The graphics processing apparatus of the present invention utilizes individual registers of a register file to store the X and Y coordinates of pixels. These X and Y coordinates though formed into a single data word are separable by, for example, having the most significant bits specifying the Y coordinate and the least significant bits specifying the Y coordinate. The graphics processing apparatus supports instructions which provide separate and independent data manipulation of these X and Y coordinates. These X Y coordinate manipulation instructions can provide for separate X Y arithmetic operations on two data words, separate X and Y compare operations, separate X and Y data move operations and a conversion between the X Y address form to the linear address form. This technique is highly useful for manipulation of X Y address coordinates in a visual display system employing bit mapped graphics.