SPARCstation-2 announcement

[David Hough]

Date: Mon, 5 Nov 90 06:46:50 PST
From: pressaCorp

SUN INTRODUCES ITS FASTEST DESKTOP FAMILY EVER
 
Includes Power-User 3-D Graphics Models, Fast, Low-Cost Server
 
SAN FRANCISCO -- November 5, 1990 -- Sun Microsystems today unveiled
the world's fastest SPARC desktop computers: the SPARCstation (TM) 2
family.  At 21 SPECmarks (1) , this compact new series of systems
delivers nearly twice the speed of Sun's top-of-the-line desktop, the
SPARCstation 1+, yet still squeezes all the electronics into the small
"pizza box" CPU package introduced with the first SPARCstation in
1989.  The system offers 16 megabytes of memory and accelerated
graphics as standard features, making it a high-powered, affordable
solution for the most demanding applications.
 
The $14,995 (disk-ful entry price) SPARCstation 2 is aimed at power
users in Sun's traditional scientific/technical markets as well as
commercial users who need a significant level of performance.  The
system makes up the high end of the best-selling SPARCstation desktop
line.  It joins the low-end SPARCstation SLC ($4,995) and color
SPARCstation IPC ($8,995), comprising an affordable, full-function
family of desktop RISC workstations consistently.

In addition, Sun unveiled a pair of high-performance graphics workstations
based on the SPARCstation 2 that significantly lowers the price of
fast, true-color, 3-D graphics.  These systems showcase the innovative,
highly integrated, low-cost approach to graphics hardware design that
Sun pioneered in its GX models, introduced last year.  
 
Also introduced today was the SPARCserver (TM) 2, a speedy, low-cost
system with exceptional I/O performance and expandability.  It is among
the most powerful database and NFS (R) file servers in its class.
 
"With the SPARCstation 2 and its sophisticated graphics, Sun has
demonstrated a major commitment to making affordable 3-D graphics a
reality," said Ed Zander, vice president of marketing at Sun.  "Unlike
many other desktops, high-performance graphics aren't an expensive
add-on with the SPARCstation 2.  We've lowered the price of true-color
3-D graphics to levels that professionals can afford."
 
 SPARCstation 2: Power In A "Pizza Box" 
 
The SPARCstation 2 is packaged in the same compact "pizza box" CPU
enclosure as the SPARCstation 1+.   Engineering enhancements enable the
new system to deliver a 50 percent improvement in data throughput and
nearly a two-fold improvement in CPU performance over the SPARCstation
1+, which is already the industry's best-selling RISC computer.  While
Sun prefers SPECmarks as a more meaningful performance measure, the new
system also offers 28.5 MIPS and 4.2 MFLOPS.
 
The various models in the new family share several features.  They
are:
   
   SPARC Processor  - The system includes the fastest CMOS SPARC
processor available today (40 MHz), and also conforms to the SPARC
Compliance Definition (SCD) 1.0, assuring compatibility with
SCD-compliant SPARC systems from other vendors.  The new system can run
more than 2,100 SPARCware (TM) solutions from third-party vendors.
 
   Integration  - Besides the SPARC processor and floating
point co-processor, this small CPU board packs in SCSI, Ethernet,
memory, serial ports and audio -- all in a space no larger than a sheet
of paper (8.5 x 11 inches).
 
   Ease of Use  - Simple, intuitive operation is made possible
through the OPEN LOOK (R) graphical user interface.  For example,
the DeskSet (TM) productivity tools included with the system --
such as a file manager and mail tool -- utilize OPEN LOOK's pull-down
menus and special "drag and drop" capabilities.
 
   UNIX(R) - Sun's operating system, SunOS (TM), is compatible with the
standard UNIX, System V Release 4.  Among recent enhancements are
faster throughput and streamlined installation.
 
   Graphics  - Besides an entry-level monochrome version, there is a
standard color model that features built-in accelerated GX graphics.
For full-featured 3-D graphics, Sun offers the GS and GT color models.

   Memory  - This is the first high-volume, general-purpose
desktop system shipped standard with 16 megabytes of memory, expandable
to 96 megabytes.
 
   Storage/Expandability  - The system has a 3.5-inch,
1.44-megabyte, DOS-compatible floppy drive, as well as supporting up to
414 megabytes of internal hard disk storage.  Using external storage
devices, the total capacity is 7.6 gigabytes.  Three SBus slots are
included.  There are serial ports for connecting modems, printers,
scanners and other peripherals.
 
   Networking  - There is built-in support for networking protocols such
as NFS, TCP/IP, PC-NFS(R) and TOPS.  An Ethernet port is also
included.

   Audio  - The system has the same audio input/output
capabilities found on all desktop SPARCstations.
  
 Fast Graphics, Little Box: SPARCstation 2GS
 
The SPARCstation 2GS is a complete 3-D graphics workstation capable of
performing full-featured 3-D solids modeling -- which allows users to
manipulate complex models at or close to real time, depending on
application -- and 24-bit true-color rendering.  Unlike competing 3-D
workstations, the Sun system does not require costly "add-on" hardware
to make it a usable 3-D solution.  Instead, all graphics hardware comes
standard in the base configuration.
 
"Packing so much graphics functionality into a small space was an
engineering marvel by our designers," said Zander.  The pizza box
includes the necessary hardware to perform all critical 3-D functions:
Gouraud shading, lighting, Z-buffering for hidden surface removal,
double buffering for smooth animation, depth-cueing, picking and
support of up to eight separate light sources.
 
"This system is so powerful, yet inexpensive, that it will become an
everyday graphics workhorse in companies that haven't until now been
able to afford a high-end graphics workstation for every desk," Zander
noted.  "And no other workstation runs such a large suite of leading
MCAD applications."  These include products from McDonnell Douglas, MCS
Anvil, PDA Engineering, Prime/Computervision and SDRC.
 
The system accelerates standard SunPHIGS (TM)  and the XGL (TM)
graphics software libraries, with speeds of up to 150,000 (2)  3-D
vectors per second and 20,000 (3) Z-buffered, Gouraud-shaded polygons
per second.  This exceptional 3-D performance means that mechanical
CAD, molecular modeling, animation, simulation, GIS, mapping and
scientific research applications run at or near live motion speed.  The
SPARCstation 2GS delivers twice the 3-D performance of the IBM RS/6000
320 and costs one-third less. Compared to a similarly configured system
from Silicon Graphics, the SPARCstation 2GS offers equivalent CPU and
graphics performance but is more than $10,000 less expensive.
 
 When Fast Isn't Fast Enough: SPARCstation 2GT 
 
For users with even more sophisticated graphics requirements, Sun
designed the SPARCstation 2GT.  Featuring specialized hardware in a
sleek tower unit that attaches to the pizza box, this system
delivers five times the graphics speed of the GS model and
higher-quality rendering capabilities.
 
Among the many design features of Sun's high-end graphics workstation
is the best hardware anti-aliasing in the industry -- on any system
from workstations to supercomputers.  This sophisticated graphics
technique allows the display of images with unparalleled clarity,
smoothing jagged edges and offering startling realism.  Besides being
technically superior, the Sun system with its anti-aliasing is less
expensive than competing hardware that uses this technology.

Another engineering innovation is Sun's new DLX (TM), a virtual display
list accelerator.  The DLX manages graphics databases -- display lists
-- freeing the CPU for other tasks and thus speeding up overall system
performance.  The SPARCstation GT uses a 108-bit plane graphics engine
that lets users manipulate even the most complex true-color 3-D
models.

The high rendering quality and system performance will appeal to
power users in high-end 3-D design, detailed
computer animation, visual simulation, government, mapping and
molecular modeling environments that, until now, have been limited to
the most expensive graphics systems on the market.
 
The SPARCstation 2GT can process 500,000 (2)  3-D vectors per second,
100,000 (3) Gouraud-shaded, Z-buffered polygons per second and 300,000
(2) anti-aliased 3-D vectors per second. For viewing large images, it
features a new 21-inch monitor with a resolution of 1280 x 1024
pixels.

New SPARCserver 2: A Small Powerhouse
 
This server model -- which includes a monitor -- brings high levels of
performance and flexibility to small workgroup environments.  It offers
fast application throughput and extensive disk expandability in file,
database, print and multi-user workgroup environments.
 
The system is a cost-effective file and database server for small to
medium-sized workgroups that need to access centralized information
quickly and easily.  For example, running Sun Database Excelerator and
the Sybase database, the server achieves a very high
database-transactions-per-second rate of 51.9 (4) -- and does so at the
lowest cost in the industry.  It is also an excellent file and
application server for personal computers running PC-NFS and can
support a large number of client workstations and terminals for
workgroup applications.

The server supports up to 96 megabytes of memory and up to 7.6
gigabytes of fast, low-cost SCSI mass storage.  Disk I/O throughput can
be increased further by adding two 5-megabyte/second SCSI bus
controllers.  The system can be configured with a 150-megabyte,
1/4-inch tape drive, a 2.3-gigabyte, 8mm tape drive or a SunCD (TM)
CD-ROM storage device.  In addition, the system features three SBus
expansion slots for adding such features as a second Ethernet card,
eight-port serial card or special-purpose I/O cards. Each SPARCserver 2
includes a 19-inch color or monochrome monitor, allowing users to run
window-based server administration software such as SPARCserver Manager
or SunNet (TM) Manager.
  
Accelerated Graphics Now on SPARCstation IPC
 
Sun also announced today that its popular SPARCstation IPC, the
industry's lowest-cost color desktop RISC workstation, is available in
an affordable GX accelerated graphics model.  The system gives
computer-aided design users a more powerful, less expensive alternative
to PCs.  The SPARCstation IPC GX is available with two monitor options:
16-inch or 19-inch color.

This new graphics workstation is the ultimate system for leading CAD
applications such as AutoCAD, Personal Designer and VersaCAD because it
combines a powerful processor and sophisticated networking capabilities
with high-performance graphics, true multi-tasking and ease of use
 -- but with a price tag that is lower than many PCs.

 Pricing, Availability
 
Following is a list of the suggested U.S. retail prices and
availability information for Sun's new workstation and server products
in their base configurations:
 
  
System;Price (U.S. List);Availability (Configuration)
 
SPARCstation 2; $14,995;Now (16 MB, 19" monochrome, 207 MB disk) 
 
SPARCstation 2GX; $17,995;Now (16 MB, 19" color accelerated graphics, 
;;207 MB disk)
 
SPARCstation 2GS; $26,995;Now (16 MB, 19" color, accelerated 
;;3-D graphics, 207 MB disk)
 
SPARCstation 2GT; $49,995;120 days (16 MB, 21" color, accelerated 
;;3-D graphics, 207 MB disk)
 
SPARCserver 2; 24,595 ;Now (16 MB, 19" monochrome, 876 MB disk, 
;;SunCD, 2.3 GB 8mm backup tape drive)
 
SPARCstation IPC GX; $12,495 ;Now (8 MB, 16" color, accelerated 
;;2-D/3-D graphics, diskful )
  
 
Field upgrades to the new SPARCstation and SPARCserver 2 systems are
available for SPARCstation and SPARCserver 1 and 1+ users.  Shipment
of the upgrades will begin in the first quarter of 1991.
 
Sun Microsystems, Inc., headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., is a
leading worldwide supplier of network-based distributed computing
systems, including professional workstations, servers and UNIX
operating system and productivity software.
 
 
###
 
 
 
  
 
(1)The SPECmark figure represents the geometric mean of 10 system performance
benchmark tests.  The test suite, endorsed by most major computer
manufacturers, represents a more standard metric of performance testing
than "MIPS" or "MFLOPS." The SPARCstation 2 SPECmark results are based
on Sun C 1.1 and Sun FORTRAN 1.4 compilers, available first quarter
1991.
   
(2)3-D vectors are 10 pixels long. 
  
(3)3-D polygons are 24-bit, double-buffered, 100 pixels triangles,
Gouraud-shaded, Z-buffered and clipped, through SunPHIGS.
  
(4)51.9 transactions-per-second using TPC-B benchmark (audited). TPC-B
(Transaction Processing Performance Council) is a formal,
industry-standard specification.  The benchmark simulates a
batch-oriented workload using a large Sybase database (500 MB at 50
transactions per second) and a query mix that is heavily
update-intensive.  Copies of the specification can be obtained from
Waterside Associates (415) 792-2901.

SPARC is a registered trademark of SPARC International, Inc.
SPARCstation, SPARCware, SPARCompilers and SPARCserver are trademarks
of SPARC International, Inc., licensed exclusively to Sun Microsystems,
Inc. Products bearing SPARC trademarks are based on an architecture
developed by Sun Microsystems, Inc.  SunOS, DeskSet, SunPHIGS, XGL,
DLX, SunNet Manager and SunCD are trademarks and NFS and PC-NFS are
registered trademarks of Sun Microsystems, Inc.  OPEN LOOK and UNIX are
registered trademarks of UNIX System Laboratories, Inc.  All other
products or services mentioned in this document are identified by the
trademarks or service marks of their respective companies or
organizations.

For reader inquiries, telephone 1-800-821-4643 outside California.
Inside California, call 1-800-821-4642.


FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Carrie Dillon (415) 336-3564
John Loiacono (415) 336-6424