[comp.sys.amiga.graphics] Some info on the Visiona card

vinsci@nic.funet.fi (Leonard Norrgard) (06/19/91)

[Followups directed to comp.sys.amiga.graphics]

Since I got a number of request for more info on the Visiona graphics
card, here it is:

- true color option (full 24 bit)
- programmable resolution (see below)
- "" refresh rate & palette
- several versions, including one for the A3000's Zorro III bus
- integrated single-frame-recorder interface
  ("Einzelbildrecorder-Ansteurung", I guess that's single-frame-recorder
  controller...)

Resolutions: they mention in the broschure that it would be impossible
to list all resolutions programmable, but list these as examples:

	1600 x 1280 x  8 (256 colors) 75 Hz interlaced
	1280 x 1024 x  8 (256 colors) 60 Hz
	1152 x  900 x  8 (256 colors) 60 Hz (SUN 4)
	1024 x  768 x  8 (256 colors) 90 Hz
	1200 x  900 x 24 (16M colors) 50 Hz interlaced
	1024 x  768 x 24 (16M colors) 60 Hz interlaced
	 800 x  600 x 24 (16M colors) 50 Hz
	 640 x  480 x 24 (16M colors) 75 Hz

Then they go on to say that these are just samples, and that eg. the
Sun 4 sample could as well be 98 Hz. In an earlier section they say
that the card can be programmed to all current TV standards (PAL,
NTSC, D2MAC, SECAM and others).

The card is to come in three versions:

1. Visiona Paint & Visiona paint plus
   2 Mb RAM fast VRAM installed. The plus version has 4Mb VRAM,
   allowing higher resolutions to be used. Compatible with A2000
   up to A3500 (I suppose they mean the A3000T with that).

1.1 As 1. but with FAST option
   Gives yet higher resolutions and refresh rates. Includes faster
   VRAMs and a faster graphics processor (they don't mention which one
   they're using though... the somewhat fuzzy photo shows an Inmos 300
   chip, though).

2. Visiona Highpaint
   "Available by January 1991" :-)
   This is the A3000 version with support for the faster Zorro III bus.
   Has option for installing a T800 transputer with a max. working
   space of 8Mb. Compatible with their TimeHopper external cache for the
   A3000 series. The card is only for the A3000 series.

3. Visiona Highpaint Art
   "planned for 1991"
   Has a fast 64 bit interface for "a hardware drawing unit" (isn't
   that a graphics processor??) They go on to say that this enables the use
   of the Intel I860 chip to draw & manipulate directly using hardware.
   They go on describing things I don't understand, except for the
   possibility of 64 Mb video ram... The card is only for the A3000 series.

From the photo it is also clear that the board was designed by Hendrik
Horak: "Copyright and Boardengineering by Hendrik Horak 1990".

Enjoy,

-- Leonard

jet@karazm.math.uh.edu (J Eric Townsend) (06/20/91)

In article <VINSCI.91Jun19031833@nic.nic.funet.fi> vinsci@nic.funet.fi (Leonard Norrgard) writes:
>[Followups directed to comp.sys.amiga.graphics]
>
>Since I got a number of request for more info on the Visiona graphics
>card, here it is:

So where do I get one?  How much will it cost me?


--
J. Eric Townsend - jet@uh.edu - bitnet: jet@UHOU - vox: (713) 749-2126
Skate UNIX! (curb fault: skater dumped)

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logan@netxcom.netx.com (Jim Logan) (06/27/91)

In article <VINSCI.91Jun19031833@nic.nic.funet.fi> vinsci@nic.funet.fi (Leonard Norrgard) writes:
# 
# 	1600 x 1280 x  8 (256 colors) 75 Hz interlaced
# 	1280 x 1024 x  8 (256 colors) 60 Hz
# 	1152 x  900 x  8 (256 colors) 60 Hz (SUN 4)
# 	1024 x  768 x  8 (256 colors) 90 Hz
# 	1200 x  900 x 24 (16M colors) 50 Hz interlaced
# 	1024 x  768 x 24 (16M colors) 60 Hz interlaced
# 	 800 x  600 x 24 (16M colors) 50 Hz
# 	 640 x  480 x 24 (16M colors) 75 Hz

This board looks more attractive than the ULowell board!  How
much would it cost?  I might just try to build an X11R4 server
for it...  Does it have any on-board coprocessors like the TI
chip?

			-Jim
-- 
Jim Logan        HOME: logan@gimlet.cntv.va.us    WORK: logan@netx.com
Consultant             uunet!gimlet!logan               uunet!netxcom!logan
NetExpress, Inc.       (703) 222-3217                   (703) 749-2269

vinsci@nic.funet.fi (Leonard Norrgard) (06/27/91)

In article <466@netxcom.netx.com> logan@netxcom.netx.com (Jim Logan) writes:
   In article <VINSCI.91Jun19031833@nic.nic.funet.fi> vinsci@nic.funet.fi (Leonard Norrgard) writes:
   # 
   # 	1600 x 1280 x  8 (256 colors) 75 Hz interlaced
   # 	1280 x 1024 x  8 (256 colors) 60 Hz
   # 	1152 x  900 x  8 (256 colors) 60 Hz (SUN 4)
   # 	1024 x  768 x  8 (256 colors) 90 Hz
   # 	1200 x  900 x 24 (16M colors) 50 Hz interlaced
   # 	1024 x  768 x 24 (16M colors) 60 Hz interlaced
   # 	 800 x  600 x 24 (16M colors) 50 Hz
   # 	 640 x  480 x 24 (16M colors) 75 Hz

   This board looks more attractive than the ULowell board!  How
   much would it cost?  I might just try to build an X11R4 server
   for it...  Does it have any on-board coprocessors like the TI
   chip?

			   -Jim

No price info, maybe when they've actually released the card. They
mention a T800 transputer chip for the Visiona "highpaint" version. A
planned board, Visiona highpaint ART, features a 64bit, fast interface
to a hardware drawing unit, which could then be for example the i860
or something else. According to the brochure this board is planned for
release this year, but I think next year is more like it (as the first
board in the series isn't out yet).
  I wish they'd print their brochures in english. German is too much
this time of the day... :-)

-- Leonard