Sample cache for supersample filtering

A graphics system comprising:

• a graphics processor configured to generate a plurality of samples;
• a buffer coupled to said graphics processor, wherein said buffer is configured to store said samples;
• a cache coupled to said buffer;
• and
• a processing unit coupled to said cache, wherein said processing unit is programmable to filter a first set of samples from the cache to form an output pixel and wherein said processing unit is programmable to reuse one or more of the samples from the first set in forming a subsequent pixel.

A method for rendering objects with a computer graphics system, the method comprising:

• selecting a plurality of sample positions;
• calculating sample values for the sample positions;
• storing the samples in a sample buffer;
• copying a selected set of the samples from the sample buffer to a sample cache;
• filtering at least a subset of the samples in the sample cache to form an output pixel, wherein said filtering is performed once per pixel per frame, wherein one or more of the samples in said sample cache may be reused to form more than one output pixel, wherein said output pixels are stored in a traditional frame buffer.

A method for rendering objects with a graphics system, the method comprising:

• selecting a plurality of sample positions;
• calculating one or more color values for each sample position;
• storing the color values in a buffer;
• copying a selected set of color values from the buffer to a cache;
• and
• filtering the color values in the cache to form color values for an output pixel, wherein said output pixel is stored in a buffer, wherein said filtering is performed once per pixel per frame, wherein said color values in said cache may be reused to form sequential pixels.