
Intel
82815EM GMCH
R
Datasheet
139
The GMCH2-M also supports an optional display cache. As an improvement on the VGA standard
display cache port-hole, the GMCH2-M also maps the entire display cache into part of a single
contiguous memory space at a programmable location, providing what is called “l(fā)inear” access to the
display cache. The size of this memory can be up to 4 MB, and the base address is set via PCI
configuration registers. Alternatively, these buffers may be implemented in system memory (via
D.V.M.), thus alleviating the need for the display cache.
4.12.7.
Fixed Blitter (BLT) and Stretch Blitter (STRBLT) Engines
The GMCH2-M‘s 64-bit BLT engine provides hardware acceleration for many common Windows*
operations. The following are two primary BLT functions: Fixed Blitter (BLT) and Stretch Blitter
(STRBLT). The term BLT refers to a block transfer of pixel data between memory locations. The word
“fixed” is used to differentiate from the Stretch BLT engine. The BLT engine can be used for the
following:
Move rectangular blocks of data between memory locations
Data Alignment
Perform logical operations
The internal graphics device of the GMCH2-M has instructions to invoke BLT and STRBLT operations,
permitting software to set up instruction buffers and use batch processing as described in the 3D/2D
Instruction Processing (Pipeline Preprocessor) Section. Note that these instructions replace the need to
do PIO directly to BLT and STRBLT registers, which speeds up the operation.
4.12.7.1.
Fixed BLT Engine
The rectangular block of data does not change as it is transferred between memory locations. The
allowable memory transfers are between: system memory and display cache, display cache and display
cache, and system memory and system memory. Data to be transferred can consist of regions of memory,
patterns, or solid color fills. A pattern will always be 8x8 pixels wide and may be 8, 16, or 24 bits per
pixel.
The internal graphics device of the GMCH2-M has the ability to expand monochrome data into a color
depth of 8, 16, or 24 bits. BLTs can be either opaque or transparent. Opaque transfers, move the data
specified to the destination. Transparent transfers, compare destination color to source color and write
according to the mode of transparency selected.
Data is horizontally and vertically aligned at the destination. If the destination for the BLT overlaps with
the source memory location, the GMCH2-M can specify which area in memory to begin the BLT
transfer. Use of this BLT engine accelerates the Graphical User Interface (GUI) of Microsoft* Windows.
Hardware is included for all 256 raster operations (Source, Pattern, and Destination) defined by
Microsoft*, including transparent BLT.
4.12.7.2.
Arithmetic Stretch BLT Engine
The stretch BLT function can stretch source data in the X and Y directions to a destination larger or
smaller than the source. Stretch BLT functionality expands a region of memory into a larger or smaller
region using replication and interpolation.
The stretch BLT engine also provides format conversion and data alignment. Through an algorithm
implemented in the mapping engine, object expansion and contraction can occur in the horizontal and
vertical directions.