sunflash-Distributed to mailing list sunflash@suntri sunflash-Send requests and problem reports to owner-sunflash@suntri.east.sun.com ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Florida SunFlash Exciting New Graphics, Imaging And Video Solutions On Sun SunFLASH Vol 55 #7 July 1993 ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- 55.07 Exciting New Graphics, Imaging And Video Solutions On Sun SPARCstation ZX, SPARCstation 10ZX & SPARCstation 10TurboGXplus graphics workstations are now shipping. SX Imaging Hardware Technology and SunVideo Video Hardware Technology announced. ---------------------------------------------------------------------------- *********************************************************************** * * * - SPARCstation ZX - The fastest 3-D graphics in its class, three * * times faster graphics than the competition * * * * - SPARCstation 10ZX - Power 3-D graphics on MP systems * * * * - SPARCstation 10TurboGXplus: Fastest 2-D graphics in its class, * * offering more than 1 Million 2-D vectors/sec. * * * * * * Two Revolutionary TECHNOLOGIES for Imaging and Video * * Available late this year * * * * Imaging Hardware Technology * * * * - SX technology provides unprecedented 24-bit imaging and * * image processing on the desktop. SX technology offers * * acceleration for imaging functions such as panning, * * zooming, rotating and convolution of images, as well as * * accelerating color space conversion * * * * Video Hardware Technology * * * * - SunVideo technology completes Sun's video vision, which * * includes the ability to capture and compress video, transfer * * video data over standard networks, and play video on any * * workstation without any special hardware, all in realtime * * * *********************************************************************** Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation (SMCC) announces three industry leading graphics workstations along with two new visual technologies that brings Sun to the forefront of visual computing. The SPARCstation(TM) ZX and SPARCstation 10ZX systems offer leading 3-D graphics performance, better than any comparable workstations. The SPARCstation 10TurboGXplus(TM) system is the fastest 2-D graphics workstation in its class, offering more than 1 million 2-D vectors/sec. New SX technology combines the high performance and features of expensive, proprietary imaging systems with the low cost of desktop workstations. New SunVideo(TM) technology makes realtime video capture and compression a reality. With Solaris(R) LIVE(TM), any workstation can playback video without any special hardware. Products using these new technologies will not be available until late 1993. SPARCstation ZX and SPARCstation 10ZX The SPARCstation ZX system, which is based on the SPARCstation LX(TM) system, is the fastest 3-D graphics workstation in its class - three times faster than any competitive workstation in its class. Employing a new high performance 3-D graphics card that accelerates advanced graphics functions, the SPARCstation ZX offers 750,000 3-D vectors/sec. and 310,000 triangle mesh/sec. The SPARCstation ZX system is ideal for solid model designers who need fast response and high image quality at a price low enough for each engineer to have one on their desk. SPARCstation 10ZX system combines the same graphics SBus card used in the SPARCstation ZX with the powerful CPUs, expandability and flexibility of the SPARCstation 10 product line. As part of the SPARCstation 10 family, it provides the best range of computation performance available today with both uniprocessor and multiprocessor configurations. The SPARCstation 10ZX system is an ideal solution for power intensive graphics applications. Both the SPARCstation ZX and the SPARCstation 10ZX systems are ideal for applications such as MCAD/MCAE, scientific visualization, geo sciences, animation/simulation, industrial design and molecular modeling. SPARCstation 10TurboGXplus The SPARCstation 10TurboGXplus system is Sun's next generation high performance, 2-D/3-D wireframe graphics workstation. With more than twice the 2-D graphics performance of a SPARCstation 10GXplus system, the SPARCstation 10TurboGXplus is the fastest 2-D graphics workstation in its class, offering more than 1 million 2-D vectors/sec. 3-D vector performance is also improved by 40 percent over the SPARCstation 10GXplus. The SPARCstation 10TurboGXplus is ideal for EDA, low to midrange MCAD, GIS, CASE, federal and financial markets. SX Imaging Technology Today, users in image processing markets may either purchase expensive, proprietary image processing systems, or PC or MacIntosh(R) systems and add expensive peripherals. With Sun's new SX technology, affordable, high-end 24-bit image processing capability will be available on the desktop for the first time. SX technology places an imaging accelerator directly into the memory controller, using the memory bus to transfer data between main memory and video memory. This results in the ability to transfer data up to 10 times faster than typical imaging system. Applications that will benefit from this technology include medical imaging, color prepress and GIS. Products using this new technology will not be available until late 1993. SunVideo Technology Computer video technology has taken a giant leap forward with Sun's new SunVideo technology. SunVideo technology captures and compresses video input in realtime, making it possible to have realtime video conferencing over standard Ethernet networks without expensive specialized video equipment. Alternatively, users can create multimedia applications, combining video and text into one file. SunVideo technology is able to compress video data in a wide variety of formats, including MPEG1, JPEG and Sun's Cell compression technique. SunVideo technology is targeted at video conferencing, multimedia authoring systems, digital video creation and video server/video on demand applications. Products using this new technology will not be available until late 1993. FEATURES AND BENEFITS --------------------- SPARCstation ZX and SPARCstation 10ZX o SPARCstation ZX and SPARCstation 10ZX systems offer 310,000 triangle mesh/sec., 750,000 3-D vectors/sec., 125,000 quads/sec., and 450,000 antialiased 3-D vectors/sec., supporting fast rendering of complex 3-D models o Advanced Sun-designed VLSI and packaging technology allows all the 3-D graphics functions to be included on a dual-wide SBus card, increasing reliability and leaving two SBus slots open on the SPARCstation 10ZX system o SPARCstation 10ZX system offers multiprocessing capable systems to power intensive users who need the highest CPU performance available o High-end graphics capabilities including Gouraud shading, per-pixel depth-cueing, line and point antialiasing with sub-pixel accuracy, hardware alpha-blend and screen door transparency, dynamically tessellated NURBS (non-uniform rational B-spline) in firmware and full stereo support, including the monitor, all of which insure more accurate, faster, and realistic representations of complex 3-D models o Frame buffer features included 24-bit double buffer, 24-bit Z-buffer, 8-bit overlay, three 8-bit color lookup tables, multiple window IDs, fast clear planes, 1280 x 1024 @ 76Hz, 1152 x 900 @ 76Hz, 960 x 680 @ 112Hz and NTSC or PAL RGB video output, offering smooth, realistic animation in a variety of resolutions o Compatible with Solaris 2.2 operating evironment, OpenWindows(TM) 3.1, XGL(TM) 3.0.1 software and SunPHIGS(TM) 3.0 software SPARCstation 10TurboGXplus o SPARCstation 10TurboGXplus system offers 1.16 million 2-D vectors/sec. and 440,000 3-D vectors/sec., ideal for applications that require fast wireframe graphics or fast windowing o In addition to supporting Sun's standard 1152 x 900 monitor resolution, the SPARCstation 10TurboGXplus system also supports high resolution monitors, 1280 x 1024 for federal and MCAD applications, and 1600 x 1280 for document imaging applications o 4 MB of VRAM offers double buffering for smooth rendering of complex wireframe objects o Single-wide SBus card leaves 3 SBus slots available for other I/O cards o TurboGXplus is 100 percent hardware and software compatible with GXplus, allowing easy upgrades. TurboGXplus is Solaris 1.x and 2.x compatible SX Technology o SX technology offers high-end imaging capability in a desktop system, making advanced imaging capability more affordable o SX image processor accelerates panning, zooming, rotating, various types of convolution and color space conversion, important capabilities for imaging applications o Fast decompression of video files helps video authoring and multimedia applications o Double buffering using standard memory routines supports smooth video playback o In addition to imaging, SX technology also accelerates 2-D and 3-D graphics. However when imaging is not important and 2-D and 3-D graphics performance is the key, the TurboGXplus and ZX are more appropriate SunVideo Technology o SunVideo technology supports realtime video capture and compression, allowing video to be broadcast over standard Ethernet networks at a full 30 frames/sec. o XIL(TM) library in Solaris 2.2 decompresses video, allowing playback on any workstation o SunVideo offers multiple compression techniques including MPEG1, JPEG and Cell, allowing customer to use the compression technique that best suits their application o Sun developed Cell compression technique offers compression ratios of up to 200 to 1 HARDWARE AND SOFTWARE CONSIDERATIONS ------------------------------------ - SPARCstation 10ZX system, SPARCstation ZX system and the SPARCstation ZX graphics SBus card are compatible with Solaris 2.2, OpenWindows V3.1, XGL 3.0.1 software and SunPHIGS 3.0 software - The TurboGXplus SBus card is fully compatible with Solaris 1.x and 2.x AVAILABILITY ------------ - SPARCstation ZX, SPARCstation 10ZX and SPARCstation 10TurboGXplus systems and x options are available immediately - SX technology and SunVideo technology will be available in products at the end of the calendar year U.S. PRICING AND ORDERING INFORMATION ------------------------------------- THESE PRODUCTS APPEAR IN BOTH THE END USER AND RESELLER PRICE LIST U.S. PRICING AND ORDERING INFORMATION ------------------------------------- Order List Discount SunSpectrum Description Number Price Category Silver Price ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- SPARCstation 10 Desktops ======================== SPARCstation 10 Model 40 ------------------------ 20-inch Color Monitor, TurboGXplus, 32-Mbyte, 1.05-Gbyte-Internal SCSI Disk S10TX4-40-32-P46 $22,745 A $168 20-inch Color Monitor, ZX, 32-Mbyte, 1.05-Gbyte-Internal SCSI Disk S10ZX-40-32-P46 $28,745 A $168 SPARCstation 10 Model 51 ------------------------ 20-inch Color Monitor, TurboGXplus, 32-Mbyte, 1.05-Gbyte-Internal SCSI Disk S10TX4-51-32-P46 $26,745 A $168 20-inch Color Monitor, ZX, 32-Mbyte, 1.05-Gbyte-Internal SCSI Disk S10ZX-51-32-P46 $32,745 A $168 SPARCstation 10 Model 402MP --------------------------- 20-inch Color Monitor, TurboGXplus, 32-Mbyte, 1.05-Gbyte-Internal SCSI Disk S10TX4-402-32-P46 $26,745 A $168 20-inch Color Monitor, ZX, 32-Mbyte, 1.05-Gbyte-Internal SCSI Disk S10ZX-402-32-P46 $32,745 A $168 SPARCstation 10 Model 512MP --------------------------- 20-inch Color Monitor, TurboGXplus, 64-Mbyte, 1.05-Gbyte-Internal SCSI Disk S10TX4-512-64-P46 $35,745 A $168 20-inch Color Monitor, ZX, 64-Mbyte, 1.05-Gbyte-Internal SCSI Disk S10ZX-512-64-P46 $41,745 A $168 SPARCstation 10 Model 514MP --------------------------- 20-inch Color Monitor, TurboGXplus, 64-Mbyte, 1.05-Gbyte-Internal SCSI Disk S10TX4-514-64-P46 $47,745 A $168 SPARCstation ZX --------------- 20-inch Color Monitor, ZX, 32-Mbyte, 1.05-Gbyte-Internal SCSI Disk 4/30ZX-32-P46 $19,995 A $64 X-Options ========= TurboGXplus, 20-inch Sony Monitor and cables X367A/367A $7,700 A $NC SPARCstation ZX graphics card X1094A $12,995 A $NC (c) 1993 Sun Microsystems, Inc. Sun, Sun Microsystems, the Sun logo, Sun Microsystems Computer Corporation, TurboGXplus, SunVideo, Solaris, LIVE, OpenWindows, XGL, SunPHIGS, and LX are trademarks or registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc. All SPARC trademarks, including the SCD Compliant Logo, are trademarks or registered trademarks of SPARC International, Inc. SPARCstation, SPARCclassic and SuperSPARC are licensed exclusively to Sun Microsystems, Inc. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based upon an architecture developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc. Macintosh is a registered trademark of Apple Computer, Inc. All other product or service names mentioned herein are trademarks of their respective owners. ********************************************************************** For information about SunFlash send mail to info-sunflash@Sun.COM. Subscription requests should be sent to sunflash-request@Sun.COM. Archives are on solar.nova.edu, ftp.uu.net, sunsite.unc.edu, src.doc.ic.ac.uk and ftp.adelaide.edu.au All prices, availability, and other statements relating to Sun or third party products are valid in the U.S. only. Please contact your local Sales Representative for details of pricing and product availability in your region. Descriptions of, or references to products or publications within SunFlash does not imply an endorsement of that product or publication by Sun Microsystems. Send brief articles (e.g. third party announcements) and include contact information (non-800#, fax #, email, etc) to: John McLaughlin, SunFlash editor, flash@Sun.COM. +1 305 351 4909