Apparatus and method for managing data bias in a graphics processing architecture

Abstract

An apparatus and method are described for managing data which is biased towards a processor or a GPU. For example, an apparatus comprises a processor comprising one or more cores, one or more cache levels, and cache coherence controllers to maintain coherent data in the one or more cache levels; a graphics processing unit (GPU) to execute graphics instructions and process graphics data, wherein the GPU and processor cores are to share a virtual address space for accessing a system memory; a GPU memory addressable through the virtual address space shared by the processor cores and GPU; and bias management circuitry to store an indication for whether the data has a processor bias or a GPU bias, wherein if the data has a GPU bias, the data is to be accessed by the GPU without necessarily accessing the processor's cache coherence controllers.