System Memory or GFX memory?

System Memory or GFX memory?

Lucas Dalmasso

Member #20,839

August 2021

I have written a Scale2x algorithm, and: or allocate memory in System Memory or GFX mem?

What is faster?

Chris Katko

Member #1,881

January 2002

Well, you could benchmark it. A simple FPS counter would work for this case.

Allegro 4 or 5?

It "should" be faster with memory bitmaps because VRAM has much slower access--especially exacerbated on byte-by-byte drawing [which scaling algorithms usually are]. Usually VRAM you just upload your bitmaps/textures, and then use the GPU to "draw" them by copying them onto the screen bitmap. Drawing pixels straight to VRAM is extremely slow.

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Edgar Reynaldo

Major Reynaldo

May 2007

The fastest way would be to implement a 2x shader and use video bitmaps.

Eagle and Allegro 5 binaries | Older Allegro 4 and 5 binaries | Allegro 5 compile guide
King Piccolo will make it so Then I could just flip it with some sweet, sweet matrix math. In either case, I’ll ride this wagon until the wheels fall off. Thanks to those that keep it running

Chris Katko

Member #1,881

January 2002