zhahai@milo.UUCP (12/16/83)
I am interested in the new fancy display adapters available from various
sources. Examples are the Tecmar GraphicsMaster, USI Multidisplay, Amdek
MAI, (perhaps the STB board, or others). Typical features (from Graphics
Master) might be:
Compatible with both IBM monochrome (50 Hz, 720 x 350) and IBM color (60 Hz,
640 x 200) monitors (switch selectable), as well as clones.
Complete (?) software compatibility with the IBM mono and color adapters, ie:
all character and graphics modes are supported, same memory layout and
addresses.
Additional Modes:
Mono: 720 x 350 graphics
interlace optional for 80 x 50 chars or 720 x 700 graphics
supports IBM High Res mono monitor
Color: 4 and 16 colors/pixel in 320 x 200 and 640 x 200 graphic modes
more scan lines for "low-overscan monitors" giving 640 x 240
optional interlace for 640 x 400 (or 480) resolution
can have 720 x 200 for 4 colors
supports just about all combinations which fit within display ram
supports RGBI digital or NTSC composite
can do gray scale in NTSC mode (monochrome)
Up to 128 KBytes of display ram; lower resolutions allow multiple pages of
display. Uses 6845 controller (same as IBM mono and color borads).
The interlace modes will tend to flicker, at least on a color screen; I do
not know about the 720 x 700 mode on a green/amber mono screen.
Some boards also have an IBM compatible parellel printer port. Tecmar does
not. Some are reputed to support better scrolling than IBM. Tecmar may be
able to support extenal sync, at least in NTSC mode (useful for mixing).
One claimed to allow partitioning of onboard memory between display and
CPU (presumably CPU access to the latter has no delay and generates no hash
on screen?).
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Questions: Can anyone provide more details about boards other than the
Tecmar, listed above or otherwise? I would especially appreciate comments
by anyone who has used any of these extended boards - problems, advantages,
tradeoffs. Does High Res Mono interlace flicker on a green or amber screen?
What monitors support the 240 (or 480) high mode? Can any of the boards
support analog RGB? (or is there a simple way to convert?) How about gray
scale on a High Res Mono screen?
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Related Question: Anybody want to contribute information or experience about
the IBM compatable color monitors?
- IBM Color Monitor
- Amdek Color II ( and III and IV?)
- Princeton Graphics HX-12
- Taxan
- Quadchrome
- other.
Differences seem to involve: size/spacing of phosphor dot (finer on Princeton,
one of the Amdeks, maybe others), "brightness of colors", non-glare screens,
240/480 line capability (see above), and general quality.
Reply by mail, or to the group as appropriate. I will summarize if I get....
Zhahai Stewart (NBI Inc)
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{harpo!seismo!hao} !nbires!zhahai
{ allegra}robison@eosp1.UUCP (12/20/83)
The USI multidisplay card supports flicker-free scrolling. If you are going to do much WP, or use any program that scrolls a lot, you should seriously consider getting this card, or some other card that also is flicker free. The difference to the eye is amazing. The USI also has twice as many pages for color memory. You can use it to display on a both color and mono monitors (but only one at a time). USI availability has been peculiar. It's discount and list prices have been gradually rising since about August. I had a very hard time buying one for under $400 in November. - Keremath, care of: Robison decvax!ittvax!eosp1 or: allegra!eosp1