EXHIBIT 5.1

                                January 15, 2002


Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation
600 Komas Drive
Salt Lake City, Utah 84108


Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to Evans & Sutherland Computer Corporation, a Utah
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with an amendment to its Registration
Statement on Form S-8 that was originally filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission on July 9, 1998, as amended to date (the "Registration Statement"),
relating to the registration under the Securities Act of 1933 of an aggregate of
1,250,000 shares of common stock, $.20 par value, of the Company (the "Stock").
The Stock is issuable pursuant to the terms of the Company's 1998 Stock Option
Plan, as amended (the "Plan").

     We have examined originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to
our satisfaction, of such corporate records, agreements, and other instruments,
certificates, orders, opinions, correspondence with public officials,
certificates provided by the Company and representatives, and other documents,
as we have deemed necessary or advisable for the purposes of rendering the
opinions set forth herein.

     Based on the foregoing, it is our opinion that the Stock, when issued and
sold in accordance with the terms of the Plan, will be validly issued, fully
paid and non-assessable, subject to effectiveness of the Registration Statement,
and any amendments, and compliance with applicable blue sky laws. We express no
opinion as to compliance with the securities or blue sky laws of any state in
which the Stock is proposed to be offered and sold or as to the effect, if any,
which non-compliance with such laws might have on the validity of issuance of
the Stock.

     We hereby consent to the use of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement. This opinion (i) is addressed solely to you, (ii) may
not be relied upon by any other party (iii) covers matters only of Utah and
federal law and nothing in this opinion shall be deemed to imply any opinion
related to the laws of any other jurisdiction, (iv) may not be quoted or
reproduced or delivered by you to any other person, and (v) may not be relied
upon for any other purpose whatsoever. Nothing herein shall be deemed to relate
to or constitute an opinion concerning any matters not specifically set forth
above.

     By giving you this opinion and consent, we do not admit that we are experts
with respect to any part of the Registration Statement within the meaning of the
term "expert" as used in Section 11 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
promulgated thereunder.


     The information set forth herein is as of the date of this letter. We
disclaim any undertaking to advise you of changes which may be brought to our
attention after the effective date of the Registration Statement to which this
letter pertains.


                                        Respectfully,

                                        Snell & Wilmer

                                        /s/ Snell & Wilmer