[comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware] Tha extra connector on a VGA card...

cac@iear.arts.rpi.edu (Christopher A. Cox) (03/11/91)

	Could someone out there please tell me what that extra card edge
connector is that is on teh top edge of most VGA cards?  What can I do
with it?  Just curious...one of those nasty little things I wonder about
whenever I work on the machine and notice it again, but no one ever
seems to know why.
	
						CC
	
-- 
---------- If you cut here you'd probably ruin your monitor -------------
Christopher A. Cox			
cac@iear.arts.rpi.edu						(Ugh.)
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

sheinfel@grad1.cis.upenn.edu (Aviad Sheinfeld) (03/11/91)

In article <HY!=NV%@rpi.edu> cac@iear.arts.rpi.edu (Christopher A. Cox) writes:
>
>	Could someone out there please tell me what that extra card edge
>connector is that is on teh top edge of most VGA cards?  What can I do
>with it?  Just curious...one of those nasty little things I wonder about
>whenever I work on the machine and notice it again, but no one ever
>seems to know why.
>	
>						CC
>	
>-- 
>---------- If you cut here you'd probably ruin your monitor -------------
>Christopher A. Cox			
>cac@iear.arts.rpi.edu						(Ugh.)
>=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

I have a "Super 8900" SVGA card based on the Trident 8900 chip.  My
"manual" describes the edge as a "Feature connector: For special
applications."  There is, however, no mention of what these special
applications might be...

Anyone else know?

Just curious...

Aviad
--
Aviad Sheinfeld			| Internet:  sheinfel@grad1.cis.upenn.edu
4400 Spruce St.  Apt E-5	|-----------------------------------------
Philadelphia, PA  19104		| 
United States of America   	|     (215) 662-9962 / (215) 662-0792 

raster@itsgw.rpi.edu (Jerry D Bain) (03/12/91)

sheinfel@grad1.cis.upenn.edu (Aviad Sheinfeld) writes:
>I have a "Super 8900" SVGA card based on the Trident 8900 chip.  My
>"manual" describes the edge as a "Feature connector: For special
>applications."  There is, however, no mention of what these special
>applications might be...

I believe the feature connector on the top of all true VGA cards (or so the 
rhetoric goes) is for external (re: off board) signal handling.  Although
I've never actually seen this, I am told boards like the IBM 8514/A connect
to this connector to provide VGA compatibility.  The original 8514/A had no
built-in ability to handle VGA modes.

I know there are some special purpose video boards out there that do make
use of this connector for VGA compatibility...

In summary: the average person has no need for this connector.  It is 
intended for special-purpose piggy-back video and multi-media boards.

jbs@en.ecn.purdue.edu (Spaggie) (03/12/91)

	Well, I use the "Feature Connector" on my Paradise
	VGA Card to allow the VGA screen to pass thru my
	Targa+64 Graphics Board.  With this configuration,
	it is possible to run regular VGA, and Hi-Res
	24 Bit RGB Targa+ Applications on the same monitor
	with out switching any cables.

		Jeff

=================================================================
Jeff Sponaugle                      Allied Signal Aerospace, ECD
938 Roberts St                      Dept 862, Optical Engineering
South Bend, IN 46625                717 N Bendix Dr.
(219) 234-5103                      South Bend, IN 46620
Internet: jbs@ecn.purdue.edu        (219) 231-3063
BitNet: gedphx!jbs@phx.mcd.mot.com  "/hogs, check it out!"
=================================================================

rkl@cbnewsh.att.com (kevin.laux) (03/12/91)

In article <HY!=NV%@rpi.edu>, cac@iear.arts.rpi.edu (Christopher A. Cox) writes:
> 
> 	Could someone out there please tell me what that extra card edge
> connector is that is on teh top edge of most VGA cards?  What can I do
> with it?  Just curious...one of those nasty little things I wonder about
> whenever I work on the machine and notice it again, but no one ever
> seems to know why.

	Nasty?  Naw...It's the Video Feature connector.  It is used to feed
the VGA on to other boards that will do downstream keying as in the Sony 3081
Video Overlay board or Intel's ActionMedia 750 (DVI) boardset.  It can also
be used in say, portables with built in VGA monitors, as this will provide
an internal connector for the monitor instead of using the external connector
(and routing a cable back inside :-)).  There are other uses too.

-- 
________________________________________________________________________________
	R. Kevin Laux				Email: rkl1@hound.att.com
	AT&T Bell Labs				Voice: (908) 949-1160
	Holmdel, NJ 07733			Fax:   (908) 949-0959