[Info-vax] Most usable graphics card(s) for VMS on a DS10

[Chris]

On 10/07/20 20:21, Phillip Helbig (undress to reply) wrote:
> In article<rlktpv$lf5$1 at dont-email.me>, Simon Clubley
> <clubley at remove_me.eisner.decus.org-Earth.UFP>  writes:
>
>> For those of you managing Linux and other Unix servers, how many of
>> you go and sit at the server console to do GUI work and how many of you
>> just run any needed X applications remotely over SSH from your normal
>> desktop machine ?
>>
>> Would it make more sense to manage VMS systems in that way instead
>> of having to sit at the VMS console to do GUI work ?
>
> You don't have to sit there; you are free to use your own emulation
> stuff.  But for those who learned to type, lack of a proper keyboard,
> inconsistent key mapping, wrong state of the keypad, lack of perfect
> terminal emulation, and so on are all a pain.
>
>> Are there any performance or other limitations which make this approach
>> not practical for VMS servers ?
>
> You probably just need a VT102 or better.  Something like a 320 or
> better makes it a bit nicer.  But if you want several DECterm windows in
> multiple workspaces and the only sensible pointer policy (i.e. the
> window is active is the cursor is in it but not automatically on top),
> then you probably need CDE and DECwindows.  But that doesn't require any
> particularly powerful graphics card.
>

Yes, and in fact, some of the low end graphics cards have better 2D
X performance than the high end models, thus more appropriate for
general desktop use. Have had 4D50T, 3D30 and others in old Alpha
machines, but the 3D30 was just as fast for general use. No 3D etc,
which is what the high end cards were designed for. High end cards
are waste of money and power unless you need the 3D performance.

There are benchmarks for 2D, 3D X and other metrics online somewhere...

Chris