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Carrera Computers Teams with Digital Domain To Create Powerful New Super Computer Center
LAGUNA HILLS, Calif., July 29, 1997 -- Carrera Computers, whose powerful Alpha-based Windows™ NT workstations have been quick to gain acceptance in the entertainment industry, has teamed with Venice, Calif.-based Digital Domain, the Academy AwardŽ - nominated visual effects studio, to create a powerful rendering solution blending UNIX, Linux and Windows NT hardware with custom networking and software. Carrera Chairman and Founder Rod Frye expressed the belief that as a result of this collaboration, Digital Domain becomes one of the most powerful rendering centers in the entertainment industry. Digital Domain has 230 Carrera Alpha workstations installed at the studio, 160 of which were dedicated for rendering. Each system, running two separate operating systems, required complex networking, both in I/O and in administrative interoperability. The collaboration of Digital Domain and Carrera produced a render farm capable of 400 billion instructions per second, running optimized software on cross platforms and communicating with a common networking protocol, to ensure animation integrity. Frye noted, "Digital Domain has been key to our growth in the Hollywood entertainment industry. We are very pleased they called on Carrera and trusted us to provide a solution. We’re, of course, proud of the role we played in this achievement. This center is possibly the most impressive rendering solution that has ever been assembled, one which is capable of yielding some incredible effects for future film and animation." Scott Ross, Digital Domain CEO and president, said, "Our current slate of projects created huge challenges. With Titanic, we are attempting one of the most ambitious and complex projects in the history of film. We needed a partner who could quickly assemble a solution specific to our application needs, despite problems surrounding cross-platform and networking issues. Because of their attentive follow-through we actually consider Carrera to be more of a broadcast company than a hardware company. They worked ‘round the clock to make the impossible possible -- and in record time." Each of the newly installed Carrera workstations is powered by a Digital Semiconductor 21164 quad issue super scalar microprocessor, a 256-bit 1.067Gbyte/sec memory bus and a switched 10/100 Mbit/sec networking solution. In addition, the super computer solution was hosted by a single terminal administrating all rendering modes. Digital Domain, Inc. is the largest full-service digital production studio in Los Angeles. Founded in 1993, the studio has been honored for its stunning and innovative work on features, commercials and CD-ROM titles, all of which distinctly personify the company’s mandate to create an environment that empowers directors and producers -- matching their imaginative prowess with the right tools. |
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Founded in 1990, Carrera Computers designs, manufactures and services high-powered custom solutions which are installed worldwide for graphics, scientific, engineering and other applications demanding the utmost computer power and speed. Carrera headquarters are at 23181 Verdugo Drive, Bldg.100, Laguna Hills, CA 92653 (800) 576-RISC, www.carrera.com.
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