// Copyright (c) 2015-2016 The Khronos Group Inc. // Copyright notice at https://www.khronos.org/registry/speccopyright.html [[sparsememory]] = Sparse Resources As documented in <>, sname:VkBuffer and sname:VkImage resources in {apiname} must: be bound completely and contiguously to a single sname:VkDeviceMemory object. This binding must: be done before the resource is used, and the binding is immutable for the lifetime of the resource. _Sparse resources_ relax these restrictions and provide these additional features: * Sparse resources can: be bound non-contiguously to one or more sname:VkDeviceMemory allocations. * Sparse resources can: be re-bound to different memory allocations over the lifetime of the resource. * Sparse resources can: have descriptors generated and used orthogonally with memory binding commands. [[sparsememory-sparseresourcefeatures]] == Sparse Resource Features Sparse resources have several features that must: be enabled explicitly at resource creation time. The features are enabled by including bits in the pname:flags parameter of slink:VkImageCreateInfo or slink:VkBufferCreateInfo. Each feature also has one or more corresponding feature enables specified in slink:VkPhysicalDeviceFeatures. * <> is the base feature, and provides the following capabilities: ** Resources can: be bound at some defined (sparse block) granularity. ** The entire resource must: be bound to memory before use regardless of regions actually accessed. ** No specific mapping of image region to memory offset is defined, i.e. the location that each texel corresponds to in memory is implementation-dependent. ** Sparse buffers have a well-defined mapping of buffer range to memory range, where an offset into a range of the buffer that is bound to a single contiguous range of memory corresponds to an identical offset within that range of memory. ** Requested via the ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_BINDING_BIT and ename:VK_BUFFER_CREATE_SPARSE_BINDING_BIT bits. ** A sparse image created using ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_BINDING_BIT (but not ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT) supports all formats that non-sparse usage supports, and supports both ename:VK_IMAGE_TILING_OPTIMAL and ename:VK_IMAGE_TILING_LINEAR tiling. * _Sparse Residency_ builds on the pname:sparseBinding feature. It includes the following capabilities: ** Resources do not have to be completely bound to memory before use on the device. ** Images have a prescribed sparse image block layout, allowing specific rectangular regions of the image to be bound to specific offsets in memory allocations. ** Consistency of access to unbound regions of the resource is defined by the absence or presence of sname:VkPhysicalDeviceSparseProperties::pname:residencyNonResidentStrict. If this property is present, accesses to unbound regions of the resource are well defined and behave as if the data bound is populated with all zeros; writes are discarded. When this property is absent, accesses are considered safe, but reads will return undefined values. ** Requested via the ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT and ename:VK_BUFFER_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT bits. ** Support is advertised on a finer grain via the following features: + -- *** <>: Support for creating sname:VkBuffer objects with the ename:VK_BUFFER_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT. *** <>: Support for creating 2D single-sampled sname:VkImage objects with ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT. *** <>: Support for creating 3D sname:VkImage objects with ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT. *** <>: Support for creating 2D sname:VkImage objects with 2 samples and ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT. *** <>: Support for creating 2D sname:VkImage objects with 4 samples and ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT. *** <>: Support for creating 2D sname:VkImage objects with 8 samples and ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT. *** <>: Support for creating 2D sname:VkImage objects with 16 samples and ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT. Implementations supporting pname:sparseResidencyImage2D are only required: to support sparse 2D, single-sampled images. Support is not required: for sparse 3D and MSAA images and is enabled via pname:sparseResidencyImage3D, pname:sparseResidency2Samples, pname:sparseResidency4Samples, pname:sparseResidency8Samples, and pname:sparseResidency16Samples. -- ** A sparse image created using ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT supports all non-compressed color formats with power-of-two texel size that non-sparse usage supports. Additional formats may: also be supported and can: be queried via flink:vkGetPhysicalDeviceSparseImageFormatProperties. ename:VK_IMAGE_TILING_LINEAR tiling is not supported. * <> provides the following capability that can: be enabled per resource: + Allows physical memory ranges to be shared between multiple locations in the same sparse resource or between multiple sparse resources, with each binding of a memory location observing a consistent interpretation of the memory contents. + See <> for more information. [[sparsememory-fully-resident]] == Sparse Buffers and Fully-Resident Images Both sname:VkBuffer and sname:VkImage objects created with the ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_BINDING_BIT or ename:VK_BUFFER_CREATE_SPARSE_BINDING_BIT bits can: be thought of as a linear region of address space. In the sname:VkImage case if ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT is not used, this linear region is entirely opaque, meaning that there is no application-visible mapping between pixel location and memory offset. Unless ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT or ename:VK_BUFFER_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT are also used, the entire resource must: be bound to one or more sname:VkDeviceMemory objects before use. === Sparse Buffer and Fully-Resident Image Block Size The sparse block size in bytes for sparse buffers and fully-resident images is reported as sname:VkMemoryRequirements::pname:alignment. pname:alignment represents both the memory alignment requirement and the binding granularity (in bytes) for sparse resources. [[sparsememory-partially-resident-buffers]] == Sparse Partially-Resident Buffers sname:VkBuffer objects created with the ename:VK_BUFFER_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT bit allow the buffer to be made only partially resident. Partially resident sname:VkBuffer objects are allocated and bound identically to sname:VkBuffer objects using only the ename:VK_BUFFER_CREATE_SPARSE_BINDING_BIT feature. The only difference is the ability for some regions of the buffer to be unbound during device use. [[sparsememory-partially-resident-images]] == Sparse Partially-Resident Images sname:VkImage objects created with the ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT bit allow specific rectangular regions of the image called sparse image blocks to be bound to specific ranges of memory. This allows the application to manage residency at either subresource or sparse image block granularity. Each subresource (outside of the <>) starts on a sparse block boundary and has dimensions that are integer multiples of the corresponding dimensions of the sparse image block. [NOTE] .Note ==== Applications can: use these types of images to control level-of-detail based on total memory consumption. If memory pressure becomes an issue the application can: unbind and disable specific mipmap levels of images without having to recreate resources or modify pixel data of unaffected levels. The application can: also use this functionality to access subregions of the image in a ``megatexture'' fashion. The application can: create a large image and only populate the region of the image that is currently being used in the scene. ==== [[sparsememory-accessing-unbound]] === Accessing Unbound Regions The following member of sname:VkPhysicalDeviceSparseProperties affects how data in unbound regions of sparse resources are handled by the implementation: * pname:residencyNonResidentStrict If this property is not present, reads of unbound regions of the image will return undefined values. Both reads and writes are still considered _safe_ and will not affect other resources or populated regions of the image. If this property is present, all reads of unbound regions of the image will behave as if the region was bound to memory populated with all zeros; writes will be discarded. Formatted accesses to unbound memory may: still alter some component values in the natural way for those accesses, e.g. substituting a value of one for alpha in formats that do not have an alpha component. ======= Example: Reading the alpha component of an unbacked ename:VK_FORMAT_R8_UNORM image will return a value of latexmath:[$1.0f$]. ======= See <> for instructions for retrieving physical device properties. ifdef::implementation-guide[] .Implementor's Note **** For hardware that cannot: natively handle access to unbound regions of a resource, the implementation may: allocate and bind memory to the unbound regions. Reads and writes to unbound regions will access the implementation-managed memory instead of causing a hardware fault. Given that reads of unbound regions are undefined in this scenario, implementations may: use the same physical memory for unbound regions of multiple resources within the same process. **** endif::implementation-guide[] [[sparsememory-miptail]] === Mip Tail Regions Sparse images created using ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_BINDING_BIT have no specific mapping of image region or subresource to memory offset defined, so the entire image can: be thought of as a linear opaque address region. However, images created with ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT do have a prescribed sparse image block layout, and hence each subresource must: start on a sparse block boundary. Within each array layer, the set of mip-levels that have a smaller size than the sparse block size in bytes are grouped together into a _mip tail region_. If the ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_ALIGNED_MIP_SIZE_BIT flag is present in the pname:flags member of sname:VkSparseImageFormatProperties, for the image's pname:format, then any mip-level which has dimensions that are not integer multiples of the corresponding dimensions of the sparse image block, and all subsequent mip-levels, are also included in the mip tail region. The following member of sname:VkPhysicalDeviceSparseProperties may: affect how the implementation places mip levels in the mip tail region: * pname:residencyAlignedMipSize Each mip tail region is bound to memory as an opaque region (i.e. must: be bound using a slink:VkSparseImageOpaqueMemoryBindInfo structure) and may: be of a size greater than or equal to the sparse block size in bytes. This size is guaranteed to be an integer multiple of the sparse block size in bytes. An implementation may: choose to allow each array-layer's mip tail region to be bound to memory independently or require that all array-layer's mip tail regions be treated as one. This is dictated by ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_SINGLE_MIPTAIL_BIT in sname:VkSparseImageMemoryRequirements::pname:flags. The following diagrams depict how ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_ALIGNED_MIP_SIZE_BIT and ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_SINGLE_MIPTAIL_BIT alter memory usage and requirements. image::images/sparseimage.{svgpdf}[align="center", title="Sparse Image"] In the absence of ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_ALIGNED_MIP_SIZE_BIT and ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_SINGLE_MIPTAIL_BIT, each array layer contains a mip tail region containing pixel data for all mip levels smaller than the sparse image block in any dimension. Mip levels that are as large or larger than a sparse image block in all dimensions can: be bound individually. Right-edges and bottom-edges of each level are allowed to have partially used sparse blocks. Any bound partially-used-sparse-blocks must: still have their full sparse block size in bytes allocated in memory. image::images/sparseimage_singlemiptail.{svgpdf}[align="center", title="Sparse Image with Single Mip Tail"] When ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_SINGLE_MIPTAIL_BIT is present all array layers will share a single mip tail region. image::images/sparseimage_alignedmipsize.{svgpdf}[align="center", title="Sparse Image with Aligned Mip Size"] [NOTE] .Note ==== The mip tail regions are presented here in 2D arrays simply for figure size reasons. Each mip tail is logically a single array of sparse blocks with an implementation-dependent mapping of pixels to sparse blocks. ==== When ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_ALIGNED_MIP_SIZE_BIT is present the first mip level that would contain partially used sparse blocks begins the mip tail region. This level and all subsequent levels are placed in the mip tail. Only the first latexmath:[$N$] mip levels whose dimensions are an exact multiple of the sparse image block dimensions can: be bound and unbound on a sparse block basis. image::images/sparseimage_alignedmipsize_singlemiptail.{svgpdf}[align="center", title="Sparse Image with Aligned Mip Size and Single Mip Tail"] [NOTE] .Note ==== The mip tail region is presented here in a 2D array simply for figure size reasons. It is logically a single array of sparse blocks with an implementation-dependent mapping of pixels to sparse blocks. ==== When both ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_ALIGNED_MIP_SIZE_BIT and ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_SINGLE_MIPTAIL_BIT are present the constraints from each of these flags are in effect. [[sparsememory-standard-shapes]] === Standard Sparse Image Block Shapes Standard sparse image block shapes define a standard set of dimensions for sparse image blocks that depend on the format of the image. Layout of pixels within a sparse image block is implementation dependent. All currently defined standard sparse image block shapes are 64 KB in size. For block-compressed formats (e.g. ename:VK_FORMAT_BC5_UNORM_BLOCK), the pixel size is the size of the compressed texel block (128-bit for etext:BC5) thus the dimensions of the standard sparse image block shapes apply in terms of compressed texel blocks. .Note ==== For block-compressed formats, the dimensions of a sparse image block in terms of texels can: be calculated by multiplying the sparse image block dimensions by the compressed texel block dimensions. ==== <<< [[sparsememory-sparseblockshapessingle]] .Standard Sparse Image Block Shapes (Single Sample) [options="header"] |==== | PIXEL SIZE (bits) | Block Shape (2D) | Block Shape (3D) | *8-Bit* | 256 × 256 × 1 | 64 × 32 × 32 | *16-Bit* | 256 × 128 × 1 | 32 × 32 × 32 | *32-Bit* | 128 × 128 × 1 | 32 × 32 × 16 | *64-Bit* | 128 × 64 × 1 | 32 × 16 × 16 | *128-Bit* | 64 × 64 × 1 | 16 × 16 × 16 |==== [[sparsememory-sparseblockshapesmsaa]] .Standard Sparse Image Block Shapes (MSAA) [options="header"] |==== | PIXEL SIZE (bits)| Block Shape (2X)| Block Shape (4X) | Block Shape (8X) | Block Shape (16X) | *8-Bit* | 128 × 256 × 1 | 128 × 128 × 1 | 64 × 128 × 1 | 64 × 64 × 1 | *16-Bit* | 128 × 128 × 1 | 128 × 64 × 1 | 64 × 64 × 1 | 64 × 32 × 1 | *32-Bit* | 64 × 128 × 1 | 64 × 64 × 1 | 32 × 64 × 1 | 32 × 32 × 1 | *64-Bit* | 64 × 64 × 1 | 64 × 32 × 1 | 32 × 32 × 1 | 32 × 16 × 1 | *128-Bit* | 32 × 64 × 1 | 32 × 32 × 1 | 16 × 32 × 1 | 16 × 16 × 1 |==== Implementations that support the standard sparse image block shape for all applicable formats may: advertise the following sname:VkPhysicalDeviceSparseProperties: * pname:residencyStandard2DBlockShape * pname:residencyStandard2DMultisampleBlockShape * pname:residencyStandard3DBlockShape Reporting each of these features does _not_ imply that all possible image types are supported as sparse. Instead, this indicates that no supported sparse image of the corresponding type will use custom sparse image block dimensions for any formats that have a corresponding standard sparse image block shape. [[sparsememory-custom-shapes]] === Custom Sparse Image Block Shapes An implementation that does not support a standard image block shape for a particular sparse partially-resident image may: choose to support a custom sparse image block shape for it instead. The dimensions of such a custom sparse image block shape are reported in sname:VkSparseImageFormatProperties::pname:imageGranularity. As with standard sparse image block shapes, the size in bytes of the custom sparse image block shape will be reported in sname:VkMemoryRequirements::pname:alignment. Custom sparse image block dimensions are reported through fname:vkGetPhysicalDeviceSparseImageFormatProperties and fname:vkGetImageSparseMemoryRequirements. An implementation mustnot: support both the standard sparse image block shape and a custom sparse image block shape for the same image. The standard sparse image block shape must: be used if it is supported. [[sparsememory-multiaspect]] === Multiple Aspects Partially resident images are allowed to report separate sparse properties for different aspects of the image. One example is for depth/stencil images where the implementation separates the depth and stencil data into separate planes. Another reason for multiple aspects is to allow the application to manage memory allocation for implementation-private _metadata_ associated with the image. See the figure below: image::images/sparseimage_multiaspect.{svgpdf}[align="center",title="Multiple Aspect Sparse Image"] [NOTE] .Note ==== The mip tail regions are presented here in 2D arrays simply for figure size reasons. Each mip tail is logically a single array of sparse blocks with an implementation-dependent mapping of pixels to sparse blocks. ==== In the figure above the depth, stencil, and metadata aspects all have unique sparse properties. The per-pixel stencil data is latexmath:[${}^{1}\!/\!{}_4$] the size of the depth data, hence the stencil sparse blocks include latexmath:[$4x$] the number of pixels. The sparse block size in bytes for all of the aspects is identical and defined by sname:VkMemoryRequirements::pname:alignment. ==== Metadata The metadata aspect of an image has the following constraints: * All metadata is reported in the mip tail region of the metadata aspect. * All metadata must: be bound prior to device use of the sparse image. [[sparsememory-sparse-memory-aliasing]] == Sparse Memory Aliasing By default sparse resources have the same aliasing rules as non-sparse resources. See <> for more information. sname:VkDevice objects that have the <> feature enabled are able to use the ename:VK_BUFFER_CREATE_SPARSE_ALIASED_BIT and ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_ALIASED_BIT flags for resource creation. These flags allow resources to access physical memory bound into multiple locations within one or more sparse resources in a _data consistent_ fashion. This means that reading physical memory from multiple aliased locations will return the same value. Care must: be taken when performing a write operation to aliased physical memory. Memory dependencies must: be used to separate writes to one alias from reads or writes to another alias. Writes to aliased memory that are not properly guarded against accesses to different aliases will have undefined results for all accesses to the aliased memory. Applications that wish to make use of data consistent sparse memory aliasing must: abide by the following guidelines: * All sparse resources that are bound to aliased physical memory must: be created with the ename:VK_BUFFER_CREATE_SPARSE_ALIASED_BIT / ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_ALIASED_BIT flag. * All resources that access aliased physical memory must interpret the memory in the same way. This implies the following: ** Buffers and images cannot: alias the same physical memory in a data consistent fashion. The physical memory ranges must be used exclusively by buffers or used exclusively by images for data consistency to be guaranteed. ** Memory in sparse image mip tail regions cannot: access aliased memory in a data consistent fashion. ** Sparse images that alias the same physical memory must: have compatible formats and be using the same sparse image block shape in order to access aliased memory in a data consistent fashion. Failure to follow any of the above guidelines will require the application to abide by the normal, non-sparse resource <>. In this case memory cannot be accessed in a data consistent fashion. [NOTE] .Note ==== Enabling sparse resource memory aliasing can: be a way to lower physical memory use, but it may: reduce performance on some implementations. An application developer can: test on their target HW and balance the memory / performance trade-offs measured. ==== ifdef::implementation-guide[] == Sparse Resource Implementation Guidelines **** This section is Informative. It is included to aid in implementors' understanding of sparse resources. .Device Virtual Address The basic pname:sparseBinding feature allows the resource to reserve its own device virtual address range at resource creation time rather than relying on a bind operation to set this. Without any other creation flags, no other constraints are relaxed compared to normal resources. All pages must: be bound to physical memory before the device accesses the resource. The pname:sparseResidency feature allows the sparse resource to be used even when not all pages are bound to memory. Hardware that supports access to unbound pages without causing a fault may: support pname:sparseResidencyNonResidentStrict. Not faulting on access to unbound pages is not enough to support pname:sparseResidencyNonResidentStrict. An implementation must: also guarantee that reads after writes to unbound regions of the resource always return data for the read as if the memory contains zeros. Depending on the cache implementation of the hardware this may: not always be possible. Hardware that does not fault, but does not guarantee correct read values will not require dummy pages, but also mustnot: support pname:sparseResidencyNonResidentStrict. Hardware that cannot: access unbound pages without causing a fault will require the implementation to bind the entire device virtual address range to physical memory. Any pages that the application does not bind to memory may: be bound to one (or more) ``dummy'' physical page(s) allocated by the implementation. Given the following properties: * A process mustnot: access memory from another process * Reads return undefined values It is sufficient for each host process to allocate these dummy pages and use them for all resources in that process. Implementations may: allocate more often (per instance, per device, or per resource). .Binding Memory The byte size reported in sname:VkMemoryRequirements::pname:size must: be greater than or equal to the amount of physical memory required: to fully populate the resource. Some hardware requires ``holes'' in the device virtual address range that are never accessed. These holes may: be included in the pname:size reported for the resource. Including or not including the device virtual address holes in the resource size will alter how the implementation provides support for sname:VkSparseImageOpaqueMemoryBindInfo. This operation must: be supported for all sparse images, even ones created with ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT. ifdef::editing-notes[] [NOTE] .editing-note ==== @ntrevett suggested expanding the NOTE tag below to encompass everything from ``The cost is...'' in the first bullet point through the current note. TBD. ==== endif::editing-notes[] * If the holes are included in the size, this bind function becomes very easy. In most cases the pname:resourceOffset is simply a device virtual address offset and the implementation does not require any sophisticated logic to determine what device virtual address to bind. The cost is that the application can: allocate more physical memory for the resource than it needs. * If the holes are not included in the size, the application can: allocate less physical memory than otherwise for the resource. However, in this case the implementation must: account for the holes when mapping pname:resourceOffset to the actual device virtual address intended to be mapped. [NOTE] .Note ==== If the application always uses sname:VkSparseImageMemoryBindInfo to bind memory for the non-mip-tail levels, any holes that are present in the resource size may: never be bound. Since sname:VkSparseImageMemoryBindInfo uses pixel locations to determine which device virtual addresses to bind, it is impossible to bind device virtual address holes with this operation. ==== .Binding Metadata Memory All metadata for sparse images have their own sparse properties and are embedded in the mip tail region for said properties. See the <> section for details. Given that metadata is in a mip tail region, and the mip tail region must: be reported as contiguous (either globally or per-array-layer), some implementations will have to resort to complicated offset -> device virtual address mapping for handling sname:VkSparseImageOpaqueMemoryBindInfo. To make this easier on the implementation, the ename:VK_SPARSE_MEMORY_BIND_METADATA_BIT explicitly denotes when metadata is bound with sname:VkSparseImageOpaqueMemoryBindInfo. When this flag is not present, the pname:resourceOffset may: be treated as a strict device virtual address offset. When ename:VK_SPARSE_MEMORY_BIND_METADATA_BIT is present, the pname:resourceOffset must: have been derived explicitly from the pname:imageMipTailOffset in the sparse resource properties returned for the metadata aspect. By manipulating the value returned for pname:imageMipTailOffset, the pname:resourceOffset does not have to correlate directly to a device virtual address offset, and may: instead be whatever values makes it easiest for the implementation to derive the correct device virtual address. **** endif::implementation-guide[] [[sparsememory-resourceapi]] == Sparse Resource API The APIs related to sparse resources are grouped into the following categories: * <> * <> * <> * <> * <> * <> [[sparsememory-physicalfeatures]] === Physical Device Features Some sparse-resource related features are reported and enabled in sname:VkPhysicalDeviceFeatures. These features must: be supported and enabled on the sname:VkDevice object before applications can: use them. See <> for information on how to get and set enabled device features, and for more detailed explanations of these features. ==== Sparse Physical Device Features * pname:sparseBinding: Support for creating sname:VkBuffer and sname:VkImage objects with the ename:VK_BUFFER_CREATE_SPARSE_BINDING_BIT and ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_BINDING_BIT flags, respectively. * pname:sparseResidencyBuffer: Support for creating sname:VkBuffer objects with the ename:VK_BUFFER_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT flag. * pname:sparseResidencyImage2D: Support for creating 2D single-sampled sname:VkImage objects with ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT. * pname:sparseResidencyImage3D: Support for creating 3D sname:VkImage objects with ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT. * pname:sparseResidency2Samples: Support for creating 2D sname:VkImage objects with 2 samples and ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT. * pname:sparseResidency4Samples: Support for creating 2D sname:VkImage objects with 4 samples and ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT. * pname:sparseResidency8Samples: Support for creating 2D sname:VkImage objects with 8 samples and ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT. * pname:sparseResidency16Samples: Support for creating 2D sname:VkImage objects with 16 samples and ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT. * pname:sparseResidencyAliased: Support for creating sname:VkBuffer and sname:VkImage objects with the ename:VK_BUFFER_CREATE_SPARSE_ALIASED_BIT and ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_ALIASED_BIT flags, respectively. [[sparsememory-physicalprops]] === Physical Device Sparse Properties Some features of the implementation are not possible to disable, and are reported to allow applications to alter their sparse resource usage accordingly. These read-only capabilites are reported in the pname:sparseProperties member of slink:VkPhysicalDeviceProperties. The definition of pname:sparseProperties is include::../structs/VkPhysicalDeviceSparseProperties.txt[] * pname:residencyStandard2DBlockShape is ename:VK_TRUE if the physical device will access all single-sample 2D sparse resources using the standard sparse image block shapes (based on image format), as described in the <> table. If this property is not supported the value returned in the pname:imageGranularity member of the sname:VkSparseImageFormatProperties structure for single-sample 2D images is not required: to match the standard sparse image block dimensions listed in the table. * pname:residencyStandard2DMultisampleBlockShape is ename:VK_TRUE if the physical device will access all multisample 2D sparse resources using the standard sparse image block shapes (based on image format), as described in the <> table. If this property is not supported, the value returned in the pname:imageGranularity member of the sname:VkSparseImageFormatProperties structure for multisample 2D images is not required: to match the standard sparse image block dimensions listed in the table. * pname:residencyStandard3DBlockShape is ename:VK_TRUE if the physical device will access all 3D sparse resources using the standard sparse image block shapes (based on image format), as described in the <> table. If this property is not supported, the value returned in the pname:imageGranularity member of the sname:VkSparseImageFormatProperties structure for 3D images is not required: to match the standard sparse image block dimensions listed in the table. * pname:residencyAlignedMipSize is ename:VK_TRUE if images with mip level dimensions that are not integer multiples of the corresponding dimensions of the sparse image block may: be placed in the mip tail. If this property is not reported, only mip levels with dimensions smaller than the pname:imageGranularity member of the sname:VkSparseImageFormatProperties structure will be placed in the mip tail. If this property is reported the implementation is allowed to return ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_ALIGNED_MIP_SIZE_BIT in the pname:flags member of sname:VkSparseImageFormatProperties, indicating that mip level dimensions that are not integer multiples of the corresponding dimensions of the sparse image block will be placed in the mip tail. * pname:residencyNonResidentStrict specifies whether the physical device can: consistently access non-resident regions of a resource. If this property is ename:VK_TRUE, access to non-resident regions of resources will be guaranteed to return values as if the resource were populated with 0; writes to non-resident regions will be discarded. include::../validity/structs/VkPhysicalDeviceSparseProperties.txt[] [[sparsememory-format-props]] === Sparse Image Format Properties Given that certain aspects of sparse image support, including the sparse image block dimensions, may: be implementation-dependent, flink:vkGetPhysicalDeviceSparseImageFormatProperties can: be used to query for sparse image format properties prior to resource creation. This command is used to check whether a given set of sparse image parameters is supported and what the sparse image block shape will be. ==== Sparse Image Format Properties API include::../structs/VkSparseImageFormatProperties.txt[] * pname:aspectMask is a elink:VkImageAspectFlags specifying which aspects of the image the properties apply to. * pname:imageGranularity is the width, height, and depth of the sparse image block in texels or compressed texel blocks. * pname:flags is a bitmask specifying additional information about the sparse resource. Bits which can: be set include: + -- include::../enums/VkSparseImageFormatFlagBits.txt[] ** If ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_SINGLE_MIPTAIL_BIT is set, the image uses a single mip tail region for all array layers. ** If ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_ALIGNED_MIP_SIZE_BIT is set, the first mip level whose dimensions are not integer multiples of the corresponding dimensions of the sparse image block begins the mip tail region. ** If ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_NONSTANDARD_BLOCK_SIZE_BIT is set, the image uses non-standard sparse image block dimensions, and the pname:imageGranularity values do not match the standard sparse image block dimensions for the given pixel format. -- include::../validity/structs/VkSparseImageFormatProperties.txt[] fname:vkGetPhysicalDeviceSparseImageFormatProperties returns an array of sname:VkSparseImageFormatProperties. Each element will describe properties for one set of image aspects that are bound simultaneously in the image. This is usually one element for each aspect in the image, but for interleaved depth/stencil images there is only one element describing the combined aspects. include::../protos/vkGetPhysicalDeviceSparseImageFormatProperties.txt[] * pname:physicalDevice is the physical device from which to query the sparse image capabilities. * pname:format is the image format. * pname:type is the dimensionality of image. * pname:samples is the number of samples per pixel as defined in elink:VkSampleCountFlagBits. * pname:usage is a bitfield describing the intended usage of the image. * pname:tiling is the tiling arrangement of the data elements in memory. * pname:pPropertyCount is a pointer to an integer related to the number of sparse format properties available or queried, as described below. * pname:pProperties is either `NULL` or a pointer to an array of slink:VkSparseImageFormatProperties structures. If pname:pProperties is `NULL`, then the number of sparse format properties available is returned in pname:pPropertyCount. Otherwise, pname:pPropertyCount must: point to a variable set by the user to the number of elements in the pname:pProperties array, and on return the variable is overwritten with the number of structures actually written to pname:pProperties. If pname:pPropertyCount is less than the number of sparse format properties available, at most pname:pPropertyCount structures will be written. include::../validity/protos/vkGetPhysicalDeviceSparseImageFormatProperties.txt[] If ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT is not supported for the given arguments, pname:pPropertyCount will be set to zero upon return, and no data will be written to pname:pProperties. Multiple aspects are returned for depth/stencil images that are implemented as separate planes by the implementation. The depth and stencil data planes each have unique sname:VkSparseImageFormatProperties data. Depth/stencil images with depth and stencil data interleaved into a single plane will return a single sname:VkSparseImageFormatProperties structure with the pname:aspectMask set to ename:VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_DEPTH_BIT | ename:VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_STENCIL_BIT. [[sparsememory-resource-creation]] === Sparse Resource Creation Sparse resources require that one or more sparse feature flags be specified (as part of the sname:VkPhysicalDeviceFeatures structure described previously in the <> section) at CreateDevice time. When the appropriate device features are enabled, the etext:VK_BUFFER_CREATE_SPARSE_* and etext:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_* flags can: be used. See flink:vkCreateBuffer and flink:vkCreateImage for details of the resource creation APIs. [NOTE] .Note ==== Specifying ename:VK_BUFFER_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT or ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT implies specifying ename:VK_BUFFER_CREATE_SPARSE_BINDING_BIT or ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_BINDING_BIT, respectively, as well. This means that resources created with either (or both) flag(s) can: be used with the sparse binding command (fname:vkQueueBindSparse). ==== [[sparsememory-memory-requirements]] === Sparse Resource Memory Requirements Sparse resources have specific memory requirements related to binding sparse memory. These memory requirements are reported differently for sname:VkBuffer objects and sname:VkImage objects. [[sparsememory-memory-buffer-fully-resident]] ==== Buffer and Fully-Resident Images Buffers (both fully and partially resident) and fully-resident images can: be bound to memory using only the data from sname:VkMemoryRequirements. For all sparse resources the sname:VkMemoryRequirements::pname:alignment member denotes both the bindable sparse block size in bytes and required: alignment of sname:VkDeviceMemory. [[sparsememory-memory-partially-resident]] ==== Partially Resident Images Partially resident images have a different method for binding memory. As with buffers and fully resident images, the sname:VkMemoryRequirements::pname:alignment field denotes the bindable sparse block size in bytes for the image. Requesting sparse memory requirements for sname:VkImage objects using fname:vkGetImageSparseMemoryRequirements will return an array of one or more sname:VkSparseImageMemoryRequirements structures. Each structure describes the sparse memory requirements for a group of aspects of the image. The sparse image must: have been created using the ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT flag to retrieve valid sparse image memory requirements. ==== Sparse Image Memory Requirements include::../structs/VkSparseImageMemoryRequirements.txt[] * pname:formatProperties.aspectMask is the set of aspects of the image that this sparse memory requirement applies to. This will usually have a single aspect specified. However, depth/stencil images may: have depth and stencil data interleaved in the same sparse block, in which case both ename:VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_DEPTH_BIT and ename:VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_STENCIL_BIT would be present. * pname:formatProperties.imageGranularity describes the dimensions of a single bindable sparse image block in pixel units. For aspect ename:VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_METADATA_BIT, all dimensions will be zero pixels. All metadata is located in the mip tail region. * pname:formatProperties.flags contains members of elink:VkSparseImageFormatFlags: ** If ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_SINGLE_MIPTAIL_BIT is set the image uses a single mip tail region for all array layers. ** If ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_ALIGNED_MIP_SIZE_BIT is set the dimensions of mip levels must: be integer multiples of the corresponding dimensions of the sparse image block for levels not located in the mip tail. ** If ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_NONSTANDARD_BLOCK_SIZE_BIT is set the image uses non-standard sparse image block dimensions. The pname:formatProperties.imageGranularity values do not match the standard sparse image block dimension corresponding to the image's pixel format. * pname:imageMipTailFirstLod is the first mip level at which subresources are included in the mip tail region. * pname:imageMipTailSize is the memory size (in bytes) of the mip tail region. If pname:formatProperties.flags contains ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_SINGLE_MIPTAIL_BIT, this is the size of the whole mip tail, otherwise this is the size of the mip tail of a single array layer. This value is guaranteed to be a multiple of the sparse block size in bytes. * pname:imageMipTailOffset is the opaque memory offset used with slink:VkSparseImageOpaqueMemoryBindInfo to bind the mip tail region(s). * pname:imageMipTailStride is the offset stride between each array-layer's mip tail, if pname:formatProperties.flags does not contain ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_SINGLE_MIPTAIL_BIT (otherwise the value is undefined). include::../validity/structs/VkSparseImageMemoryRequirements.txt[] Query sparse memory requirements for an image by calling: include::../protos/vkGetImageSparseMemoryRequirements.txt[] * pname:device is the logical device that owns the image. * pname:image is the sname:VkImage object to get the memory requirements for. * pname:pSparseMemoryRequirementCount is a pointer to an integer related to the number of sparse memory requirements available or queried, as described below. * pname:pSparseMemoryRequirements is either `NULL` or a pointer to an array of sname:VkSparseImageMemoryRequirements structures. If pname:pSparseMemoryRequirements is `NULL`, then the number of sparse memory requirements available is returned in pname:pSparseMemoryRequirementCount. Otherwise, pname:pSparseMemoryRequirementCount must: point to a variable set by the user to the number of elements in the pname:pSparseMemoryRequirements array, and on return the variable is overwritten with the number of structures actually written to pname:pSparseMemoryRequirements. If pname:pSparseMemoryRequirementCount is less than the number of sparse memory requirements available, at most pname:pSparseMemoryRequirementCount structures will be written. If the image was not created with ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT then pname:pSparseMemoryRequirementCount will be set to zero and pname:pSparseMemoryRequirements will not be written to. include::../validity/protos/vkGetImageSparseMemoryRequirements.txt[] [NOTE] .Note ==== It is legal for an implementation to report a larger value in sname:VkMemoryRequirements::pname:size than would be obtained by adding together memory sizes for all sname:VkSparseImageMemoryRequirements returned by fname:vkGetImageSparseMemoryRequirements. This may: occur when the hardware requires unused padding in the address range describing the resource. ==== [[sparsememory-resource-binding]] === Binding Resource Memory Non-sparse resources are backed by a single physical allocation prior to device use (via fname:vkBindImageMemory or fname:vkBindBufferMemory), and their backing mustnot: be changed. On the other hand, sparse resources can be bound to memory non-contiguously and these bindings can be altered during the lifetime of the resource. [NOTE] .Note ==== It is important to note that freeing a sname:VkDeviceMemory object with fname:vkFreeMemory will not cause resources (or resource regions) bound to the memory object to become unbound. Access to resources that are bound to memory objects that have been freed will result in undefined behavior, potentially including application termination. Implementations must: ensure that no access to physical memory owned by the system or another process will occur in this scenario. In other words, accessing resources bound to freed memory may: result in application termination, but mustnot: result in system termination or in reading non-process-accessible memory. ==== Sparse memory bindings execute on a queue that includes the ename:VK_QUEUE_SPARSE_BINDING_BIT bit. Applications must: use <> to guarantee that other queues do not access ranges of memory concurrently with a binding change. Accessing memory in a range while it is being rebound results in undefined behavior. It is valid to access other ranges of the same resource while a bind operation is executing. [NOTE] .Note ==== Implementations must: provide a guarantee that simultaneously binding sparse blocks while another queue accesses those same sparse blocks via a sparse resource mustnot: access memory owned by another process or otherwise corrupt the system. ==== While some implementations may: include ename:VK_QUEUE_SPARSE_BINDING_BIT support in queue families that also include graphics and compute support, other implementations may: only expose a ename:VK_QUEUE_SPARSE_BINDING_BIT-only queue family. In either case, applications must: use <> to explicitly request any ordering dependencies between sparse memory binding operations and other graphics/compute/transfer operations, as sparse binding operations are not automatically ordered against command buffer execution, even within a single queue. When binding memory explicitly for the ename:VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_METADATA_BIT the application must: use the ename:VK_SPARSE_MEMORY_BIND_METADATA_BIT in the sname:VkSparseMemoryBind::pname:flags field when binding memory. Binding memory for metadata is done the same way as binding memory for the mip tail, with the addition of the ename:VK_SPARSE_MEMORY_BIND_METADATA_BIT flag. Binding the mip tail for any aspect must: only be performed using slink:VkSparseImageOpaqueMemoryBindInfo. If pname:formatProperties.flags contains ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_SINGLE_MIPTAIL_BIT, then it can: be bound with a single slink:VkSparseMemoryBind structure, with pname:resourceOffset = pname:imageMipTailOffset and pname:size = pname:imageMipTailSize. If pname:formatProperties.flags does not contain ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_SINGLE_MIPTAIL_BIT then the offset for the mip tail in each array layer is given as: [source,{basebackend@docbook:c++:cpp}] -- arrayMipTailOffset = imageMipTailOffset + arrayLayer * imageMipTailStride; -- and the mip tail can: be bound with code:layerCount slink:VkSparseMemoryBind structures, each using pname:size = pname:imageMipTailSize and pname:resourceOffset = pname:arrayMipTailOffset as defined above. Sparse memory binding is handled by the following APIs and related data structures. [[sparsemem-memory-binding]] ==== Sparse Memory Binding Functions include::../enums/VkSparseMemoryBindFlagBits.txt[] include::../flags/VkSparseMemoryBindFlags.txt[] * ename:VK_SPARSE_MEMORY_BIND_METADATA_BIT is used to indicate that the memory being bound is only for the metadata aspect. include::../structs/VkSparseMemoryBind.txt[] * pname:resourceOffset is the offset into the resource. * pname:size is the size of the memory region to be bound. * pname:memory is the sname:VkDeviceMemory object that the range of the resource is bound to. If pname:memory is sname:VK_NULL_HANDLE, the range is unbound. * pname:memoryOffset is the offset into the sname:VkDeviceMemory object to bind the resource range to. If pname:memory is sname:VK_NULL_HANDLE, this value is ignored. * pname:flags are sparse memory binding flags. include::../validity/structs/VkSparseMemoryBind.txt[] The _binding range_ latexmath:[$[\mathit{resourceOffset}, \mathit{resourceOffset} + \mathit{size})$] has different constraints based on pname:flags. If pname:flags contains ename:VK_SPARSE_MEMORY_BIND_METADATA_BIT, the binding range must: be within the mip tail region of the metadata aspect. This metadata region is defined by: [latexmath] ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ \begin{align*} \mathit{metadataRegion} = [& \mathit{imageMipTailOffset} + \mathit{imageMipTailStride} \times n,\\ &\mathit{imageMipTailOffset} + \mathit{imageMipTailStride} \times n + \mathit{imageMipTailSize}) \end{align*} ++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Where pname:imageMipTailOffset, pname:imageMipTailSize, and pname:imageMipTailStride values are from the slink:VkSparseImageMemoryRequirements that correspond to the metadata aspect of the image. The term latexmath:[$n$] is a valid array layer index for the image. pname:imageMipTailStride is considered to be zero for aspects where sname:VkSparseImageMemoryRequirements::pname:formatProperties.flags contains ename:VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_SINGLE_MIPTAIL_BIT. If pname:flags does not contain ename:VK_SPARSE_MEMORY_BIND_METADATA_BIT, the binding range must: be within the range latexmath:[$[0, {\mathit{VkMemoryRequirements}::\mathit{size}})$]. Memory is bound to sname:VkBuffer objects created with the ename:VK_BUFFER_CREATE_SPARSE_BINDING_BIT or ename:VK_BUFFER_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT flags using the following structure: include::../structs/VkSparseBufferMemoryBindInfo.txt[] * pname:buffer is the sname:VkBuffer object to be bound. * pname:bindCount is the number of sname:VkSparseMemoryBind structures in the pname:pBinds array. * pname:pBinds is a pointer to array of sname:VkSparseMemoryBind structures. include::../validity/structs/VkSparseBufferMemoryBindInfo.txt[] Memory is bound to opaque regions of sname:VkImage objects created with the ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_BINDING_BIT or ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT flags using the following structure: include::../structs/VkSparseImageOpaqueMemoryBindInfo.txt[] * pname:image is the sname:VkImage object to be bound. * pname:bindCount is the number of sname:VkSparseMemoryBind structures in the pname:pBinds array. * pname:pBinds is a pointer to array of sname:VkSparseMemoryBind structures. include::../validity/structs/VkSparseImageOpaqueMemoryBindInfo.txt[] [NOTE] .Note ================== This operation is normally used to bind memory to fully-resident sparse images or for mip tail regions of partially resident images. However, it can: also be used to bind memory for the entire binding range of partially resident images. In case pname:flags does not contain ename:VK_SPARSE_MEMORY_BIND_METADATA_BIT, the pname:resourceOffset is in the range latexmath:[$[0, {\mathit{VkMemoryRequirements}::\mathit{size}})$]. This range includes data from all aspects of the image, including metadata. For most implementations this will probably mean that the pname:resourceOffset is a simple device address offset within the resource. It is possible for an application to bind a range of memory that includes both resource data and metadata. However, the application would not know what part of the image the memory is used for, or if any range is being used for metadata. When pname:flags contains ename:VK_SPARSE_MEMORY_BIND_METADATA_BIT, the binding range specified must: be within the mip tail region of the metadata aspect. In this case the pname:resourceOffset is not required: to be a simple device address offset within the resource. However, it _is_ defined to be within [imageMipTailOffset, imageMipTailOffset + imageMipTailSize) for the metadata aspect. See slink:VkSparseMemoryBind for the full constraints on binding region with this flag present. ================== Memory can: be bound to sparse image blocks of sname:VkImage objects created with the ename:VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT flag using the following structure: include::../structs/VkSparseImageMemoryBindInfo.txt[] * pname:image is the sname:VkImage object to be bound * pname:bindCount is the number of sname:VkSparseImageMemoryBind structures in pBinds array * pname:pBinds is a pointer to array of sname:VkSparseImageMemoryBind structures include::../validity/structs/VkSparseImageMemoryBindInfo.txt[] Where sname:VkSparseImageMemoryBind is defined as follows: include::../structs/VkSparseImageMemoryBind.txt[] * pname:subresource is the aspectMask and region of interest in the image. * pname:offset are the coordinates of the first texel within the subresource to bind. * pname:extent is the size in texels of the region within the subresource to bind. The extent must: be a multiple of the sparse image block dimensions, except when binding sparse image blocks along the edge of a subresource it can: instead be such that any coordinate of latexmath:[$\mathit{offset} + \mathit{extent}$] equals the corresponding dimensions of the subresource. * pname:memory is the sname:VkDeviceMemory object that the sparse image blocks of the image are bound to. If pname:memory is sname:VK_NULL_HANDLE, the sparse image blocks are unbound. * pname:memoryOffset is an offset into sname:VkDeviceMemory object. If pname:memory is sname:VK_NULL_HANDLE, this value is ignored. * pname:flags are sparse memory binding flags. include::../validity/structs/VkSparseImageMemoryBind.txt[] Sparse binding operations are submitted to a queue for execution via the command: include::../protos/vkQueueBindSparse.txt[] * pname:queue is the queue to submit the sparse binding operation to. * pname:bindInfoCount is the size of the array pointed to by pname:pBindInfo. * pname:pBindInfo is an array of slink:VkBindSparseInfo structures each specifying the parameters of a sparse binding operation batch as described below. * pname:fence, if not ename:VK_NULL_HANDLE, is a fence to be signaled once the sparse binding operation completes. Each batch of sparse binding operations is represented by a list of slink:VkSparseBufferMemoryBindInfo, slink:VkSparseImageOpaqueMemoryBindInfo, and slink:VkSparseImageMemoryBindInfo structures (encapsulated in a slink:VkBindSparseInfo structure), each preceded by a list of semaphores upon which to wait before beginning execution of the operations, and followed by a second list of semaphores to signal upon completion of the operations. When all sparse binding operations in pname:pBindInfo have completed execution, the status of pname:fence is set to signaled, providing certain <>. Within a batch, a given range of a resource must: not be bound more than once. Across batches, if a range is to be bound to one allocation and offset and then to another allocation and offset, then the application must: guarantee (usually using semaphores) that the binding operations are executed in the correct order, as well as to order binding operations against the execution of command buffer submissions. include::../validity/protos/vkQueueBindSparse.txt[] include::../structs/VkBindSparseInfo.txt[] * pname:sType is the type of this structure. * pname:pNext is `NULL` or a pointer to an extension-specific structure. * pname:waitSemaphoreCount is the number of semaphores upon which to wait before executing the sparse binding operations for the batch. * pname:pWaitSemaphores is a pointer to an array of semaphores upon which to wait before executing the sparse binding operations in the batch. * pname:bufferBindCount is the number of sparse buffer bindings to perform. * pname:pBufferBinds is an array of slink:VkSparseBufferMemoryBindInfo structures, indicating sparse buffer bindings to perform as described above. * pname:imageOpaqueBindCount is the number of opaque sparse image bindings to perform. * pname:pImageOpaqueBinds is an array of slink:VkSparseImageOpaqueMemoryBindInfo structures, indicating opaque sparse image bindings to perform as described above. * pname:imageBindCount is the number of sparse image bindings to perform. * pname:pImageBinds is an array of slink:VkSparseImageMemoryBindInfo structures, indicating sparse image bindings to perform as described above. * pname:signalSemaphoreCount is the number of semaphores to be signaled once the sparse binding operations specified by the structure have completed execution. * pname:pSignalSemaphores is a pointer to an array of semaphores which will be signaled when the sparse binding operations for this batch have completed execution. include::../validity/structs/VkBindSparseInfo.txt[] [[sparsememory-examples]] == Examples The following examples illustrate basic creation of sparse images and binding them to physical memory. [[sparsememory-examples-basic]] === Basic Sparse Resources This basic example creates a normal sname:VkImage object but uses fine-grained memory allocation to back the resource with multiple memory ranges. [source,{basebackend@docbook:c++:cpp}] --------------------------------------------------- VkDevice device; VkQueue queue; VkImage sparseImage; VkMemoryRequirements memoryRequirements = {}; VkDeviceSize offset = 0; VkSparseMemoryBind binds[MAX_CHUNKS] = {}; // MAX_CHUNKS is NOT part of Vulkan uint32_t bindCount = 0; // ... // Allocate image object const VkImageCreateInfo sparseImageInfo = { VK_STRUCTURE_TYPE_IMAGE_CREATE_INFO, // sType NULL, // pNext VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_BINDING_BIT | ..., // flags ... }; vkCreateImage(device, &sparseImageInfo, &sparseImage); // Get memory requirements vkGetImageMemoryRequirements( device, sparseImage, &memoryRequirements); // Bind memory in fine-grained fashion, find available memory ranges // from potentially multiple VkDeviceMemory pools. // (Illustration purposes only, can be optimized for perf) while (memoryRequirements.size && bindCount < MAX_CHUNKS) { VkSparseMemoryBind* pBind = &binds[bindCount]; pBind->resourceOffset = offset; AllocateOrGetMemoryRange( device, &memoryRequirements, &pBind->memory, &pBind->memoryOffset, &pBind->size); // memory ranges must be sized as multiples of the alignment assert(IsMultiple(pBind->size, memoryRequirements.alignment)); assert(IsMultiple(pBind->memoryOffset, memoryRequirements.alignment)); memoryRequirements.size -= pBind->size; offset += pBind->size; bindCount++; } // Ensure all image has backing if (memoryRequirements.size) { // Error condition - too many chunks } const VkSparseImageOpaqueMemoryBindInfo opaqueBindInfo = { sparseImage, // image bindCount, // bindCount binds // pBinds }; const VkBindSparseInfo bindSparseInfo = { VK_STRUCTURE_TYPE_BIND_SPARSE_INFO, // sType NULL, // pNext ... 1, // imageOpaqueBindCount &opaqueBindInfo, // pImageOpaqueBinds ... }; // vkQueueBindSparse is application synchronized per queue object. AcquireQueueOwnership(queue); // Actually bind memory vkQueueBindSparse(queue, 1, &bindSparseInfo, VK_NULL_HANDLE); ReleaseQueueOwnership(queue); --------------------------------------------------- [[sparsememory-examples-advanced]] === Advanced Sparse Resources This more advanced example creates an arrayed color attachment / texture image and binds only LOD zero and the required: metadata to physical memory. [source,{basebackend@docbook:c++:cpp}] --------------------------------------------------- VkDevice device; VkQueue queue; VkImage sparseImage; VkMemoryRequirements memoryRequirements = {}; uint32_t sparseRequirementsCount = 0; VkSparseImageMemoryRequirements* pSparseReqs = NULL; VkSparseMemoryBind binds[MY_IMAGE_ARRAY_SIZE] = {}; VkSparseImageMemoryBind imageBinds[MY_IMAGE_ARRAY_SIZE] = {}; uint32_t bindCount = 0; // Allocate image object (both renderable and sampleable) const VkImageCreateInfo sparseImageInfo = { VK_STRUCTURE_TYPE_IMAGE_CREATE_INFO, // sType NULL, // pNext VK_IMAGE_CREATE_SPARSE_RESIDENCY_BIT | ..., // flags ... VK_FORMAT_R8G8B8A8_UNORM, // format ... MY_IMAGE_ARRAY_SIZE, // arrayLayers ... VK_IMAGE_USAGE_COLOR_ATTACHMENT_BIT | VK_IMAGE_USAGE_SAMPLED_BIT, // usage ... }; vkCreateImage(device, &sparseImageInfo, &sparseImage); // Get memory requirements vkGetImageMemoryRequirements( device, sparseImage, &memoryRequirements); // Get sparse image aspect properties vkGetImageSparseMemoryRequirements( device, sparseImage, &sparseRequirementsCount, NULL); pSparseReqs = (VkSparseImageMemoryRequirements*) malloc(sparseRequirementsCount * sizeof(VkSparseImageMemoryRequirements)); vkGetImageSparseMemoryRequirements( device, sparseImage, &sparseRequirementsCount, pSparseReqs); // Bind LOD level 0 and any required metadata to memory for (uint32_t i = 0; i < sparseRequirementsCount; ++i) { if (pSparseReqs[i].formatProperties.aspectMask & VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_METADATA_BIT) { // Metadata must not be combined with other aspects assert(pSparseReqs[i].formatProperties.aspectMask == VK_IMAGE_ASPECT_METADATA_BIT); if (pSparseReqs[i].formatProperties.flags & VK_SPARSE_IMAGE_FORMAT_SINGLE_MIPTAIL_BIT) { VkSparseMemoryBind* pBind = &binds[bindCount]; pBind->memorySize = pSparseReqs[i].imageMipTailSize; bindCount++; // ... Allocate memory range pBind->resourceOffset = pSparseReqs[i].imageMipTailOffset; pBind->memoryOffset = /* allocated memoryOffset */; pBind->memory = /* allocated memory */; pBind->flags = VK_SPARSE_MEMORY_BIND_METADATA_BIT; } else { // Need a mip tail region per array layer. for (uint32_t a = 0; a < sparseImageInfo.arrayLayers; ++a) { VkSparseMemoryBind* pBind = &binds[bindCount]; pBind->memorySize = pSparseReqs[i].imageMipTailSize; bindCount++; // ... Allocate memory range pBind->resourceOffset = pSparseReqs[i].imageMipTailOffset + (a * pSparseReqs[i].imageMipTailStride); pBind->memoryOffset = /* allocated memoryOffset */; pBind->memory = /* allocated memory */ pBind->flags = VK_SPARSE_MEMORY_BIND_METADATA_BIT; } } } else { // resource data VkExtent3D lod0BlockSize = { AlignedDivide( sparseImageInfo.extent.width, pSparseReqs[i].formatProperties.imageGranularity.width); AlignedDivide( sparseImageInfo.extent.height, pSparseReqs[i].formatProperties.imageGranularity.height); AlignedDivide( sparseImageInfo.extent.depth, pSparseReqs[i].formatProperties.imageGranularity.depth); } size_t totalBlocks = lod0BlockSize.width * lod0BlockSize.height * lod0BlockSize.depth; VkDeviceSize lod0MemSize = totalBlocks * memoryRequirements.alignment; // Allocate memory for each array layer for (uint32_t a = 0; a < sparseImageInfo.arrayLayers; ++a) { // ... Allocate memory range VkSparseImageMemoryBind* pBind = &imageBinds[a]; pBind->subresource.aspectMask = pSparseReqs[i].formatProperties.aspectMask; pBind->subresource.mipLevel = 0; pBind->subresource.arrayLayer = a; pBind->offset = (VkOffset3D){0, 0, 0}; pBind->extent = sparseImageInfo.extent; pBind->memoryOffset = /* allocated memoryOffset */; pBind->memory = /* allocated memory */; pBind->flags = 0; } } free(pSparseReqs); } const VkSparseImageOpaqueMemoryBindInfo opaqueBindInfo = { sparseImage, // image bindCount, // bindCount binds // pBinds }; const VkSparseImageMemoryBindInfo imageBindInfo = { sparseImage, // image sparseImageInfo.arrayLayers, // bindCount imageBinds // pBinds }; const VkBindSparseInfo bindSparseInfo = { VK_STRUCTURE_TYPE_BIND_SPARSE_INFO, // sType NULL, // pNext ... 1, // imageOpaqueBindCount &opaqueBindInfo, // pImageOpaqueBinds 1, // imageBindCount &imageBindInfo, // pImageBinds ... }; // vkQueueBindSparse is application synchronized per queue object. AcquireQueueOwnership(queue); // Actually bind memory vkQueueBindSparse(queue, 1, &bindSparseInfo, VK_NULL_HANDLE); ReleaseQueueOwnership(queue); ---------------------------------------------------