Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

1980–1989, Graphics Controllers on Other Platforms

  • Chapter
  • First Online:
The History of the GPU - Steps to Invention

  • 765 Accesses

Abstract

The GPU story begins with the introduction of a very large-scale integrated circuit semiconductor graphics controller (VLSI) in the early 1980s. It was the beginning of the revolution and the foundation for the development of the GPU. IBM introduced the IBM PC in 1981 along with the color graphics adapter—CGA—which became the first de facto standard for PC graphics. The first competitive graphics card using the IBM specification was the Hercules Graphics Card (HGC) in 1982. That board helped establish the PC as a platform for third-party development.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 44.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Notes

  1. 1.

    ARPA— Advanced Research Projects Agency, DARPA— Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, NSF— National Science Foundation, NASA—National Aeronautics and Space Administration, DOE—Department of Energy, NSA— National Security Agency, and NIST— National Institute of Standards and Technology.

References

  1. Geddes, D. The history of computer-aided design and computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM), Vita Technical Foam Services (May 5, 2020), tinyurl.com/45fesaba

    Google Scholar 

  2. Engelbart, D. C. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Douglas_Engelbart

  3. Engelbart, D. C., Microelectronics, and the Art of Similitude, 1960 IEEE International Solid-State Circuits Conference. Digest of Technical Papers, (February 12. 1960), https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/1157297

  4. Moore’s law, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore%27s_law

  5. Markoff, J. It’s Moore’s Law But Another Had The Idea First, The New York Times. (April 18, 2005), https://web.archive.org/web/20120304111901/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/04/18/technology/18moore.html

  6. Moore, G. E. Cramming more components onto integrated circuits, Electronics Magazine.(April 19, 1965), https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Moore%27s_law

  7. Courtland, R. Q&A: Carver Mead, IEEE Spectrum, (15 Apr 2015), https://spectrum.ieee.org/semiconductors/devices/qa-carver-mead

  8. Courtland, R. The Murky Origins of Moore’s Law, IEEE Spectrum (28 Apr 2015), https://spectrum.ieee.org/tech-talk/semiconductors/devices/the-murky-origins-of-moores-law

  9. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Very_long_instruction_word

  10. England, N. The Graphics System for the 80’s, IEEE Computing Edge, October 2021, Volume 7, Number 10, Page 25, https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/9082270

  11. England, N. A Graphics System Architecture For Interactive Application-Specific Display Functions, IEEE Computer Graphics Application, vol. 6, no. 1, pp. 60–70, Jan. 1986

    Google Scholar 

  12. Smith, A. A Biography of the Pixel, MIT Press (August 202), https://mitpress.mit.edu/books/biography-pixel

  13. Hittinger, W. C. Metal-Oxide-Semiconductor Technology, Scientific American, Vol. 229, No. 2 (August 1973), pp. 48-59, https://www.jstor.org/stable/24923169?seq=1

  14. Henry F., Cohen, D., Sproull, R., Clark, J. H., and Parke, F. I. Trends in high performance graphic systems (Panel Session), SIGGRAPH 1980, https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/965105.807468

  15. Fuchs, H. and Poulton, J. Pixel-Planes: A VLSI-Oriented Design for a Raster Graphics Engine, VLSI Design, 3rd Quarter, 1981. 2(3), pp 20-28

    Google Scholar 

  16. Seelinger, P. Through the Looking Glass, Endeavors magazine, UNC, August 5, 2016, https://endeavors.unc.edu/through_the_looking_glass/

  17. Thacker, C. P., McCreight, E. M., Lampson, B. W., Sproull, R. F. and Boggs. D. R. 11 1979. ALTO: A Personal Computer, Xerox Corp.; also in Siewiorek, Daniel P., C. Gordon Bell, and Allen Newell, Computer Structures: Principles and Examples, McGraw-Hill, 1982, pp 549-572

    Google Scholar 

  18. Fuchs, H., Poulton, J. (June 12 1981), PIXEL-PLANES: a VLSI-oriented Design for 3-D Raster Graphics, Proceedings of the 7th Canadian Man-Computer Communications Conference: Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, 10 -, 343-347, https://graphicsinterface.org/proceedings/cmccc1981/cmccc1981-50/

  19. Difference between CMOS and NMOS Technology, https://www.elprocus.com/difference-between-nmos-cmos-technology/

  20. Young, F. W. and Rheingans, P. Visualizing Structure in High-Dimensional Multivariate Data , The IBM Journal of Research and Development, Volume 35, Number 1/2, (January/March 1991), https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/5389809

  21. Fuchs, H., Poulton, J., Paeth, A., Bell A. Developing Pixel­ Planes, A Smart Memory-Based Raster Graphics System, Proceedings, Conference on Advanced Research in VLSI, Cambridge, Mass. 19B2, (January 25-27), https://books.google.com/books/about/Proceedings_Conference_on_Advanced_Resea.html?id=_f8YAQAAIAAJ

  22. Fuchs et al, Fast Spheres, Shadows, Textures, Transparencies, And Image Enhancements In Pixel-Planes, SIGGRAPH, Volume 19, Number 3, p111, (1985), https://dl.acm.org/toc/siggraph/1985/19/3

  23. Poulton, J., Austin, J. D., Eyles, J. G.,. Heinecke, J., Hsieh,C. H., and Fuchs, H. Pixel-Planes 4 Graphics Engine, Technical Report, Department of Computer Science, UNC Chapel Hill, (1985), http://www.cs.unc.edu/~fuchs/publications/PixelPlanes4.pdf

  24. Fuchs, H., Poulton, J., Eyles, J., and Greer, T. Coarse-Grain and Fine-Grain Parallelism in the Next Generation Pixel-Planes Graphics System, Proceeding of the International Conference and Exhibition on Parallel Processing for Computer Vision and Display, University of Leeds, United Kingdom, January 12-l5, 1988, http://www.cs.unc.edu/techreports/88-014.pdf

  25. Jahejo, A. Ring Topology | Advantages & Disadvantages of Ring Topology, Computer Network Topology, https://computernetworktopology.com/ring-topology-advantages-disadvantages/

  26. Goldfeather, J., Hultquist, J. P. M., and Fuchs, H.. Fast Constructive Solid Geometry Display in the Pixel-Powers Graphics System, Computer Graphics, 20(4), (Proceedings of SIGGRAPH '86), pp 107-116., https://dl.acm.org/doi/10.1145/15922.15898

  27. Division, reporting this week, bets its future on cunning pixel flow, professional applications, CBR Staff Writer, Tech Monitor, (10 Aug 1994), https://techmonitor.ai/?s=10+aug+1994

  28. Peddie, J. PixelFlow graphics architecture uses massively parallel processor-per-pixel approach, The PC Graphics Report (June 1996)

    Google Scholar 

  29. Maher, K. PixelFusion, The Peddie Report, Volume XI, Number 10 (March 16, 1998)

    Google Scholar 

  30. Fischer, A. Semiconductors: PixelFusion, The Peddie Report,Volume XI, Number 10 –, pp 315, (March 16, 1998)

    Google Scholar 

  31. Latta, J. PixelFusion Launches Next Round of Financing, The WAVE Report on Digital Media, 4th Wave, Inc., Issue #9108 (November 15, 1999)

    Google Scholar 

  32. Ball, R. PixelFusion draws up plans to drop graphics emphasis, Electronics Weekly, (October 4, 2000), https://tinyurl.com/2wr9pkvz

  33. Demetrescu, S., A VLSI-Based Real-Time Hidden-Surface Elimination Display System, Master’s Thesis, Department of Computer Science, California Institute of Technology, (1980), https://thesis.library.caltech.edu/6896/2/Demetrescu_sg_1980.pdf

  34. Foley, J. D., van Dam, A., Feiner, S. and Hughes, J. Computer Graphics: Principles and Practice in C (2nd ed.)., Addison-Wesley Professional, (14 August 1995)

    Google Scholar 

  35. Fuchs, H., An Introduction to Pixel-planes and other VLSI-intensive Graphics Systems, NATO International Advanced Study Institute, Theoretical Foundations of Computer Graphics and CAD, (July 17, 1987), https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-83539-1_25

  36. Weinberg, R., Parallel Processing Image Synthesis and Anti-Aliasing, Computer Graphics, Vol. 15, No. 3 (Proceedings of 1981 SIGGRAPH Conference), pp. 55-61, (August 1981), https://link.springer.com/chapter/10.1007/978-3-642-46514-7_8

  37. Demetrescu, S. High Speed Memory and Processor System for Raster Display, U.S. patent number 4,648,045, https://tinyurl.com/n3ps8xj9

  38. Peddie, J. Famous Graphics Chips: Geometry Engine, IEEE Computer Society, https://www.computer.org/publications/tech-news/chasing-pixels/geometry-engine

  39. Clark, J. H., Stanford University, Lambda Second Quarter (1980), http://ai.eecs.umich.edu/people/conway/VLSI/ClassicDesigns/GeomEng/GeomEng.L2Q80.pdf

  40. Mead, C., and Conway, L. Introduction to VLSI Systems, Addison-Wesley, 1978.

    Google Scholar 

  41. Seitz, C. L. Department of Computer Science, California Institute of Technology

    Google Scholar 

  42. Clark H. J. Computer Systems Laboratory, Stanford University and Silicon Graphics, Inc., Palo Alto, California, Computer Graphics Volume 16, Number (July 03, 1982)

    Google Scholar 

  43. Markoff, J. The design process of VLSI circuits accelerates, Infoworld, (March 15, 1892), page 17, https://tinyurl.com/e63jfwc

  44. Peddie, J. The History of Visual Magic in Computers, (2013), Springer Link

    Google Scholar 

  45. Peddie, J. Famous Graphics Chips: NEC µPD7220 Graphics Display Controller, IEEE Computer Society, https://www.computer.org/publications/tech-news/chasing-pixels/famous-graphics-chips

  46. Tetsuji O., Higuchi, M., Uno, T., Kamaya, M., and Suzuki, M. (February 1981). A Single-chip Graphic Display Controller. International Solid State Circuit Conference. IEEE: 170–171

    Google Scholar 

  47. µPS7220/7220A Graphics Display Controller User’s manual, NEC Electronics Inc. (December 1985), http://www.bitsavers.org/components/nec/uPD7220-uPD7220A_User_Manual_Dec85.pdf

  48. Peddie, J. GPU History: Hitachi ARTC HD63484. The second graphics processor, IEEE Computer Society, https://www.computer.org/publications/tech-news/chasing-pixels/gpu-history-hitachi-artc-hd63484

  49. Peddie, J. Multimedia and Graphics Controllers, McGraw-Hill Professional Book Group (April 1994)

    Google Scholar 

  50. Ingalls, D. BitBlt, Xerox Inter-Office Memorandum 19 November 1975, http://bitsavers.org/pdf/xerox/alto/BitBlt_Nov1975.pdf

  51. Sanchez, J.; Canton, M. P. Displaying Bit-Mapped images, Software solutions for engineers and scientists, CRC Press. p. 690. (2007)

    Google Scholar 

  52. Force Computers AGC-1 user’s manual, (1986), https://doc.lagout.org/science/0_Computer%20Science/0_Computer%20History/old-hardware/forceComputers/800106_AGC-1_Users_Manual_Aug86.pdf

  53. Hitachi HD63484 ACRTC Advanced CRT Controller User’s Manual, (November 1984), http://kazojc.com/elementy_czynne/IC/HD63484-ARTIC.pdf

  54. Peddie, J. Famous Graphics Chips: TI TMS34010 and VRAM. The first programmable graphics processor chip, IEEE Computer Society, https://tinyurl.com/pkedarab

  55. Killbrew, C. The TMS34010 Graphics System Processor, Byte, page 195, (December 1986), https://archive.org/details/byte-magazine-1986-12/page/n199/mode/2up

  56. TMS34010, Wikipedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/TMS34010

  57. TMS34010 User’s Guide, Texas Instruments, (1986), https://fabiensanglard.net/nbajamte/t34010_user_guide.pdf

  58. Peterson, R., Killebrew Jr., C. R., Albers, T., and Guttag, K. Taking the Wraps off the 34020, Byte, p. 257, (September 1988), https://ia600106.us.archive.org/32/items/byte-magazine-1988-09/BYTE-1988-09.pdf

  59. Grimsdale, R L., Lister, P. F. (others), A multiple application graphics integrated circuit MAGIC II. EGGH'87: Proceedings of the Second Eurographics conference on Advances in Computer Graphics Hardware, Pages 81–92, (August 1987)

    Google Scholar 

  60. Agate, M., Finch, H.R., Garel, A.A., Grimsdale, R.L., Lister, P. F., A Multiple Application Graphics Integrated Circuit – MAGIC II, Eurographics (1987) http://diglib.eg.org/bitstream/handle/10.2312/EGGH.EGGH87.081-092/081-092.pdf?sequence=1&isAllowed=y

  61. Torborg, J. G. A Parallel Processor Architecture for Graphics Arithmetic Operations, ACM Computer Graphics, Volume 21, Number 4, (July 1987)

    Google Scholar 

  62. Reimer J. A history of the Amiga, part 10: The downfall of Commodore, (January 22, 2017), https://arstechnica.com/gaming/2017/01/a-history-of-the-amiga-part-10-the-downfall-of-commodore/

  63. Priem, C. R. Developing the GX Graphics Accelerator Architecture, IEEE Micro, (February 1990), http://www.pix.net/staff/lidl/papers/gx_graphics_architecture.pdf

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Jon Peddie Research, Tiburon, CA, USA

    Jon Peddie

Authors
  1. Jon Peddie
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jon Peddie .

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2022 The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG

About this chapter

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this chapter

Peddie, J. (2022). 1980–1989, Graphics Controllers on Other Platforms. In: The History of the GPU - Steps to Invention. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10968-3_2

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-10968-3_2

  • Published:

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-10967-6

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-10968-3

  • eBook Packages: Computer ScienceComputer Science (R0)

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation