Compaq AP750 - Professional - 256 MB RAM Manual
Graphics: the workstation difference
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Technical Manual
Technology Brief
April 1999
0054-0499-A
Prepared by Workstation Division
Compaq Computer Corporation
Contents
Workstations and Graphics .......3
Approach. ...................................4
Industry Standard Interfaces......5
Graphics Hardware ....................5
OpenGL ......................................7
AGP and PCI...............................8
PCI Bus.......................................8
AGP ............................................9
Conclusion ...............................11
Graphics: The Workstation
Difference
Abstract: Graphics are the most visible and most critical part of
workstations. Focusing on 3D graphics, this paper explores the role
and importance of graphics and recommends graphics products for
specific needs.
A discussion of graphics implementation issues is included, which
examines when graphics operations make sense to implement in
hardware and which should remain in software. Finally, key
graphics interfaces -- both software and hardware -- are explored.
This paper should increase understanding of workstation graphics
and help in choosing graphics devices.
Help us improve our technical communication. Let us know what you think
about the technical information in this document. Your feedback is valuable
and will help us structure future communications. Please send your
comments to:
Russ.Doty@compaq.com
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Table of Contents
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Summary of Contents for Compaq AP750 - Professional - 256 MB RAM
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Page 1: Table Of Contents
Graphics: The Workstation April 1999 0054-0499-A Difference Prepared by Workstation Division Compaq Computer Corporation Abstract: Graphics are the most visible and most critical part of Contents workstations. Focusing on 3D graphics, this paper explores the role Workstations and Graphics ..3... -
Page 2: April
PROFITS, BUSINESS INTERRUPTION OR LOSS OF BUSINESS INFORMATION), EVEN IF COMPAQ HAS BEEN ADVISED OF THE POSSIBILITY OF SUCH DAMAGES. The limited warranties for Compaq products are exclusively set forth in the documentation accompanying such products. Nothing herein should be construed as constituting a further or additional warranty. -
Page 3: Workstations And Graphics
-- such as video conferencing and voice input -- require the utmost performance from all parts of a workstation. To address these ever changing needs, Compaq offers a family of graphics products for Professional Workstations to meet diverse application requirements ranging from 2D and multiple display 2D to entry-level 3D to high-end professional 3D. -
Page 4: Graphics: The Total System Approach
A specialized type of hardware called a graphics accelerator speeds up graphics operations. Compaq offers a family of graphics accelerators, providing similar graphics features and functions at several levels of performance, thus matching user requirements. -
Page 5: Industry Standard Interfaces
Compaq's graphics provide support for both views. The Alpha processor in the Professional Workstation XP1000 is powerful enough to deliver application performance exceeding that of high-end geometry accelerator/graphics accelerator combinations on other, less high performance platforms. - Page 6 Graphics: The Workstation Difference 256-color displays and 24-bit frame buffers that display true color images, to high end graphics subsystems that execute virtually all graphics in hardware. While it is neither appropriate nor possible to move all graphics operations into graphics hardware, there are some operations for which specialized hardware makes sense.
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Page 7: Opengl
Second is that OpenGL is an open industry standard. The OpenGL specification is controlled by the OpenGL Architecture Review Board (ARB), which has representatives from Silicon Graphics, Microsoft, Compaq Computer Corporation, IBM, Evans & Sutherland, and a number of other companies. The ARB is responsible for maintaining the OpenGL specification and for guiding the evolution of OpenGL in a public forum. -
Page 8: Agp And Pci
Graphics: The Workstation Difference both X-Windows and Windows NT. These two windowing systems are radically different in the way they work, but the same OpenGL interface is available on both for applications running in either environment. Of course, all 2D operations performed by an application are dependent on the windowing system, but the 3D OpenGL interface will be identical across the operating systems. -
Page 9: Agp
Graphics: The Workstation Difference Y screen coordinate Z value Green Blue Alpha Texture U coordinate Texture V coordinate Texture W (perspective) value When used in a triangle strip (common for high performance graphics), the PCI bus can handle roughly 10 million of the simple triangles per second. Using the full OpenGL interface, the PCI bus can handle 3-4 M triangles in the real world. - Page 10 Graphics: The Workstation Difference The implementation of AGP as a point to point bus enables much of AGP's performance. By eliminating multiple devices on the bus, signal integrity problems are greatly reduced and bus clock rates can be increased. Likewise, eliminating the need to determine which of several devices has control of the bus simplifies the software interface and improves performance there.
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Page 11: Conclusion
It explored several factors impacting the design and implementation of graphics hardware and the interface between graphics and the workstation. Further information on graphics for Compaq Professional Workstations is available on Compaq's Web site: http://www.compaq/products/workstations...