Despite the success of the Sun PGX64TM Graphics Accelerator Card (PGX64), which replaced the Sun PGX32TM Graphics Accelerator Card (PGX32), some customers prefer to continue with the PGX32 card for legacy reasons. As a result, Sun is extending the last order date for the PGX32 card. The PGX32 card transition remains in effect.

The modified "Last Order" and "Last Ship" dates are as follows:

• Last Order Date: January 4, 2002
• Last Ship Date: April 5, 2002

The PGX32 graphics card was supported across the Sun system product line. The PGX64 graphics card is also supported across the same families of workstations, workgroup servers and enterprise servers. The PGX64 graphics card supports all Sun monitors from 1995 onwards (17", 18"FP, 20", 21" and 24"). The PGX64 graphics card is supported on all SolarisTM Operating Environment (Solaris OE) releases.

The PGX64 card is being positioned as the successor to the PGX32 card and is, therefore, a recommended replacement for the PGX32 card although it is not 100 percent backwards compatible. They are almost identical and share a majority of the same features that most customers need, but they have different hardware architectures and software code bases. The customer must install the PGX64 card Installation software to use this product, unless the customer is running Solaris 8 OE, Update 5, which contains the PGX64 card software.

Similarities between the PGX32 and PGX64 cards:

• Both PCI 32-bit/33 Mhz
• Both support the same systems and number of boards in system
• Both have same amount of frame buffer memory
• PGX64 supports all resolutions and color depths supported by PGX32 graphics
• Both support Solaris 2.5.1, 2.6, 2.7 and 8 OE
• Both have 15-pin connectors and support the same monitors
• PGX64 has equal or better 24-bit color 2D performance than PGX32 graphics because of improved hardware acceleration
• PGX64 has equal or better 8-bit color 2D performance than PGX32 graphics when used in a 8-bit window system environment, because of improved hardware acceleration

Differences between the PGX64 and PGX32 cards:

• PGX64 uses software emulation for doing 8-bit graphics only when in a 24-bit window system environment
• PGX64 also works in the 66 Mhz slot on the UltraTM Workstation and Sun BladeTM Workstation family of systems
• PGX64 graphics has more comprehensive resolution support than PGX32
  
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  Other articles in the Workstation section of Volume 45, Issue 3: Sun PGX32 Graphics Accelerator Card (this article) Sun Blade 1000 Workstation and SunPCi IIpro Card Combination 2 x 900 MHz Sun Blade 1000 Workstation Price Reduction of UltraSPARC III 750 MHz CPU Module See all archived articles in the Workstation section.

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