Brian Furtaw (brian++at++sgi.com)
Fri, 10 Jan 1997 09:51:57 -0500
Performer is a high level render library created and distributed by SGI.
Performer runs on all SGI models and takes advantage of hardware and software
features that are unique to each model. This gives you the best rendering
performance across the entire SGI product line with one common api. So no code
changes between platforms, the performer libraries do all the work. Performer
does its work using OpenGL.
So to answer your question I would have to say it depends. For most cases
Performer is going to run the fastest making the best possible utilization of
the CPU and graphics pipeline. I imagine though their could be cases where
Performer does not do the best job and an application written in OpenGL could
do much better. I have not seen an example of this yet however.
One thing to keep in mind is that Performer is not yet an Open standard it only
runs on SGI. OpenGL however runs on every platform, so if you want to minimize
porting between vendors platforms use OpenGL or Open Inventor which also has
implementations on many other platforms.
Its a good idea to learn OpenGL even if you will be writing in Performer.
OpenGL provides the basics and you will understand how Performer does its
magic. Another advantage of Performer is that many of SGI's partners have
written GUI interfaces to it. So you just worry about modeling your scene and
leave the details to the other guys.
Here is a partial list of Partners/packages:
Alias/Wavefront Studio
Multigen Multigen/ModelGen
Medit
Coryphaeus EasyScene
Paradigm Lynx
You should look at each package and decide which is best for your task.
Brian
On Jan 10, 12:10pm, Jim wrote:
> Subject: Difference between O-GL & Performer
> Hi Performer:
> Would anybody be able to tell me - what is the difference of graphical
> and CPU load between the same Open-GL app. and Performer app.
>
> cheer and a bright new year!
>
> --
> Jim Tsai
> Software Engineer Visual Simulation sec.
> System & Technology Corp. Taipei
>
> Email : jim++at++systech.hinet.net Tel: 886-2-6981599 Fax: 886-2-6981211
> Address: 18F-5, No. 79, Hsin Tai Wu Road, Sec. 1, Hsi-chih, Taipei Hsien,
Taiwan, R.O.C.
>
>
> =======================================================================
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>-- End of excerpt from Jim
-- o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-o-oBrian Furtaw (brian++at++sgi.com) VisSim Technical Consultant 12200-G Plum Orchard Drive Office: (301)572-3293 Fax: (301)872-3293 Silver Spring, Maryland 20904 OpenGL/ImageVision/OpenInventor/Performer ======================================================================= List Archives, FAQ, FTP: http://www.sgi.com/Technology/Performer/ Submissions: info-performer++at++sgi.com Admin. requests: info-performer-request++at++sgi.com
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