Graphics processor emulation system and method with adaptive frame

Abstract

An emulation system emulates operation of a graphics processor in a target computer system that is executing a computer program. The graphics processor in the target computer system executes graphics commands generated by the program being executed to as to generate a sequence of frames that are to be displayed. The emulation method is performed by an emulation module that is executed by a general purpose computer. The emulation module receives a sequence of graphics commands and stores the graphics commands in a command cache. Upon detecting a frame end, the emulation module executes at least some of the commands in the command cache so as to at least partially render a frame represented by the commands in the command cache and thereby store image data in a video memory (VRAM). At each frame end the emulation module evaluates the ability of the general purpose computer to generate video frames fully synchronized with the target computer system. When the evaluation is positive, the emulation module fully executes all the commands in the command cache so as to fully render the frame; when the evaluation is negative, the emulation module executes a first subset of the commands in the command cache, and skips execution of a second subset of the commands in the command cache, so as to partially render the frame.