,
           static_cast<T*>(indata),
-          out.data<U>(),
+          gpu_ptr<U>(out),
           block_step,
           insize);
     });
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/col_reduce.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/col_reduce.cu
index feafc2fb0..fb81079a5 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/col_reduce.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/col_reduce.cu
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ void col_reduce_looped(
     const cu::ColReduceArgs& args) {
   // Allocate data for the output using in's layout to access them as
   // contiguously as possible.
-  allocate_same_layout(out, in, axes);
+  allocate_same_layout(out, in, axes, encoder);
 
   encoder.set_input_array(in);
   encoder.set_output_array(out);
@@ -261,7 +261,7 @@ void col_reduce_looped(
         using T = cuda_type_t<MLX_GET_TYPE(type_tag)>;
         using U = typename cu::ReduceResult<OP, T>::type;
         // Cub doesn't like const pointers for vectorized loads. (sigh)
-        T* indata = const_cast<T*>(in.data<T>());
+        T* indata = const_cast<T*>(gpu_ptr<T>(in));
 
         constexpr int N_READS = 4;
         constexpr int BM = 32;
@@ -276,7 +276,7 @@ void col_reduce_looped(
             blocks,
             0,
             indata,
-            out.data<U>(),
+            gpu_ptr<U>(out),
             static_cast<cu::ColReduceArgs>(args));
       });
     });
@@ -293,7 +293,7 @@ void col_reduce_small(
     const cu::ColReduceArgs& args) {
   // Allocate data for the output using in's layout to access them as
   // contiguously as possible.
-  allocate_same_layout(out, in, axes);
+  allocate_same_layout(out, in, axes, encoder);
 
   encoder.set_input_array(in);
   encoder.set_output_array(out);
@@ -312,8 +312,8 @@ void col_reduce_small(
           grid,
           block,
           0,
-          in.data<T>(),
-          out.data<U>(),
+          gpu_ptr<T>(in),
+          gpu_ptr<U>(out),
           static_cast<cu::ColReduceArgs>(args),
           out.size());
     });
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/init_reduce.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/init_reduce.cu
index 8c0d380f5..40e3d6859 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/init_reduce.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/init_reduce.cu
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ void init_reduce(
     Reduce::ReduceType reduce_type) {
   // Allocate if needed
   if (out.data_shared_ptr() == nullptr) {
-    out.set_data(allocator::malloc(out.nbytes()));
+    out.set_data(cu::malloc_async(out.nbytes(), encoder.stream()));
   }
 
   encoder.set_output_array(out);
@@ -42,7 +42,7 @@ void init_reduce(
       dim3 block(grid.x < 1024 ? grid.x : 1024, 1, 1);
       grid.x = (grid.x + 1023) / 1024;
       encoder.add_kernel_node(
-          kernel, grid, block, 0, out.data<U>(), out.size());
+          kernel, grid, block, 0, gpu_ptr<U>(out), out.size());
     });
   });
 }
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/reduce_utils.cuh b/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/reduce_utils.cuh
index d993bacbb..0323c3184 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/reduce_utils.cuh
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/reduce_utils.cuh
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 #include <numeric>
 
 #include "mlx/backend/common/utils.h"
+#include "mlx/backend/cuda/device.h"
 #include "mlx/backend/cuda/device/utils.cuh"
 
 #include <cooperative_groups.h>
@@ -92,9 +93,10 @@ block_reduce(Block block, Warp warp, T (&vals)[N], T* smem, Op op, T init) {
 inline void allocate_same_layout(
     array& out,
     const array& in,
-    const std::vector<int>& axes) {
+    const std::vector<int>& axes,
+    cu::CommandEncoder& encoder) {
   if (in.flags().row_contiguous) {
-    out.set_data(allocator::malloc(out.nbytes()));
+    out.set_data(cu::malloc_async(out.nbytes(), encoder.stream()));
     return;
   }
 
@@ -133,7 +135,7 @@ inline void allocate_same_layout(
   fl.col_contiguous = cc;
   fl.contiguous = true;
   out.set_data(
-      allocator::malloc(out.nbytes()),
+      cu::malloc_async(out.nbytes(), encoder.stream()),
       data_size,
       final_strides,
       fl,
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/row_reduce.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/row_reduce.cu
index 1ae46d0a3..ea99e1132 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/row_reduce.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/reduce/row_reduce.cu
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@ void row_reduce_simple(
     const ReductionPlan& plan) {
   // Allocate data for the output using in's layout to avoid elem_to_loc in the
   // kernel.
-  allocate_same_layout(out, in, axes);
+  allocate_same_layout(out, in, axes, encoder);
 
   // TODO: If out.size() < 1024 which will be a common case then write this in
   //       2 passes. Something like 32 * out.size() and then do a warp reduce.
@@ -268,10 +268,10 @@ void row_reduce_simple(
         kernel = cu::row_reduce_simple<T, U, OP, N_READS, 2>;
       }
 
-      T* indata = const_cast<T*>(in.data<T>());
+      T* indata = const_cast<T*>(gpu_ptr<T>(in));
       int size = plan.shape.back();
       encoder.add_kernel_node(
-          kernel, grid, block, 0, indata, out.data<U>(), out.size(), size);
+          kernel, grid, block, 0, indata, gpu_ptr<U>(out), out.size(), size);
     });
   });
 }
@@ -286,7 +286,7 @@ void row_reduce_looped(
     cu::RowReduceArgs args) {
   // Allocate data for the output using in's layout to access them as
   // contiguously as possible.
-  allocate_same_layout(out, in, axes);
+  allocate_same_layout(out, in, axes, encoder);
 
   encoder.set_input_array(in);
   encoder.set_output_array(out);
@@ -315,7 +315,7 @@ void row_reduce_looped(
       });
 
       encoder.add_kernel_node(
-          kernel, grid, block, 0, in.data<T>(), out.data<U>(), args);
+          kernel, grid, block, 0, gpu_ptr<T>(in), gpu_ptr<U>(out), args);
     });
   });
 }
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/rms_norm.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/rms_norm.cu
index f0cce445c..8d5d02238 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/rms_norm.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/rms_norm.cu
@@ -223,9 +223,9 @@ void RMSNorm::eval_gpu(
           n_rows,
           block_dim(),
           0,
-          x.data<DataType>(),
-          w.data<DataType>(),
-          out.data<DataType>(),
+          gpu_ptr<DataType>(x),
+          gpu_ptr<DataType>(w),
+          gpu_ptr<DataType>(out),
           eps_,
           axis_size,
           w_stride);
@@ -318,11 +318,11 @@ void RMSNormVJP::eval_gpu(
                 n_rows,
                 block_dim(),
                 0,
-                x.data<DataType>(),
-                w.data<DataType>(),
-                g.data<DataType>(),
-                gx.data<DataType>(),
-                gw_temp.data<DataType>(),
+                gpu_ptr<DataType>(x),
+                gpu_ptr<DataType>(w),
+                gpu_ptr<DataType>(g),
+                gpu_ptr<DataType>(gx),
+                gpu_ptr<DataType>(gw_temp),
                 eps_,
                 axis_size,
                 w_stride);
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/rope.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/rope.cu
index 84de58a63..67285e884 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/rope.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/rope.cu
@@ -340,9 +340,9 @@ void RoPE::eval_gpu(
               grid,
               block,
               0,
-              (donated ? out : in).data<DataType>(),
-              out.data<DataType>(),
-              offset.data<int32_t>(),
+              gpu_ptr<DataType>(donated ? out : in),
+              gpu_ptr<DataType>(out),
+              gpu_ptr<int32_t>(offset),
               scale_,
               std::log2(base_),
               mat_size,
@@ -357,10 +357,10 @@ void RoPE::eval_gpu(
               grid,
               block,
               0,
-              (donated ? out : in).data<DataType>(),
-              out.data<DataType>(),
-              offset.data<int32_t>(),
-              inputs[2].data<float>(),
+              gpu_ptr<DataType>(donated ? out : in),
+              gpu_ptr<DataType>(out),
+              gpu_ptr<int32_t>(offset),
+              gpu_ptr<float>(inputs[2]),
               scale_,
               mat_size,
               dims,
@@ -381,10 +381,10 @@ void RoPE::eval_gpu(
               grid,
               block,
               0,
-              (donated ? out : in).data<DataType>(),
-              out.data<DataType>(),
-              offset.data<int32_t>(),
-              inputs[2].data<float>(),
+              gpu_ptr<DataType>(donated ? out : in),
+              gpu_ptr<DataType>(out),
+              gpu_ptr<int32_t>(offset),
+              gpu_ptr<float>(inputs[2]),
               scale_,
               std::log2(base_),
               strides,
@@ -408,9 +408,9 @@ void RoPE::eval_gpu(
               grid,
               block,
               0,
-              (donated ? out : in).data<DataType>(),
-              out.data<DataType>(),
-              offset.data<int32_t>(),
+              gpu_ptr<DataType>(donated ? out : in),
+              gpu_ptr<DataType>(out),
+              gpu_ptr<int32_t>(offset),
               scale_,
               std::log2(base_),
               strides,
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/scaled_dot_product_attention.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/scaled_dot_product_attention.cu
index be6968702..151fca041 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/scaled_dot_product_attention.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/scaled_dot_product_attention.cu
@@ -513,11 +513,11 @@ void sdpa_vector_1pass_fallback(
             grid_dim,
             block_dim,
             0,
-            q.data<DataType>(),
-            k.data<DataType>(),
-            v.data<DataType>(),
-            o.data<DataType>(),
-            sinks ? (*sinks).data<DataType>() : nullptr,
+            gpu_ptr<DataType>(q),
+            gpu_ptr<DataType>(k),
+            gpu_ptr<DataType>(v),
+            gpu_ptr<DataType>(o),
+            sinks ? gpu_ptr<DataType>(*sinks) : nullptr,
             params);
       });
     });
@@ -602,13 +602,13 @@ void sdpa_vector_2pass_fallback(
               grid_dim,
               block_dim,
               0,
-              q.data<DataType>(),
-              k.data<DataType>(),
-              v.data<DataType>(),
-              sinks ? (*sinks).data<DataType>() : nullptr,
-              intermediate.data<float>(),
-              sums.data<float>(),
-              maxs.data<float>(),
+              gpu_ptr<DataType>(q),
+              gpu_ptr<DataType>(k),
+              gpu_ptr<DataType>(v),
+              sinks ? gpu_ptr<DataType>(*sinks) : nullptr,
+              gpu_ptr<float>(intermediate),
+              gpu_ptr<float>(sums),
+              gpu_ptr<float>(maxs),
               params);
         }
 
@@ -629,10 +629,10 @@ void sdpa_vector_2pass_fallback(
               grid_dim,
               block_dim,
               0,
-              intermediate.data<float>(),
-              sums.data<float>(),
-              maxs.data<float>(),
-              o.data<DataType>(),
+              gpu_ptr<float>(intermediate),
+              gpu_ptr<float>(sums),
+              gpu_ptr<float>(maxs),
+              gpu_ptr<DataType>(o),
               params);
         }
       });
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/scan.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/scan.cu
index 4d07aed5c..d05cdb94a 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/scan.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/scan.cu
@@ -415,8 +415,8 @@ void Scan::eval_gpu(const std::vector<array>& inputs, array& out) {
                   in.data_size() / axis_size,
                   block_dim,
                   0,
-                  in.data<T>(),
-                  out.data<U>(),
+                  gpu_ptr<T>(in),
+                  gpu_ptr<U>(out),
                   axis_size);
             } else {
               constexpr int BM = WARP_SIZE;
@@ -445,8 +445,8 @@ void Scan::eval_gpu(const std::vector<array>& inputs, array& out) {
                   num_blocks,
                   block_dim,
                   0,
-                  in.data<T>(),
-                  out.data<U>(),
+                  gpu_ptr<T>(in),
+                  gpu_ptr<U>(out),
                   axis_size,
                   stride,
                   stride_blocks);
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/softmax.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/softmax.cu
index cb8e7f35a..e065d0b89 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/softmax.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/softmax.cu
@@ -152,8 +152,8 @@ void Softmax::eval_gpu(const std::vector<array>& inputs, array& out) {
           n_rows,
           block_dim(),
           0,
-          in.data<DataType>(),
-          out.data<DataType>(),
+          gpu_ptr<DataType>(in),
+          gpu_ptr<DataType>(out),
           axis_size);
     });
   });
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/sort.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/sort.cu
index b9f52762c..5becbd496 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/sort.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/sort.cu
@@ -91,10 +91,10 @@ void gpu_sort(const Stream& s, array in, array& out_, int axis, bool argsort) {
         CHECK_CUDA_ERROR(cub::DeviceSegmentedRadixSort::SortPairs(
             nullptr,
             size,
-            in.data<Type>(),
-            discard.data<Type>(),
-            indices.data<uint32_t>(),
-            out.data<uint32_t>(),
+            gpu_ptr<Type>(in),
+            gpu_ptr<Type>(discard),
+            gpu_ptr<uint32_t>(indices),
+            gpu_ptr<uint32_t>(out),
             in.data_size(),
             in.data_size() / nsort,
             offsets,
@@ -115,16 +115,16 @@ void gpu_sort(const Stream& s, array in, array& out_, int axis, bool argsort) {
             cu::thrust_policy(stream),
             thrust::counting_iterator<uint32_t>(0),
             thrust::counting_iterator<uint32_t>(indices.data_size()),
-            thrust::device_pointer_cast(indices.data<uint32_t>()),
+            thrust::device_pointer_cast(gpu_ptr<uint32_t>(indices)),
             ModOp<uint32_t>{static_cast<uint32_t>(nsort)});
 
         CHECK_CUDA_ERROR(cub::DeviceSegmentedRadixSort::SortPairs(
-            temp.data<void>(),
+            gpu_ptr<void>(temp),
             size,
-            in.data<Type>(),
-            discard.data<Type>(),
-            indices.data<uint32_t>(),
-            out.data<uint32_t>(),
+            gpu_ptr<Type>(in),
+            gpu_ptr<Type>(discard),
+            gpu_ptr<uint32_t>(indices),
+            gpu_ptr<uint32_t>(out),
             in.data_size(),
             in.data_size() / nsort,
             offsets,
@@ -137,8 +137,8 @@ void gpu_sort(const Stream& s, array in, array& out_, int axis, bool argsort) {
         CHECK_CUDA_ERROR(cub::DeviceSegmentedRadixSort::SortKeys(
             nullptr,
             size,
-            in.data<Type>(),
-            out.data<Type>(),
+            gpu_ptr<Type>(in),
+            gpu_ptr<Type>(out),
             in.data_size(),
             in.data_size() / nsort,
             offsets,
@@ -156,10 +156,10 @@ void gpu_sort(const Stream& s, array in, array& out_, int axis, bool argsort) {
         // Start capturing after allocations
         auto capture = encoder.capture_context();
         CHECK_CUDA_ERROR(cub::DeviceSegmentedRadixSort::SortKeys(
-            temp.data<void>(),
+            gpu_ptr<void>(temp),
             size,
-            in.data<Type>(),
-            out.data<Type>(),
+            gpu_ptr<Type>(in),
+            gpu_ptr<Type>(out),
             in.data_size(),
             in.data_size() / nsort,
             offsets,
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/ternary.cu b/mlx/backend/cuda/ternary.cu
index 84ae996aa..b1cd99f7d 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/ternary.cu
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/ternary.cu
@@ -168,10 +168,10 @@ void ternary_op_gpu_inplace(
             num_blocks,
             block_dims,
             0,
-            a.data<bool>(),
-            b.data<DType>(),
-            c.data<DType>(),
-            out.data<DType>(),
+            gpu_ptr<bool>(a),
+            gpu_ptr<DType>(b),
+            gpu_ptr<DType>(c),
+            gpu_ptr<DType>(out),
             out.data_size());
       });
     } else {
@@ -211,10 +211,10 @@ void ternary_op_gpu_inplace(
                     {num_blocks_x, num_blocks_y},
                     block_dims,
                     0,
-                    a.data<bool>(),
-                    b.data<DType>(),
-                    c.data<DType>(),
-                    out.data<DType>(),
+                    gpu_ptr<bool>(a),
+                    gpu_ptr<DType>(b),
+                    gpu_ptr<DType>(c),
+                    gpu_ptr<DType>(out),
                     rest,
                     const_param<dims_constant()>(shape),
                     const_param<dims_constant()>(a_strides),
@@ -231,10 +231,10 @@ void ternary_op_gpu_inplace(
                   {num_blocks_x, num_blocks_y},
                   block_dims,
                   0,
-                  a.data<bool>(),
-                  b.data<DType>(),
-                  c.data<DType>(),
-                  out.data<DType>(),
+                  gpu_ptr<bool>(a),
+                  gpu_ptr<DType>(b),
+                  gpu_ptr<DType>(c),
+                  gpu_ptr<DType>(out),
                   rest,
                   const_param(shape),
                   const_param(a_strides),
@@ -256,7 +256,10 @@ void ternary_op_gpu(
   auto& b = inputs[1];
   auto& c = inputs[2];
   auto topt = get_ternary_op_type(a, b, c);
-  set_ternary_op_output_data(a, b, c, out, topt);
+  auto& encoder = cu::get_command_encoder(s);
+  set_ternary_op_output_data(a, b, c, out, topt, [&](auto n) {
+    return cu::malloc_async(n, encoder.stream());
+  });
   ternary_op_gpu_inplace<Op>(inputs, out, s);
 }
 
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/unary/unary.cuh b/mlx/backend/cuda/unary/unary.cuh
index 8f4a02d50..2ffbf1eea 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/unary/unary.cuh
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/unary/unary.cuh
@@ -158,8 +158,8 @@ void unary_op_gpu_inplace(
                 num_blocks,
                 block_dims,
                 0,
-                in.data<InType>(),
-                out.data<OutType>(),
+                gpu_ptr<InType>(in),
+                gpu_ptr<OutType>(out),
                 out.data_size());
           } else {
             using IdxT = std::conditional_t<large(), int64_t, int32_t>;
@@ -182,8 +182,8 @@ void unary_op_gpu_inplace(
                 {num_blocks_x, num_blocks_y},
                 block_dims,
                 0,
-                in.data<InType>(),
-                out.data<OutType>(),
+                gpu_ptr<InType>(in),
+                gpu_ptr<OutType>(out),
                 rest,
                 const_param(shape),
                 const_param(strides),
@@ -207,7 +207,10 @@ void unary_op_gpu(
     array& out,
     const char* op,
     const Stream& s) {
-  set_unary_output_data(inputs[0], out);
+  auto& encoder = cu::get_command_encoder(s);
+  set_unary_output_data(inputs[0], out, [&](auto n) {
+    return cu::malloc_async(n, encoder.stream());
+  });
   unary_op_gpu_inplace<Op>(inputs, out, op, s);
 }
 
diff --git a/mlx/backend/cuda/utils.h b/mlx/backend/cuda/utils.h
index 9e95a84ef..2d5ae59ef 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/cuda/utils.h
+++ b/mlx/backend/cuda/utils.h
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@
 #include <cublasLt.h>
 #include <cuda.h>
 #include <cuda_runtime.h>
+#include "mlx/array.h"
+#include "mlx/backend/cuda/allocator.h"
 
 namespace mlx::core {
 
@@ -15,6 +17,16 @@ class Device;
 
 }
 
+template <typename T>
+T* gpu_ptr(array& arr) {
+  return cu::gpu_ptr<T>(arr.buffer());
+}
+
+template <typename T>
+const T* gpu_ptr(const array& arr) {
+  return cu::gpu_ptr<T>(arr.buffer());
+}
+
 struct Dtype;
 
 // Throw exception if the cuda API does not succeed.
diff --git a/mlx/backend/gpu/copy.cpp b/mlx/backend/gpu/copy.cpp
index 472ee486b..f8caf09cd 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/gpu/copy.cpp
+++ b/mlx/backend/gpu/copy.cpp
@@ -7,18 +7,7 @@
 
 namespace mlx::core {
 
-void copy_gpu(const array& in, array& out, CopyType ctype, const Stream& s) {
-  bool donated = set_copy_output_data(in, out, ctype);
-  if (donated && in.dtype() == out.dtype()) {
-    // If the output has the same type as the input then there is nothing to
-    // copy, just use the buffer.
-    return;
-  }
-  if (ctype == CopyType::GeneralGeneral) {
-    ctype = CopyType::General;
-  }
-  copy_gpu_inplace(in, out, ctype, s);
-}
+void copy_gpu(const array& in, array& out, CopyType ctype, const Stream& s);
 
 void copy_gpu(const array& in, array& out, CopyType ctype) {
   copy_gpu(in, out, ctype, out.primitive().stream());
diff --git a/mlx/backend/metal/copy.cpp b/mlx/backend/metal/copy.cpp
index d9c568e52..c58e7d3c2 100644
--- a/mlx/backend/metal/copy.cpp
+++ b/mlx/backend/metal/copy.cpp
@@ -10,6 +10,19 @@ namespace mlx::core {
 
 constexpr int MAX_COPY_SPECIALIZED_DIMS = 3;
 
+void copy_gpu(const array& in, array& out, CopyType ctype, const Stream& s) {
+  bool donated = set_copy_output_data(in, out, ctype);
+  if (donated && in.dtype() == out.dtype()) {
+    // If the output has the same type as the input then there is nothing to
+    // copy, just use the buffer.
+    return;
+  }
+  if (ctype == CopyType::GeneralGeneral) {
+    ctype = CopyType::General;
+  }
+  copy_gpu_inplace(in, out, ctype, s);
+}
+
 void copy_gpu_inplace(
     const array& in,
     array& out,