# How many shaders and framebuffers can I use ?

**URL:** <https://forums.imgtec.com/t/how-many-shaders-and-framebuffers-can-i-use/1111>\
**Category:** PowerVR Insider\
**Created:** [June 22, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://forums.imgtec.com/t/how-many-shaders-and-framebuffers-can-i-use/1111 "2011-06-22T00:37:14Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![wonwoolee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@wonwoolee](https://forums.imgtec.com/u/wonwoolee)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 12:37am UTC](https://forums.imgtec.com/t/how-many-shaders-and-framebuffers-can-i-use/1111/1 "2011-06-22T00:37:14Z")

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Hello.  
  
  
  
  
  
I’m working several shaders and framebuffers for image processing, like blur, gradient computation, on iPhone 3GS/4 platform.  
  
  
  
  
  
As the number of shaders and framebuffer objects increase,  
  
  
  
  
  
I wonder how many shaders and framebuffers could I use on iPhone 3GS/4  
  
  
  
  
  
that are equipped with PowerVR SGX series.  
  
  
  
  
  
I looked for the information in OpenGL ES and GLSL ES specifications but I could find nothing about it.  
  
  
  
  
  
Anybody knows about this ?

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**Author:** ![marco](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.imgtec.com/marco/32/96_2.png) [@marco](https://forums.imgtec.com/u/marco)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 8:11am UTC](https://forums.imgtec.com/t/how-many-shaders-and-framebuffers-can-i-use/1111/2 "2011-06-22T08:11:12Z")

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Hi WonwooLee,  
  
  
  
  
  
there is no explicit limit on the number of shader or framebuffer objects you can create, but as soon as the system is not able to create any more you will get an GL\_OUT\_OF\_MEMORY error.  
  
  
For example if you have a look at the renderbuffer objects specification it says at one point:  
  
  
"If OpenGL ES is unable to create a data store of the requested size, the error OUT\_OF\_MEMORY is generated."  
  
  
  
  
  
Regards,  
  
  
Marco

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**Author:** ![wonwoolee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/50afbb/32.png) [@wonwoolee](https://forums.imgtec.com/u/wonwoolee)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 9:04am UTC](https://forums.imgtec.com/t/how-many-shaders-and-framebuffers-can-i-use/1111/3 "2011-06-22T09:04:18Z")

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Hi, marco.  
  
  
Thank you for your answer.  
  
  
  
  
  
If so, somehow, is the limit dependent on the video memory or something else ?

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**Author:** ![marco](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex015/user_avatar/forums.imgtec.com/marco/32/96_2.png) [@marco](https://forums.imgtec.com/u/marco)\
**Post date:** [June 22, 2011, 10:16am UTC](https://forums.imgtec.com/t/how-many-shaders-and-framebuffers-can-i-use/1111/4 "2011-06-22T10:16:55Z")

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Hi WonwooLee,  
  
  
  
  
  
most likely it is dependant on the system memory as most embedded platforms employ a unified memory architecture (which means that the CPU and the GPU share the same physical memory).  
  
  
  
  
  
Regards,  
  
  
Marco