This application relates to an optimization for a technique for filtering an input signal according to a convolution kernel that is stored in a floating point format. A method for filtering the input signal includes: receiving a set of filter coefficients that define the convolution kernel; determining an order for a plurality of floating point operations configured to generate an element of an output signal; and filtering the input signal by the convolution kernel to generate the output signal. Each floating point operation corresponds with a particular filter coefficient, and the order for the plurality of floating point operations is determined based on a magnitude of the particular filter coefficient associated with each floating point operation. The filtering is performed by executing the plurality of floating point operations according to the order. The data path can be a half-precision floating point data path implemented on a processor.