[Search for users] [Overall Top Noters] [List of all Conferences] [Download this site]

Conference bulova::decw_jan-89_to_nov-90

Title:DECWINDOWS 26-JAN-89 to 29-NOV-90
Notice:See 1639.0 for VMS V5.3 kit; 2043.0 for 5.4 IFT kit
Moderator:STAR::VATNE
Created:Mon Oct 30 1989
Last Modified:Mon Dec 31 1990
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:3726
Total number of notes:19516

3057.0. "What is SPX?" by CRBOSS::LEMONS (And we thank you for your support.) Tue Jul 10 1990 13:11

    [I did a DIR/TITLE before writing this - really.]
    What is SPX?
    
    Thanks!
    tl
T.RTitleUserPersonal
Name
DateLines
3057.1PSW::WINALSKICareful with that VAX, EugeneTue Jul 10 1990 13:514
It's graphics accelerator hardware, sort of the evolutionary replacement for
GPX.

--PSW
3057.2ScanProc?ROYALT::GONDADECelite: Pursuit of Knowledge, Wisdom, and Happiness.Wed Jul 11 1990 13:201
    Is it code name for ScanProc (graphic accelerator) Chip?
3057.3CLTMAX::dickSchoeller - Failed XperimentWed Jul 11 1990 13:253
Actually, ScanProc was the code name for SPX (not the other way around).

Dick
3057.4what's in a name...MAZE::FUSCIDEC has it (on backorder) NOW!Wed Jul 11 1990 17:385
The VAX System and Options book expands SPX to "Scanline Processor 
Accelerator".  (Strangely enough, the Owner's Manual doesn't mention this 
at all, it just refers to it as the "WS01X-GA Graphics Coprocessor".)

Ray
3057.5PRAVDA::JACKSONNiche, or be nichedMon Jul 23 1990 11:1421
Scanline Processing is a technique to rendering graphics.  The ScanProc 
chip implements this technique.


The SPX accelerator will perform anywhere between 2 and 10 times the 
performance of the GPX acclerator. 


For example:
				SPX			GPX
	2D V/Sec		240K			25K
	Fill Pix/Sec		32M			 8M



As of 16-July, the price of a system with an SPX in it and a GPX in it
are the same.  Unless your customer needs native UIS support (and there
aren't many anymore) they should certainly use the SPX.


-bill
3057.6STAR::KLEINSORGEFred Kleinsorge, VMS DevelopmentMon Jul 23 1990 17:2123
  
    >>> Unless your customer needs native UIS support (and there
    >>> aren't many anymore) they should certainly use the SPX.
    
    Care to provide the hard data to prove this statement?  As of a couple
    months ago this information could not be derived and was not believed
    to be true.  It was believed that a quite substantial number of VWS
    users remain - both existing and additional sales.  Questions about
    VWS that I have seen and received would also indicate that there is new
    development taking place using UIS, despite warnings from engineering about
    it's long-term prospects.  I would love to see DECwindows/VMS workstation
    sales (actually, even including DW/Unix) finally reach the same level
    that UIS had several years ago.
    
    A big problem is that both UIS and DECwindows are bundled with VMS
    workstations.  And only a large sampling of both existing and new
    installations can determine which is being used.
    
    Remember, not all VMS applications have been ported to VMS/DECwindows -
    like AutoCAD.
    
    _Fred (this was not a paid endorsement :)
    
3057.7STAR::KLEINSORGEFred Kleinsorge, VMS DevelopmentMon Jul 23 1990 17:246
    
    ...also, use care when quoting performance numbers - a 2-10x *graphics*
    performance increase may not make *any* difference if the CPU cannot
    handle it.  The SPX as a GPX replacement is fine if the price is the
    same (hmmm, when did that happen?).
    
3057.8PRAVDA::JACKSONNiche, or be nichedWed Jul 25 1990 12:2717
RE: .6


touch� fred.  We're trying to get the applications to DECwindows, and
are being somewhat successful.  Most customers I talk to are using DECwindows 
these days, and almost all plan to be there soon.  (but the evidence 
is anecdotal)

RE: price


It happened on the 16th of July along with the price cuts.  The SPX board
isn't the same price, but the delta between mono and either version of the
19" color (GPX/VR299 and SPX/VRT19) is the same.  


-bill