From: jet@nas.nasa.gov (J. Eric Townsend)
Newsgroups: sci.virtual-worlds
Subject: Re: TECH: Amiga Vivid 24
Date: 28 Sep 92 23:29:59 GMT
Organization: Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation, NASA Ames
Originator: hlab@milton.u.washington.edu



cnews" == UMR Usenet News Post <cnews@umr.edu> writes:

cnews> Has anyone heard of the Vivid 24?  From what I gather it is a
cnews> 24 bit graphics board for the Amiga computer by Commodore.  I
cnews> don't really know anything about the Amiga itself, but I heard
cnews> that this board can to 160 MFLOPS and 2048x2048 resolution!  If
cnews> anyone has heard more about this please post it!

I think this is what you're talking about.  This was posted to
comp.sys.amiga.announce.


---- begin included file ----

(below is the text from the Vivid 24 flyer handed out from DMI's booth
at the WOC.  Typos are the result of using OCR to get the text into
computer format but I think I caught them.  Any content-free hype has
been removed where possible)

Vivid 24

DMI's 24-bit Color Graphics Co-Processor

The "Vivid 24" is a super high resolution graphics rendering engine
designed for the Commodore Amiga A3000 series of computers. Capable of
calculating and rendering 100,000 Gouraud shaded polygons per second,
DMI's newest graphics controller can display 24-bit color images at
resolutions up to 2048 x 2048.

Features

- 100,000 Shaded Polygons Per Second
- 160 MFLOPS
- 24-bit Color Graphics
- 8-bit Alpha Channel
- 2048 x 2048 Interlaced Resolution
- 1280 x 1024 Non-interlaced resolution
- 40 MHz TMS34020 Graphics Processor
- 4 Graphics Math Co-processors
- Broadcast Quality Video Encoder
- 16 MB Video Memory
- 8 MB Program Memory
- User Programmable Resolution
 
Modular Design

Single Graphics Math Co-processors, Double Graphics Math
Co-processors, Video Memory, Broadcast Quality Digital Video Encoder,
Video Effects Generator, Program Memory.

The "Vivid 24"'s modular approach gives users the ability and
versatility to add features and power according to their needs and as
their system requirements grow.  The completely modular design also
allows DMI's engineers to incorporate the very latest in chip
technology.

Single Graphics Math Co-processor Upgrade Kit - Adds 40 MFLOPS
(Million Floating-point Operations Per Second) and 25,000 shaded
polygons per second.  Add two "Single" Kits for 80 MFLOPS and 50,000
shaded polygons per second.

Double Graphics Math Co-processor Upgrade Kit - The "Double Kit" adds
an additional 80 MFLOPS and 50,000 shaded polygons per second.  The
"Double" kit and two "Single" kits yield a total of 160 MFLOPS and
100,000 shaded polygons per second.

Video Memory Upgrade Kit - The "Vivid 24"'s standard configuration
includes one 4 MB Video Memory Module providing 24-bit color display
in Non-interlaced resolutions up to 1024 x 1024.  Add up to three
additional Video Memory Modules for a total of 16 MB of VRAM and
24-bit color display in resolutions up to an incredible 2048 x 2048.
The Video Memory can also be used as system memory by your Amiga.

Broadcast Quality Digital Video Encoder - Allows super high resolution
graphics to be taken directly to video tape retaining their broadcast
quality.  The "Encoder" module supports NTSC or PAL and SVHS. Genlocks
the "Vivid 24" using either a sync generator or any external video
source.  The Module plugs into the same location as a Video Memory
Module.

Video Effects Generator - Provides an input for two video sources and
allows for special effects and switching on both a pixel by pixel
basis between the video sources and the "Vivid 24" computer generated
graphics.
 
Program Memory Upgrade - The "Vivid 24" comes with 4MB of program
memory which allows your application to run directly on the board at
incredible speeds.  The Program Memory Upgrade provides for an
additional 4 MB of DRAM (for a total of 8MB) for specific applications
requiring more than 4MB.

Software

DMI-Workbench - Allows you to display a super
high-resolution Amiga Workbench on the DMI "Vivid 24"
board. Completely compatible with ALL Amiga
applications.

DMI-Paint - Full-featured 24-bit paint package that
contains all the standard tools including: multisize
airbrush, cut and paste, multiple brush sizes, zoom,
undo, and much more all in the DMI super
high-resolutions.

DMI-Render - Imports models and frames from industry
standard 3D packages and renders images in near
real-time using either Gouraud or Phong shading.

DMI-Tweek - Allows you to configure and control the fully
programmable resolution output of the "Vivid 24"
graphic board.

SAGE - Standard Amiga Graphics Environment

TMS340 Graphics Library - TIGA for the Amiga

Prices

The DMI "Vivid 24": "Vivid 24" Standard Configuration including 1
video memory module $2,995.-

DMI  Vivid 24S Upgrade Modules:

Single Graphics Math Co-processor upgrade Kit
(TMS34082 Graphics Math Co-processor)                           585.-
with 128K of 32-bit Static RAM module. Max. of 2)

Double Graphics Math Co-processor Upgrade Kit 
(2 - TMS34082 (graphics Math                                  1,449.-
Co-processors with 256K of 32-bit Static RAM)

Video Memory Upgrade Kit
(maximum of 4 per board or 3 with encoder Module)               729.-

Broadcast Quality Digital Video encoder (NTSC, PAL, SVHS)       729.-

Video Effects Generator (for use with the Video encoder module) 385.-

Program Memory Upgrade (4 MB DRAM)                              385.-


Resolution Capabilities:

# of Video      MB of   Maximum
Memory  Video   Programmable     Video
Modules Memory  Resolution       Modes

        4 MB    1024 x 1024     Non-interlaced
                1024 x 1024     Interlaced

2       8 MB    1280 x 1024     Non-interlaced
                1600 x 1280     Interlaced

3       12 MB   1280 x 1024     Non-interlaced
                2048 x 1536     Interlaced

4       16 MB   1280 x 1024     Non-interlaced
                2048 x 2048     Interlaced

Graphics Processing Capabilities:
                #of        #of
# of Math       # of    32-bit pixels     Polygons
Co-processors   MFlops  per second       per Second

        40      31.25 Million     25,000
2       80      31.25 Million     50,000
4       160     31.25 Million     100,000

--
             J. Eric Townsend --  jet@nas.nasa.gov -- 415.604.4311
                              '92 R100R, DoD# 0378
 "I guess I'll take countersteering over a sore groin, anyday."  -- Phil Stone