FBRAM: a new form of memory optimized for 3D graphics

FBRAM, a new form of dynamic random access memory that greatly accelerates the rendering of Z-buffered primitives, is presented. Two key concepts make this acceleration possible. The first is to convert the read-modify-write Z-buffer compare and RGB blend into a single write only operation. The second is to support two levels of rectangularly shaped pixel caches internal to the memory chip. The result is a 10 megabit part that, for 3D graphics, performs read-modify-write cycles ten times faster than conventional 60 ns VRAMs. A four-way interleaved 100 MHz FBRAM frame buffer can Z-buffer up to 400 million pixels per second. Working FBRAM prototypes have been fabricated. CR Categories and Subject Descriptors: I.3.1 [Computer Graphics]: Hardware Architecture; I.3.3 [Computer Graphics]: Picture/ Image Generation Display algorithms; I.3.7 [Computer Graphics]: Three Dimensional Graphics and Realism. Additional Keywords and Phrases: 3D graphics hardware, rendering, parallel graphics algorith...

• Type: Conference
• Year: 1994
• Where: SIGGRAPH
• Authors: Michael F. Deering, Stephen A. Schlapp, Michael G. Lavelle
• Keywords: Computer Graphics, Dynamic Random Access Memory, Read-modify-write Z-buffer Compare, SIGGRAPH 1994