Computing system capable of parallelizing the operation of graphics processing units (GPUS) supported on an integrated graphics device (IGD) and one or more external graphics cards, employing a software-implemented multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem

摘要

A computing system capable of parallelizing the operation of multiple graphics processing units (GPUs) supported on external graphics cards, employing a software-implemented multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem. The computing system includes (i) CPU memory space for storing one or more graphics-based applications, (ii) one or more CPUs for executing the graphics-based applications, and (iii) a bridge circuit operably connecting one or more CPUs and the CPU memory space and including an integrated graphics device (IGD) having one or more GPU. The computing system also includes (iv) one or more graphics cards supporting multiple GPUs and being connected to the bridge circuit by way of a data communication interface, (v) a multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem supporting multiple modes of parallel operation, (vi) a plurality of graphic processing pipelines (GPPLs), implemented using the GPUs, and (vii) an automatic mode control module. In an illustrative embodiment, the IGD has one internal GPU, and the external graphics card(s) supports multiple GPUs. During the run-time of the graphics-based application, the automatic mode control module automatically controls the mode of parallel operation of the multi-mode parallel graphics rendering subsystem so that the GPUs are driven in a parallelized manner.