Interfaces
36 Datasheet, Volume 1
2.4.2 Processor Graphics Display
The Processor Graphics controller display pipe can be broken down into three
components:
•Display Planes
Display Pipes
DisplayPort* and Intel® FDI

2.4.2.1 Display Planes

A display plane is a single displayed surface in memory and contains one image
(desktop, cursor, overlay). It is the portion of the display hardware logic that defines
the format and location of a rectangular region of memory that can be displayed on
display output device and delivers that data to a display pipe. This is clocked by the
Core Display Clock.
2.4.2.1.1 Primary Planes A, B, and C
Planes A, B, and C are the main display planes and are associated with Pipes A, B, and
C respectively.
2.4.2.1.2 Sprite A, B, and C
Sprite A and Sprite B are planes optimized for video decode, and are associated with
Planes A and B respectively. Sprite A and B are also double-buffered.
2.4.2.1.3 Cursors A, B, and C
Cursors A and B are small, fixed-sized planes dedicated for mouse cursor acceleration,
and are associated with Planes A and B respectively. These planes support resolutions
up to 256 x 256 each.
2.4.2.1.4 Video Graphics Array (VGA)
VGA is used for boot, safe mode, legacy games, and so on. It can be changed by an
application without operating system/driver notification, due to legacy requirements.
Figure 2-7. Processor Display Block Diagram
Memory
Host
Interface
(Outside of
Display
Engine)
Pipe A
Plane
Pipe B
Plane
Pipe C
Plane
Panel
Fitting
Cross
Point
Mux
Panel
Fitting
Panel
Fitting
Transcoder
A
Transcoder
B
Transcoder
C
FDI 0
(Tx side)
FDI 1
(Tx side) x4
x4
VGA