#What is OpenGL
12 messages in this thread
Can someone give me a quick explanation of what OpenGL is? I read
something awhile ago, and it seemed to be a way to bring mainframe apps to the
PC.
Michael S. Flynn
Michael,
Without getting into too much detail. OpenGL (Open Graphics Language) is a
standard interface designed by Silicon Graphics. It is a composite of an
abstracted API (Application Programming Interface) set of "routines" that
employ high performance graphics algorithms for (3d and 2d rendering). An
application
can benefit from OpenGL by using the routines that have already been optimize
for graphic renderings. In my opinion, the most powerful feature of OpenGL will
be the ability to farm out the routines to hardware accelerator cards rather
than use the standard OpenGL library.The hardware accelerator's can
perform the renderings at speeds many times greater than the main CPU (which
of course leaves the CPU free to conduct other tasks).
In a nutshell…..
EMK
Erik,
Thanks for the explanation.
Michael S. Flynn
Erik,
>>>The hardware accelerator's can perform the renderings at speeds many times
greater than the main CPU (which of course leaves the CPU free to conduct other
tasks).
Are any of those on the market (who makes them)? Would they work with our PCs
or Macs? What kind of money do they cost?
Pawel
The only company that I know of is Evans And Sutherland. They are
developing one that will plug into the PCI slot. Maybe the boys at Hash could
step in and give us some insight.
EMK
This is going to be the year for Rendering accelerators…. right now the only
one I know of that has a rendering accelerator chip is Matrox Impressions +
It's a GREAT video card…. 64 bit, motion video acceleration, etc. plus it's
OpenGL compliant…. not alot of apps take advantage of OpenGL yet though…
There is going to be a whole slew of them coming out in '95 based on the Glint
chip by 3D Labs among them will be cards by S3, STB, Media Labs, Omnicomp
(3Demon), HP, SGS Thompson, ATI and Kubota Graphics.
Steve, Hash Inc.
BTW The Matrox Impressions Plus is shipping now in PCI, VLB, and ISA
versions…. 4MB boards are about $750.00, 2MB versions are around $400.00…
Use GO: MATROX for all the details…
Steve,Hash
Inc.
BTW in case you hadn't guessed, we're pretty happy with this graphics
accelerator!
I believe that Matrox has one or more new cards out for the PC that support
OpenGL. (The Matrox Impression??)
..mark
>>>I believe that Matrox has one or more new cards out for the PC that support
OpenGL.
Mark,
Thanks for the info! And as ususal I had to buy something else… ;< (bad chice
again!)
I just got Dimond's Viper ProVideo that in adition to 1024×1268 in 24 bit
claims to play MPEG video at 30 fps. (the driver wasn't there yet, so I can't
confirm if it really does)
Well…
On the bright side though, if the OpenGL is only for the preview rendering than
there isn't much to cry about…
Pawel
Pawel,
What specifically are you addressing when you say that the OpenGL only
applies to preview rendering?
EMK
>>>>What specifically are you addressing when you say that the OpenGL only
applies to preview rendering?
Erik,
All I know is what Steve wrote about it. Here is his message:
>>>>No news yet on how the OpenGL accelerators will improve the performance of
our software… they are more geared for polygonal rendering forms so at this
time the only thing that will really be improved will be the new gouraud
shading option for preview rendering (oops! that's still a secret) darned near
real time preview rendering!<<<<
Pawel
>(the driver wasn't there yet, so I can't confirm if it really does)<
Don't get me started about Diamond and drivers!
..mark