Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!uwm.edu!ogicse!cvedc!gssc!geoffs
From: geoffs@gssc.UUCP (Geoff Shapiro)
Newsgroups: comp.graphics
Subject: Re: Can a 34010 emulate a 8514/A?
Message-ID: <6468@gssc.UUCP>
Date: 29 Nov 90 07:10:21 GMT
References: <1990Nov25.173919.4313@wubios.wustl.edu> <1990Nov26.203552.18302@santra.uucp>
Organization: Graphic Software Systems, Inc. Beaverton, Or.
Lines: 33

In article <1990Nov26.203552.18302@santra.uucp> c37189h@saha.hut.fi (Harri "Haba" Suomalainen) writes:
>In article <1990Nov25.173919.4313@wubios.wustl.edu> david@wubios.wustl.edu (David J. Camp) writes:
>>I just had an idea.  Perhaps it is possible for a 34010 to emulate an
>>8514/A.  Is there someone out there familiar with the hardware that
>>can verify or deny this?  
>
>Yap. It has been done by various producters. As an example I could mention
>Hercules Graphics station. It has 34010 on board. It emulates SVGA, 8514/A
>and TIGA. There may be hercules etc as well. Not quite sure of that...
>
>-hs

Well, if the truth be known, the 34010 cards DO NOT emulate an 8514/A at the
hardware level. When people speak of 34010 cards emulating 8514/A they mean
that there is a software emulation available for the 8514 AI which provides
a compatible software i/f to the 34010 cards.

Thus, a program which talked to an 8514/A card ONLY via the AI would most
likely also talk to a 34010 card which had an equivalent AI written for it.

Any programs that talked directly to the hardware of the 8514/A would not be
able to run on a 34010 card without a massive amount of dedicated circuitry on
the card to emulate the 8514/A hw i/f. As far as I know there are NO 34010
cards which do this.




-- 
 UUCP: tektronix!sequent!gssc!geoffs          INTERNET: geoffs@gssc.gss.com
PHONE: (503) 641-2200                          USMAIL: Graphic Software Systems
* GSS is a wholly owned subsidiary *                   9590 S.W. Gemini Dr.
*    of Spectragraphics, Corp.     *                   Beaverton, OR  97005 USA