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Vertex Shader (VS) Stage
The VS stage performs shading of vertices output by the VF function. The VS unit
produces an output vertex reference for every input vertex reference received from
the VF unit, in the order received.
Geometry Shader (GS) Stage
The GS stage receives inputs from the VS stage. Compiled application-provided GS
programs, specifying an algorithm to convert the vertices of an input object into some
output primitives. For example, a GS shader may convert lines of a line strip into
polygons representing a corresponding segment of a blade of grass centered on the
line. Or it could use adjacency information to detect silhouette edges of triangles and
output polygons extruding out from the edges.
Clip Stage
The Clip stage performs general processing on incoming 3D objects. However, it also
includes specialized logic to perform a Clip Test function on incoming objects. The Clip
Test optimizes generalized 3D Clipping. The Clip unit examines the position of
incoming vertices, and accepts/rejects 3D objects based on its Clip algorithm.
Strips and Fans (SF) Stage
The SF stage performs setup operations required to rasterize 3D objects. The outputs
from the SF stage to the Windower stage contain implementation-specific information
required for the rasterization of objects and also supports clipping of primitives to
some extent.
Windower / IZ (WIZ) Stage
The WIZ unit performs an early depth test, which removes failing pixels and
eliminates unnecessary processing overhead.
The Windower uses the parameters provided by the SF unit in the object-specific
rasterization algorithms. The WIZ unit rasterizes objects into the corresponding set of
pixels. The Windower is also capable of performing dithering, whereby the illusion of a
higher resolution when using low-bpp channels in color buffers is possible. Color
dithering diffuses the sharp color bands seen on smooth-shaded objects.
Video Engine
The Video Engine handles the non-3D (media/video) applications. It includes support
for VLD and MPEG2 decode in hardware.
2D Engine
The 2D Engine contains BLT (Block Level Transfer) functionality and an extensive set
of 2D instructions. To take advantage of the 3D during engine’s functionality, some
BLT functions make use of the 3D renderer.
Processor Graphics VGA Registers
The 2D registers consists of original VGA registers and others to support graphics
modes that have color depths, resolutions, and hardware acceleration features that go
beyond the original VGA standard.
Processor—Interfaces
Desktop 4th Generation Intel
®
Core
™
Processor Family, Desktop Intel
®
Pentium
®
Processor Family, and Desktop Intel
®
Celeron
®
Processor Family
Datasheet – Volume 1 of 2 December 2013
30 Order No.: 328897-004