Enhanced graphics cache memory

• Main Authors: Smith, Jeffery M, Yau, Daniel J
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 28.01.2003

The present invention relates generally to systems for computer graphics. More specifically, the present invention includes a method and apparatus for increasing the graphics throughput of systems that use an Accelerated Graphics Port (AGP) or other memory interconnect. A cache for AGP based computer systems is provided. The graphics cache is included as part of a memory bridge between a processor, a system memory and a graphics processor. A cache controller within the memory bridge detects requests by the processor to store graphics data in the system memory. The cache controller stores the data for these requests in the graphics cache and in the system memory. The cache controller searches the graphics cache each time it receives a request from the graphics controller. If the a cache hit occurs, the cache controller returns the data stored in the graphics cache. Otherwise the request is performed using the system memory. In this way the graphics cache reduces the traffic between the system memory and the memory bridge, overcoming an important performance bottleneck for many graphics systems.