martin@minster.york.ac.uk (06/18/91)
Last week I asked the net where I might obtain low-level programming information for the Tseng Labs ET4000. Many thanks to everyone who sent me mail. Several people asked to get the information I collected, so I am summarizing to the net. A special thanks to those people who offered to photocopy manuals they have, or to send me their ``spare copy''. I haven't included their mail here, since I'm sure they don't want to be inundated by requests from the net, but their offers were greatly appreciated! I got a copy of the Tseng databook from Orchid by phoning their UK number - given in the first respopnse below. This cost 20 pounds (inc P&P), but seemed most convenient at the time. I now discover that even this is still rather coy about the details of the contiguous 1Mb linear memory organization, which is the thing I'm most interested in! (Does anyone know if this works on ISA cards, or know any more details about where the 1Mbytes is mapped, etc? Also what the ***** is the ``PEL add/Dat Wd'' register - at i/o port 3CB - I can't find any mention of it, except in a table on page 96!!!! Ditto the Microseq Mode, and Microseq Reset registers - GDC registers 0x0d and 0x0e - on page 98!) Apart from these problems the databook exists, and is quite useful. Martin ====== From: mcdonald@edu.uiuc.scs.aries (Doug McDonald) In article <676307981.14070@minster.york.ac.uk> martin@minster.york.ac.uk writes: >... You can get one from Orchid: part number TS00491, $25. Phone number: 415 683 0323 Europe: +44 256 479898 Doug MCDonald ====== [Tseng UK did not understand the part number given here, but the ET4000 databook is part of their documentation for the ProDesigner II. I gather that the ET3000 databook is similarly available in the documentation for the ProDesigner. By the way, in this case $25 = 20 pounds - Martin] ====== From: nlbeck@edu.UCSD (Nathaniel Beck) Organization: Division of Social Sciences, UCSD Diamond told me to look at Ferraro, The Advanced Programmers Guide to EGA/VGA. They said the 2nd edition had info on the T4K chipset. HAven't seen the book so I don't kow if it will meet your needs/ REgards Neal -- Neal Beck Dept of Politcal Science, UCSD beck@ucsd.edu Dislaimer: The Regents pay me (a bit!) to distribute my opinions. ====== [ I have Ferraro's book (2nd Ed.), and it does give some Tseng details, such as the code for bank switching. However it is rather hazy about other details, such as the flat memory mode, and programming Super VGA modes - Martin] ====== From: apchoo@au.oz.uu.pub.phoenix (Albert P Choo) In comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware you write: >... I got my Tseng ET4000 Data Book from the dealer I bought my 386 from. Like you, I saw the reference in the manual that came with the card. I had to place an order for the book from the dealer---cost me A$60. The book is pretty comprehensive but I haven't gotten the chance to use it lately. There are 2 addresses at the backcover: Tseng Labs Inc. 10 Pheasant Run Newtown PA 18940 USA TsengLabs International 1/F., 20 Lane 231 Fu-Hsing North Rd Taipei Taiwan Tel: (886)-(2)-713-9974 Fax: (886)-(2)-712-1075 Good luck! -- Albert P Choo (apchoo@phoenix.pub.uu.oz.au) Tattersall Sweep Consultation, | Telephone (work): 787 Dandenong Road, East Malvern VIC 3145, Australia. | +61 3 573 1309 ====== From: rein@de.uni-stuttgart.verfahrenstechnik.mecha2 (Udo Rein \(PACZ\)) Sender: rein <rein%de.uni-stuttgart.verfahrenstechnik.mecha2@de.belwue.noc> Hello Martin, I own a ET4000 manual. I bought it from the a german TSENG distributor which adress was on the drivers disk coming with my MEGA EVA card. I don't have the adress with me right now, but there must be also a TSENG distrubutor in GB selling the manual. It costs around 100DM but don't expect too much. My book came with the pages mixed up, some wire plans at the beginning of the manual (how a VGA card usually is build up---memory and that stuff) is unreadable because its very small. 50% of the manual covers the standard VGA registers and BIOS calls and the rest is for the TL extensions (registers and extended VGA modes). It's written like other data sheets and it still takes some time to understand it. Sincerily, Udo Rein Institut A fuer Mechanik Universitaet Stuttgart ====== From: rehan nisar chawdry <chawdry@edu.ohio-state.cis> Organization: The Ohio State University, Department of Computer and Information Science STB systems's PowerGraphVGA uses the ET4000 chipset and I was able to get the docs for th or P.O Box 850957 Richardson, TX 75085 or 214-234-8750 (Technical Support) When I called, I just asked for the technical documentation for the PowerGraph VGA, they asked for my address and name and sent it over within a week. -- Rehan -- ====== From: eegeh@au.edu.jcu.marlin (Glen Elliot Harris) I wrote to STB Tech Support and they sent me the latest BIOS and the tech ref for the chip. FREE to Australia. $12 postage. I don't know if they'll do it for free as the chip gets more popular, though. Glen Harris eegeh@marlin.jcu.edu.au ====== From: jeff@au.OZ.su.ucc.extro (Jeff Smartt) Organization: Uni Computing Service, Uni of Sydney, Australia In article <676307981.14070@minster.york.ac.uk> you write: >.... I have that chip on my video card, and all the documentation came with it? Jeff. ====== From: mport!lee@net.uu.uunet In comp.windows.ms you write: >... I got a copy from a friend at Sigma Designs, a VGA manufacturer who uses the chip. STB, a competitor of theirs, is generally friendlier to most developers, though. Orchid also makes a T4000 board, but I have not dealt with them personnaly. All three companies are in San Jose, CA (information 408-555-1212). Actually, I think Orchid might be in Fremont (a few miles north of SJ), which is in area code 415 rather than 408. --- Lee Daniel Crocker lee@mport.com (Microport) ..!uunet!mport!lee 73407.2030@compuserve.com ====== From: Ed Hall <edhall%ives@org.rand> Organization: The RAND Corporation I got a copy of the ET3000 manual from the Orchid folks (they used that chip in their ProDesigner VGA). Since the ProDesigner II uses the ET4000, they might have the manual for that, too. I'm afraid I don't have the address handy, but I could be compelled to look it up (at home). One thing: if it is anything like the ET3000 manual, beware of typos. -Ed Hall edhall@rand.org