Graphics processing logic with variable arithmetic logic unit control and method therefor

1. Graphics data processing logic comprising:

a plurality of rows of parallel arithmetic logic units that operate as an array of arithmetic logic units on both pixel data and vertex data, wherein the array of ALUs include a plurality of sets of parallel ALUs, each set of said sets comprising at least two parallel ALUs, and including an ALU load arbiter operatively coupled to each of the sets of parallel ALUs and operative to determine the order in which each set of parallel ALUs gets loaded with pixel data or vertex data;

a programmable storage element containing first data to adapt at last one of an ALU of the ALUs in the plurality of rows of parallel ALUs to perform either pixel data processing or vertex data processing; and

parallel ALU pixel data and vertex data packing logic operatively coupled to the array of arithmetic logic units and to the programmable storage element and operative to pack pixel and vertex data only for specified arithmetic logic units of the array of arithmetic logic units based on the first data.

2. The graphics data processing logic of claim 1 wherein the parallel arithmetic logic units are grouped and wherein the programmable storage element contains first data indicating which groups of parallel ALUs are not to receive pixel data or vertex data.

3. The graphics data processing logic of claim 1 wherein the programmable storage element stores first data, which includes both pixel disable data indicating whether a plurality of parallel ALUs are not to be used for pixel generation and vertex disable data indicating whether the plurality of ALUs are not to be used for vertex generation and further including clock control logic, operatively coupled to each of the plurality of parallel ALUs to disable the plurality of ALUs if both the pixel disable data and the vertex disable data indicate to disable the plurality of ALUs.

4. Graphics data processing logic comprising:

a plurality of sets of parallel arithmetic logic units that operate as a vector processor on both pixel data and vertex data;

a programmable storage element that includes a pixel processing control register and a vertex processing control register wherein the pixel processing control register stores pixel disable data indicating whether one or more of the plurality of sets of parallel ALUs are not to be used for pixel generation and wherein the vertex processing control register includes vertex disable data indicating whether one or more of the sets of parallel ALUs are not to be used for vertex generation and further including clock control logic, operatively coupled to each of the plurality of parallel ALUs to disable a set of parallel ALUs if the both the pixel disable data and the vertex disable data indicate to disable a set of parallel ALUs; and

parallel ALU data packing logic, operatively coupled to the plurality of arithmetic logic units and to the programmable storage element, that includes a vertex data packer and a pixel data packer each operative to pack respective vertex or pixel data only for the set or sets of arithmetic logic units identified by the data indicating which of the plurality of arithmetic logic units that are selected to receive either of pixel and vertex data for processing.

5. The logic of claim 4 wherein the each set of parallel ALUs is a single instruction multiple data (SIMD) processor.