Cache memory for high latency and out-of-order return of texture data

A graphics subsystem for a computer system having a distributed text memory architecture, said graphics subsystem comprising:

• a) a texture request generator that generates texture requests and maps said texture requests to a plurality of cache addresses, wherein said texture requests are sent to distributed texture memories of said computer system according to a first ordering;
• b) an address queue for receiving and storing said plurality of cache addresses according to said first ordering;
• c) a cache memory for receiving texture responses from said distributed texture memories, wherein said texture responses enter said cache memory according to a second ordering;
• and
• d) a texture filter for performing texture filtering by retrieving said texture responses from said cache memory in an order corresponding to said first ordering and independent of said second ordering.

In a computer system, a method of rendering pixels with texture data stored in distributed texture memories, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) receiving a plurality texture memory addresses, said plurality of texture memory addresses corresponding to a plurality of cache address of a texture cache memory;
• b) sending a plurality of texture requests to said distributed texture memories according to a first ordering;
• c) receiving texture responses from said distributed texture memories and storing said texture responses within said texture cache memory, wherein said texture responses enter said texture cache memory according to a second ordering;
• and
• d) retrieving said texture responses from said texture cache memory according to said first ordering and independent of said second ordering.