Distributed vertex attribute fetch

A graphics processing system having a plurality of general processing clusters and a primitive distributor that generates a data structure and distributes the data structure to the general processing clusters, wherein each general processing cluster includes a shader multiprocessor and a vertex attribute fetch unit, wherein the vertex attribute fetch unit is configured to:

• receive within a general processing cluster the data structure that includes a pointer, a unique index, and a primitive description, wherein the pointer identifies a location in the unique index, wherein the unique index identifies a plurality of vertices, wherein the primitive description describes a type of graphic that corresponds to the plurality of vertices, and wherein vertex attributes corresponding to the plurality of vertices are stored in a memory external to the general processing cluster;
• parse the unique index from the data structure within the general processing cluster;
• fetch the vertex attributes corresponding to the plurality of vertices identified in the unique index from the memory external to the general processing cluster;
• generate a buffer entry that includes the vertex attributes and a translated primitive description, wherein the translated primitive description comprises pointers to buffer locations;
• and
• store the vertex attributes and the translated primitive description in a memory internal to the general processing cluster.

A non-transitory computer readable storage medium comprising instructions for a graphics processing system, wherein the graphics processing system executing the instructions carries out the steps of:

• receiving within a general processing cluster a data structure that includes a pointer, a unique index, and a primitive description, wherein the pointer identifies a location in the unique index, wherein the unique index identifies a plurality of vertices, wherein the primitive description describes a type of graphic that corresponds to the plurality of vertices, and wherein vertex attributes corresponding to the plurality of vertices are stored in a memory external to the general processing cluster;
• parsing the unique index from the data structure within the general processing cluster;
• fetching the vertex attributes corresponding to the plurality of vertices identified in the unique index from the memory external to the general processing cluster;
• generating a buffer entry that includes the vertex attributes and a translated primitive description, wherein the translated primitive description comprises pointers to buffer locations;
• and
• storing the buffer entry including the vertex attributes and the translated primitive description in a memory internal to the general processing cluster.