diff --git a/nanochat/dataloader.py b/nanochat/dataloader.py
index 125625f..c97e6d5 100644
--- a/nanochat/dataloader.py
+++ b/nanochat/dataloader.py
@@ -104,8 +104,9 @@ def tokenizing_distributed_data_loader_with_state_bos_bestfit(
         nonlocal pq_idx, rg_idx, epoch
         doc_batch, (pq_idx, rg_idx, epoch) = next(batches)
         token_lists = tokenizer.encode(doc_batch, prepend=bos_token, num_threads=tokenizer_threads)
+        # Pre-convert to tensors once during buffering to avoid repeated torch.tensor() in inner loop
         for tokens in token_lists:
-            doc_buffer.append(tokens)
+            doc_buffer.append(torch.tensor(tokens, dtype=torch.long))
 
     # Pre-allocate buffers once: layout is [inputs (B*T) | targets (B*T)]
     # This gives us contiguous views and a single HtoD transfer
@@ -128,25 +129,25 @@ def tokenizing_distributed_data_loader_with_state_bos_bestfit(
 
                 remaining = row_capacity - pos
 
-                # Find largest doc that fits entirely
+                # Find largest doc that fits entirely (doc is now a tensor)
                 best_idx = -1
                 best_len = 0
                 for i, doc in enumerate(doc_buffer):
-                    doc_len = len(doc)
+                    doc_len = doc.size(0)
                     if doc_len <= remaining and doc_len > best_len:
                         best_idx = i
                         best_len = doc_len
 
                 if best_idx >= 0:
                     doc = doc_buffer.pop(best_idx)
-                    doc_len = len(doc)
-                    row_buffer[row_idx, pos:pos + doc_len] = torch.tensor(doc, dtype=torch.long)
+                    doc_len = doc.size(0)
+                    row_buffer[row_idx, pos:pos + doc_len] = doc  # Direct tensor copy, no conversion
                     pos += doc_len
                 else:
                     # No doc fits - crop shortest in buffer to fill remaining and minimize waste
-                    shortest_idx = min(range(len(doc_buffer)), key=lambda i: len(doc_buffer[i]))
+                    shortest_idx = min(range(len(doc_buffer)), key=lambda i: doc_buffer[i].size(0))
                     doc = doc_buffer.pop(shortest_idx)
-                    row_buffer[row_idx, pos:pos + remaining] = torch.tensor(doc[:remaining], dtype=torch.long)
+                    row_buffer[row_idx, pos:pos + remaining] = doc[:remaining]  # Tensor slice, no conversion
                     pos += remaining
 
         # Copy to pinned CPU buffer, then single HtoD transfer
diff --git a/nanochat/flash_attention.py b/nanochat/flash_attention.py
index 89ca42b..e70f2f0 100644
--- a/nanochat/flash_attention.py
+++ b/nanochat/flash_attention.py
@@ -58,6 +58,39 @@ def _use_fa3():
 # =============================================================================
 # SDPA helpers
 # =============================================================================
+from functools import lru_cache
+
+@lru_cache(maxsize=32)
+def _get_sliding_window_mask(Tq: int, Tk: int, window: int, device_index: int):
+    """
+    Create and cache a sliding window attention mask.
+    
+    Args:
+        Tq: Query sequence length
+        Tk: Key sequence length  
+        window: Sliding window size (-1 for full context)
+        device_index: CUDA device index (0 for CPU/MPS, else cuda device id)
+    
+    Returns:
+        Boolean mask tensor of shape (Tq, Tk)
+    """
+    if device_index == -1:
+        device = torch.device("cpu")
+    else:
+        device = torch.device(f"cuda:{device_index}")
+    
+    # For chunk inference (Tq != Tk), is_causal is not aligned to cache position => build an explicit bool mask
+    row_idx = (Tk - Tq) + torch.arange(Tq, device=device).unsqueeze(1)
+    col_idx = torch.arange(Tk, device=device).unsqueeze(0)
+    mask = col_idx <= row_idx
+    
+    # sliding window (left)
+    if window >= 0 and window < Tk:
+        mask = mask & ((row_idx - col_idx) <= window)
+    
+    return mask
+
+
 def _sdpa_attention(q, k, v, window_size, enable_gqa):
     """
     SDPA attention with sliding window support.
@@ -80,16 +113,10 @@ def _sdpa_attention(q, k, v, window_size, enable_gqa):
             v = v[:, :, start:, :]
         return F.scaled_dot_product_attention(q, k, v, is_causal=False, enable_gqa=enable_gqa)
 
-    # Need explicit mask for sliding window/chunk inference
+    # Need explicit mask for sliding window/chunk inference - use cached mask
     device = q.device
-    # For chunk inference (Tq != Tk), is_causal is not aligned to cache position => build an explicit bool mask
-    row_idx = (Tk - Tq) + torch.arange(Tq, device=device).unsqueeze(1)
-    col_idx = torch.arange(Tk, device=device).unsqueeze(0)
-    mask = col_idx <= row_idx
-
-    # sliding window (left)
-    if window >= 0 and window < Tk:
-        mask = mask & ((row_idx - col_idx) <= window)
+    device_index = device.index if device.type == "cuda" else -1
+    mask = _get_sliding_window_mask(Tq, Tk, window, device_index)
     
     return F.scaled_dot_product_attention(q, k, v, attn_mask=mask, enable_gqa=enable_gqa)