Advanced anti-aliasing with multiple graphics processing units

A graphics processing system, comprising:

• a first graphics processing unit (GPU) configured to render a first version of a frame using a first multisampling pattern;
• a second graphics processing unit (GPU) configured to render a second version of the frame using a second multisampling pattern;
• and
• a bus connecting the first GPU and the second GPU;
• wherein the second GPU is further configured to identify edge pixels in the second version of the frame and to transfer only those pixels in the second version of the frame that have been identified as edge pixels over the bus to the first GPU, and
• wherein the first GPU is further configured to combine the pixels in the first version of the frame with the pixels transferred from the second GPU to generate a combined frame.

A method for performing multisampling-based antialiasing in a system that includes a first graphics processing unit (GPU) and a second GPU comprising:

• rendering a first version of a frame in the first GPU using a first multisampling pattern;
• rendering edge pixels associated with a second version of a frame in the second GPU using a second multisampling pattern;
• transferring the edge pixels from the second GPU to the first GPU;
• and
• combining only the edge pixels transferred from the second GPU with pixels in the first version of the frame to generate a combined frame.

A tangible computer useable medium having stored control for causing a first graphics processing unit (GPU) and a second GPU to perform multisampling-based antialiasing, the control logic comprising:

• first computer readable program code means for causing the first GPU to render a first version of a frame in using a first multisampling pattern;
• second computer readable program code means for causing a second GPU to render a second version of the frame using a second multisampling pattern;
• third computer readable program code means for causing the second GPU to identify edge pixels in the second version of the frame;
• and
• fourth computer readable program code means for causing the first GPU and/or the second GPU to combine pixels in the first version of the frame with only those pixels in the second version of the frame that have been identified as edge pixels to generate a combined frame.