Graphics processing architecture employing a unified shader

A method of operating a graphics processor comprising:

• receiving, at a first input of a multiplexer, vertex data;
• receiving, at a second input of the multiplexer, interpolated pixel parameter and attribute data;
• performing an arbitration scheme, by an arbiter circuit coupled to the multiplexer, wherein the arbitration scheme determines which data received at the first input or the second input of the multiplexer is to be transmitted to a unified shader;
• receiving, by a unified shader coupled to the arbiter circuit, the vertex data or the interpolated pixel parameter and attribute data;
• processing, by the unified shader, the vertex data or the interpolated pixel parameter and attribute data, by performing vertex operations and pixel operations;
• based on processing the vertex data or the interpolated pixel parameter and attribute data, generating, by the unified shader, an appearance attribute, wherein the appearance attribute is at least one of color, lighting, texture, normal, or position data;
• and
• wherein the arbitration scheme implemented by the arbiter circuit includes:
• determining if there is enough resources available in the unified shader to operate on the vertex data,
• based on determining there is enough resources available in the unified shader to operate on the vertex data, transmitting the vertex data to the unified shader, and
• based on determining there is not enough resources available in the unified shader to operate on the vertex data, transmitting the interpolated pixel parameter and attribute data to the unified shader.