Graphics system configured to interpolate pixel values

A graphics system comprising:

• a rendering unit operable to receive graphics data, wherein said rendering unit is operable to render a plurality of samples in response to said graphics data, wherein each sample in said plurality of samples corresponds to a location in a screen space of a display device;
• a sample buffer coupled to said rendering unit, wherein said sample buffer is operable to store said plurality of samples;
• a filtering unit coupled to said sample buffer, wherein said filtering unit is operable to generate a first plurality of pixels by filtering said plurality of samples, and
• an interpolating unit coupled to said filtering unit, wherein said interpolating unit is operable to generate a second plurality of pixels to said display device, wherein said second plurality of pixels is generated by interpolating said first plurality of pixels.

A method for generating pixels for a display device, the method comprising:

• receiving graphics data;
• rendering a plurality of samples into a sample buffer in response to said graphics data;
• filtering using said plurality of samples to generate a first subset of output pixels;
• and
• interpolating the first subset of output pixels to generate a second subset of output pixels.

A computer system comprising:

• a central processing unit (CPU);
• a main system memory coupled to said CPU;
• and
• a graphics system comprising:
• a rendering unit operable to receive graphics data from said main system memory, wherein said rendering unit is operable to render a plurality of samples based on said graphics data;
• a buffer coupled to said rendering unit, wherein said buffer is operable to store said plurality of samples;
• and
• a sample-to-pixel calculation unit coupled to said buffer, wherein said sample-to-pixel calculation unit is operable to generate a plurality of pixels for display device on a display device, wherein a first subset of said plurality of pixels is generated by filtering said plurality of samples, and wherein a second subset of said plurality of pixels is generated by interpolating using said first subset of said plurality of pixels.