OSfOM

The SPARCstation ZX: Graphics Power in a Lunchbox

Introduced in August 1993, the Sun Microsystems SPARCstation ZX (also part of the "Sunergy" family, like the SPARCclassic and LX) was a workstation specifically aimed at users requiring high-performance 3D graphics in a compact form factor. Essentially a SPARCstation LX with a powerful graphics accelerator card, the ZX brought serious visual processing capabilities to the "lunchbox" chassis. The SPARCstation ZX shared the 50 MHz microSPARC I processor and the "lunchbox" design with the SPARCstation LX. 

However, its key feature was the inclusion of the Sun ZX, also known as the "Leo," an accelerated 3D framebuffer card. This double-width SBus card provided 24-bit color and significant 3D graphics performance, making it suitable for demanding applications in areas like mechanical CAD, scientific visualization, and animation. 

Positioned as a high-end graphics workstation within the compact lunchbox series, the SPARCstation ZX offered a compelling option for users who needed more than the 2D acceleration of the LX's CG6 but didn't require the full power (or larger size) of the multiprocessing SPARCstation 10 or 20 with their top-tier graphics options. The SPARCstation ZX ran the Solaris operating system and benefited from the robust software ecosystem available for SPARC platforms. 

While its production run was relatively short (ending in March 1994), it represented an important step in bringing advanced 3D graphics capabilities to a more desktop-friendly form factor.