diff --git a/test/grouped_convnd_bwd_data/test_grouped_conv_bwd_data_scale.cpp b/test/grouped_convnd_bwd_data/test_grouped_conv_bwd_data_scale.cpp
index 84d013bca7..f1f985883c 100644
--- a/test/grouped_convnd_bwd_data/test_grouped_conv_bwd_data_scale.cpp
+++ b/test/grouped_convnd_bwd_data/test_grouped_conv_bwd_data_scale.cpp
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@
 #include "ck/library/utility/host_tensor_generator.hpp"
 #include "ck/library/utility/convolution_parameter.hpp"
 #include "ck/library/utility/convolution_host_tensor_descriptor_helper.hpp"
-#include "ck/library/reference_tensor_operation/cpu/reference_conv_bwd_data.hpp"
+#include "ck/library/reference_tensor_operation/gpu/naive_conv_bwd_data_gpu.hpp"
 
 using ::ck::DeviceMem;
 using ::ck::HostTensorDescriptor;
@@ -55,38 +55,24 @@ class TestGroupedConvndBwdData : public ::testing::Test
 
     void RunReference(ck::utils::conv::ConvParam& conv_param,
                       Tensor<InDataType>& in_host,
-                      Tensor<WeiDataType>& wei,
-                      Tensor<OutDataType>& out)
+                      DeviceMem& wei_device_buf,
+                      DeviceMem& out_device_buf)
     {
-        auto ref_conv =
-            ck::tensor_operation::host::ReferenceConvBwdData<NDimSpatial,
-                                                             InDataType,
-                                                             WeiDataType,
-                                                             OutDataType,
-                                                             InElementOp,
-                                                             WeiElementOp,
-                                                             OutElementOp,
-                                                             0, /*Num A Elementwise Tensors*/
-                                                             0, /*Num B Elementwise Tensors*/
-                                                             0,
-                                                             ComputeDataType> /*Num D Elementwise
-                                                                                 Tensors*/
-            {};
+        // GPU reference
+        DeviceMem gpu_ref_in_dev(sizeof(InDataType) * in_host.mDesc.GetElementSpaceSize());
+        gpu_ref_in_dev.SetZero(); // bwd data needs zero initialization
 
-        auto ref_invoker = ref_conv.MakeInvoker();
+        ck::ref::naive_conv_bwd_data<InLayout, WeiLayout, OutLayout>(
+            static_cast<InDataType*>(gpu_ref_in_dev.GetDeviceBuffer()),
+            static_cast<WeiDataType*>(wei_device_buf.GetDeviceBuffer()),
+            static_cast<OutDataType*>(out_device_buf.GetDeviceBuffer()),
+            conv_param,
+            InElementOp{alpha},
+            WeiElementOp{},
+            OutElementOp{});
 
-        auto ref_argument = ref_conv.MakeArgument(in_host,
-                                                  wei,
-                                                  out,
-                                                  conv_param.conv_filter_strides_,
-                                                  conv_param.conv_filter_dilations_,
-                                                  conv_param.input_left_pads_,
-                                                  conv_param.input_right_pads_,
-                                                  InElementOp{alpha},
-                                                  WeiElementOp{},
-                                                  OutElementOp{});
-
-        ref_invoker.Run(ref_argument);
+        ck::hip_check_error(hipDeviceSynchronize());
+        gpu_ref_in_dev.FromDevice(in_host.mData.data());
     }
 
     bool PerformConvDataScale(ck::utils::conv::ConvParam& conv_param, const ck::index_t split_k)
@@ -121,10 +107,11 @@ class TestGroupedConvndBwdData : public ::testing::Test
         DeviceMem wei_device_buf(sizeof(WeiDataType) * wei.mDesc.GetElementSpaceSize());
         DeviceMem out_device_buf(sizeof(OutDataType) * out.mDesc.GetElementSpaceSize());
 
-        in_device_buf.ToDevice(in_device.mData.data());
         out_device_buf.ToDevice(out.mData.data());
         wei_device_buf.ToDevice(wei.mData.data());
 
+        RunReference(conv_param, in_host, wei_device_buf, out_device_buf);
+
         std::array<ck::index_t, NDimSpatial + 3> out_lengths{};
         std::array<ck::index_t, NDimSpatial + 3> out_strides{};
         std::array<ck::index_t, NDimSpatial + 3> wei_lengths{};
@@ -149,8 +136,6 @@ class TestGroupedConvndBwdData : public ::testing::Test
         copy(conv_param.input_left_pads_, input_left_pads);
         copy(conv_param.input_right_pads_, input_right_pads);
 
-        RunReference(conv_param, in_host, wei, out);
-
         using DeviceOp =
             ck::tensor_operation::device::DeviceGroupedConvBwdDataMultipleD<NDimSpatial,
                                                                             OutLayout,