[comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware] SpeedStar vs. Ergo Powergraph -- Summary

chao@oahu.cs.ucla.edu (Chia-Chi Chao) (06/28/91)

Since I posted these questions 3 weeks ago, I have received only two replies,
both on the STB card.  If you have Diamond SpeedStar card and 386/20 (or 25),
I would be very interested in seeing its VIDSPEED benchmark.  Thanks.

-------------------------
1. STB supports VESA through BIOS.  How about Diamond, BIOS or driver?

No response.
-------------------------
2. One person reported that 0 (zero) is not slashed on a STB clone.  Is that
   true for the real STB one?

From: jones@eng.buffalo.edu (terry a jones)
>  No.  That is not true on the STB Ergo board.  The zero's shape is different
>than upper/lowercase 'O' and is slashed, or more correctly, has a dot in the
>center.

From: gerardka@ism.isc.com (Gerard Kam)
>	The zero is different for different size fonts.
>	The full size VGA zero has a veritical dash within the zero.
>	The compressed 53 line zero has the regular slash.
-------------------------
3. Refresh rates for individual resolutions can be set up at once on the
   Diamond board (for example 72@640, 60@800, 44@1024), so switching video mode
   automatically changes refresh rate.  Does STB have the same feature?

For STB, a jumper sets one of two refresh modes: 60 and 72.  From what I
understan, 640 and 800 resolutions must have the same refresh rate, and a setup
program can choose the mode for 1024 resolution.  Therefore, Diamond is more
flexible in this respect.
-------------------------
4. Diamond already has Edsun and HiColor upgrades available.  How about STB?

No one has heard about it.
-------------------------
5. Diamond seems to be a much smaller company (22 people from what I read) and
   has fewer dealers.  I sent letters to both STB and Diamond on 5/11/91 asking
   some technical questions.  STB replied promptly, but I have not heard from
   Diamond yet.  However, Diamond offers 5-year warranty versus STB's 2-year.
   Has anyone dealt with Diamond tech support?

No response.
-------------------------
6. InfoWorld (4/15/91) reported that STB was faster than Diamond overall, but
   Diamond was (dramatically) faster on a couple of AutoCAD tests.  If you
   have either of these cards and VIDSPEED 2.0 (available on Simtel20),
   I would appreciate it if you could run the test and send me the results
   (VIDSPEED * + > filename).  Also, the PCMag video benchmark on the STB card
   with shadow BIOS *OFF* would be helpful.  Please let me know the processor
   and clock rate used for the test, and the bus speed if known.

My Orchid ProDesigner Plus (not II) w/512K on 386/20, 8MHz bus:
 7624 Bytes per millisecond Normal Ram
 1261 Bytes per millisecond 28.28KHz 70.81Hz  40x25 (text)
 1267 Bytes per millisecond 27.99KHz 70.10Hz  80x25 (text)
 1266 Bytes per millisecond 27.99KHz 70.10Hz  80x50 (text)
  650 Bytes per millisecond 28.28KHz 70.81Hz  320x200x4 (CGA)
  653 Bytes per millisecond 27.99KHz 70.10Hz  640x200x2 (CGA)
  653 Bytes per millisecond 27.99KHz 70.10Hz  640x200x16 (EGA)
  665 Bytes per millisecond 24.49KHz 70.10Hz  640x350x16 (EGA)
  650 Bytes per millisecond 28.28KHz 70.81Hz  320x200x16 (EGA)
 1265 Bytes per millisecond 27.99KHz 70.10Hz  320x200x256 (VGA/MCGA)
  650 Bytes per millisecond 28.73KHz 59.94Hz  640x480x16 (VGA)
  650 Bytes per millisecond 28.73KHz 59.94Hz  640x480x2 (VGA/MCGA)
  833 Bytes per millisecond 33.40KHz 55.75Hz  800x600x2 (S-VGA)
  833 Bytes per millisecond 33.40KHz 55.75Hz  800x600x16 (S-VGA)
 1289 Bytes per millisecond 24.69KHz 70.65Hz  640x350x256 (S-VGA)
 1252 Bytes per millisecond 29.02KHz 60.55Hz  640x480x256 (S-VGA)
 1625 Bytes per millisecond 33.40KHz 55.75Hz  800x600x256 (S-VGA)
  759 Bytes per millisecond 46.44KHz 60.58Hz  1024x768x2 (S-VGA)
  759 Bytes per millisecond 46.44KHz 60.58Hz  1024x768x16 (S-VGA)
  729 Bytes per millisecond 28.75KHz 59.98Hz  360x480x256 (VGA)

From: jones@eng.buffalo.edu (terry a jones)
  Here you go...I don't have the PCMag stuff.  This was Vidspeed 2.0 on
the STB Ergo in 60Hz mode.  My monitor can not do the 72Hz mode(yet).
The system is a Dell 310 386/20Mhz, 32K SRAM Cache, the Ergo has 1Meg of
video RAM installed.

 7596 Bytes per millisecond Normal Ram
 2994 Bytes per millisecond 28.04KHz 70.13Hz  40x25 (text)
 2985 Bytes per millisecond 28.04KHz 70.13Hz  80x25 (text)
 2985 Bytes per millisecond 28.04KHz 70.13Hz  80x50 (text)
 2982 Bytes per millisecond 28.04KHz 70.13Hz  320x200x4 (CGA)
 2982 Bytes per millisecond 28.04KHz 70.13Hz  640x200x2 (CGA)
 2983 Bytes per millisecond 28.04KHz 70.13Hz  640x200x16 (EGA)
 2982 Bytes per millisecond 24.53KHz 70.13Hz  640x350x16 (EGA)
 2985 Bytes per millisecond 28.04KHz 70.13Hz  320x200x16 (EGA)
 2982 Bytes per millisecond 28.04KHz 70.13Hz  320x200x256 (VGA/MCGA)
 2982 Bytes per millisecond 28.78KHz 59.98Hz  640x480x16 (VGA)
 2982 Bytes per millisecond 28.78KHz 59.98Hz  640x480x2 (VGA/MCGA)
 2982 Bytes per millisecond 33.78KHz 56.32Hz  800x600x2 (S-VGA)
 2982 Bytes per millisecond 33.78KHz 56.32Hz  800x600x16 (S-VGA)
 2982 Bytes per millisecond 24.53KHz 70.13Hz  640x350x256 (S-VGA)
 2982 Bytes per millisecond 28.78KHz 59.98Hz  640x480x256 (S-VGA)
 2982 Bytes per millisecond 33.78KHz 56.32Hz  800x600x256 (S-VGA)
 2982 Bytes per millisecond 33.25KHz 86.66Hz  1024x768x2 (S-VGA)
 2982 Bytes per millisecond 33.25KHz 86.66Hz  1024x768x16 (S-VGA)
 2982 Bytes per millisecond 28.80KHz 60.02Hz  360x480x256 (VGA)

From: gerardka@ism.isc.com (Gerard Kam)
	Using a Toshiba T5200: 386DX at 20MHz
	
	STB ErgoPowergraph, 12MHz bus, 16 bit slot
	7834 Bytes per millisecond Normal Ram
	4376 Bytes per millisecond 28.02KHz 70.13Hz  40x25 (text)
	4357 Bytes per millisecond 28.02KHz 70.13Hz  80x25 (text)
	4348 Bytes per millisecond 28.02KHz 70.13Hz  80x50 (text)
	4349 Bytes per millisecond 28.02KHz 70.13Hz  320x200x4 (CGA)
	4349 Bytes per millisecond 28.02KHz 70.13Hz  640x200x2 (CGA)
	4352 Bytes per millisecond 28.02KHz 70.13Hz  640x200x16 (EGA)
	4349 Bytes per millisecond 24.52KHz 70.13Hz  640x350x16 (EGA)
	4348 Bytes per millisecond 28.02KHz 70.13Hz  320x200x16 (EGA)
	4348 Bytes per millisecond 28.02KHz 70.13Hz  320x200x256 (VGA/MCGA)
	4349 Bytes per millisecond 28.76KHz 59.97Hz  640x480x16 (VGA)
	4349 Bytes per millisecond 28.76KHz 59.97Hz  640x480x2 (VGA/MCGA)
	4348 Bytes per millisecond 33.75KHz 56.32Hz  800x600x2 (S-VGA)
	4348 Bytes per millisecond 33.75KHz 56.32Hz  800x600x16 (S-VGA)
	4347 Bytes per millisecond 24.52KHz 70.13Hz  640x350x256 (S-VGA)
	4348 Bytes per millisecond 28.76KHz 59.97Hz  640x480x256 (S-VGA)
	4348 Bytes per millisecond 33.75KHz 56.32Hz  800x600x256 (S-VGA)
	4348 Bytes per millisecond 46.04KHz 60.11Hz  1024x768x2 (S-VGA)
	4348 Bytes per millisecond 46.03KHz 60.11Hz  1024x768x16 (S-VGA)
	4348 Bytes per millisecond 28.78KHz 60.01Hz  360x480x256 (VGA)

	STB ErgoPowergraph, 8MHz bus, 16 bit slot
	7324 Bytes per millisecond Normal Ram
	2925 Bytes per millisecond 28.02KHz 70.14Hz  40x25 (text)
	2925 Bytes per millisecond 28.02KHz 70.13Hz  80x25 (text)
	2925 Bytes per millisecond 28.02KHz 70.13Hz  80x50 (text)
	2925 Bytes per millisecond 28.02KHz 70.14Hz  320x200x4 (CGA)
	2925 Bytes per millisecond 28.02KHz 70.13Hz  640x200x2 (CGA)
	2923 Bytes per millisecond 28.02KHz 70.13Hz  640x200x16 (EGA)
	2924 Bytes per millisecond 24.52KHz 70.13Hz  640x350x16 (EGA)
	2925 Bytes per millisecond 28.02KHz 70.13Hz  320x200x16 (EGA)
	2923 Bytes per millisecond 28.02KHz 70.13Hz  320x200x256 (VGA/MCGA)
	2923 Bytes per millisecond 28.76KHz 59.97Hz  640x480x16 (VGA)
	2923 Bytes per millisecond 28.76KHz 59.97Hz  640x480x2 (VGA/MCGA)
	2923 Bytes per millisecond 33.74KHz 56.32Hz  800x600x2 (S-VGA)
	2923 Bytes per millisecond 33.74KHz 56.32Hz  800x600x16 (S-VGA)
	2923 Bytes per millisecond 24.52KHz 70.13Hz  640x350x256 (S-VGA)
	2923 Bytes per millisecond 28.76KHz 59.97Hz  640x480x256 (S-VGA)
	2923 Bytes per millisecond 33.74KHz 56.32Hz  800x600x256 (S-VGA)
	2923 Bytes per millisecond 46.11KHz 60.11Hz  1024x768x2 (S-VGA)
	2923 Bytes per millisecond 46.11KHz 60.11Hz  1024x768x16 (S-VGA)
	2924 Bytes per millisecond 28.78KHz 60.01Hz  360x480x256 (VGA)

	Built-in VGA (Paradise chip), 12MHz bus
	7834 Bytes per millisecond Normal Ram
	1080 Bytes per millisecond 28.01KHz 70.09Hz  40x25 (text)
	 939 Bytes per millisecond 28.01KHz 70.09Hz  80x25 (text)
	 939 Bytes per millisecond 28.01KHz 70.09Hz  80x50 (text)
	1208 Bytes per millisecond 28.01KHz 70.09Hz  320x200x4 (CGA)
	1155 Bytes per millisecond 28.01KHz 70.09Hz  640x200x2 (CGA)
	1155 Bytes per millisecond 28.01KHz 70.09Hz  640x200x16 (EGA)
	1165 Bytes per millisecond 24.50KHz 70.09Hz  640x350x16 (EGA)
	1208 Bytes per millisecond 28.01KHz 70.09Hz  320x200x16 (EGA)
	1153 Bytes per millisecond 28.01KHz 70.09Hz  320x200x256 (VGA/MCGA)
	1153 Bytes per millisecond 28.74KHz 59.93Hz  640x480x16 (VGA)
	1153 Bytes per millisecond 28.74KHz 59.94Hz  640x480x2 (VGA/MCGA)
	1449 Bytes per millisecond 28.01KHz 70.09Hz  800x600x2 (S-VGA)
	1449 Bytes per millisecond 28.01KHz 70.09Hz  800x600x16 (S-VGA)

	Built-in VGA (Paradise chip), 8MHz bus
	7324 Bytes per millisecond Normal Ram
	 876 Bytes per millisecond 28.01KHz 70.09Hz  40x25 (text)
	 823 Bytes per millisecond 28.01KHz 70.09Hz  80x25 (text)
	 823 Bytes per millisecond 28.01KHz 70.09Hz  80x50 (text)
	 950 Bytes per millisecond 28.01KHz 70.09Hz  320x200x4 (CGA)
	 899 Bytes per millisecond 28.01KHz 70.09Hz  640x200x2 (CGA)
	 899 Bytes per millisecond 28.01KHz 70.09Hz  640x200x16 (EGA)
	 915 Bytes per millisecond 24.50KHz 70.09Hz  640x350x16 (EGA)
	 950 Bytes per millisecond 28.01KHz 70.09Hz  320x200x16 (EGA)
	 899 Bytes per millisecond 28.01KHz 70.09Hz  320x200x256 (VGA/MCGA)
	 896 Bytes per millisecond 28.74KHz 59.93Hz  640x480x16 (VGA)
	 896 Bytes per millisecond 28.74KHz 59.93Hz  640x480x2 (VGA/MCGA)
-- 

Chia-Chi Chao     chao@cs.ucla.edu      ..!(uunet,ucbvax)!cs.ucla.edu!chao