Method and system for remapping processing elements in a pipeline of a graphics processing unit

A system for remapping processing elements in a pipeline of a graphics processing unit comprising:

• a host of said pipeline for receiving graphical input data from a central processing unit, said host for determining a number of enabled processing elements from a plurality of processing elements in said pipeline that each perform identical functions, said plurality of processing elements for animating, coloring, and lighting a surface of an image;
• a front end for receiving said graphical input data from said host, said front end is coupled to said host, said front end for converting said graphical input data to a format compatible with said pipeline of said graphics processing unit;
• a cache distributor coupled to receive said graphical input data from said front end, and said cache distributor for assigning said graphical input data to virtual addresses of cache entries in a memory cache that correspond with virtual representations of said enabled processing elements;
• and
• a translator coupled to receive said graphical input data from said cache distributor, and said translator for using a translation table for mapping said virtual addresses of said cache entries to physical addresses of said cache entries that correspond with said enabled processing elements and for processing said graphical input data at said physical addresses of said cache entries, wherein modules below said translator in said pipeline address said physical addresses of said cache entries, said plurality of processing elements are coupled to said translator.

A computer system comprising:

• a central processing unit for processing information;
• and
• a computer readable memory coupled to said central processing unit and containing program instructions that implement a method of remapping processing elements in a pipeline of a graphics processing unit, comprising:
• a host of said pipeline of said graphics processing unit receiving graphical input data from said central processing unit;
• after said receiving, the host determining a number of enabled processing elements from a plurality of processing elements in said pipeline of said graphics processing unit that perform identical functions, said plurality of processing elements for animating, coloring, and lighting a surface of an image;
• a front end receiving said graphical input data from said host, said front end is coupled to said host;
• said front end converting said graphical input data to a format compatible with said pipeline of said graphics processing unit;
• after said converting, a cache distributor receiving said graphical input data from said front end, said cache distributor is coupled to said front end;
• virtually addressing each of said enabled processing elements above a translator to virtually process said graphical input data;
• said translator receiving said graphical input data from said cache distributor;
• said translator mapping virtual addresses of each of said enabled processing elements to physical addresses of said enabled processing elements in said plurality of processing elements, said mapping comprises using a mapping table, said translator is coupled to said cache distributor;
• physically processing said graphical input data at said physical addresses of said enabled processing elements, said plurality of processing elements are coupled to said translator;
• and
• physically addressing each of said enabled processing elements below said translator to further process said graphical input data.