System and method for prefetching data from a frame buffer

A graphics system comprising:

• a frame buffer, wherein the frame buffer includes a plurality of independently accessible memory banks, a plurality of sense amplifiers, and a buffer, wherein the frame buffer is configured to load data from one of the independently accessible memory banks into a corresponding one of the sense amplifiers in response to receiving a level two cache fill request, wherein the frame buffer is configured to load data from one of the sense amplifiers into the buffer in response to receiving a level one cache fill request;
• and
• a frame buffer interface coupled to the frame buffer, wherein the frame buffer interface comprises a plurality of level two cache fill request queues, wherein each level two cache fill request queue is configured to store one or more level two cache fill requests targeting a corresponding one of the independently accessible memory banks;
• wherein the frame buffer interface is configured to select a level two cache fill request from one of the level two cache fill request queues that stores one or more level two cache fill requests targeting an independently accessible memory bank that is not currently being accessed and to provide the level two cache fill request to the frame buffer.

A method of operating a graphics system, the method comprising:

• receiving a request for data from a frame buffer, wherein the frame buffer includes a plurality of independently accessible memory banks, wherein the plurality of independently accessible memory banks includes a first memory bank and a second memory bank;
• detecting whether the request hits in a cache included in the frame buffer;
• in response to the request missing in the cache, generating a first cache fill request, wherein the first cache fill request targets the first memory bank;
• providing the first cache fill request to the frame buffer if the first memory bank is not currently busy and the first cache fill request is an oldest pending cache fill request;
• and
• providing a second cache fill request to the frame buffer if the first cache fill request is the oldest pending cache fill request, the first memory bank is currently busy, and the second memory bank is not currently busy, wherein the second cache fill request targets the second memory bank.

A graphics system comprising:

• a frame buffer, wherein the frame buffer includes a plurality of sets of memory banks and a cache, wherein the plurality of sets of memory banks includes a first set and a second set, wherein the frame buffer is configured to load data from the first set of memory banks into the cache in response to receiving a first cache fill request targeting the first set, wherein the first set of memory banks is accessible independently of the second set of memory banks;
• and
• means for interfacing to the frame buffer, wherein the means for interfacing to the frame buffer are configured to select the first cache fill request from a plurality of pending cache fill requests and to provide the first cache fill request to the frame buffer;
• wherein the means for interfacing to the frame buffer are configured to select the cache fill request if the first set of memory banks that is not currently being accessed, wherein if the first set of memory banks is currently being accessed, the means for interfacing to the frame buffer are configured to select a second cache fill request targeting the second set of memory banks and to provide the second cache fill request to the frame buffer.