Ram brandt's List: GPU Processing

The Direct3D 10 pipeline contains three programmable-shader stages (the rounded blocks in the pipeline functional diagram):

* Vertex-Shader Stage
* Geometry-Shader Stage
* Pixel-Shader Stage

Each shader stage exposes its own unique functionality, built on the shader model 4.0 common-shader core.

"Animated Crowd Rendering"

"HLSL programs come in three forms, vertex shaders, geometry shaders, and pixel (or fragment) shaders."

"This section of the site explores the purpose and use of vertex and pixel shaders (sometimes known as fragment shaders) with notes and examples. This section will grow over time as I add more examples and more advanced techniques."

"Pixel Shading is a method used for rendering advanced graphical features such as bump mapping and shadows. Most modern PC games utilize pixel shaders in conjunction with advanced GPUs (Graphics Processing Units) found on most Nvidia, ATI and certain Intel video cards. Pixel Shaders also directly correspond with Microsoft's DirectX platform.

It is extremely important to check each game's system requirements before deciding on making a purchase. If you are not sure what Pixel Shader level your video card can support, there is a chance that your video card will not be capable of running a game that requires an advanced Pixel Shader model - even if your card meets the minimum DirectX requirements.

General Guideline - DirectX Levels and Pixel Shader Versions:

* DirectX 8.0 - Pixel Shader 1.1
* DirectX 8.1 - Pixel Shader 1.3 & 1.4
* DirectX 9.0 - Pixel Shader 2.0
* DirectX 9.0c - Pixel Shader 3.0
* DirectX 10.0 - Pixel Shader 4.0
* DirectX 10.1 - Pixel Shader 4.1
* DirectX 11.0 - Pixel Shader 5.0"

"In the field of computer graphics, a shader is a computer program that is used primarily to calculate rendering effects on graphics hardware with a high degree of flexibility. Shaders are used to program the graphics processing unit (GPU) programmable rendering pipeline, which has mostly superseded the fixed-function pipeline that allowed only common geometry transformation and pixel-shading functions; with shaders, customized effects can be used."

"OpenGL (Open Graphics Library)[3] is a standard specification defining a cross-language, cross-platform API for writing applications that produce 2D and 3D computer graphics. The interface consists of over 250 different function calls which can be used to draw complex three-dimensional scenes from simple primitives. OpenGL was developed by Silicon Graphics Inc. (SGI) in 1992[4] and is widely used in CAD, virtual reality, scientific visualization, information visualization, flight simulation, and video games. OpenGL is managed by the non-profit technology consortium Khronos Group."

"The GeForce™ FX 5200 and GeForce PCX 5300 GPUs deliver best-in class performance and features at a great price. With a GeForce FX or PCX mainstream GPU inside your PC, you can experience cinematic-quality effects, studio-quality color, and the industry-leading performance and rock-solid driver stability you expect from NVIDIA. "