RealityEngine
In today's article we are going to delve into the exciting world of RealityEngine. This is a topic that has sparked the interest of researchers, experts and hobbyists alike, since RealityEngine is present in various aspects of our daily lives. Along these lines, we will explore the different facets of RealityEngine, from its origins to its evolution today. In addition, we will analyze its impact on society, as well as possible future implications. It doesn't matter if you are an expert in RealityEngine or if you are just discovering this topic, this article offers you an in-depth look that will allow you to expand your knowledge and reflect on the importance of RealityEngine in today's world.
 Geometry Engine board. | |
| Release date | 1992 |
|---|---|
| Designed by | Silicon Graphics |
| Cards | |
| Mid-range | VTX |
| High-end | RealityEngine |
| Enthusiast | RealityEngine2 |
| History | |
| Successor | InfiniteReality |
| Support status | |
| Unsupported | |
RealityEngine is a 3D graphics hardware architecture and a family of graphics systems which was developed and manufactured by Silicon Graphics during the early to mid 1990s. RealityEngine was positioned as the company's high-end visualization hardware for its MIPS/IRIX platform. RealityEngine is designed for deployment exclusively within the company's Crimson and Onyx family of visualization systems, which are sometimes referred to as "graphics supercomputers" or "visualization supercomputers". The RealityEngine was marketed to large organizations, such as companies and universities that are involved in computer simulation, digital content creation, engineering and research.
It was succeeded by the InfiniteReality in early 1996, but coexisted with it for a time as an entry-level option for older systems.
RealityEngine
The RealityEngine is a board set comprising a Geometry Engine board, up to four Raster Manager boards, and a DG2 Display Generator board. These boards plug into a midplane on the host system.
The Geometry Engine is based on the 50 MHz Intel i860XP.
VTX
The VTX is a cost-reduced RealityEngine and as a consequence, its features and performance are below that of the RealityEngine. It is not the VGX or VGXT board set. The name is said to stand for Venice Too eXpensive, Venice being the internal name for RealityEngine.
RealityEngine2
The RealityEngine2, stylized as "RealityEngine2", is an upgraded RealityEngine with twelve instead of eight Geometry Engines. The Reality Station workstation is based on RealityEngine2.[1] In February 1995, SGI reduced the entry price of Reality Station to US$179,540 (equivalent to about $370,500 in 2024).[2]
RealityEngine2 was succeeded by the InfiniteReality in early 1996. It uses the GE10 Geometry Engine board, RM4 Raster Manager board and DG2 Display Generator board.
References
- ^ "Reality Station: Advanced Visualization Station".
- ^ staff reporters (February 21, 1995). "Low-end sales boom". The Sydney Morning Herald. p. 49. Retrieved March 6, 2021 – via Newspapers.com.
- Akeley, Kurt. "RealityEngine Graphics" (PDF). SIGGRAPH '93. p. 109-116.