Graphics processors with non-correlated workload

A graphics processor comprising:

• a primitive processing circuit operable to process graphics primitives into respective fragment work items to be rendered, wherein the primitive processing circuit is configured to generate one or more queues of fragment work items for rendering, wherein the one or more queues of fragment work items contain fragment work items corresponding to multiple, different sources of fragment work items;
• and
• a rendering circuit for rendering respective fragment work items generated by the primitive processing circuit,
• wherein the graphics processor is configured to issue fragment work items from the one or more queues of fragment work items generated by the primitive processing circuit to the rendering circuit for rendering so that fragment work items from the different sources of fragment work items can be issued to the rendering circuit in an interleaved fashion, wherein rendering of fragment work items from a first source of fragment work items can thereby be interleaved with rendering of fragment work items from a second source of fragment work items,
• wherein the graphics processor is configured to monitor one or more conditions indicative of whether the fragment workload for a respective source of fragment work items is progressing, and when it is determined based on the one or more conditions that the fragment workload for a respective source of fragment work items is not progressing, the graphics processor is configured to start issuing fragment work items from another source of fragment work items.

A method of operating a graphics processor, wherein the graphics processor comprises:

• a primitive processing circuit operable to process graphics primitives into respective sets of graphics fragments to be rendered;
• and
• a rendering circuit for rendering respective fragment work items provided by the primitive processing circuit;
• the method comprising:
• the primitive processing circuit generating one or more queues of fragment work items for rendering, wherein the one or more queues of fragment work items contain fragment work items corresponding to multiple, different sources of fragment work items;
• and
• the graphics processor issuing fragment work items from the one or more queues of fragment work items generated by the primitive processing circuit to the rendering circuit for rendering so that fragment work items from the different sources of fragment work items are issued to the rendering circuit in an interleaved fashion, whereby rendering of fragment work items from a first source of fragment work items is thereby interleaved with rendering of fragment work items from a second source of fragment work items,
• wherein the graphics processor is configured to perform tile-based rendering, wherein a render output to be generated is sub-divided into a plurality of tiles for rendering, each tile corresponding to a respective region of the render output that is being generated, and
• wherein the different sources of fragment work items correspond to different tiles, or sub-divisions of tiles, of a same render output that is being generated so that the rendering of fragment work items from different tiles, or sub-divisions of tiles, of the same render output is interleaved.