answers to "is there X (or NeWS) for SV/386?"

[Ken Seefried iii]

There seems to be a lot of interest in wether or not X Windows is availible for
System V/386 in an AT type machine.  I have done quite a bit of digging as this
is a priority for my new system, and the following is what I have discovered.
Interestingly, there is at least one vendor with a NeWS port running...

*****DISCLAIMER: unless stated otherwise, I have not seen these systems work, and
	therefore should not be held accountable if they are vapourware.

*****DISCLAIMER: i do not work for, represent, or get money from any of the 
	companies i am about to mention....

*****DISCLAIMER: my typing is somewhat under par...;'}

On with the show........

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Interactive Systems:

	From those talented people that brought you System V for the 80386, now
	we have XWindows.  Indeed, most of the rest of this article discusses
	boards that are using the Interactive X port.  Interactives port is
	based on X10.4.  Supported systems include EGA, VGA, Hercules, Microfield,
	Matrox, IMAgraph, Omnicomp and IBM 8514.  One really interesting thing is
	that Interactive claims that X has been integrated with VP/ix allowing
	DOS to run in a window....

Bell Technologies (no, not MaBell ;'} ):
	
	From the talented people that brought you the System V/386 device drivers,
	we have an X board.  Bell and Intel have teamed up and designed a video
	board based on the i82786 graphics chip and 1MB of dual ported static-column
	ram.  The system displays 1660x1200 mono on a Priceton LM-301 or Moniterm
	Viking 1 monitor, or 640x480 in 256 colours on a multisync type monitor.
	The i82786 is a good chip for windowing work, so performance should be
	quite good.  I have heard rumours that it runs faster than a Sun3/50 running
	X, but i won't hold my breath.  Best thing about this board is that it
	only costs $1K with the software, wich means about $1.5K for a complete
	board+monitor+X system.  By the way, the board is called the 'Blit Express'.

Matrox:

	Matrox has a board called the PG-1281 that is probably the fastest of the
	bunch, IF the specs mean anything.  The board has a TI34010 controlling 
	a buch of custom graphics hardware.  It can be ordered with either .5MB
	1.5MB of RAM and either a 4 or 8 bit DAC.  Display is 1280x1024 on a read/
	write area of 2048x1024 with either 16 or 256 colours out of a palette of
	4096 or 16M colours.  One little drawback...the base model will set you 
	back almost $3000, going over $4000 for the delux version.  That does not
	include the monitor (in the $2500 ballpark).  Ouch, but you get what you
	pay for...

IMAgraph:

	Finally, a board that I have actually seen run.  Didn't get to play, much,
	but it seemed quite fast.  This board is based on the TI34010 (my personal
	favorite graphics chip), and sports .5, 1.5 or 3.5MB of memory.  Display is 
	1280x1024 in either 16 or 256 colours from a palette of 4096 or 16M.  Read/
	write area is again 2Kx1K.  IMAgraph suggests that no less than 1.5MB be
	on the board for X.

Microfield:

	Another board that I have seen running X, although it was NOT under System
	V/386.  This board was running in a system based on the Opus Series 200PM
	National Semi 32332 coprocessor (in an AT).  The Board DOES run System V
	rel. 3.1, so I see no reason why it won't run for the 386 (Interactive
	claims support).  I played for a while, and respose was resonable.
	the board is called the P8, and i have no info about the board or the
	company (other than seeing one and having it recomended by two different
	people).  I will be pusuing it, however.  The disply looked like a 
	1280x1024 in 256 colours.

Cornerstone:

	And now for something totally different...NeWS.  Cornerstones DualPage
	system has the new Sun windowing system running.  Right now, it is under
	Xenix, with no word on System V/386.  The board displays 1600x1280 in 
	up to 16 grey scales.  I whatched this board run at Comdex on a Compaq
	386/20 and with about 8 demos running in windows, it was SLOOOOWWWWW.
	That poor Compaq was on its knees.   It is still refreshing, however, to
	see something a bit off the beatten path, and i wouldn't mind owning one
	of these to play with NeWS...

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I'm sure that there are several that I missed (like Omnicomp...does ANYONE know
anything about these guys????), and if your favorite wiz-bang do-it-all graphics
card/X implimentation isn't on here, sorry....write your own article....

hope this helps...


	ken seefried iii
	ken at gatech.edu