[comp.sys.ibm.pc] Two Monitors on a PC6300

alt@ihlpf.ATT.COM (Todesco) (10/09/87)

I know there has been alot of discussion about using an EGA card in a PC6300,
but I don't recall anything about a Hurcules Monochrome Graphic card to be
used simultaneously with the standard AT&T color monitor. Several packages
support this mode, where one monitor handles the drawing screen and the other
command I/O.  Does anyone have any experience in this area?

Art Todesco
ihnp4!ihlpf!alt

gsk@khaki (10/13/87)

i just added a herc clone to my 6300.
all you have to do is plug in the card and monitor.
the herc's screen memory overlaps the 6300's screen memory, but
the overlap is all in a 2nd page, which is disabled by default.

you can switch between the two using the MSDOS "mode" command.
in text mode, the herc looks just like an IBM monochrome display
adaptor, so the BIOS routines in your 6300 (and probably every
other clone around) will work with it. however, if you have
version 1.21 of the 6300 BIOS ROM, scrolling in monochrome mode
is pretty buggy. you can order a BIOS upgrade for $35 or use it
just for graphics (which most people with 2-monitor systems do).

since the stock 6300 video controller has as much resolution as
the herc, the only reason to install a herc is to run specific
software that supports herc and not the 6300 hi-res mode.

by the way, i bought both the board and monitor from a local
discount house for $109 total.


George S. Kong,  Silicon Graphics, Inc.,  (415)962-3281
gsk@sgi.com
...{decwrl,allegra,sun,adobe,ucbvax,pyramid,ames}!sgi!gsk