OSX graphics optimized for Altivec?

Posted:
in macOS edited January 2014
Does anyone know if the Genie-effect and all other 'eye candy' built into OSX take advantage of Altivec?



Thanks.

Comments

  • Reply 1 of 19
    yes, they do.
  • Reply 2 of 19
    kidredkidred Posts: 2,402member
    I think on a whole, X is optimized for G4s.
  • Reply 3 of 19
    They do, but they should be in the care of the graphics accelerator, not the CPU, even if it does a pretty nice job.
  • Reply 4 of 19
    Yup. Use a iBook/500 and a TiBook/500 side by side and you'll see for yourself.
  • Reply 5 of 19
    How do we know that is true?
  • Reply 6 of 19
    applenutapplenut Posts: 5,768member
    I doubt things such as the genie affect are altivec acelerated. not even sure if they could be.



    most the differences noticed likely due to the basic fact that most G4 systems are just overall better system wide



    however, there are some things that clearly just work better on the G4
  • Reply 7 of 19
    wmfwmf Posts: 1,164member
    The genie effect is a mesh warp, which I think is a set of affine transforms. Affine transforms can benefit from vectorization, so I'd guess Apple optimized them for AltiVec.
  • Reply 8 of 19
    Is it? I'm not so sure. It's an operation on a pixel map not on vector graphics. I bet I could do it faster by doing some simple operations on the pixels and not bother with afine xforms.
  • Reply 9 of 19
    jlljll Posts: 2,713member
    [quote]Originally posted by Scott H.:

    <strong>Is it? I'm not so sure. It's an operation on a pixel map not on vector graphics</strong><hr></blockquote>



    Using tht logic, how on Earth can Photoshop be AltiVec enhanced?
  • Reply 10 of 19
    Only certain functions within Photoshop that stand to gain a substantial boost are Altivec optimized.
  • Reply 11 of 19
    [quote]Originally posted by JLL:

    <strong>



    Using tht logic, how on Earth can Photoshop be AltiVec enhanced?</strong><hr></blockquote>





    You don't understand what I'm talking about.
  • Reply 12 of 19
    wmfwmf Posts: 1,164member
    Vectorization has nothing to do with vector graphics. Vectorization means converting the code so that it can take advantage of AltiVec.



    [ 03-01-2002: Message edited by: wmf ]</p>
  • Reply 13 of 19
    applenutapplenut Posts: 5,768member
    [quote]Originally posted by wmf:

    <strong>Vectorization has nothing to do with vector graphics. Vectorization means converting the code so that it can take advantage of AltiVec.



    [ 03-01-2002: Message edited by: wmf ]</strong><hr></blockquote>



    is altivec not a vector processing unit? :confused: <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" />
  • Reply 14 of 19
    steve666steve666 Posts: 2,600member
    I just got a G4 400 used and I can tell you its loads faster than my nieces 400 mhz iMac. Web pages load faster, the internet in general is faster, and I'm only using Classic on the original OSX. I gotta get OSX 10.1. I also need to read ads better............................................ ....
  • Reply 15 of 19
    fluffyfluffy Posts: 361member
    [quote]Originally posted by applenut:

    <strong>



    is altivec not a vector processing unit? :confused: <img src="graemlins/bugeye.gif" border="0" alt="[Skeptical]" /> </strong><hr></blockquote>



    Yes it is, but the same word is being used for two different concepts. Vector graphics are resolution independent commands to construct an image based on mathematics, not pixel maps. Vector processing refers simply to a calculation unit that operates on n-tuples (16, 8 and 4 in the case of Altivec).
  • Reply 16 of 19
    My understanding is that Altivec allows one to do the same process in parallel, doing the same thing up to 16 times at once. That way, if you are doing the same thing to every pixel, you can do it to 16 pixels at once. If the process is dependent on knowing the result of a previous calculation, it can't be altiveced.



    Is that anywhere's near mark?
  • Reply 17 of 19
    amorphamorph Posts: 7,112member
    [quote]Originally posted by Code Master:

    <strong>My understanding is that Altivec allows one to do the same process in parallel, doing the same thing up to 16 times at once. That way, if you are doing the same thing to every pixel, you can do it to 16 pixels at once. If the process is dependent on knowing the result of a previous calculation, it can't be altiveced.



    Is that anywhere's near mark?</strong><hr></blockquote>



    It's in the ballpark. AltiVec can only(!) operate on 4 pixels at a time, though, because a pixel is 32 bits, and 32 x 4 = 128.
  • Reply 18 of 19
    fluffyfluffy Posts: 361member
    [quote]Originally posted by Amorph:

    <strong>

    AltiVec can only(!) operate on 4 pixels at a time, though, because a pixel is 32 bits, and 32 x 4 = 128.</strong><hr></blockquote>



    It can also operate on 1555 data don't forget...
  • Reply 19 of 19
    But none of this tells us if or how much of OS X Quatz is using alti-vec.
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