A central processing unit (CPU) including an operating system for executing code segments capable of performing graphics processing on the CPU. Associated therewith is a graphics application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) for performing graphics processing in accordance with a graphics processing standard. An extension to the software is included that identifies a first portion of the graphics processing to be performed on the graphics ASIC and a second portion of the graphics processing to be performed on the CPU. Such second portion of the graphics processing includes application-programmable vertex processing unavailable by the graphics ASIC. A compiler compiles the software to execute the first portion of the graphics processing on the graphics ASIC and the second portion of the graphics processing on the CPU in accordance with the extension.