> > Here you are comparing different algorithms. A custom sort algorithm will > > perform much better than a standard qsort. I agree. Implementing something > > in hardware does not mean it uses a more efficient algorithm however. A > > hardware implementation is just that, an implementation. It does not change > > the underlying algorithms that are being used. In fact, it tends to set the > > algorithm in stone. This makes it very hard to adopt new better algorithms > > as they are invented. In order to move to a better algorithm you must wait > > for a hardware manufacturer to implement it and then fork out more money. > > As far as I know, every new graphics chip out there right now is programmable - it may have a limited number of operands but the microcode is certainly modifiable. They aren't just straight ASICs.
The chips may (or may not, I have not double checked) be somewhat programmable, but the arrangement of the chips in the pipeline are not. Thus, the implementation of whatever algorithm they use can be tweaked somewhat, but the algorithm is pretty much hard-coded. -Raystonn _______________________________________________ Dri-devel mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/dri-devel
