[comp.sys.ibm.pc.programmer] Need help with PGL/PGA

jmc@isp.isp.nwu.edu (08/16/90)

From isp.isp.nwu.edu!jmc Wed Aug 15 19:31:28 1990

Subject: Need help with PGL/PGA (graphics standard)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.programmer

Please reply by mail to this message - I don't read this group
on a regular basis.  Write to jmc@isp.isp.nwu.edu or
jmc%isp.isp.nwu.edu@accuvax.nwu.edu.  Thanks.

Does anyone know of this standard?  From what I've heard it was
supposed to be the next thing better than VGA but it never caught
on.  I need some technical advice, or at least a pointer to some
reference which contains such.

I have a protein modelling program which will display great pictures
on the screen in a PGA mode (1024 X 768, 256 colors out of >1 million).
Unfortunately this program has no hardcopy function.  I'd like to
write an interrupt handler to print out the graphics screen, but I
need to know how to read and write pixels.  

I'm using a NEC MVA-1024 card, but their technical support guy says
"there is no way to access the card through normal software (such
as interrupts, writing to a port, or direct memory access)."  When
I made the mistake of telling him WHY I wanted the information he
suggested I buy NEC's software development kit for this card for
$15K.  ("Only $15,000?  Great - let me order two!")  I can't find
any mention of PGA in IBM books either and I'm still not clear
on what it is.

There's got to be a way to access this graphics card - if you've
got one of these cards or can point me in the right direction please
send me mail.

Thanks,
JMC
---
John-Marc Chandonia           | I will not yell fire in a crowded classroom
Integrated Science Program    | I will not yell fire in a crowded classroom
Northwestern University       | I will not yell fire ...