Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining whether data needed for one or more operations is stored in a cache and scheduling the operations for execution based on the determination. For example, one embodiment of a processor comprises: a hierarchy of cache levels for caching data including at least a level 1 (L1) cache; cache occupancy determination logic to determine whether data associated with one or more subsequent operations is stored in one of the cache levels; and scheduling logic to schedule execution of the subsequent operations based on the determination of whether data associated with the subsequent operations is stored in the cache levels.

Abstract: Data may be streamed out of a graphics pipeline during run time without preprogramming the stream out. A command stream may be captured, draw commands monitored, and shader output definitions may be parsed to determine how to stream out shader data, for example for debugging. Data may be streamed out from an application without using the application's original code.

Abstract: Data may be streamed out of a graphics pipeline during run time without preprogramming the stream out. A command stream may be captured, draw commands monitored, and shader output definitions may be parsed to determine how to stream out shader data, for example for debugging.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining whether data needed for one or more operations is stored in a cache and scheduling the operations for execution based on the determination. For example, one embodiment of a processor comprises: a hierarchy of cache levels for caching data including at least a level 1 (L1) cache; cache occupancy determination logic to determine whether data associated with one or more subsequent operations is stored in one of the cache levels; and scheduling logic to schedule execution of the subsequent operations based on the determination of whether data associated with the subsequent operations is stored in the cache levels.

Abstract: Methods and systems to sample a subset of primitives from a batch of primitives for cull/no-cull decisions, and to selectively perform a batch-cull operation on the batch of primitives in response to cull/no-cull decisions of the samples. Cull/no-cull decisions may be determined in response to one or more of a sign and magnitude of a z-component of a surface normal to corresponding primitives, using one or more primitive-independent, vertex-based cull codes, which may include a cull code based on 2-dimensional pixel space positions corresponding to the primitives. 2-dimensional pixel space positions may be pre-computed for vertices associated with a batch of primitives in advance of sampling culling.

Abstract: Methods and systems to sample a subset of primitives from a batch of primitives for cull/no-cull decisions, and to selectively perform a batch-cull operation on the batch of primitives in response to cull/no-cull decisions of the samples. Cull/no-cull decisions may be determined in response to one or more of a sign and magnitude of a z-component of a surface normal to corresponding primitives, using one or more primitive-independent, vertex-based cull codes, which may include a cull code based on 2-dimensional pixel space positions corresponding to the primitives. 2-dimensional pixel space positions may be pre-computed for vertices associated with a batch of primitives in advance of sampling culling.