Unified shader model
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The Unified shader model, known in DirectX 10 as Shader Model 4.0, uses a consistent instruction set across all shader types. Previous approaches distinguish dedicated pixel shaders and vertex shaders with each running different code because earlier hardware architectures required this.
The unified shader model uses a unified ISA (instruction set architecture). This makes life easier for graphics programmers but, more importantly, allows more flexible use of the graphics rendering hardware. For example, in a situation with a heavy geometry workload the system could allocate most shaders to the heavy vertex workload and few to the light pixel workload while doing it the other way round in a situation with heavy pixel workload. Graphics processors that support the unified shader model include the Nvidia GeForce 8 series, Nvidia Geforce 9 series, ATI Radeon HD 2000 series, ATI Radeon HD 3000 series, and Intel GMA X3000 series.
The unified shader model can be used to create heavily detailed geometry and models, as well as pixels.
