ViSaGe MKII Stimulus Generator

ViSaGe makes it simple to present calibrated visual stimuli on CRT, LCD, DLP and OLED based displays with precision timing, and provides a robust and reliable mechanism to synchronise the stimulus presentation with external data collection equipment, including button boxes or eye trackers, motion trackers, electrophysiological amplifiers, and MRI scanners. It is the ideal choice for cognitive, psychophysical, and neurophysiological investigations of vision and the brain.

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Overview In Depth Specification FAQ Publications

Technical Specification	Graphics engine: 4 Lane PCI Express Graphics configuration: Dedicated stimulus display (the ViSaGe is not a replacement PC graphics card and does not run Windows) Analogue Video output: 14 bit video DACs; 14 bit resolution per colour channel; 165 MHz pixel clock; 200 kHz line scan rate; up to 350 Hz frame rate Digital Video output: single-link DVI; up to 14 bit resolution with temporal dithering enabled; 165 MHz pixel clock Display memory: 256 MB video memory; configured as 32 bits per pixel; separate pixel and overlay planes Offscreen memory: Dependent on PC RAM; used for storage of precalculated image sequences
Connectivity	Digital I/O: Ten TTL-compatible inputs; ten TTL-compatible outputs Triggers: Dedicated TTL-compatible Trigger In and Trigger Out Analog in: Six inputs, 16 bit, ±5V signal range, 500 Hz bandwidth, free running or synchronised to the stimulus display Analog out: Two outputs, 16 bit, ±5V signal range, updates are frame synchronous Response box: Built in infra-red receiver; built in speaker for feedback; compatible with CB6 & CT6. Cedrus RB-x30 series devices and Lumina are supported via the Digital Input port. Stereo goggle: Compatible with CRS FE-1 stereo goggles (discontinued) and third-party VESA-compatible shutter glasses. Requires adapter cables.
Connectors	Video output: DVI-I output for connection to analog or digital stimulus display Analog I/O: Six BNC inputs; two BNC outputs Digital I/O: Trigger In BNC, bi-coloured status LED; Trigger Out BNC, bi-coloured status LED; 25 way D connector Computer interface: USB B input Ancillary equipment: Dual 5 pin Tyco Triad type 01 circular connectors
Supplied Software	MATLAB: CRS Toolbox for MATLAB (R2010 or later) Windows programming:VSG Software Library v8.3 or later for 32 bit and 64 bit Windows Demonstration programs: For MATLAB, Delphi, Visual C++; source code provided Backwards compatibility: Native VSGv6 programs for the VSG2/2, VSG2/3, VSG2/4 and VSG2/5 can be recompiled and run on ViSaGe MKII using VSGv8.3 supplied with unit
Packaging	Framestore: x4 or x16 PCI Express card (modified 3DLabs R500 PCIe card) Control Unit: 280 mm x 100 mm x 100 mm black anodised aluminium tower Supplied cables: 2 m DVI-D video cable for connection between framestore and Control unit; 2 m DVI-I to VGA video cable for connection to stimulus display; DVI-I to VGA adapter Windows desktop output; 1.5m USB cable Software: Internet download only. Login to MyCRS, then return to ViSaGe MKII page to view Product Support area. Product Support is only visible when logged into MyCRS. Power: Region-specific 7.5 V wall mount PSU
Minimum System Requirements	Computer: Dell Precision T3620 Workstation or similar with unoccupied x4, x8, x16 PCIe slot, one free USB2 port; contact CRS for details of the latest models Dual displays: SVGA display for Windows desktop (i.e. 800x600 @ 60 Hz), analogue CRT monitor, DVI/HDMI input LCD or OLED for Stimulus Display (max resolution 1920x1200 @ 60Hz) Operating system: 32 bit Microsoft Windows XP Pro SP3, 32 bit Windows 7, 64 bit Windows 7, 32 bit Windows 8.1, 64 bit Windows 8.1, or 64 bit Windows 10.

Hardware feature	VSG hardware version
Hardware feature	ViSaGe PCIe	ViSaGe AGP	VSG2/5	VSG2/4	VSG2/3
PC bus type	4 lane, PCI Express	66 MHz, 64 bit, 4x AGP	33 MHz, 32 bit PCI	8 MHz, 16 bit ISA	8 MHz, 16 bit ISA
Max. transfer rate from PC DRAM	>40 MB/s, plus hardware acceleration	>40 MB/s, no hardware acceleration	4 MB/s	1.5 MB/s	1.5 MB/s
Output resolution	14 bit	14 bit	15 bit	15 bit, 8 bit	12 bit, 8 bit
DAC system	3 x various manufacturers	3 x various manufacturers	2 x ADV7162	2 x Bt460	2 x Bt460
Graphics processor	3DLabs Wildcat P25	3DLabs Wildcat P9	TMS34020	TMS34020	TMS34020
Graphics processor speed	N/A	N/A	50 MHz	40 MHz	40 MHz
Framestore - standard configuration (AKA "VideoPage" memory area)	256 MB	256 MB - [1]	8 MB	4 MB	4 MB
Framestore - add-on sizes	N/A	N/A	24 MB	32 MB, 16 MB	32 MB, 16 MB
Max. framestore size	256 MB	256 MB - [1]	32 MB	68 MB (2 x 32 MB)	68 MB (2 x 32 MB)
Framestore pixel size	4 bytes	4 bytes	1 byte or 4 bytes	1 byte	1 byte
VideoPage video modes	8 bit palette 24 bit true colour	8 bit palette 24 bit true colour	8 bit palette 24 bit true colour	8 bit palette	8 bit palette
Overlay plane size (AKA "OverlayPage" memory area)	16 MB	16 MB	2 MB	2 MB	2 MB
OverlayPage pixel size	4 bytes	4 bytes	1 byte	1 byte	1 byte
OverlayPage video modes	8 bit palette 24 bit true colour	8 bit palette 24 bit true colour	2 bit palette	4 bit or 8 bit palette,	4 bit or 8 bit palette
On-board, non-display memory (AKA "ScratchPage" memory area)	8 MB - [2]	8 MB - [2]	8 MB	4 MB	4 MB
ScratchPage pixel size	4 bytes or 1 byte	4 bytes or 1 byte	1 byte or 4 bytes	1 byte	1 byte
ScratchPage video modes	8 bit palette 24 bit true colour	8 bit palette 24 bit true colour	8 bit palette	8 bit palette,	8 bit palette
Local, non-display memory (AKA "HostPage" memory area)	Unlimited - [3]	Unlimited - [3]	Unlimited - [3]	Unlimited - [3]	Unlimited - [3]
HostPage pixel size	4 bytes or 1 byte	4 bytes or 1 byte	1 byte or 4 bytes	1 byte	1 byte
HostPage video modes	8 bit palette 24 bit true colour	8 bit palette 24 bit true colour	8 bit palette 24 bit true colour	8 bit palette,	8 bit palette
Digital I/O	Ten in Ten out	Ten in Ten out	Ten in Ten out	Eight in Nine out	Five in Nine out
Analog I/O	Six 16 bit in Two 16 bit out	Six 16 bit in Two 16 bit out	Five 12 bit in One 12 bit out	Seven 12 bit in One 12 bit out	Seven 12 bit in One 12 bit out
Hardware reaction timing (requires CB6, CT6, CB3 or CT3 response box)	Yes (only CB6, CT6)	Yes (only CB6, CT6)	Yes	Yes	Yes
Max. pixel clock	160 MHz	160 MHz	150 MHz	120 MHz	120 MHz
Max. line rate	200 kHz	200 kHz	200 kHz	200 kHz	200 kHz
Max. frame rate	200 Hz	200 Hz	500 Hz	500 Hz	500 Hz
Support for VSGDSP	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Support for RG1, RG2	No	No	No	Yes	Yes
Supported in VSG software version	8.1 or later	8	8, 6	8, 6, 5, 4	8, 6, 5, 4

Important Notes

[1] - The original ViSaGe framestore was provided on a dual-head AGP graphics card. The framestore memory space was shared between the Windows desktop and the VSG Stimulus Display. This means that some of the 256MB area was reserved for use by the Windows display.

[2] - The ViSaGe on-board, non-display memory space is emulated using main PC memory and is provided only for backwards compatibility. There is no additional benefit in using this memory space compared to the off-board, non-display, virtual memory space.

[3] - The off-board, non-display memory space is a virtual VSG memory area which uses main PC memory. The memory space size is dependent on the amount of free RAM in your PC.