Vector Processor Unit 1 (VPU1/VU1/COP2)

Vector Unit 1 (VU1) is one of the EE co-processors and is used primarily for graphics pre-processing for the GS. Both vector units are micro-programmable processors with their own instruction and data space.

The main features of VU1 include:

The main difference between VU0 and VU1 is the micro-memory available and their purpose. VU1 has 16KB more internal instruction and data space, versus just 4KB for VU0. VU1 is primarily used for pre-processing of geometry, texture and other graphics data before it is sent to the GS. VU0's primary purpose is to pre-process geometry or aid the EE with physics or other heavy floating point calculations. An example of VU1s use would be performing the perspective transform for all verticies before they are sent to the GS.