Sun draws Nvidia graphics into Solaris

Nvidia is supplying graphics drivers for Solaris-based workstations that use x86 chips such as Advanced Micro Devices' Opteron, Sun Microsystems and AMD said Tuesday. Sun began selling the first products to use Nvidia graphics--Opteron-based workstations--in July. But initially, only those machines running Linux and Microsoft Windows operating systems could support the 3D acceleration features of the Nvidia cards.

Sun's Solaris operating system now has the necessary Nvidia drivers, said Harmeet Chauhan, a Sun product line manager. In addition, Sun is working with Nvidia to adapt the driver software with advanced features available with Solaris, he said. Sun's UltraSparc-based workstations use graphics chips from ATI and Creative Technology's 3DLabs, he added.