gdj5t@krebs.acc.Virginia.EDU (Glenn Jones) (11/14/88)
I've got an AT&T 6300 PC (ROM BIOS 1.43, P8 video board) with an Taxan 650 color monitor (which is great when it works, but seems to have poor reliability). I'm considering upgrading the graphics and need some info. I understand that the AT&T VDC750 card or STB MultiRes II card will work well with the 6300 and existing monitor. The VDC750 also has the advantage of giving the hi-res AT&T monochrome graphics (640X400 ?) that is standard in the 6300's internal video. But, WILL THE VDC750 ALSO WORK WITH OTHER (more standard) MONITORS? I really don't want to buy a card that ONLY works with the AT&T or Taxan monitor.... Also, could someone also provide more information on the new AT&T VDC600 (VGA) card? Will it work in all modes EXCEPT VGA on my EXISTING monitor (or can I buy the VDC600 now and wait to get a new VGA or multisync monitor later)? Also, what are the advantages of the VDC600 as compared to other VGA cards. Can someone recommend good sources for purchasing these two cards? Thanks in advance for any advice! P.S. I know I also need to buy the W. Allen "6300 bus correction kit". Glen Jones U.Va. Biochem Dept., Box 440 > UUCP: ...!uunet!virginia!gdj5t Charlottesville, VA 22908 > BITNET: gdj5t@virginia.BITNET (804) 924-2373 > CSNET: gdj5t@acc.virginia.edu
ralph@mtunf.ATT.COM (Ralph Heredia) (11/15/88)
In article <273@galen.acc.virginia.edu> gdj5t@krebs.acc.Virginia.EDU (Glenn Jones) writes: >I've got an AT&T 6300 PC (ROM BIOS 1.43, P8 video board) with an Taxan 650 >color monitor (which is great when it works, but seems to have poor >reliability). I'm considering upgrading the graphics and need some info. > [deleted] >Also, could someone also provide more information on the new AT&T VDC600 (VGA) >card? Will it work in all modes EXCEPT VGA on my EXISTING monitor (or can I >buy the VDC600 now and wait to get a new VGA or multisync monitor later)? >Also, what are the advantages of the VDC600 as compared to other VGA cards. >P.S. I know I also need to buy the W. Allen "6300 bus correction kit". [deleted] > >Glen Jones >U.Va. Biochem Dept., Box 440 > UUCP: ...!uunet!virginia!gdj5t >Charlottesville, VA 22908 > BITNET: gdj5t@virginia.BITNET >(804) 924-2373 > CSNET: gdj5t@acc.virginia.edu The VDC 600 requires an Analog Monitor like most if not all VGA cards. EGA and CGA cards use digital monitors so those monitors CANNOT be used with the VDC600. The VDC600 has all standard VGA modes PLUS the following AT&T Standard Modes: AT&T 640x400x2 color Hi-res Graphics (6300 Display Resolution) mode 40h AT&T 640x400x16 Color VGA MODE (Similar in color to DEB) mode 42h AT&T 640x400 Tiny Text Mode 48h Plus 9 other Extended VGA modes. Of them, the most interesting being: 640x400x256 Color from a 256K Pallette 800x600x16 Color from a 256K Pallette The attached chart shows all of the modes found in the VDC600. ************************************************************************ Mode # Simult. Alpha Pels x Char (Hex) Type Colors Format Lines Cell = 0,1 Text 16 40x25 360x400 9x16 2,3 Text 16 80x25 720x400 9x16 4,5 Graphics 4 40x25 320x200+ 8x8 6 Graphics 2 80x25 640x200+ 8x8 7 Text Mono 80x25 720x350 9x14 D Graphics 16 40x25 320x200+ 8x8 E Graphics 16 80x25 640x200+ 8x8 F Graphics Mono 80x25 640x350 8x14 10 Graphics 16 80x25 640x350 8x14 11 Graphics 2 80x30 640x480 8x16 12 Graphics 16 80x30 640x480 8x16 13 Graphics 256 40x25 320x200+ 8x8 40 Graphics Mono 80x25 640x400 8x16 42 Graphics 16 80x25 640x400 8x16 46 Graphics 2 100x40 800x600 8x15 47 Graphics 16 100x37 800x600 8x16 48 Graphics Mono 80x50 640x400 8x8 54 Text 16 132x43 924x387 7x9 55 Text 16 132x25 924x400 7x16 56 Text 2 132x43 924x387 7x9 57 Text 2 132x25 924x400 7x16 58 Graphics 16 100x75 800x600 8x8 59 Graphics 2 100x75 800x600 8x8 5E Graphics 256 80x25 640x400 8x16 5Fxx Graphics 256 80x30 640x480 8x16 7E*** SPECIAL 7F**** GATEWAY 0*,1* Text 16 40x25 320x200+ 8x8 2*,3* Text 16 80x25 640x200+ 8x8 2**,3** Text 16 80x25 640x350 8x14 + = while 200 unique lines are displayed, each line is double-scanned, resulting in an actual 400 lines displayed within the active display area. * = Same mapping and attributes as modes 0,1,2 and 3, respectively except controller is placed into a 200 line double scanned display mode. ** = Mapping and attributes match modes 2 and 3 except 350 lines used. *** = SPECIAL SELECT. See "Special Select" section for description. **** = GATEWAY mode. Used for switching to CGA, MDA, and VGA operation and back. xx = Mode present in BIOS but requires 512K RAM to function. Reserved as a future enhancement. ************************************************************************ NOTE: The chart displayed above may contain modes that may have changed. All of the modes are in the VDC600 but the mode Number may have changed. For more up to date information see the VDC600 User's Guide which accompanies the VDC600. -- Ralph Heredia EMAIL: ihnp4!mtunf!ralph or attmail!rheredia AT&T 200 Laurel Ave. Middletown, NJ 07748 (201) 957-2567 Disclaimer: "I don't know where you get your information, but mine comes from my horoscope."