Mapping texture point samples to lanes of a filter pipeline

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed relating to texture sampling, e.g., in graphics processors. In some embodiments, a device includes processor circuitry (e.g., shader pipelines) configured to execute graphics programs and multiple sample pipelines. A given sample pipeline may be configured to, for a multi-texel sample operation specified by the processor circuitry, access texel data for multiple texels forming a first shape in a texture (e.g., a 2×2 square) and perform one or more filter operations to generate a result for the multi-texel sample operation. Point sample control circuitry may be configured to detect that multiple point sample operations, specified by the processor circuitry, access a set of texels having the first shape. The point sample control circuitry may assign the multiple point sample operations to one of the sample pipelines for performance in parallel by the sample pipeline and provide results of the assigned multiple point sample operations to the processor circuitry.