US20120013624A1 - Split Storage of Anti-Aliased Samples - Google Patents

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to improving the performance of anti-aliased image rendering. One embodiment is a method of rendering a pixel from an anti-aliased image. The method includes: storing a first set and a second set of samples from a plurality of anti-aliased samples of the pixel respectively in a first memory and a second memory; and rendering a determined number of said samples from one of only the first set or the first and second sets. Corresponding system and computer program product embodiments are also disclosed.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
• This application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional application No. 61/365,703, filed on Jul. 19, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
BACKGROUND
• 1. Field
• Embodiments of the present invention are related to display of anti-aliased images.
• 2. Background Art
• Edge effects, such as jagged edges, in displayed images occur because real-world smooth edges are not accurately displayed in monitors. Monitors display pixels, which are discrete points on the screen. Edge effects can be visually unappealing. Therefore, anti-aliasing (AA) techniques are frequently utilized to reduce such edge effects. Supersampling and multisampling are two anti-aliasing techniques. In supersampling, the image is rendered in a higher resolution and a number of samples are stored per pixel. In multisampling, the original pixel is sampled in locations and the samples are stored per pixel. When rendering the image to be displayed, the actual pixel value can be determined by taking an average of the stored samples for that pixel. In 4× anti-aliased images, i.e., 4×AA images, 4 samples are taken for each pixel of an anti-aliased image. The samples may comprise color values, depth values, and/or other attributes relevant to displaying an image or scene.
• The rendered images can be stored in graphics processor unit (GPU) memory, system memory, or other memory of the computer system. When anti-aliasing is enabled the memory footprint of an image increases substantially. For example, when 4×AA is being used, in general, each pixel requires four samples, thereby causing a substantial increase in the memory required to store the image. The increase in the required memory footprint can lead to performance degradations due to scalability limitations, bandwidth limitations, and delays in rendering frames. For example, in addition to the large memory footprint, accessing of multiple samples of the same image in memory can cause memory bandwidth congestion.
• What are needed, then, are methods and systems that improve the utilization of memory bandwidth when anti-aliasing is used.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
• Embodiments of the present invention are directed to improving the performance of anti-aliased image rendering. One embodiment is a method of rendering a pixel from an anti-aliased image. The method includes: storing a first set and a second set of a plurality of anti-aliased samples of the pixel respectively in a first memory and a second memory; and rendering a determined number of said samples from the first set or the first and second sets.
• Another embodiment is a system to render a pixel from an anti-aliased image. The system comprises: at least one processor; a first memory and a second memory coupled to the processor; and a split anti-aliased sample writer. The split anti-aliased sample writer is configured to store a first set and a second set of a plurality of anti-aliased samples of the pixel respectively in a first memory and a second memory. The system can also include a split anti-aliased sample reader. The anti-aliased sample reader can be configured to render a determined number of said samples from one of only the first set or the first and second sets.
• Yet another embodiment is a computer readable media storing instructions wherein said instructions when executed are adapted to render a pixel from an anti-aliased image using at least one processor with a rendering method. The rendering method includes: storing a first set and a second set of a plurality of anti-aliased samples of the pixel respectively in a first memory and a second memory; and rendering a determined number of said samples from one of only the first set or the first and second sets.
• Further embodiments, features, and advantages of the present invention, as well as the structure and operation of the various embodiments of the present invention, are described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS/FIGURES
• The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein and form a part of the specification, illustrate embodiments of the present invention and, together with the description, further serve to explain the principles of the invention and to enable a person skilled in the pertinent art to make and use embodiments of the invention.
• FIG. 1 shows a block diagram of a graphics computing environment according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 2 shows an example allocation of multisampled pixel samples to memories according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating the rendering of an anti-aliased image according to an embodiment of the present invention.
• The present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Generally, the drawing in which an element first appears is typically indicated by the leftmost digit(s) in the corresponding reference number.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
• It is to be appreciated that the Detailed Description section, and not the Summary and Abstract sections, is intended to be used to interpret the claims. The Summary and Abstract sections may set forth one or more but not all exemplary embodiments of the present invention as contemplated by the inventor(s), and thus, are not intended to limit the present invention and the appended claims in any way.
• Anti-aliasing is performed to reduce edge effects in the display of images. Anti-aliasing of image frames, such as by supersampling or multisampling, generates a plurality of samples for each pixel of the image. In supersampling, the original image is rendered at a high resolution and several samples from the high resolution image are combined (or averaged) to render the image at the desired resolution. In multisampling, the pixel is sampled at several locations. For example, in 4×AA mutisampled image, 4 samples are taken of each pixel. Storing these multiple samples per pixel can become expensive both in terms of the memory footprint required to store the anti-aliased image as well as the additional memory traffic generated due to the retrieval of the multiple samples during the rendering of an image.
• Furthermore, in the case of most pixels, only a few of the samples are actually used in rendering. Embodiments of the present invention are directed to organizing the anti-aliased samples in a manner to efficiently render images based on them. According to an embodiment, the anti-aliased samples of a pixel are stored in different memories. The different memories can have different storage and access characteristics. The samples to be stored in respective ones of the different memories can be selected based on, for example, the likelihood that a sample will actually be used in rendering an image. By storing only the most used samples in a local memory, such as graphics memory of the GPU, samples of more pixels can be accommodated within the graphics memory, thereby leading to an overall increase in speed of execution and reduction of memory traffic because, for example, the GPU can access all the image data required for the rendering in the local graphics memory.
• In the following description, embodiments of the present invention are described primarily in relation to multisampling. Persons skilled in the art, however, would recognize that other methods of AA can also be used.
System to Split Storage of Anti-Aliased Pixel Samples
• FIG. 1 shows a computing environment according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example,computing environment100 includes a central processing unit (CPU)102 coupled to aGPU104. As would be appreciated by those skilled in the relevant art(s) based on the description herein, embodiments of the present invention can include one or more GPUs shown.GPU104 may be coupled to additional components such as memories, displays, etc.GPU104 receives graphics related tasks, such as graphics processing (e.g., rendering) or display tasks, fromCPU102. As will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art,GPU104 may be, as illustrated, discrete components (i.e., separate devices), integrated components (e.g., integrated into a single device such as a single integrated circuit (IC), a single package housing multiple ICs, integrated into other ICs—e.g., a CPU or a Northbridge) and may be dissimilar (e.g., having some differing capabilities such as, for example, performance).
• GPU104 can include acommand processor112, amemory controller114,local graphics memory116, and ashader core118.Command processor112 controls the command execution onGPU104. For example,command processor112 can control and/or coordinate the receiving of commands and data fromCPU102 to be processed inGPU104.Command processor112 can also control and/or coordinate allocation of memory ingraphics memory116, in general throughmemory controller114.Memory controller114 can control access tographics memory116 for the reading and writing of data. In some embodiments,memory controller114 can also arbitrate betweensystem memory108 andgraphics memory116, so that the data needed for processing can be obtained from either memory.Memory controller114,shader core118, and/orcommand processor112 can have access to amemory mapping134 that keeps track of pixel sample storage locations.Graphics memory116 is, in general, a fast random access memory, such as, for example, embedded DRAM (EDRAM). In general, when compared to system memory,graphics memory116 enables fast access to the GPU.Shader core118 includes processing units which execute various processing tasks, such as graphics processing threads. For example, the processing units inshader core118 can include a plurality of single instruction multiple data (SIMD) processing units. The graphics processing threads that execute onshader core118 can include shader programs (sometimes also referred to as simply “shader”) such as vertex shaders, geometry shaders, and pixel shaders. Other graphics processing threads such as rendering threads can also execute onshader core118. Tasks to be executed inshader core118 can be allocated by, for example,command processor112.
• According to an embodiment,GPU104 can also include other modules, such as, a render operations block (ROP)120, atexture mapper122, a splitAA sample writer124, and a splitAA sample reader126. The logic ofROP120,texture mapper122, splitAA sample writer124, and splitAA sample reader126 can be implemented using a hardware, firmware, software, or a combination thereof.ROP120 includes logic to render a screen to memory and/or other location. For example,ROP120 can include logic to render an image to memory from the output of the pixel processing shaders. According to an embodiment,ROP120 can invoke splitAA sample writer124 to write anti-aliased samples of pixels to a memory.
• Texture mapper122 includes logic to perform texture mapping and/or rendering of an image using the multisampled samples stored in memory. For example,texture mapper122 can read the multisampled samples from memory in order to texture map a graphics object in order to depict various lighting effects. The reading of four separate samples from memory in the case of anti-aliased samples causes additional memory traffic compared to having to read only a single sample per pixel in the case of non anti-aliased case. Furthermore, many applications involve multiple passes of rendering and texture mapping, thereby leading to increased memory traffic. According to an embodiment,texture mapper122 can invoke splitAA sample reader124 to read the multisampled samples that are stored in separate memories.
• SplitAA sample writer124 includes logic to split the set of anti-aliased samples of each pixel before storing them in memory. The samples can be stored in system memory, in graphics memory, and/or in another memory. The samples can be stored in the different memories according to various storage schemes. Storing of the samples in graphics memory yields faster access to these samples when rendering and/or texture mapping.FIG. 2 illustrates an exemplary splitting of samples among memories applied to a set of anti-aliased samples. The storing of samples split among multiple memories is further described below with respect toFIGS. 2 and 3.
• SplitAA sample reader126 includes logic to read the anti-aliased samples that are distributed among multiple memories. According to an embodiment, splitAA sample reader126 is configured to take a request for one or more pixel samples as input specifying a pixel identifier and optionally a sample identifier, and return the values corresponding to that one or more samples. SplitAA sample reader126 can be configured to read the samples by determining the number and location of the samples to be retrieved for rendering. Upon receiving a request for a pixel sample, splitAA sample reader126 can determine the number of samples to be read for the requested pixel and whether to retrieve the samples from the graphics memory and/or system memory. In some embodiments, the determination of how many samples are to be retrieved can be made on a pixel by pixel basis. In some embodiments, the determination of how many samples are to be retrieved is made per frame or at a higher level of granularity. Reading of the AA samples can be affected by the storage scheme according to which the samples are stored in memory. Reading of AA samples is further described in relation toFIGS. 2 and 3 below.
• Computing environment100 also includes asystem memory108.System memory108 can be used for holding the commands and data that are transferred betweenGPU104 andCPU102. In some embodiment, system memory can also includesample storage134. After the data is processed using graphics operations, the processed data can be written back to system memory byGPU104. For example, in some embodiments, processed data fromgraphics memory116 can be written tosystem memory108 prior to be being used for further processing or for display on a screen such asscreen110. In some embodiments, frame data processed inGPU104 is written to screen110 through a display engine109. Display engine109 can be implemented in hardware and/or software or as a combination thereof, and may include functionality to optimize the display of data based upon the characteristics ofscreen110. In another embodiment, display engine109 can receive processed display data directly fromGPU memory116 and/orGPU memory122.
• The various devices ofcomputing system100 are coupled by acommunication infrastructure106. For example,communication infrastructure106 can include one or more communication buses including a Peripheral Component Interconnect Express (PCI-E).Communications infrastructure106 can also include, for example, Ethernet, Firewire, or other interconnection devices.
• In the description aboveGPU104 has been depicted as including selected components and functionalities. A person skilled in the art will, however, understand that one or bothGPUs104 can include other components such as, but not limited to, primitive assemblies, sequencers, shader export memories, registers, and the like.
• FIG. 2 illustrates an example allocation of samples between two memories. According to an embodiment, the anti-aliased samples of pixels can be stored in thegraphics memory116 of the GPU and insystem memory108. For each pixel, the set of samples to be stored in each memory can be determined based on various criteria, such as, for example, the likelihood of the sample actually being used in rendering and/or how frequently the sample is likely to be used in rendering. According to an embodiment, the one or more samples that are most likely to be retrieved for rendering can be stored in the faster memory, such asGPU memory116, and the other samples can be stored in a slower memory such assystem memory108. The example illustrated shows that of the four samples of pixel p,samples0 and1 (i.e., (p,0) and (p,1)) are stored inGPU memory116 whilesamples2 and3 (i.e., (p,2) and (p,3)) are stored in system memory.
• The samples allocated to each memory can be arranged according to any scheme, such as, for example, to improve speed of access and/or storage efficiency. According to an embodiment, the 0^thsample of respective pixels can be stored in contiguous memory blocks, followed by the 1^stsample of respective blocks, etc. An entire surface comprising samples of a specific sample position for all pixels can be stored in a contiguous memory area. The GPU memory can store surfaces for the 0^thand 1^stsamples, and the 2^ndand 3^rdsamples can be stored in system memory.Memory map134 can include, for each surface, its base address and whether the surface is stored in GPU memory or system memory. The location of a particular sample, for example, the 1^stsample of pixel p can be determined based on the base address of the 1^stsample surface, and a stride. For example, actual position can be at an offset of stride multiplied by p from the base address of the 1^stsample, where the stride corresponds to the memory space occupied by one sample. By using a base address and a stride to access the respective stored samples, the amount of memory required formemory map134 to store addresses of the sample locations is reduced when compared to storing separate addresses for respective sample locations.
• In another embodiment, within each memory, all samples allocated to that memory from a pixel are stored in contiguous memory. For example, the 0^thand 1^stsamples of each pixel may be stored in contiguous GPU memory and the 2^ndand 3^rdsamples can be stored in contiguous system memory. In another embodiment, samples can be stored without any particular relationship in stored location to other samples. The samples in each memory can be stored and organized as most suitable to that memory. Addresses of the respective samples can be specified inmemory map134 in a manner that does not require the full address of each memory location to be stored in the memory map.
Method to Split Storage of Anti-Aliased Pixel Samples
• FIG. 3 is a flowchart illustrating a process to split the storage of respective anti-aliased samples of pixels among a plurality of memories according to an embodiment of the present invention. In step302, the ratio according to which samples are to be stored in each memory is determined. According to an embodiment, the number of samples to be stored respectively in the GPU memory and in system memory is determined. The number of samples to be stored in the GPU memory can be determined based on various factors, such as, the size of the GPU memory, the sample size, the size of each surface, number of different images and/or screens for which surfaces are to be stored, and the like. In general, it is desirable to store, for each image and/or screen, the surfaces corresponding to the samples that are expected to be most frequently used. According to an embodiment, for each image and/or screen simultaneously in use, the 0^thand 1^stsample surfaces can be stored in GPU memory and the other samples can be stored in system memory.
• Instep304, the AA image is rendered to memory. In an embodiment, a multisample anti-aliased image is rendered to memory by splitting the set of samples for each pixel between the GPU memory and the system memory according to a previously determined criteria such as the ratio determined in step302. For example, the render target to which the ROP renders the image can be split between the GPU memory and system memory on the basis of the multisample sample identifier for each pixel.
• Instep306, during the rendering of the image to memory, one or more multisample samples of each pixel of the image are rendered to respective surfaces in the GPU memory. The number of samples to be rendered to GPU memory can be determined according, for example, to step302 above. It is preferred to store samples most frequently utilized for rendering and/or texture mapping in GPU memory, so that the respective samples can be efficiently accessed when those samples are accessed during one or more passes of rendering and/or texture mappings that occur in rendering the final image to a screen. The memory address to which the respective samples are rendered can be determined based, for example, upon the base address of the corresponding surface in GPU memory and the identifier of the pixel being rendered. For example, corresponding to each of the four samples generated in 4×AA multisampling a separate surface can be stored in GPU memory or system memory. The position within the corresponding surface of a sample from a specific pixel can be determined based upon the size of each sample and the numeric sequential identifier of the pixel.
• In another embodiment, for each pixel, the number of samples stored in GPU memory can be the same as or different than the ratio determined in step302 based on characteristics of that particular pixel. For example, an application can determine that specific parts and/or pixels of the image to be displayed are to be subjected to several passes of rendering and/or texturing, and therefore the samples of those pixels are to be stored in GPU memory. In an embodiment in which different numbers of samples can be stored for respective pixels, the storage of the samples and access to the stored samples can get more complex, but performance efficiencies may be gained. In yet another embodiment, one or more of the samples that are stored in system memory can also be stored in GPU memory for selected pixels. One or more surfaces comprising such selectively stored samples can be maintained in GPU memory, and a memory mapping function can be implemented to access such selectively stored samples as appropriate.
• Instep308, during the rendering of the image to memory, one or more multisample samples of respective pixels of the image are rendered to the corresponding surfaces in system memory. The number of samples to be rendered to system memory can be determined according, for example, to step302 above. The samples that are stored in system memory, as described previously, are preferably accessed less frequently than those stored in GPU memory. The memory address to which the respective samples are rendered can be determined based, for example, upon the base address of the corresponding surface in system memory and the identifier of the pixel being rendered. For example, as described above, corresponding to each of the four samples generated in 4×AA multisampling a separate surface can be stored in GPU memory or system memory. The position within the corresponding surface of a sample from a specific pixel can be determined based upon the size of each sample and the sequential numeric identifier of the pixel.
• Steps306 and308 can occur sequentially or in parallel to store respective samples in the corresponding memories for each pixel of the image. At the conclusion ofstep308, according to an embodiment, the multiple samples of each pixel for all pixels of the image are stored in the corresponding surfaces in GPU memory and system memory.
• Instep310, a pixel to be read is determined. Reading of a pixel can occur during any one of the one or more passes of rendering and/or texture mapping that occur between the initial rendering of the multisampled anti-aliased render target (steps304-308) and the display of the image on a screen. For example, a pixel can be read as part of a resolve operation to render a display image. Many applications execute multiple passes of rendering and texture mapping in order to render complex imagery and various effects such as lighting effects. According to an embodiment, during a rendering from the multisampled anti-aliased render target pixels of the image are read in a raster scan pattern going from left to right and top to bottom.
• Instep312, the sample to be read for the selected pixel is determined. During rendering from the multisampled anti-aliased render target, for each pixel it can be determined what samples are to be used in rendering the display image. The number of samples to be displayed for the pixel can be determined, for example, based upon various criteria such as the number of objects touching the pixel, whether the pixel is covered by any single object, and the depth at which each object touches the pixel. For example, in 4×AA multisampling, if the pixel is covered entirely by a single object, only one sample need be read for rendering that pixel to the display image. If one object is touching the pixel, but not covering, then two samples can be read to render that pixel to the display image. Similarly, it can be determined whether to read three or four of the samples based upon the objects touching the pixel and the visibility of such objects.
• Instep314, for each sample, it is determined whether the sample is in GPU memory or system memory. The determination as to in which memory the sample is located can be based on a previously determined parameter indicating the number of samples stored in GPU memory. For example, as determined in step302, the 0^thand 1^stsamples for any pixel can be accessed in GPU memory and the other samples can be accessed in system memory. In another embodiment, the determination can be based on dynamic criteria on a per pixel basis. For example, as described in relation to step306 above, selected pixels can have different number of samples stored in GPU memory.
• Based on the determination instep314, the sample is accessed in either the GPU memory (in step316) or in system memory (in step318). The memory address in which the sample is located can be based on the base address of the surface corresponding to the sample and an offset within that surface. The base address for each surface may be preconfigured and/or predetermined at the time of allocation and/or writing of the samples to memory. The offset can be determined based on a known stride based on the size of a stored sample, and a numeric identifier identifying the pixel in the sequence of a raster scan access pattern. In another embodiment, the location for individual samples can be determined based on a memory mapping specifying the location of that sample in memory. For example, in embodiments in which a different number of samples can be stored for each pixel, a memory map can be used to identify the location of specific samples.
• Instep320, it is determined whether more samples are to be stored in the render target. For example, in 4×AA multisampling, for each pixel, four samples can be stored in the render target. If more samples are to be stored,method300 returns to step312. If no more samples are to be stored for the current pixel,method300 proceeds to step322.
• Instep322, it is determined whether the current pixel is the last pixel to be processed inmethod300 in the current image. If yes, processing ofmethod300 is completed. If the current pixel is not the last one in the current image to be rendered to the render target, processing inmethod300 returns to step310.
• Instructions executed by the logic to perform aspects of the present invention can be coded in a variety of programming languages, such as C and C++, Assembly, and/or a hardware description language (HDL) and compiled into object code that can be executed by the logic or other device.
• The embodiments described above can be described in a hardware description language such as Verilog, RTL, netlists, etc. and that these descriptions can be used to ultimately configure a manufacturing process through the generation of maskworks/photomasks to generate one or more hardware devices embodying aspects of the invention as described herein.
• Aspects of the present invention can be stored, in whole or in part, on a computer readable media. The instructions stored on the computer readable media can adapt a processor to perform embodiments of the invention, in whole or in part.
• The present invention has been described above with the aid of functional building blocks illustrating the implementation of specified functions and relationships thereof. The boundaries of these functional building blocks have been arbitrarily defined herein for the convenience of the description. Alternate boundaries can be defined so long as the specified functions and relationships thereof are appropriately performed.
• While various embodiments of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present invention should not be limited by any of the above-described exemplary embodiments, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
• The foregoing description of the specific embodiments will so fully reveal the general nature of the invention that others can, by applying knowledge within the skill of the art, readily modify and/or adapt for various applications such specific embodiments, without undue experimentation, without departing from the general concept of the present invention. Therefore, such adaptations and modifications are intended to be within the meaning and range of equivalents of the disclosed embodiments, based on the teaching and guidance presented herein. It is to be understood that the phraseology or terminology herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation, such that the terminology or phraseology of the present specification is to be interpreted by the skilled artisan in light of the teachings and guidance.

Claims (23)

1. A method of rendering a pixel from an anti-aliased image, comprising:

storing a first set and a second set of samples from a plurality of anti-aliased samples of the pixel respectively in a first memory and a second memory; and

rendering a determined number of said samples from one of only the first set or the first and second sets.

2. The method ofclaim 1, wherein a number of samples in the first set is predetermined.

3. The method ofclaim 1, wherein a number of samples in the first set is determined based on characteristics of the image.

4. The method ofclaim 1, wherein a number of samples in the first set is determined based on a size of a sample and size of the first memory.

5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the number of samples to be rendered is determined based upon objects touching the pixel.

6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first memory is accessible to a processor at a faster rate than the second memory.

7. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the first memory is a graphics memory coupled to a graphics processor unit (GPU) and the second memory is a system memory.

8. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the anti-aliased samples are multisampled.

9. The method ofclaim 1, wherein rendering comprises:

rendering said one or more samples from the first set optionally followed by samples from the second set, according to a predetermined sequence, up to the determined number of samples are rendered.

10. The method ofclaim 9, wherein samples from the second set are rendered if the first set has less than the determined number of samples.

11. The method ofclaim 1, wherein each of the one or more samples is stored in a respective surface.

12. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising:

determining the number of said samples to be rendered.

13. A system to render a pixel from an anti-aliased image, comprising:

at least one processor;

a first memory and a second memory coupled to the processor;

a split anti-aliased sample writer configured to:

store a first set and a second set of samples from a plurality of anti-aliased samples of the pixel respectively in a first memory and a second memory.

14. The system ofclaim 13, further comprising:

a split anti-aliased sample reader configured to:

render a determined number of said samples from one of only the first set or the first and second sets.

15. The system ofclaim 14, the split anti-aliased sample reader further configured to:

determine a number of said samples to be rendered.

16. The system ofclaim 13, the split anti-aliased sample reader is further configured to:

rendering said one or more samples from the first set optionally followed by samples from the second set, according to a predetermined sequence, up to the determined number of samples are rendered.

17. The system ofclaim 13, wherein samples from the second set are rendered if the first set has less than the determined number of samples.

18. The system ofclaim 13, wherein the first memory is a graphics memory coupled to a graphics processor unit (GPU) and the second memory is a system memory.

19. The system ofclaim 13, wherein the first memory being configured for faster access speeds than the second memory

20. A computer readable media storing instructions wherein said instructions when executed are adapted to render a pixel from an anti-aliased image using at least one processor with a method comprising:

storing a first set and a second set of samples from a plurality of anti-aliased samples of the pixel respectively in a first memory and a second memory; and

rendering a determined number of said samples from one of only the first set or the first and second sets.

21. The computer readable media ofclaim 20, wherein the method further comprising:

rendering said one or more samples from the first set optionally followed by samples from the second set, according to a predetermined sequence, up to the determined number of samples are rendered.

22. The computer readable media ofclaim 20, wherein samples from the second set are rendered if the first set has less than the determined number of samples.

23. The computer readable media ofclaim 22, wherein the first memory is a graphics memory coupled to a graphics processor unit (GPU) and the second memory is a system memory.

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