Second generation Ultrabook™ devices now with touch and sensor technology as well as very powerful 3rd generation Intel® Core™ processors (code named Ivy Bridge) are an ideal platform for graphics and gaming. Ivy Bridge processors provide higher performance and consume less power than their predecessors-2nd generation Intel® Core™ processors (code named Sandy Bridge). Both these microarchitectures include Intel® HD Graphics-graphics and CPU capabilities on the same die. This article acts as a “Where to start” guide by listing resources on the Intel® Developer Zone site that give an overview of the Ivy Bridge architecture and help game developers optimize their applications to take advantage of the graphics capabilities of Ultrabook devices.
Section 1: Graphics development best practices:
This section lists resources that give you an overview of the Ivy Bridge architecture with best practices and recommendations for driver overhead, early-Z reduction, vertex processing, anti-aliasing, and pixel processing with a focus on DirectX* 9, 10, 11 on Intel® microarchitecture. You will also find articles that provide tips and tricks for porting games on multiple mobile devices with varying resolutions and hardware capabilities.
1: Intel Graphics Developers Guide
2: Practical Game Architecture for multi-core systems
3: Six tips for Developing Easily Ported Games
Section 2: Leveraging Processor Graphics for simulation and performance:
The resources in this section help you to optimize your code to take maximum advantage of the Processor Graphics. You will learn about techniques such as CPU-Onloading for balancing workload between CPU and GPU, improving Sensory System Performance through multi-threading, and an introduction to fluid dynamics and simulation in video games.
1: CPU Onloading: Leveraging the PC platform
2: Multi-threading Line-of-Sight Calculations to Improve Sensory System Performance in Game AI
3: Fluid Simulation for Video Games (part 1)
Section 3: Tools:
In this section are resources that explain the Intel® Media SDK, which provides cross-platform, cross-OS libraries to expose the media acceleration capabilities of Intel® platforms. You will also find resources on other graphics tools like Intel® Graphics Performance Analyzers, Microsoft GPUView*, and VTune™ Amplifier XE.
2: Intel Media Developer’s Guide
3: Intel Graphics Performance Analyzers
4: Intel Graphics Developer’s Guide
For more information and resources on developing, optimizing, and monetizing applications for Ultrabook devices, visit our Ultrabook Community. Also, visit the Visual Computing Community for an extensive collection of support materials and the Visual Computing Forum for help with any questions you may have.
Notices
INFORMATION IN THIS DOCUMENT IS PROVIDED IN CONNECTION WITH INTEL PRODUCTS. NO LICENSE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, BY ESTOPPEL OR OTHERWISE, TO ANY INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHTS IS GRANTED BY THIS DOCUMENT. EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN INTEL'S TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF SALE FOR SUCH PRODUCTS, INTEL ASSUMES NO LIABILITY WHATSOEVER AND INTEL DISCLAIMS ANY EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTY, RELATING TO SALE AND/OR USE OF INTEL PRODUCTS INCLUDING LIABILITY OR WARRANTIES RELATING TO FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, MERCHANTABILITY, OR INFRINGEMENT OF ANY PATENT, COPYRIGHT OR OTHER INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY RIGHT.
UNLESS OTHERWISE AGREED IN WRITING BY INTEL, THE INTEL PRODUCTS ARE NOT DESIGNED NOR INTENDED FOR ANY APPLICATION IN WHICH THE FAILURE OF THE INTEL PRODUCT COULD CREATE A SITUATION WHERE PERSONAL INJURY OR DEATH MAY OCCUR.
Intel may make changes to specifications and product descriptions at any time, without notice. Designers must not rely on the absence or characteristics of any features or instructions marked "reserved" or "undefined." Intel reserves these for future definition and shall have no responsibility whatsoever for conflicts or incompatibilities arising from future changes to them. The information here is subject to change without notice. Do not finalize a design with this information.
The products described in this document may contain design defects or errors known as errata which may cause the product to deviate from published specifications. Current characterized errata are available on request.
Contact your local Intel sales office or your distributor to obtain the latest specifications and before placing your product order.
Copies of documents which have an order number and are referenced in this document, or other Intel literature, may be obtained by calling 1-800-548-4725, or go to: http://www.intel.com/design/literature.htm Software and workloads used in performance tests may have been optimized for performance only on Intel microprocessors. Performance tests, such as SYSmark and MobileMark, are measured using specific computer systems, components, software, operations, and functions. Any change to any of those factors may cause the results to vary. You should consult other information and performance tests to assist you in fully evaluating your contemplated purchases, including the performance of that product when combined with other products. Any software source code reprinted in this document is furnished under a software license and may only be used or copied in accordance with the terms of that license. Intel, Ultrabook, Core, VTune, and the Intel logo are trademarks of Intel Corporation in the US and/or other countries. Copyright © 2012 Intel Corporation. All rights reserved. *Other names and brands may be claimed as the property of others.