PA-RISC Graphics Adapters
Overview
An attempt to describe at least the basic details of the most common HP graphics adapters.
CRX
CRX graphics adapters were available in various different configurations for both the SGC and GSC bus in their different formfactors. All of these adapters were officially only supported in HP-UX up to 10.20, some may still work with 11.00.
They output a fixed resolution of 1280×1024 the SGC cards in the DIO-II formfactor use one (grayscale), three (RGB) or four (RGB+sync) BNC connectors, while the SGC and GSC cards in the EISA formfactor and the mainboard-integrated CRX adapters use standard HD15 VGA connectors.
Multiple entries for one adapter list the different visuals which can be used when using HP’s X11 server (i. e. under HP-UX with graphical interface).
| Device | max. color-depth |
Colormaps | Overlay | Double-buffering | HW Z-buffer/ 3D-accel. |
Bus/Formfactor: Part-number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GRX | 8-bit grayscale | 1 | - | software | - | SGC (DIO-II): A1924A |
| CRX | 8-bit | 2 | - | hardware | - | SGC (DIO-II): A1659A |
| Stinger (CRX)1 | 8-bit | 2 | - | software | SGC (integrated) | |
| Artist (CRX)2 | 8-bit | 2 | - | hardware | GSC (integrated) | |
| CRX-24 | 8-bit | 3 | - | hardware | - | SGC (DIO-II FF): A1439A SGC (EISA FF): A2673A |
| 8-bit | 3 | 8-bit | software | |||
| 12-bit | 1 | - | hardware | |||
| 24-bit | 1 | - | - | |||
| CRX-24Z3 | 24-bit | 1 | - | - | yes | SGC (DIO-II FF): A1454A SGC (EISA FF): A2674A |
| CRX-48Z4 | 8-bit | 1 | - | hardware | - | SGC (DIO-II FF) + ext.: A2091A SGC (EISA FF) + ext.: A2675A GSC (EISA FF) + ext.: A4073A/B + A4074A |
| 8-bit | 1 | 8-bit | software | - | ||
| 24-bit | 1 | - | hardware | yes |
- The Stinger CRX adapter, integrated into some of the older ASP-based workstations (older 715, 725) supports four different resolution/refresh-rate combinations, which can be changed via a DIP switch on the back of the machine or in the PDC.
- The Artist graphics adapter, as found on many LASI-based workstations, is technically identical to the CRX devices but supports much more resolutions and refresh rates, which can be chosen in the boot-ROM.
- The Z-suffix denotes a CRX board with an optional 3D-acceleration board, containing a hardware 24-bit Z-buffer. These combined adapters (e.g. CRX-24Z) can be used with the same visuals as stand-alone versions (e.g. CRX-24) but always provide the 3D-acceleration. The hardware acceleration can only be used in conjunction with the Starbase, PHIGS, PowerShade or PEX APIs.
- The CRX-48Z adapter actually consists of a GSC or SGC interface card and a separate external processing box, which connects to the interface card and provides the RGB output connectors.
HCRX
Successors to the CRX graphics adapters, found only in systems with the GSC bus, either integrated into the main logic or as a separate expansion board.
They output a fixed resolution of 1280×1024 and use a standard HD15 VGA connector.
Multiple entries for one adapter list the different visuals which can be used when using HP’s X11 server (ie. under HP-UX with a graphical interface).
| Device | max. color-depth |
Colormaps | Overlay | Double-buffering | HW Z-buffer/ 3D-accel. |
Bus/Formfactor: Part-number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| HCRX-8 | 8-bit | 2 | - | hardware | - | GSC (EISA FF): A4070A/A4070B GSC (GSC-M FF): A4315A |
| 8-bit | 2 + 2 (ov.) | 8-bit | software | |||
| HCRX-8Z1 | 8-bit | 2 | - | % | yes | GSC (EISA FF): A4079A/A4079B |
| HCRX-24 | 8-bit | 2 | - | hardware | - | GSC (EISA FF): A4071A/A4071B GSC (GSC-M FF): A4316A |
| 8-bit | 2 + 2 (ov.) | 8-bit | software | |||
| 12-bit | 1 | - | hardware | |||
| 24-bit | 1 | - | - | |||
| HCRX-24Z1 | 24-bit | 1 | - | % | yes | GSC (EISA FF): A4179A |
- The Z-suffix denotes a HCRX-board with an optional 3D-acceleration board, containing a hardware 24-bit Z-buffer. These combined adapters (e.g. HCRX-24Z) can be used with the same visuals as stand-alone versions (e.g. HCRX-24) but always provide the 3D-acceleration. The hardware acceleration can only be used in conjunction with the Starbase, PHIGS, PowerShade or PEX APIs.
Visualize
The HP Visualize line of graphics adapters were used in a large number of PA-RISC workstations (integrated onto the mainboard) and expansion cards of various types. All cards provide 2D hardware acceleration which is used in HP’s X server, the 3D hardware acceleration can only be used in conjunction with the Starbase, PHIGS, PowerShade or PEX APIs.
They use either a standard HD15 VGA or EVC connector.
Multiple entries for one adapter list the different visuals which can be used when using HP’s X11 server (ie. under HP-UX with a graphical interface).
| Device | max. resolution |
max. color-depth |
Colormaps | Overlay | Double-buffering | HW Z-buffer/ 3D-accel. |
Bus/Formfactor: Part-number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visualize-EG (base) |
1280×1024 | 8-bit | 2 | - | software | - | GSC (EISA FF): A4450A GSC (HSC FF): A3519A PCI: A4977A PMC (PCI mezzanine): A4979A |
| Visualize-EG (dual) |
1280×1024 | 8-bit | 2 | - | software | - | GSC (EISA FF): A4451A |
| Visualize-EG (ext. mem) |
1280×1024 | 8-bit | 2 + 2 (ov.) | 8-bit | software | - | GSC (EISA-FF): + A4452A |
| 1600×1200 | 8-bit | 2 | - | hardware | |||
| Visualize-8 | 1280×1024 | 8-bit | 2 | - | hardware | yes | GSC (EISA FF): A4441A |
| 8-bit | 2 + 2 (ov.) | 8-bit | software | ||||
| Visualize-24 | 1280×1024 | 8-bit | 2 | - | hardware | yes | GSC (EISA FF): A4442A |
| 8-bit | 2 + 2 (ov.) | 8-bit | software | ||||
| 12-bit | 1 | - | hardware | ||||
| 24-bit | 1 | - | - | ||||
| Visualize-48 | 1280×1024 | 8-bit | 4 | - | hardware | yes | GSC (EISA FF): A4244A |
| 8-bit | 4 + 2 (ov.) | 8-bit | software | ||||
| 24-bit | 4 | - | hardware | ||||
| Visualize-48XP | 1280×1024 | 8-bit | 4 | - | hardware | yes | GSC (2-slot EISA FF): A4246A GSC (HSC FF): A4455A |
| 8-bit | 4 + 2 (ov.) | 8-bit | software | ||||
| 24-bit | 4 | - | hardware |
Visualize-FX
The HP Visualize-FX graphics adapters were a more or less complete redesign in contrast to their Visualize predecessors. The architecture of the graphics processors is PA-RISC based, the higher-end models in fact include more than four PA-RISC CPUs to process the graphics. The FXs were the first HP cards to support the OpenGL X-Window Extension (GLX), in addition to the legacy 3D APIs (Starbase, PEX, PHIGS). These adapters were only available as PCI bus cards, with some using two slots.
The EVC connector present on some cards needs an adapter cable (about $20) to connect to a standard HD15 VGA monitor.
These cards support a maximum resolution of 1600×1200, although only with a proper VESA monitor. Otherwise they support 1280×1024. Both Sync-on-Green and Digital-Sync output signals aresupported.
Multiple entries for one adapter list the different visuals which can be used when using HP’s X11 server (ie. under HP-UX with a graphical interface).
| Device | max. color-depth |
Colormaps | Overlay | Double-buffering | HW Z-buffer/ 3D-accel. |
Output | Bus/Formfactor: Part-number |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visualize-FXE | 8-bit | 2 | - | hardware | yes | VGA | PCI 32-bit 66MHz: A4982A1, A4982B1 |
| 8-bit | 2 + 2 (ov.) | 8-bit | software | ||||
| 24-bit | 2 | - | hardware | ||||
| Visualize-FX2 | 8-bit | 4 | - | hardware | yes | EVC | PCI 64-bit 66MHz: A4552A |
| 8-bit | 4 + 2 (ov.) | 8-bit | software | ||||
| 12-bit | 2 | - | hardware | ||||
| 24-bit | 4 | - | - | ||||
| Visualize-FX4/FX62 | 8-bit | 4 | - | hardware | yes | EVC | PCI 64-bit 66MHz: A4553A (FX4) PCI 64-bit 66MHz: A4554A (FX6) |
| 8-bit | 4 + 2 (ov.) | 8-bit | software | ||||
| 12-bit | 2 | - | hardware | ||||
| 24-bit | 4 | - | hardware | ||||
| Visualize-FX5/FX10 | 8-bit | 2 | - | hardware | yes | VGA, DVI-D, stereo | PCI 64-bit 66MHz: A1264A (FX5)3 PCI 64-bit 66MHz: A1264B (FX5pro)3 PCI 64-bit 66MHz: A1298A (FX10)3 PCI 64-bit 66MHz: A1298B (FX10pro)3 |
| 8-bit | 2 + 2 (ov.) | 8-bit | software | ||||
| 24-bit | 2 | - | hardware |
-
There were two FXE models with different memory subsystems for unified buffer, Z-buffer and texture storage:
- A4982A: 18MB SGRAM, (3.5MB max for textures)
- A4982B: 24MB SDRAM, (9.5MB max for textures)
- The FX4 and FX6 card support an optional 16MB hardware texture memory module.
-
The FX5/10pro models integrate the raster and texture-processor into a single IC,
resulting in a better performance than the standard FX5/10 models.
The onboard RAM is used as unified buffer, Z-buffer and texture storage:- FX5[pro]: 64MB (48MB max. for textures)
- FX10[pro]: 128MB (110MB max. for textures)
FireGL-UX
This high-end graphics adapter is based on the (once) popular ATI FireGL2 board, often used in Intel i386 PCs. It provides full OpenGL hardware acceleration under HP’s X server and is binary compatible with the Visualize FX10pro adapter.
- IBM GT1000 geometry engine
- IBM RC1000 raster engine
- 128MB DDR SDRAM of unified frame buffer, Z-buffer and texture storage
- Digital DVI and 3-pin stereo output
- Only available as 64-bit, 66MHz PCI card
It is about twice as fast as the Visualize FX10pro.
Supported resolutions and refresh rates:
| Resolution | Refresh rate | Color depth |
|---|---|---|
| 640×480 | 100Hz | 24-bit |
| 800×600 | 100Hz | 24-bit |
| 1024×768 | 100Hz | 24-bit |
| 1152×864 | 100Hz | 24-bit |
| 1280×960 | 100Hz | 24-bit |
| 1280×1024 | 100Hz | 24-bit |
| 1600×1000 | 85Hz | 24-bit |
| 1600×1024 | 85Hz | 24-bit |
| 1600×1200 | 85Hz | 24-bit |
| 1792×1344 | 60Hz | 24-bit |
| 1920×1200 | 76Hz | 24-bit |