Abstract: A graphics processing unit (GPU) includes a plurality of programmable processing cores configured to process graphics primitives and corresponding data and a plurality of fixed-function hardware units. The plurality of processing cores and the plurality of fixed-function hardware units are configured to implement a configurable number of virtual pipelines to concurrently process different command flows. Each virtual pipeline includes a configurable number of fragments and an operational state of each virtual pipeline is specified by a different context. The configurable number of virtual pipelines can be modified from a first number to a second number that is different than the first number. An emulation of a fixed-function hardware unit can be instantiated on one or more of the graphics processing cores in response to detection of a bottleneck in a fixed-function hardware unit. One or more of the virtual pipelines can then be reconfigured to utilize the emulation instead of the fixed-function hardware unit.

Abstract: Improvements in the graphics processing pipeline that allow multiple pipelines to cooperate to render a single frame are disclosed. Two approaches are provided. In a first approach, world-space pipelines for the different graphics processing pipelines process all work for draw calls received from a central processing unit (CPU). In a second approach, the world-space pipelines divide up the work. Work that is divided is synchronized and redistributed at various points in the world-space pipeline. In either approach, the triangles output by the world-space pipelines are distributed to the screen-space pipelines based on the portions of the render surface overlapped by the triangles. Triangles are rendered by screen-space pipelines associated with the render surface portions overlapped by those triangles.

Abstract: A system and method for protecting memory instructions against faults are described. The system and method include converting the slave instructions to dummy operations, modifying memory arbiter to issue up to N master and N slave global/shared memory instructions per cycle, sending master memory requests to memory system, using slave requests for error checking, entering master requests to the GM/LM FIFO, storing slave requests in a register, and comparing the entered master requests with the stored slave requests.

Abstract: A method of context bouncing includes receiving, at a command processor of a graphics processing unit (GPU), a conditional execute packet providing a hash identifier corresponding to an encapsulated state. The encapsulated state includes one or more context state packets following the conditional execute packet. A command packet following the encapsulated state is executed based at least in part on determining whether the hash identifier of the encapsulated state matches one of a plurality of hash identifiers of active context states currently stored at the GPU.

Abstract: A graphics processing unit (GPU) implements operations, with associated op codes, to perform mixed precision mathematical operations. The GPU includes an arithmetic logic unit (ALU) with different execution paths, wherein each execution path executes a different mixed precision operation. By implementing mixed precision operations at the ALU in response to designate op codes that delineate the operations, the GPU efficiently increases the precision of specified mathematical operations while reducing execution overhead.

Abstract: A processing element is implemented in a stage of a pipeline and configured to execute an instruction. A first array of multiplexers is to provide information associated with the instruction to the processing element in response to the instruction being in a first set of instructions. A second array of multiplexers is to provide information associated with the instruction to the first processing element in response to the instruction being in a second set of instructions. A control unit is to gate at least one of power or a clock signal provided to the first array of multiplexers in response to the instruction being in the second set.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, systems and non-transitory computer-readable computer readable media including instructions for executing a prefetch kernel with reduced intermediate state storage resource requirements. These include executing a prefetch kernel on a graphics processing unit (GPU), such that the prefetch kernel begins executing before a processing kernel. The prefetch kernel performs memory operations that are based upon at least a subset of memory operations in the processing kernel.

Abstract: A graphics processing unit (GPU) includes a plurality of programmable processing cores configured to process graphics primitives and corresponding data and a plurality of fixed-function hardware units. The plurality of processing cores and the plurality of fixed-function hardware units are configured to implement a configurable number of virtual pipelines to concurrently process different command flows. Each virtual pipeline includes a configurable number of fragments and an operational state of each virtual pipeline is specified by a different context. The configurable number of virtual pipelines can be modified from a first number to a second number that is different than the first number. An emulation of a fixed-function hardware unit can be instantiated on one or more of the graphics processing cores in response to detection of a bottleneck in a fixed-function hardware unit. One or more of the virtual pipelines can then be reconfigured to utilize the emulation instead of the fixed-function hardware unit.

Abstract: A processing element is implemented in a stage of a pipeline and configured to execute an instruction. A first array of multiplexers is to provide information associated with the instruction to the processing element in response to the instruction being in a first set of instructions. A second array of multiplexers is to provide information associated with the instruction to the first processing element in response to the instruction being in a second set of instructions. A control unit is to gate at least one of power or a clock signal provided to the first array of multiplexers in response to the instruction being in the second set.

Abstract: Embodiments include methods, systems and computer readable media configured to execute a first kernel (e.g. compute or graphics kernel) with reduced intermediate state storage resource requirements. These include executing a first and second (e.g. prefetch) kernel on a data-parallel processor, such that the second kernel begins executing before the first kernel. The second kernel performs memory operations that are based upon at least a subset of memory operations in the first kernel.

Abstract: A method for use in a processor for arbitrating between multiple processes to select wavefronts for execution on a shader core is provided. The processor includes a compute pipeline configured to issue wavefronts to the shader core for execution, a hardware queue descriptor associated with the compute pipeline, and the shader core. The shader core is configured to execute work for the compute pipeline corresponding to a first memory queue descriptor executed using data for the first memory queue descriptor that is loaded into a first hardware queue descriptor. The processor is configured to detect a context switch condition, and, responsive to the context switch condition, perform a context switch operation including loading data for a second memory queue descriptor into the first hardware queue descriptor. The shader core is configured to execute work corresponding to the second memory queue descriptor that is loaded into the first hardware queue descriptor.

Abstract: Footprints, or resource allocations, of waves within resources that are shared by processor cores in a multithreaded processor are measured concurrently with the waves executing on the processor cores. The footprints are averaged over a time interval. A number of waves are spawned and dispatched for execution in the multithreaded processor based on the average footprint. In some cases, the waves are spawned at a rate that is determined based on the average value of the footprints of waves within the resources. The rate of spawning waves is modified in response to a change in the average value of the footprints of the waves within the resources.

Abstract: An apparatus, such as a head mounted device (HMD), includes one or more processors configured to implement a graphics pipeline that renders pixels in window space with a nonuniform pixel spacing. The apparatus also includes a first distortion function that maps the non-uniformly spaced pixels in window space to uniformly spaced pixels in raster space. The apparatus further includes a scan converter configured to sample the pixels in window space through the first distortion function. The scan converter is configured to render display pixels used to generate an image for display to a user based on the uniformly spaced pixels in raster space. In some cases, the pixels in the window space are rendered such that a pixel density per subtended area is constant across the user's field of view.

Abstract: Processing of non-real-time and real-time workloads is performed using discrete pipelines. A first pipeline includes a first shader and one or more fixed function hardware blocks. A second pipeline includes a second shader that is configured to emulate the at least one fixed function hardware block. First and second memory elements store first state information for the first pipeline and second state information for the second pipeline, respectively. A non-real-time workload executing in the first pipeline is preempted at a primitive boundary in response to a real-time workload being dispatched for execution in the second pipeline. The first memory element retains the first state information in response to preemption of the non-real-time workload. The first pipeline is configured to resume processing the subsequent primitive on the basis of the first state information stored in the first memory element.

Abstract: Improvements in the graphics processing pipeline that allow multiple pipelines to cooperate to render a single frame are disclosed. Two approaches are provided. In a first approach, world-space pipelines for the different graphics processing pipelines process all work for draw calls received from a central processing unit (CPU). In a second approach, the world-space pipelines divide up the work. Work that is divided is synchronized and redistributed at various points in the world-space pipeline. In either approach, the triangles output by the world-space pipelines are distributed to the screen-space pipelines based on the portions of the render surface overlapped by the triangles. Triangles are rendered by screen-space pipelines associated with the render surface portions overlapped by those triangles.

Abstract: A system includes a processor configured to operate in at least a first mode and a second mode. In the first mode the first processor operates to execute an instruction for an entire wavefront before executing a next instruction for the entire wavefront. In the second mode the processor operates to execute a set instructions for a portion of a wavefront before executing the set instructions for another portion of the same wavefront. The system further includes a memory coupled to the processor. The memory is configured to store a shader program for execution by the processor, wherein the shader program includes at least one indication associated with one of the first mode or the second mode. The processor is further to implement one of the first mode or the second mode while executing the shader program responsive to the at least one indication present in the first shader program.

Abstract: Improvements in the graphics processing pipeline that allow multiple pipelines to cooperate to render a single frame are disclosed. Two approaches are provided. In a first approach, world-space pipelines for the different graphics processing pipelines process all work for draw calls received from a central processing unit (CPU). In a second approach, the world-space pipelines divide up the work. Work that is divided is synchronized and redistributed at various points in the world-space pipeline. In either approach, the triangles output by the world-space pipelines are distributed to the screen-space pipelines based on the portions of the render surface overlapped by the triangles. Triangles are rendered by screen-space pipelines associated with the render surface portions overlapped by those triangles.

Abstract: Techniques for handling memory errors are disclosed. Various memory units of an accelerated processing device (“APD”) include error units for detecting errors in data stored in the memory (e.g., using parity protection or error correcting code). Upon detecting an error considered to be an “initial uncorrectable error,” the error unit triggers transmission of an initial uncorrectable error interrupt (“IUE interrupt”) to a processor. This IUE interrupt includes information identifying the specific memory unit in which the error occurred (and possible other information about the error). A halt interrupt is generated and transmitted to the processor in response to the data having the error being consumed (i.e., used by an operation such as an instruction or command), which causes the APD to halt operations. If the data having the error is not consumed, then the halt interrupt is never generated (that the error occurred may remain logged, however).

Abstract: A system and method for protecting memory instructions against faults are described. The system and method include converting the slave instructions to dummy operations, modifying memory arbiter to issue up to N master and N slave global/shared memory instructions per cycle, sending master memory requests to memory system, using slave requests for error checking, entering master requests to the GM/LM FIFO, storing slave requests in a register, and comparing the entered master requests with the stored slave requests.

Abstract: Described is a method and processing apparatus to improve power efficiency by gating redundant threads processing. In particular, the method for gating redundant threads in a graphics processor includes determining if data for a thread and data for at least another thread are within a predetermined similarity threshold, gating execution of the at least another thread if the data for the thread and the data for the at least another thread are within the predetermined similarity threshold, and using an output data from the thread as an output data for the at least another thread.