PixelStamp graphics subsystems for the DECstation 5000

The authors describe the architecture of the PixelStamp rendering processor and the implementation of that architecture for the DECstation 5000 Model 200. The PixelStamp architecture provides a range of 2-D and 3-D graphics subsystem implementations sensitive to both cost and performance. The first implementations of the PixelStamp architecture present a range of graphics subsystems for the DECstation 5000 Model 200. A PX module is an eight-plane double buffered system that increases the rendering performance over the basic color frame buffer, but has no special-purpose geometry processing hardware for 3-D applications. The PXG-8 module offers the same rendering hardware as the PX module, with the addition of special-purpose geometry processing hardware and an optional 24-b depth buffer. The PXG-24 module is an upgrade from the PXG-8 module to give 24 planes of color information, double buffered. The PXG Turbo module is a 24-plane system that increases the rendering performance with the addition of a Stamp chip.<>