[comp.sys.dec] Writing Fast X Servers for Dumb Color Frame Buffers

joel@decwrl.dec.com (Joel McCormack) (04/30/91)

The following report has recently been published from WRL:


91/1	Writing Fast X Servers for Dumb		Joel McCormack 
	Color Frame Buffers

Abstract:

Processor speeds are improving faster than memory access speeds.  The
current generation of RISC processors can perform many 2-dimensional
graphics operations at or near memory or bus bandwidth speeds,
rendering specialized hardware unnecessary for all but the most
demanding applications.  This paper describes the DECStation 3100 and
DECStation 500/200CX color frame buffer hardware and several of the
graphics algorithms used in the X server implementation.  Measured
performance numbers are presented and compared to memory bandwidth
speed, and the most important contributors to the frame buffer's
performance are summarized.


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-- 
- Joel McCormack (decwrl!joel, joel@decwrl.dec.com)