Comp 290-21
                        Graphics Architecture


Instructor:     Turner Whitted
Schedule:       TBD
Credit: 	3 hours
Pre-requisites: Comp 236
Text:		Instructor's notes plus reprints of articles


                               Outline

Review of the graphics pipeline

    Presents an abstract model of the graphics pipeline as a
    specification for implementers. This specification provides both an
    enumeration of features expected in modern graphics systems and a
    functional description of each feature. (Discussion of some
    advanced topics in this section will be deferred to later in the
    semester.)

Elements of graphics hardware

    A brief tutorial on digital signal processors, datapaths and
    arithmetic circuits, and especially memory technology. We will
    study both performance and costs of graphics hardware
    implementations. (Discussion of some specific memory technologies
    will be deferred until later in the semester.)

High end graphics hardware systems

    A study of parallelism and inter-processor communication in high
    performance graphics display processors. Particular attention is
    paid to balanced throughput within the pipeline and robustness of
    various configurations under varying conditions, e.g. complex
    scenes which mix large and small polygons. Case studies will
    include current and past SGI products, the entire Pixel Planes
    family, the Evans and Sutherland Freedom series, and some mid-range
    workstation products.

Low end graphics hardware systems

    A study of design choices for small-scale graphics systems,
    particularly single chip rasterizers. We will analyze optimal
    partitioning of tasks between the host and special purpose
    circuits, optimal memory interfaces, differences between PC
    graphics peripherals and game or set-top consoles, and how to cheat
    on features. Case studies will include PC graphics chips from 3D
    Labs, Rendition, and nVidia. I hope to also include any available
    non-proprietary information on the 3D F/X, Lockheed-Martin, and
    Ultra 64 systems.

Graphics libraries

    A review of standard libraries and their APIs. We will evaluate
    workstation libraries such as OpenGL and IRIS Performer as well as
    PC libraries such as 3DR and Reality Lab, paying particular
    attention to how well particular hardware configurations accelerate
    applications written for each library. We will join the argument of
    immediate versus retained mode.

Assignments

    A mid-term assignment will include either analysis or simulation of
    an existing graphics hardware system.

    The final project will be a design exercise which also includes
    either analysis or simulation.