PA-RISC information - since 1999

PA-RISC CRX and HCRX Graphics

CRX

HP CRX are graphics adapters for HP 9000 PA-RISC workstations, available in different configurations for SGC and GSC buses in different formfactors. All adapters were officially only supported in HP-UX up to 10.20, some may still work in 11.00. CRX were often used in HP 9000 705, 710, 720, 730, 750 and 735 workstations

HP Graphics
Evolution HP graphics © 1995 HP

HP CRX cards output a fixed resolution of 1280×1024. CRX cards for SGC bus in the DIO-II formfactor use BNC connecters with either one (grayscale), three (RGB) or four (RGB and sync), while cards for SGC and GSC in EISA formfactor and mainboard-integrated CRX use HD15 VGA connectors.

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.

Device Color
Resolution		 Memory Double
buffer		 3D Output Bus and formfactor
Part number
CRX 8-bit
1280×1024 72Hz		 3 MB Hardware - BNC SGC DIO-II: A1659A
GRX 8-bit gray Software - BNC SGC DIO-II: A1924A
Stinger
(CRX)		 8-bit
1280×1024 gray
1024×768		 1 MB Software - VGA SGC integrated
Artist
(CRX)		 8-bit
1024×768		 1 MB Hardware - VGA GSC integrated
Artist
ext. mem		 8-bit
1280×1024		 2 MB Hardware - VGA GSC integrated
CRX-24 24-bit Hardware
Software		 - BNC
VGA		 SGC DIO-II: A1439A
SGC: A2673A
CRX-24Z 24-bit Z-Buffer yes BNC
VGA		 DIO-II addon: A1454A
SGC addon: A2674A
CRX-48Z 24-bit Hardware
Software
Z-Buffer		 yes BNC/VGA SGC DIO-II: A2091A (external)
SGC: A2675A (external)
GSC external: A4073A + A2091A
GSC external: A4073B + A4074A
CR 2D 8-bit Hardware
Software		 - VGA GSC: A4077A
CR 2D
dual		 8-bit Hardware
Software		 - 2 VGA GSC: A4078A

HP CRX video adapters were only used in 32-bit PA-RISC HP 9000 workstations like HP 9000 715, HP 9000 720, 730, 750 and HP 9000 735 and 755.

3D Acceleration (Z)

HP CRX 3D
Hoverball 3D demo © 1996 Hewlett Packard

CRX with Z-suffix denotes an additional 3D acceleration board with a hardware 24-bit Z-buffer. These combined adapters like CRX-24Z support the same visuals as stand-alone versions but always provide 3D acceleration. Hardware acceleration can only be used with Starbase, PHIGS, PowerShade or PEX APIs. CRX-48Z adapters are internal GSC or SGC interface cards with a separate external processing box, which provides RGB output connectors.

Part numbers

Part numbers of CRX video cards:

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HCRX

HP HCRX are successors to HP CRX graphics adapters, used in HP 9000 and Visualize PA-RISC workstations. They were shipped in systems with GSC bus, either integrated into the mainboard or as a separate expansion board. HCRX output a fixed resolution of 1280×1024 and use a HD15 VGA connector.

Device Color
max		 Double
buffer		 3D Output Bus and part number
HCRX-8 8-bit Hardware
Software		 - VGA GSC: A4070A/A4070B
GSC-M: A4315A
HCRX-8Z 8-bit Z-Buffer yes VGA GSC: A4079A/A4079B
HCRX-24 24-bit Hardware
Software		 - VGA GSC: A4071A/A4071B
GSC-M: A4316A
HCRX-24Z 24-bit Z-Buffer yes VGA GSC: A4179A
3D Accelerator
for HCRX-8/24		 % Z-Buffer yes - Daughter board: A4072A
Daughter board: A4242A
HCRX-48Z renamed HP Visualize-48 A4244A

HP HCRX video adapters were mainly used in 32-bit PA-RISC HP 9000 715 workstations and many Visualize workstations, C100, C160, C200 and J-Class.

3D Acceleration (Z)

CRX with Z-suffix denotes additional 3D-acceleration board, containing a hardware 24-bit Z-buffer. These combined adapters like HCRX-24Z support the same visuals as stand-alone versions but always provide 3D acceleration. Hardware acceleration can only be used with Starbase, PHIGS, PowerShade or PEX APIs.

HCRX graphics adapters for HP 9000 PA-RISC workstations were suceeded by HP Visualize line of graphics cards. There was briefly a card called HCRX-48Z (A4244A) which was soon renamed and marketed as Visualize-48.

Part numbers

Part numbers of CRX video cards:

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Documentation

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