Abstract: Graphics processing unit (GPU) performance and power efficiency is improved using machine learning to tune operating parameters based on performance monitor values and application information. Performance monitor values are processed using machine learning techniques to generate model parameters, which are used by a control unit within the GPU to provide real-time updates to the operating parameters. In one embodiment, a neural network processes the performance monitor values to generate operating parameters in real-time.

Abstract: Graphics processing unit (GPU) performance and power efficiency is improved using machine learning to tune operating parameters based on performance monitor values and application information. Performance monitor values are processed using machine learning techniques to generate model parameters, which are used by a control unit within the GPU to provide real-time updates to the operating parameters. In one embodiment, a neural network processes the performance monitor values to generate operating parameters in real-time.

Abstract: Graphics processing unit (GPU) performance and power efficiency is improved using machine learning to tune operating parameters based on performance monitor values and application information. Performance monitor values are processed using machine learning techniques to generate model parameters, which are used by a control unit within the GPU to provide real-time updates to the operating parameters. In one embodiment, a neural network processes the performance monitor values to generate operating parameters in real-time.

Abstract: Graphics processing unit (GPU) performance and power efficiency is improved using machine learning to tune operating parameters based on performance monitor values and application information. Performance monitor values are processed using machine learning techniques to generate model parameters, which are used by a control unit within the GPU to provide real-time updates to the operating parameters. In one embodiment, a neural network processes the performance monitor values to generate operating parameters in real-time.

Abstract: Graphics processing unit (GPU) performance and power efficiency is improved using machine learning to tune operating parameters based on performance monitor values and application information. Performance monitor values are processed using machine learning techniques to generate model parameters, which are used by a control unit within the GPU to provide real-time updates to the operating parameters. In one embodiment, a neural network processes the performance monitor values to generate operating parameters in real-time.

Abstract: A method, computer readable medium, and system are disclosed for generating multi-view image data. The method includes the steps of processing primitive data of a model to generate processed primitive data that includes multiple position vectors for each vertex in the primitive data, the number of position vectors associated with each vertex being equal to the number of views in at least two views being generated. The method further includes storing the processed primitive data in a buffer. Finally, the processed primitive data may be read from the buffer for each view in the at least two views and transmitted to a raster pipeline to generate image data corresponding to a particular view.

Abstract: A system and method for performing tessellation of three-dimensional surface patches performs some tessellation operations using programmable processing units and other tessellation operations using fixed function units with limited precision. (u,v) parameter coordinates for each vertex are computed using fixed function units to offload programmable processing engines. The (u,v) computation is a symmetric operation and is based on integer coordinates of the vertex, tessellation level of detail values, and a spacing mode.

Abstract: Techniques are disclosed for processing graphics objects in a stage of a graphics processing pipeline. The techniques include receiving a graphics primitive associated with the graphics object, and determining a plurality of attributes corresponding to one or more vertices associated with the graphics primitive. The techniques further include determining values for one or more state parameters associated with a downstream stage of the graphics processing pipeline based on a visual effect associated with the graphics primitive. The techniques further include transmitting the state parameter values to the downstream stage of the graphics processing pipeline. One advantage of the disclosed techniques is that visual effects are flexibly and efficiently performed.

Abstract: A method, computer readable medium, and system are disclosed for generating multi-view image data. The method includes the steps of processing primitive data of a model to generate processed primitive data that includes multiple position vectors for each vertex in the primitive data, the number of position vectors associated with each vertex being equal to the number of views in at least two views being generated. The method further includes storing the processed primitive data in a buffer. Finally, the processed primitive data may be read from the buffer for each view in the at least two views and transmitted to a raster pipeline to generate image data corresponding to a particular view.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a technique for processing graphics primitives in a tile-based architecture. The technique includes storing, in a buffer, a first plurality of graphics primitives and a first plurality of state bundles received from the world-space pipeline. The technique further includes determining, based on a first condition, that the first plurality of graphics primitives should be replayed from the buffer, and, in response, replaying the first plurality of graphics primitives against a first tile included in a first plurality of tiles. Replaying the first plurality of graphics primitives includes comparing each graphics primitive against the first tile to determine whether the graphics primitive intersects the first tile, determining that one or more graphics primitives intersects the first tile, and transmitting the one or more graphics primitives and one or more associated state bundles to a screen-space pipeline for processing.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes techniques for adaptively sizing cache tiles in a graphics system. A device driver associated with a graphics system sets a cache tile size associated with a cache tile to a first size. The detects a change from a first render target configuration that includes a first set of render targets to a second render target configuration that includes a second set of render targets. The device driver sets the cache tile size to a second size based on the second render target configuration. One advantage of the disclosed approach is that the cache tile size is adaptively sized, resulting in fewer cache tiles for less complex render target configurations. Adaptively sizing cache tiles leads to more efficient processor utilization and reduced power requirements. In addition, a unified L2 cache tile allows dynamic partitioning of cache memory between cache tile data and other data.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for mid-primitive execution preemption. When preemption is initiated no new instructions are issued, in-flight instructions progress to an execution unit boundary, and the execution state is unloaded from the processing pipeline. The execution units within the processing pipeline, including the coarse rasterization unit complete execution of in-flight instructions and become idle. However, rasterization of a triangle may be preempted at a coarse raster region boundary. The amount of context state to be stored is reduced because the execution units are idle. Preempting at the mid-primitive level during rasterization reduces the time from when preemption is initiated to when another process can execute because the entire triangle is not rasterized.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for converting alpha values into pixel coverage masks. Geometric coverage is sampled at a number of “real” sample positions within each pixel. Color and depth values are computed for each of these real samples. Fragment alpha values are used to determine an alpha coverage mask for the real samples and additional “virtual” samples, in which the number of bits set in the mask bits is proportional to the alpha value. An alpha-to-coverage mode uses the virtual samples to increase the number of transparency levels for each pixel compared with using only real samples. The alpha-to-coverage mode may be used in conjunction with virtual coverage anti-aliasing to provide higher-quality transparency for rendering anti-aliased images.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for passing attribute structures between shader stages of a processing pipeline. The method includes the steps of receiving data represented at a first level by a processing pipeline including an upstream shader unit, a downstream shader unit, and a processing unit. The upstream shader unit processes the data to generate a first set of attributes corresponding to the data represented at a second level. The upstream shader unit also stores the first set of the attributes in a first portion of a memory system that can be read by the downstream shader unit and any shader units that are downstream in the processing pipeline relative to the upstream shader unit. In one embodiment, the processing unit is coupled between the upstream shader unit and the downstream shader unit.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention includes a technique for processing graphics primitives in a tile-based architecture. The technique includes storing, in a buffer, a first plurality of graphics primitives and a first plurality of state bundles received from a world-space pipeline, and transmitting the first plurality of graphics primitives to a screen-space pipeline for processing while a tiling function is enabled. The technique further includes storing, in the buffer, a second plurality of graphics primitives and a second plurality of state bundles received from the world-space pipeline. The technique further includes determining, based on a first condition, that the tiling function should be disabled and that the second plurality of graphics primitives should be flushed from the buffer, and transmitting the second plurality of graphics primitives to the screen-space pipeline for processing while the tiling function is disabled.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for parallel distribution of primitives to multiple rasterizers. Multiple, independent geometry units perform geometry processing concurrently on different graphics primitives. A primitive distribution scheme delivers primitives from the multiple geometry units concurrently to multiple rasterizers at rates of multiple primitives per clock. The multiple, independent rasterizer units perform rasterization concurrently on one or more graphics primitives, enabling the rendering of multiple primitives per system clock.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present technology are directed toward techniques for balancing memory accesses to different memory types.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a technique for redistributing geometric primitives generated by tessellation and geometry shaders for processing by multiple graphics pipelines. Geometric primitives that are generated in a first processing cycle are collected and redistributed more evenly and in smaller tasks to the multiple graphics pipelines for vertex processing in a second processing cycle. The smaller tasks do not exceed the resource limits of a graphics pipeline and the per-vertex processing workloads of the graphics pipelines in the second cycle are balanced and make full use of resources. Therefore, the performance of the tessellation and geometry shaders is improved.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention sets forth a graphics subsystem. The graphics subsystem includes a first tiling unit associated with a first set of raster tiles and a crossbar unit. The crossbar unit is configured to transmit a first set of primitives to the first tiling unit and to transmit a first cache invalidate command to the first tiling unit. The first tiling unit is configured to determine that a second bounding box associated with primitives included in the first set of primitives overlaps a first cache tile and that the first bounding box overlaps the first cache tile. The first tiling unit is further configured to transmit the primitives and the first cache invalidate command to a first screen-space pipeline associated with the first tiling unit for processing. The screen-space pipeline processes the cache invalidate command to invalidate cache lines specified by the cache invalidate command.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product are provided for multi-sample processing. The multi-sample pixel data is received and is analyzed to identify subsets of samples of a multi-sample pixel that have equal data, such that data for one sample in a subset represents multi-sample pixel data for all samples in the subset. An encoding state is generated that indicates which samples of the multi-sample pixel are included in each one of the subsets.