CSR: Small: Flexible Architectures for Future Graphics Processing Systems

我们正在探索能够实现高质量交互式计算机图形的计算机系统体系结构。当前的商用图形处理单元（gpu）能够以交互速率渲染大量三角形，但为此消耗了大量的功率。该研究的目标是开发高性能图形处理的新架构，这将大大提高渲染视觉逼真场景的能力，并且以比当前GPU功率增长趋势消耗更少功率的方式实现。这包括开发新的芯片微架构、存储系统和图形算法。我们主要将光线追踪作为一种渲染算法，因为它能够支持高质量的复合照明效果，如阴影、透明度、反射、折射和间接照明。由于图形系统的改进，人机界面得到了显著增强。我们相信增加视觉真实感将增强商品系统对虚拟现实界面的支持。能源效率是国家的优先事项，减少能源消耗对于降低计算系统的成本至关重要。便宜而高质量的图形将使更广泛的用户能够有效地与信息基础设施进行交互。

We are exploring computer system archiectures that will enable extremely high quality interactive computer graphics. Current commercial graphics processing units (GPUs) are capable of rendering a large number of triangles at interactive rates, but consume a tremendous amout of power in order to do so. The goal of the proposed research is to develop new architectures for high-performance graphics processing that will significantly enhance the ability to render visually realistic scenes, and to do so in a manner that consumes less power than current GPU power growth trends. This involves the development of novel chip microarchitecture, memory systems, and graphics algorithms. We are primarily targeting ray tracing as a rendering algorithm because of its ability to support high-quality composite lighting effects such as shadows, transparency, reflections, refractions, and indirect illumination. The human computer interface has been significantly enhanced by improved graphics systems. We believe that increasing visual realism will enhance commodity system support of virtual realistic interfaces. Energy efficiency is a national priority and reduced energy consumption is critical to reducing the cost of computing systems. Cheap, yet high quality graphics will enable a broader user spectrum to efficiently interact with the information infrastructure.