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Abstract
VLSI chips exhibiting errors during post-manufacturing tests are usually discarded without considering the severity of the errors. Acceptable-performance is a new test paradigm in which some chips exhibiting errors can be classified as acceptable for sale. We have been investigating the application of acceptable-performance concepts to graphics processing unit (GPU) chips. Preliminary acceptable-performance testing on NVIDIA nv34 GPUs was conducted by running graphics programs on a personal computer with the chips installed. The test results were somewhat inconclusive. Several shortfalls of the original test methodology are addressed here. First, a description of the application program interface (API) used to access the nv34 is given. Then, a speculative hardware model for the nv34 fragment shader stage is proposed. Finally, a test methodology for the nv34 fragment shader and vertex shader stages is presented.
