A computer graphics system that utilizes a super-sampled sample buffer and
a sample-to-pixel calculation unit for refreshing the display. The
graphics system may have a graphics processor, a super-sampled sample
buffer, and a sample-to-pixel calculation unit. The graphics processor
renders samples into the sample buffer at computed positions or locations
in the sample buffer. The graphics system may utilize a window ID that
specifies attributes of pixels on a per object basis. The window ID may
specify one or more of a sample mode, filter type, color attributes, or
source attributes. The sample mode may include single sample per pixel
mode and multiple samples per pixel mode. In implementing a single sample
per pixel mode, the graphics system may be further operable to generate a
single sample per pixel for certain windows of the screen in order to, for
example, provide backwards compatibility with legacy systems with no
multi-sampling support. The graphics system may generate samples that have
the same value within the region of a single pixel, or the graphics system
may utilize a very narrow filter that only selects the center sample in
the averaging process.
