Minimum Console Revision

The minimum console firmware version supporting the HP PCI AMD Radeon 7000 Graphics Adapter under HP OpenVMS I64 is system dependent. Please consult your platform option information for minimum requirements.

VGA Console Support

Support for the VGA console was added to HP OpenVMS I64 in V8.3–1H1 on all platforms supporting graphics except the HP Integrity rx2600. To select the HP PCI AMD Radeon 7000 Graphics Adapter as the console, use the EFI Boot Options menu to select the card as the Primary console.

HP Integrity Platform Support

HP OpenVMS I64 release version v8.3–1H1 supports the HP PCI AMD Radeon 7000 Graphics Adapter on two (2) HP Itanium platform types:

•HP Integrity rx2660

•HP Integrity rx3600

Default Depth (24 Bits Per Pixel)

Traditionally, HP OpenVMS I64 has set the default pixel depth to 8 bits per pixel on 2D graphics options, and 24 bits per pixel on 3D options. With the expanding use of applications such as MOZILLA and increased use of various types of images, such as GIF and JPEG, the default depth for 2D has been changed to 24 bits per pixel.

NOTE: Many older applications may assume a specific depth and visual type — in particular, 8 bits per pixel and PsuedoColor. If your graphics application or a utility depends upon the depth, you can either modify the application or change the default pixel depth.

For example, the PAINT program which ships on DECwindows Motif currently only supports 8 bits per pixel.

For instructions on changing the pixel depth, see “Overriding the Default Settings” (page 16).

Multiple Colormaps (8 Bits Per Pixel)

Multiple colormaps are not supported by the hardware. The HP PCI AMD Radeon 7000 Graphics Adapter supports only one installed colormap at one time. Exceeding this limit of 8 bits per pixel depth, may cause colormap “flashing”.

Applications should not install or uninstall colormaps themselves. The window manager should perform these actions. However, the application is responsible for providing the window manager with hints as to which colormaps to install or uninstall.

Single Pixel Depth (No Mixed Depth Windows)

Some workstation 3D graphics options in the past provided the ability to mix windows of different pixel depths on the same screen. The HP PCI AMD Radeon 7000 Graphics Adapter card can only support a single pixel depth at a time. This means that all windows on a specific screen must all have the same pixel depth (no mixed depth windows).

Visual Types

A visual type defines how the X11 server interprets the contents of a pixel. While the HP PCI AMD Radeon 7000 Graphics Adapter hardware only supports a single pixel format at a time, the X11 server can emulate various visual types depending on the pixel depth. For example,

14 HP OpenVMS I64 — Graphics Software Installation and Customization