Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!microsoft!edwardj
From: edwardj@microsoft.UUCP (Edward JUNG)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.next
Subject: Re: NeXTdimension board - multiple heads on a cube?
Message-ID: <57794@microsoft.UUCP>
Date: 27 Sep 90 23:10:23 GMT
References: <550@wjh12.harvard.edu> <1990Sep24.084343.3794@agate.berkeley.edu> <50958@brunix.UUCP> <1990Sep25.062019.20821@agate.berkeley.edu> <1990Sep25.070212.15662@nntp-server.caltech.edu>
Reply-To: edwardj@microsoft.UUCP (Edward JUNG)
Distribution: comp
Organization: Microsoft Corp., Redmond WA
Lines: 43

In article <1990Sep25.070212.15662@nntp-server.caltech.edu> madler@piglet.caltech.edu (Mark Adler) writes:
>
>izumi@fugitive.berkeley.edu (Izumi Ohzawa) wonders:
>
>>> Actually, if NeXTdimension board uses BrookTree RAMDAC, then
>>> it must have LUTs.  Let's see the picture of the board...
>
>There is indeed a large PGA chip (same size as the i860) right next to
>the VRAM with the telltale Bt logo on it.  Unfortunately the picture
>does not have the resolution to discern the numbers (maybe if I take
>it to JPL, they can enhance the image).  I don't really see how a color
>map would fit into PostScript, but it must be available at a lower level
>for fine-tuning a monitor's color.
>
>Mark Adler
>madler@piglet.caltech.edu

According to EE Times (issue 609), the chip is the Bt463 TrueVu RAMDAC
from Brooktree, introduced at the August 1990 Siggraph conference.  The
RAMDAC is the "first to use different data conversion values and plane
depths in different display windows on a monitor".

The graphic support processor is Intel's i860.  This chip has excellent
graphics support, especially in 3-D graphics and Z-buffer manipulation,
built-in the chip.  It also boasts 64-bit data paths.

The image compression chip is the CL550 from C-Cube Microsystems, that
supports the Joint Photographic Experts Group's (JPEG) image compression
standard (an evolving standard -- the second draft was released in July,
and actually caused a rev in the CL chipset to CL-550B.  I don't know
which one will eventually ship in NeXTDimension, but images compressed
with the older CL-550 need to be translated for the CL-550B).

The 2.88MB floppy uses a "new high-density medium developed by NeXT
and Toshiba Corp."

All in all, very state of the art.

--
Edward Jung
Microsoft Corp.

My opinions do not reflect any policy of my employer.