intel_upload_blit_small

This is an internal kernel function, not a direct command. It is triggered within the Intel i915 driver.

The `intel_upload_blit_small` command, within the context of Intel graphics drivers in Linux, is a performance optimization technique primarily used to accelerate small blit operations (block image transfer) when uploading data to the GPU. It involves using a specialized, optimized code path designed specifically for transferring small amounts of data to the graphics memory. This approach avoids the overhead associated with more general-purpose blitting functions, resulting in significant performance gains, especially in scenarios involving frequent small texture updates, UI elements rendering, or other graphics tasks where small data blocks need to be moved to the GPU quickly. The exact implementation details can vary depending on the specific Intel GPU architecture and the driver version. It's typically part of the broader Intel graphics driver stack and is not directly invoked by users but is rather automatically used by the graphics stack when it detects that a small blit operation is taking place. The use of this technique contributes to a smoother user experience, lower latency, and improved overall graphics performance, especially in graphically intensive applications.

This is an internal optimization; it's not a standalone command and cannot be directly invoked. Its behavior and availability may vary across different Intel GPU architectures and driver versions.

This function is usually executed in the context of the Intel i915 DRM (Direct Rendering Manager) driver. It is crucial for various desktop compositors and games.

The main purpose of the `intel_upload_blit_small` is to efficiently transfer data from the CPU to the GPU's memory, particularly when dealing with relatively small blocks of data. This optimization avoids unnecessary overhead by employing a streamlined approach compared to generic data transfer methods.

The `intel_upload_blit_small` optimization has evolved as part of the broader development of Intel graphics drivers in the Linux kernel. Its introduction and refinement were motivated by the need to improve the performance of graphics operations involving small data transfers to the GPU, addressing a bottleneck in certain use cases. As Intel GPU architectures evolved, the implementation of `intel_upload_blit_small` likely underwent significant changes to leverage new hardware features and further optimize performance.

glxinfo(1), xrandr(1)