System and method for efficient multi-GPU rendering of geometry by pretesting against screen regions using prior frame information

A non-transitory computer-readable medium for performing a method, the computer-readable medium comprising:

• program instructions for rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs);
• program instructions for dividing responsibility for rendering of geometry of the graphics between the plurality of GPUs based on a plurality of screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known to the plurality of GPUs;
• program instructions for rendering a first plurality of pieces of geometry at the plurality of GPUs during a rendering phase of a previous image frame generated by the application;
• program instructions for generating statistics for the rendering phase of the previous image frame;
• program instructions for assigning based on the statistics a second plurality of pieces of geometry of a current image frame generated by the application to the plurality of GPUs for geometry testing;
• program instructions for performing the geometry testing at the current image frame on the second plurality of pieces of geometry to generate information regarding each piece of the second plurality of pieces of geometry and its relation to each of the plurality of screen regions, the geometry testing performed at each of the plurality of GPUs based on the assigning;
• and
• program instructions for using the information generated for each of the second plurality of pieces of geometry when rendering the geometry at the plurality of GPUs.

A computer system comprising:

• a processor;
• memory coupled to the processor and having stored therein instructions that, if executed by the computer system, cause the computer system to execute a method for graphics processing, comprising:
• rendering graphics for an application using a plurality of graphics processing units (GPUs);
• dividing responsibility for rendering of geometry of the graphics between the plurality of GPUs based on a plurality of screen regions, each GPU having a corresponding division of the responsibility which is known to the plurality of GPUs;
• rendering a first plurality of pieces of geometry at the plurality of GPUs during a rendering phase of a previous image frame generated by an the application;
• generating statistics for the rendering phase of the previous image frame;
• assigning based on the statistics a second plurality of pieces of geometry of a current image frame generated by the application to the plurality of GPUs for geometry testing;
• performing the geometry testing at the current image frame on the second plurality of pieces of geometry to generate information regarding each piece of the second plurality of pieces of geometry and its relation to each of the plurality of screen regions, the geometry testing performed at each of the plurality of GPUs based on the assigning;
• and
• using the information generated for each of the second plurality of pieces of geometry when rendering the geometry at the plurality of GPUs.