jkh@meepmeep.pcs.com (Jordan K. Hubbard) (05/07/91)
I just talked to Don Stevenson of Aura Systems and got some interesting information that may make the Scuzzy-Graph the way to go for us. First off, there are a number of configurations but the following were the ones I inquired about as they seemed the only "reasonable" ones for running X. The 3 configurations I discussed with him were: 1024x768x8 (256 colors) 1024x768x4 (16 colors) 1024x768x1 (monochrome) In all of the above, the actual frame buffer size is 1024x1024x<n> with only 1024x768 pixels displayable. It is possible that an X server with "panning" could be written to take advantage of the extra real-estate, or the space could be used for off-screen storage. The memory is 512K (this is program and data memory not including the frame buffer) expandable to 2MB, cost contingient on 4 megabit RAM prices at the time of upgrade. All systems I priced were 512K on the assumption that this would be just enough to squeak by until RAM prices fall a bit; in reality, X servers are hungry beasts and will want a couple of megs to play with for caching fonts, pixmaps and the like. The processor is the TMS34010, running at (?) MHz (sorry, forgot to ask - glossies are in the mail). The entire package is in a 5 1/4" form factor and can be easily mounted in a drive bay. Additionally, we could put it in an external case, whatever people prefer. Accepts standard PC power connector. Communication is SCSI, with a disk-style connector being built into the unit. 3 RGB outputs are provided, or whatever it is one uses to connect to a VGA monitor. The refresh rate is >70Hz at 1024x768x4, with 60Hz being the norm for the 1024x768x8 display. I don't know what this means in terms of flicker, since I always found 60Hz just fine for my eyes, but you can always go monochrome or 4 bit if you're more interested in DTP applications that scream for a 70Hz eye-sparing refresh. I would envision one of the above configurations with a moderately intelligent ROM monitor that downloaded a server at boot time. Communication over the bus would be X protocol requests, encoded into scsi requests by a special kernel driver. The resident server would try to cache frequently used information as efficiently as possible using offscreen and/or unused program memory. Even those opting for 4 plane systems would probably find 16 colors quite adequate for running Motif or OpenLook with a "3D" feel. The 8 plane systems would be more suitable for folks doing graphics work and CAD. I don't consider monochrome systems at this resolution good for much of anything, these days. Prices in U.S. Dollars: Quantity 1: 1024x768x1 - $650 1024x768x4 - $800 1024x768x8 - $950 Quantity 100: (!) 1024x768x1 - $454 1024x768x4 - $560 1024x768x8 - $664 Quantity 50 is juxtaposed between those two. As you can see, it would really pay to get together on a quantity buy. We might be also be able to negotiate something on a >50 and <100 quantity buy, but that's not certain. They're a small company and might be willing to haggle. An additional cost would be the approx. $1000 to Texas Instruments for their TMS34000 series developer's kit, which is said to be indispensible for working with the chip. Cost would be probably be amortised across all the units purchased so that the poor X server porter (that's probably ME) wouldn't be stuck with the whole bill. Somebody would also have to hack GCC into producing code for it. I'm willing to take the server end if someone else with compilers as their area of expertise takes this one. Note: I don't work for Aura Systems, I just think they have a product that's uniquely well positioned for us. Also, since the machine [PC532] is always going to be sub-useful to me until it runs some sort of window system, I'm very interested in pushing ahead with something sooner rather than later. If we can beat these prices by building our own intelligent frame buffer, that's great. I kind of doubt it though.. Scuzzy-Graph Aura Systems (619) 440-2304 Jordan