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Graphical Workstations
Workstations are professional
level computer systems designed to perform specific tasks. Some of today's
most capable workstations are designed for Computer Graphics applications.
Of these already powerful machines, 3D design and rendering usually require
the fastest and most robust of systems. Here is a list of features for
some of today's leading edge CG/rendering workstations:
Sun Microsystem Ultra-Sparc:
Sun has traditionally been the premier supplier
of advanced graphical workstations. The Ultra-Sparc line of workstations (Ultra
5-80) are based on the latest incarnation of Sun's 64 bit processing architecture.
The scalable, Solaris Unix-based multiprocessor capable design features high
memories bandwidth, large memory cache and powerful graphic subsystems and can
be applied to simulation, modeling, virtual prototyping, Animation, video
effects, and of course, 3D-rendering applications.
Hewlet Packard Visualize:
HP was one of the first manufacturer of the
minicomputer, the predecessor of today's high end workstations. It produces the
Visualize line of high end graphical workstations. This generation of HP-Unix
based system supports multiple processing using the latest 64-bit HP PA-8000
series processors running at up to 440MHz to deliver outstanding visualization
and rendering capabilities for many applications.
Silicon Graphics International O2, Octane:
SGI is arguably the
godfather of modern day CG workstations. SGI's line of workstations, from
the basic NT driven 340 series to the monstrous IRIX based Onyx2 and Oxygen
systems, SGI has developed a complete set of workstations for any graphical application.
Two series of machines, the mid range O2 and the high end Octane are designed
with 3D rendering in mind. Both machine share the multiple processor capable
SGI/MIPS 12000 series 32-bit architecture. The 3D capability is provided by the
SE and MXE versions of the SGI Cobalt graphic subsystem.
![[02]](prod_hwsys_o2.jpg)
![[Octane Site]](prod_hw_octane.jpg)
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