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Conference bgsdev::open3d

Title:open3d
Notice:Kits on notes 3 and 4; Documents note 223
Moderator:WRKSYS::COULTER
Created:Wed Dec 09 1992
Last Modified:Fri Jun 06 1997
Last Successful Update:Fri Jun 06 1997
Number of topics:1306
Total number of notes:5260

1240.0. "PowerSotrm 4D50T WinDD Performance is real bad...Any thoughts ?" by PEACHS::PEACHS::BECHTOLD () Wed Feb 05 1997 17:22

	Hello,

	We have a customer (Pitney Bowes) that is evaluating an 
AlphaStation 500 400Mhz with DUnix V4.0A, Open3D V4.1 and Cat'sEye 
4D50T graphics Option. He is thrilled with the performance of 
ProEngineer, but less enthusiastic when he runs WinDD (Windows 
Emulator). He states that the performance of the Text painting in 
the WinDD Window is about the speed of a 75 Baud Terminal, one 
character at a time, to the point that it's unuseable.

The customer config is as follows.

AlphaStation 500 400Mhz.
SRM Console Firmware v6.3-11
* PowerStorm 4D50T (We think see below)
DUnix V4.0A
Open3D V4.1
WinDD V2.0.4

We think it's a PowerStorm 4D50T because thats what it reports
when it boots via a startup message. But, in Dunix sizer -gt reports
"p00E41091" and at the console a SHOW CONFIG shows.


PCI Bus
        Slot: 11 Vendor 1013 Device: A0
        Slot: 12 Vendor 1091 Device: E4

 
A few questions...

1) Is this indeed a PowerStorm 4D50T ?
   
2) Since this is a Loaner system for Sales use, is it possible that 
   the card is a beta hardware release ? The Console report is not 
   clear as well as sizer. 

3) Is this  a know issue with Cat'sEye boards and WinDD ?

4) Any tuning or environment variables I might try to increase 
   performance ?

Any help is appreciated.

Dave Bechtold
DTN 343-1216
T.RTitleUserPersonal
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1240.1How does performance compare?WRKSYS::DOTYRuss Doty, Graphics and MultimediaWed Feb 05 1997 17:395
    Sounds like a 4D50T.  The 4D50T has excellent 2D performance -- it runs
    at just under 20 XMarks.
    
    Do you have any WinDD performance data with other graphics cards?  I'm
    afraid I'm not familiar with it.  
1240.2No specifics yet...more later.PEACHS::PEACHS::BECHTOLDWed Feb 05 1997 20:5020
    Sorry, I have no detailed Performance information for WinDD on any
    platform.
    
    	Based on my customers explanation of the performance on his system
    exhibiting this performance, it's not even useable. The characters in
    the WinDD Windowsare painted so slow that it would take approximately 3
    minutes to display the main MS Windows display in the WinDD Window. The
    WinDD Application is a MS Windows emulator for Unix, similiar to
    SoftPC. He compared the performance  to an ANSI Terminal running at 75 
    Baud where you can read the characters faster than it displays.
    He has an Hp Workstation sitting next to it and it's working with the
    WinDD Application just fine.
    
    Sorry I have no more specifics. I know the customer has an AlphaStation
    600 with a ZLXp-L2 graphics card and I'll ask him to display it there
    and compare performance. I'll update this note tomorrow sometime.
    
    Thanks,
    Dave Bechtold
                                
1240.3WRKSYS::COULTERIf this typewriter can't do it, ...Thu Feb 06 1997 08:294
    We need to *hve* this WinDD software.  Nothing else is likely
    to show us what's going on, not without a lot of work and 
    mostly guessing.
    
1240.4sell an NT solution!HYDRA::DONSBACHJeff Donsbach, Software Partner Engineering, DTN 297-6862Fri Feb 07 1997 14:0410
    
    If he's using a Windows emulator of some sort because he needs to
    run Windows apps along with Pro/E, sell him a Miata with 4D50T
    and get a copy of the Pro/E NT CDROM.
    
    Too bad the FX!32 folks haven't written a windows emulator for
    Digital Unix. Bet they could do a decent job...
    
    -Jeff
    
1240.5Can the company that supplied WinDD help?SUBPAC::FARICELLIFri Feb 07 1997 14:335
    Why not contact the software house that created WinDD for assistance?
    Or try installing SoftPC to see if that runs Windows software any better?

    -- John Faricelli
1240.6Being workedWRKSYS::DOTYRuss Doty, Graphics and MultimediaFri Feb 07 1997 16:0414
    Issue is being worked.
    
    WinDD is a remote access program.  It runs on a UNIX box, and
    communicates with a remote Intel/Windows box.  The application runs on
    the Intel/Windows box, and displays on the UNIX box.  Think of it as an
    X-windows style windowing client/server interface to Windows (Windows
    NT?).  No apparent connection with SoftPC, FX!32, or any other tools
    that allow PC applications to run on an Alpha system.
    
    WinDD is from Tektronix.
    
    Several alternative solutions are very attractive -- to us. 
    Unfortunately, the (prospective) customer already has a large installed
    base of a competitors UNIX workstations that work well with WinDD.
1240.7Resolved... WinDD switch "-no_text_stipple"PEACHS::PEACHS::BECHTOLDTue Feb 11 1997 19:0113
Hello,

Just thought I'd bring this to a close.

I had turned this issue over to the Local Workstation Consultant since this
was a Sales loaner system. He has notified me that the problem was resolved
by using a command line switch for WinDD of "-no_text_stipple". Appearently 
this is documented in the WinDD product information.

Regards,
Dave Bechtold
DTN 343-1216