SciTech Software released driver with P650 and 750 support

[magog]

Hi!

I only want to let you know that Scitech Software added the support of the Matrox P650 and P750 to their latest OS/2 SNAP driver (SciTech SNAP Graphics 2.3.1).

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What's new in this version?
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This version adds preliminary support for the Matrox P650 and P750, the Radeon 9800 XT, some GRADD updates, and more. A more complete list of changes can be found here:

http://www.scitechsoft.com/snap2_changes.txt

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The readme which includes a full list of supported chipsets under OS/2 and eComStation (eCS) can be found here:

http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/snap/os2/beta/readme.txt

You can download the driver here:

http://www.scitechsoft.com/ftp/snap/os2/beta/

As you can see the Parhelia is not yet supported and also DH, Zoom feature,... will follow with the upcomming releases.
Note: The Parhelia works without any problems in VESA Mode under OS/2 and eComStation (eCS)!

The next Linux SNAP driver release should also include the P650/750 support, maybe even include the Parhelia.

[KeiFront]

"Support for the Matrox Parhelia, full
accleration, Zooming, MultiHead, and TV Out features to come later."

Promising .

[Schultz-Net]

Uhhh.. What about an Linux version, that supported 3D ... that would be sweet

Maybe in their next release... ?

[magog]

Originally posted by Schultz-Net
Uhhh.. What about an Linux version, that supported 3D ... that would be sweet

Maybe in their next release... ?

No 3D the vendors don't want to give away the 3D specs. For SNAP 3 SciTech has planned 3D support but first software rendering only.

Here the newsgroup thread (only the interesting stuff:
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FROM: Steve Wendt (SciTech Software)
Marco Rotondi wrote:

> When lunch a configuration program i found a new option (3D opengl test) what is it? The test not working becouse not opengl found. is possible configure it?

That is something we are working on for SNAP 3.x. It's not included yet.

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FROM: Steve Wendt (SciTech Software)
Vladest wrote:

> what OGL level will be supported?


OpenGL 1.4 / Mesa 5.1.

> Will it be compatible with windoze OGL?


You mean wgl? Probably not. Ditto for pgl (although people are certainly welcome to work on that, this stuff is in the SDK).

> I think it's time to start porting some cewl games/engines


Before getting too excited, you should know that this will initially be (optimized) software rendering only, for use with MGL apps.

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FROM :Kendall Bennett (CEO - SciTech Software)
Vladest wrote:

>>>> Before getting too excited, you should know that this will initially be (optimized) software rendering only, for use with MGL apps.
>
>
> So, what the goal you our implementation of OGL?
> Just fast software fullscreen rendering?
> Or it will be hardware optimized in future?


Initially it is software only, but we are working on the hardware acceleration support also. As to when this will be available, we cannot say at the moment as there are way too many things that need to be done and could be problematic.

Once it is done it will enable hardware accelerated OpenGL for MGL programs and SNAP programs under OS/2 console modes. It will not support OpenGL in a window under OS/2, as we have no desire to build such an interface. If someone is interested in tackling that project, as Steve said the SDK is available and in fact the DDK will be also (initial HW 3D drivers will be based on DRI Open Source code and will be included in the first 3D DDK release).

Strange as it may sound, there is a much higher chance that you will be able to run HW accelerated OpenGL apps under XFree86 on OS/2 than on the OS/2 PM desktop
===============================



The only chance I see:
The vendors have to jump at SciTechs SNAP technologie and do the 3D stuff on their own.
This would be cool, because the driver is not limited to one OS.

[albatorsk]

Now if Matrox would just buy a distributor license for this and flush their own Linux driver down the toilet, I'd be a really happy camper!

[Schultz-Net]

Yep... If Matrox arent interested in developing their own drivers to support linux better, they could outsource the development to ex. SciTech.

For instance my laptop modem drivers are outsourced :

http://www.linuxant.com/

I have to pay extra for the drivers, but they work :-)

But let's wait and see ... I'm hoping the next releases of Matrox drivers are better... GO Matrox

[magog]

Originally posted by Schultz-Net
Yep... If Matrox arent interested in developing their own drivers to support linux better, they could outsource the development to ex. SciTech.

The advantage is there, but I don't think the vendors see it.

As you and albatorsk said Matrox could go two different road...even three:
1.) Buy a license from SciTech and do the driver on their own on top of SciTech SNAP
POSITIVE: They don't have to give away their knowledge
The driver runs on any platform that SciTech supports with SNAP. (Well even the AmigaONE that should hit the shelfs SOON(tm) uses SNAP - this is PowerPC based)
NEGATIVE: They MAY depend on SciTech (I don't know the exact license model they use for the SNAP DDK).

2.) Give SciTech full support for the development of drivers (currently ATI does it pretty good...well we know why...they can't write drivers... LOL...ok they seem to have learned something from the history and now do it better)
POSITIVE: They can concentrate on the main target named Windows.
NEGATIVE: They depend on SciTech, and SciTech needs the manpower to do it.
They have to give away "confidential" material.

3.) They do it on their own as they do it now and only support Linux and Windows


As one of our professors said:
If you can't sell more in you current target market, make your market bigger.

This could be done with SNAP. No extra development cost (when using SNAP instead of complete development for one target OS), but more platforms supported.

We have to see what will happen in the future....