HP Visualize x-class p-class Xeon
Quick Facts | |
---|---|
Introduced | 2000 |
Period | Intel |
Series | Visualize |
CPU | 1-2 Pentium III |
Cache | 256 KB |
RAM | 4 GB |
Design | RCC |
Drives | 1 FD 4 IDE |
Expansion | 1 AGP 4 PCI 1 PCI/ISA |
I/O | 2 serial parallel 2 USB audio |
HP updated the Visualize Personal Workstations line in 2000 with new Intel-based models in the x-class and p-class. Models A1280 were new x-class, A6034 the new p-class – both identical besides maximum memory and some expansion configurations.
Based on Intel Pentium III Xeon Cascades processors, they were up to two-way SMP capable with rare RCC ServerWorks chipset and Xeon CPU models and updated earlier P-Class and X-Class workstations.
Visualize X-Class and P-Class high were NT-based workstations for Mechanical Design Automation (MDA) and Digital Content Creation (DCC) to complement more expensive HP PA-RISC Unix offerings.
Visualize X-Class shared almost nothing with PA-RISC-based HP Visualize workstations but modified version of Visualize graphics adapters on AGP Pro. They also were shipped with some 3rd-party graphics for 3D.
- HP Visualize p733, A6034A, were introduced in 1999
- HP Visualize x733, A1280, were introduced in 1999 for $6,470
- HP Visualize x733, A1280A, with fx4, introduced in 2000 for $7,470
- HP Visualize p800, A6034A, were introduced in 2000 for $3,346
- HP Visualize x800, A1280B, with Elsa Synergy II, introduced in 2000 for $4,246
- HP Visualize p866, A6034A, with Elsa Synergy II, introduced in 2000 for $3,246
- HP Visualize x866, A1280B, with Elsa GLoria II, introduced in 2000 for $5,906
- HP Visualize p1.0, A6034A, introduced in 2000 for $3,846
- HP Visualize x1.0, A1280B, with Elsa Synergy II, introduced in 2000 for $4,746
- HP Visualize X-Class A1280A were shipped with HP Visualize fx4+ and fx6+
- HP Visualize X-Class A1280B were shipped with HP Visualize fx5 and fx10 Graphics Cards; ELSA GLoria II and Synergy II
- HP Visualize X-Class A1280C: unclear
- HP Visualize P-Class A6034A were shipped with HP Visualize fx5 and fx10 Graphics Cards; ELSA GLoria II and Synergy II
System architecture
Processors
System | CPU | Speed | L1 Cache |
---|---|---|---|
HP Visualize x733 HP Visualize p733 |
1-2 Intel Pentium III Xeon Cascades? |
733 MHz | 256 KB on-chip |
HP Visualize x800 HP Visualize p800 |
1-2 Intel Pentium III Xeon Cascades? |
800 MHz | 256 KB on-chip |
HP Visualize x866 HP Visualize p866 |
1-2 Intel Pentium III Xeon Cascades? |
866 MHz | 256 KB on-chip |
HP Visualize x1.0 HP Visualize p1.0 |
1-2 Intel Pentium III Xeon Cascades? |
1 GHz | 256 KB on-chip |
Chipset
Visualize x-class and p-class workstations use a RCC chipset, possibly ServerWorks III (HE?), after the company renamed itself.
- Reliance Computer RCC chipset, possibly ServerWorks ServerSet III HE-SL
- RCC North Bridge, with memory controller, connects CPU bus (FSB), memory bus (SDRAM), PCI and AGP buses
- RCC I/O Bridge, connects PCI to ISA, USB and IDE
- (integrated) IDE controller PCI Bus master Ultra ATA/33
- (integrated) USB controller
- (integrated) DMA (82C37) and Interrupt (82C59) controllers
- (integrated) Power Managemend
- (integrated) SMBus interface
- NS87317, Ultra I/O, integrates parallel, serial, keyboard, mouse, floppy controllers and RTC
- Two ROM sockets for flash ROMs
- Intel 82559 10/100 Fast Ethernet controller.
- Graphics through separate boards, usually shipped with:
- Optional Visualize fx OpenGL 3D with 18 MB SGRAM and 16-32 MB SDRAM, dual PCI-AGP
- Optional Visualize fx2+, fx4+, fx6+ with 18 MB SGRAM, dual PCI-AGP
- Optional Visualize fx5, fx10 up to 64 MB RAM, 6 (PA-RISC) geo engines, AGP
- Optional ELSA GLoria II (
with hp visualize technology
) - Optional ELSA Synergy II with 32 MB SGRAM
- Optional NVIDIA Quadro2 MXR
- CS4280 and CS4297 sound chips
- Optional Adaptec SCSI card for Ultra-wide LVD and SE SCSI
System buses
- Intel 133 MHz 2x Front-side bus (FSB), 64-bit with Parity, data rate
- Memory bus 133 MHz (SDRAM) CL2, 288/144-bit with ECC, 2 GB/s data rate
- PCI 33 MHz 3.3V bus
- PCI 66 MHz 5.0V bus
- AGP Pro 66 MHz 4X bus
- SCSI Ultra160 storage bus, 160 MB/s
- IDE PIO mode 4 and Bus Master IDE
Memory
- 133 MHz SDRAM 2-way interleaved
- X-Class (A1280): Eight slots for 64-512 MB SDRAM DIMMs
- P-Class (A6034): Four slots for 64-512 MB SDRAM DIMMs
- 64 MB to 2 GB (P-Class) or 4 GB (X-Class) supported
Expansion slots
- One AGP Pro slot, 66 MHz
- Possibly on A1280B and A6034 Not supported: Visualize fx4, fx6, fx2+, fx4+, fx6+ (with plain AGP) will not work and might damage the board
- A1280A was apparently shipped with fx2+ and fx4+ AGP Pro
- Three PCI slots, 32-bit 33 MHz, 5V
- Two PCI slots, 64-bit 66 MHz, 3.3V
- I/O slot layout (from top to bottom):
- AGP Pro
- PCI 32-bit, PCI 1
- PCI 32-bit, PCI 2
- PCI 32-bit, PCI 3
- PCI 64-bit, PCI 4
- PCI 64-bit, PCI 5
Storage
- Hard drives either Ultra ATA/33 or Ultra160 SCSI
- 3.5″ Floppy drive
- Two internal trays for 3.5″ drives
- Two external trays for 3.5″ drives
- Three external trays for 5.25″ drives, CDs etc.
External ports
- Two serial RS232C DB9
- VGA DB 15-pin
- Parallel DB25
- Two USB ports
- Two PS/2 ports for keyboard/mouse
- Four phone jacks for audio
Operating systems
- Windows NT, original support and drivers
- Windows 2000, original support and drivers
- Linux, original support and drivers
- many other PC operating systems
Pictures
Dimensions
System | Height | Width | Depth | Weight |
---|---|---|---|---|
Desktop | 483mm | 208mm | 473mm | 15kg |
There is an LCD panel on the front of the case which shows BIOS and configuration info and possible detected errors by the BIOS, enhanced by beeps. The LCD can also be used for diagnostics.
Benchmarks
No official SPECint or fp results could be found for newer HP Visualize x- and p-class systems, but some comparisons might be made with systems using a similar ServerWorks ServerSet III chipset, such as DELL Power Edge 4400.
System | Processor | SPEC95 int | SPEC95 fp | SPEC2000 int | SPEC2000 fp |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
DELL Power Edge 4400 | Pentium III Xeon 1 GHz* | 437 | 302 | ||
HP Visualize P750C^ | Pentium III 750 MHz | 35.7^ | 22.9^ | 325^ | 219^ |
HP Visualize B1000 | PA-8500 300 MHz | 23.9 | 39.3 | ||
HP Visualize C3000 | PA-8500 400 MHz | 31.8 | 52.4 | 313 | 321 |
HP Visualize C3750 | PA-8700+ 875 MHz | 678 | 674 |
HP PA-RISC were always good performers on FPU loads and pretty strong on a MHz-for-MHz comparison; granted on synthetic benchmarks.
Documentation
Manuals
- hp x-class workstation Data Sheet, HP 2001, 5980-3724ENUS archive.org
- hp visualize x-class workstations for Windows, HP 2000, 5980-1311E archive.org
- hp visualize x-class workstations for Windows, HP 2000, 5980-1311e archive.org
- HP VISUALIZE Personal Workstation Users Guide, HP 2000, A1280-90002 archive.org
- Technical Reference HP Visualize A1280 X-Class and A6034 P-Class Personal Workstations, HP 2000, A1280-90016 archive.org
- hp x-class overview & features, HP website 2001 archive.org
Articles
- HP Announces Visualize X-Class Personal Workstation, HPC Wire, January 2000
- HP ANNOUNCES NEW PRODUCTS AND SERVICES, HPC Wire, July 2000
- HP Sets New Performance Standard With HP VISUALIZE X-Class Personal Workstation, HP Press release 1999 archive.org
Drivers and BIOS
- hp workstation Windows NT 4.0 drivers for x class, HP website 2001 archive.org
- HP Workstations Windows 2000 drivers, HP website 2000 archive.org
- X-Class Windows 2000 drivers , HP website 2001 archive.org
- hp workstation ID.W2.02 BIOS for x/xL class, p/pL class, HP website 2001 archive.org
- Hp Visualize X Class ( A 1280) & P Class ( A 6034) Workstation Drivers & Documentation archive.org