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EC-R4TAA-TE

February 1997

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Document:	DIGITAL FX!32 Translation-Emulation Software for Alpha and Windows NT 4.0 Product Brief
Order Number:	EC-R4TAA-TE
Revision:	0
Pages:	2
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DIGITAL
FX!32

DIGITAL FX!32 Translation-Emulation
Software for Alpha and Windows NT 4.0
Product Brief
DIGITAL FX!32 software lets you run shrink-wrapped, 32-bit x86 Windows 95 and
Windows NT applications on Alpha NT systems, with performance comparable to
Pentium platforms. This breakthrough translation technology is one of the reasons
why any application you run on Windows NT will also run on an Alpha system.
DIGITAL FX!32 is easy to install, works transparently, and it’s free!

Single-Platform Access for All Your Applications

Three different mechanisms let you run
applications on Alpha systems with
Windows NT.

• Windows NT 4.0 emulation allows you
to run both DOS and Windows 16-bit
applications.

• More than 1,800 applications (such as
Softimage, Internet Explorer, AutoCad,
Lotus Notes, and LightWave 3D) have
been ported to native Alpha code.

• DIGITAL FX!32 lets you run 32-bit x86
applications on Alpha. (For example,
Office 95, WINZIP32, Photoshop, and
Netscape.)

Summary of Features

• Background optimizer translates x86
code into high-speed native Alpha code.
• x86 Win 32 applications that run on
Windows NT or Windows 95 install and
launch the same on an Alpha platform as
on x86.
• Fast performance of 32-bit Windows
applications — at speeds comparable to
or greater than best-selling x86
platforms.

• Industry-leading performance of native
Alpha applications, plus popular x86
applications on the same system,
without performance or porting expense.
• Optimum use of native operating
systems and libraries.
• Interoperability of x86 and native
applications.
• Available to Alpha Windows NT users
free of charge.

Description

DIGITAL FX!32 software gives Alpha users single-platform access to all the software
they need; from office productivity tools to 3D imaging and technical CAD/CAM
applications. Your x86 application will run just as fast on the Alpha. And it will be just
as easy to install and use, with the same user interface on Alpha as on an Intel system.
DIGITAL FX!32 reinforces the power of Alpha such that — no matter what application
you use — if it runs on Windows NT it will run on Alpha!

19 February 1997

EC–R4TAA–TE

How FX!32 Works

DIGITAL FX!32 offers a unique approach
to compatibility, using binary translation
and emulation – rather than emulation
alone – to run x86 applications. Through
its translation capability, FX!32 generates
and stores Alpha code. The first time you
run the application, FX!32 “learns” about
it and optimizes the code transparently.
No interaction on your part is required.
(Users who do want to control features of
FX!32, such as modifying the time when
optimization takes place, can do so
through the FX!32 Manager. But user
interaction is not necessary, and most sites
would do best by letting FX!32 do all the
work.)
After the code is optimized, the
application runs faster. This is because
FX!32 translates features of the
application that were used during the first
time it was run into native Alpha. FX!32
may not need to reoptimize the application
on subsequent times when you use it,
although it keeps checking. If you access
additional features of the application,
FX!32 optimizes the application to
convert those features as well into native
Alpha code.
This advanced methodology gives users
uncompromised application performance
that is comparable – or superior – to that
offered by the best Pentium platforms.
Harness the Power of Alpha

When your application runs, it takes
advantage of native Alpha libraries and
the operating system. What does this mean
to you? Here are two examples of the way
FX!32 lets your x86 applications tap into
native Alpha code:
• When you install Microsoft Excel using
FX!32, subsequent uses of the
application run faster because FX!32
optimizes those features of the code that
you access. And even though Excel is
2

an x86 program, the calls that Excel
makes to the math library are executed
in native Alpha code.
• When you use Netscape to access the
web, FX!32 connects the x86 interface
to the Alpha operating system. Even
though the function calls (such as using
the scroll bar and displaying an image)
are part of the x86 application, they are
executed at the operating system level.
Therefore, your application can harness
Alpha performance to display photos
and videos, and to scroll up and down
the window at top speeds.

Award-Winning DIGITAL FX!32

DECUS
Anaheim 1996

Alpha has all the elements needed for
success: unbeatable performance, 1800
native Windows NT applications, and a
close alliance with Microsoft. And with
the added boost of FX!32, Alpha offers
high-performance x86 compatability.
System Requirements

• Alpha-based NT system
• Windows NT 4.0
• 32MB of memory at a minimum; 64MB
of memory is recommended

For More Information

DIGITAL FX!32 is distinguished from all
other translation and emulation schemes,
both hardware and software, by its high
performance and transparent execution of
x86 applications. To learn more about
FX!32 and Digital Semiconductor’s
product portfolio, visit the Digital
Semiconductor World Wide Web site:
http://www.digital.com/semiconductor

To download the FX!32 Kit, free of
charge, visit the DIGITAL FX!32 World
Wide Web site:

While DIGITAL believes the information in this publication
is correct as of the date of publication, it is subject to change
without notice.
© Digital Equipment Corporation 1997.
Al1 rights reserved.
Printed in U.S.A.
DIGITAL, DIGITAL FX!32, Digital Semiconductor, the
DIGITAL logo, and the AlphaGeneration design mark are
trademarks of Digital Equipment Corporation.
Digital Semiconductor is a Digital Equipment Corporation
business.
Windows NT is a trademark and Windows 95 is a registered
trademark of Microsoft Corporation; Intel is a registered
trademark of Intel Corporation; Netscape is a trademark of
Netscape Communications Corporation; Lotus Notes is a
registered trademark of Lotus Corporation.
All other trademarks and registered trademarks are the
property of their respective owners.

http://www.digital.com/semiconductor/amt/fx32

19 February 1997