Patent ID: 7148888

Claim:
A method of processing graphics data for a stream of graphics primitives, comprising: loading a pipeline with HEAD information for a predetermined number of graphics primitives; performing a test based on the HEAD information in the pipeline for a selected one of the graphics primitives to determine whether the selected graphics primitive is to be rendered, the test having a latency of a given number of pipeline cycles; while performing the test, prefetching DATA information into the pipeline for the selected graphics primitive to avoid empty pipeline cycles during the latency of the test; if, during the prefetching, the test determines that a graphics primitive is not to be rendered, aborting the DATA information prefetching for the selected graphics primitive; selecting another primitive; performing a test based on the HEAD information in the pipeline for the selected other one of the graphics primitives to determine whether or not the selected other graphics primitive is to be rendered, the test having a latency of a given number of pipeline cycles; and while performing the test and to avoid empty pipeline cycles during the latency of the test, prefetching DATA information into the pipeline for the selected other graphics primitive, interrupting the prefetching of DATA information into the pipeline for the selected other graphics primitive and prefetching HEAD information into the pipeline for one or more other graphics primitives, if the HEAD information is available, and resuming the prefetching of DATA information into the pipeline for the selected other graphics primitive.