PA-RISC Graphics Adapters
Overview
All HP 32-bit and many of the earlier 64-bit PA-RISC computers used HP-designed video adapters, based on a variety of buses (GSC, SGC, etc.), chipsets and form factors. Only with the later PCI-based adapters HP switched to using customized versions of mainstream graphics adapters from the Intel/i386 world. The following sections describe most of the older, HP-proprietary designs.
CRX
CRX graphics adapters were available in various different configurations for both the GSG 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.
The CRX cards output a fixed resolution of 1280×1024. cards with SGC bus in the DIO-II formfactor use either one (grayscale), three (R GB) or four (R GB and sync) BNC connectors, while cards for SGC and GSC in the EISA formfactor and the mainboard-integrated CRX adapters use 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 configured 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) support 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.
- CRX-48Z adapters are GSC or SGC interface cards with a separate external processing box, which provides the R GB output connectors.
HCRX
The HCRX are the successors to the CRX graphics adapters and were shipped in systems with the GSC bus, either integrated into the mainboard or as a separate expansion board. They output a fixed resolution of 1280×1024 and use a 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) support 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 in expansion cards of various types. All cards provide 2D hardware acceleration, used by HP’s X11 server on HP-UX. The 3D hardware acceleration is available in conjunction with either of the Starbase, PHIGS, PowerShade or PEX APIs.
The Visualize cards use either a 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 HD15 VGA monitor.
These cards support a maximum resolution of 1600×1200 or 1280×1024 on older monitors. Both Sync-on-Green and Digital-Sync output signals are supported.
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 66 MHz: 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 66 MHz: 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 66 MHz: A4553A (FX4) PCI 64-bit 66 MHz: 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 66 MHz: A1264A (FX5)3 PCI 64-bit 66 MHz: A1264B (FX5pro)3 PCI 64-bit 66 MHz: A1298A (FX10)3 PCI 64-bit 66 MHz: A1298B (FX10pro)3 |
| 8-bit | 2 + 2 (ov.) | 8-bit | software | ||||
| 24-bit | 2 | - | hardware |
-
Two different FXE models with different memory subsystems were shipped:
- A4982A: 18 MB SGRAM, (3.5 MB max for textures)
- A4982B: 24 MB SDRAM, (9.5 MB max for textures)
- The FX4 and FX6 cards support an optional 16 MB hardware texture memory module.
-
The FX5/10pro models integrate the raster and texture-processor onto a single chip,
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]: 64 MB (48 MB max. for textures)
- FX10[pro]: 128 MB (110 MB max. for textures)
FireGL-UX
The FireGL-UX high-end graphics adapter was based on ATI’s 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.
Details:
- IBM GT1000 geometry engine
- IBM RC1000 raster engine
- 128 MB DDR SDRAM of unified frame buffer, Z-buffer and texture storage
- Digital DVI and 3-pin stereo output
- 64-bit, 66 MHz 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 |
References
- Graphics Administration Guide for HP-UX 10.20 (.pdf) Hewlett-Packard (n.d.)
- Graphics Administration Guide for HP-UX 11.x (.pdf) Hewlett-Packard (2006: B2355-IE003, Edition E0206)