First post, by BitWrangler
- Rank
- l33t++
Hi Vogons,
I am collecting info prior to dragging out 286 systems/parts and trying to do a late 80s build that can cover most of the 80s and the base PC compatible releases into the 90s. I want to use a VGA card that can do CGA modes well, whether through manufacturer emulator/driver or 3rd party driver or "just works". I am unconcerned, to a point, with fastest VGA performance, I do not think it matters much for what I am intending. The Harris 25mhz crowd may disagree, but this is not a system I will be attempting Wing Commander on. I am not anticipating requiring better than 640x480 or more than 256kB video RAM. I have "real" CGA parts, but I am reserving those for PC/XT class use. I am not entirely sure what speed CPU I will end up with, I think I have a 20Mhz board/CPU, which I may reserve for a more "performance" build, but the parts/machines I have seen most recently are down at the 10Mhz drag-ass end, ideally I want to be around 16, but we'll see what turns up.
Only real review of CGA on VGA I can find on here is a number of years old...
CGA Compatibility Tester vs. VGA cards
and covers some basics but not a lot really, or in detail on many cards.
I have been hearing the Realtek VGA has a super double secret CGA mode, by driver, but can't dig out much info on that, possibly because realtek are not too popular for it's VGA performance abilities, in 386 up they suck. If anyone knows where to find the software/drivers for realtek that would be great, also any known testing of such would be good to know about.
Other contenders buried somewhere in the hoard, are an older Oak chipset card, an early ATI VGA, and I've got Tridents like the Pharaoh had plagues. Not sure what will turn up when the right box is found, so others possible.
Another consideration should of course be whether it's terrible at EGA or not. It's kind of assumed that in the main VGA are "okay" at EGA but I think there's some particular broken-ness around.
To be totally clear, I'm wanting info about cards that render CGA modes at VGA monitor scan rates through the VGA port, not the ones that have multi mode chipsets that can be jumpered/switched to CGA output for a CGA monitor.
So all I want really is an ISA VGA that has best backward CGA compatibility with EGA compatibility and is already somewhere in my house and mines bitcoins at one block a day is that too much to ask? .... okay maybe I'll skip the bitcoin requirement.
Thanks in advance...
Unicorn herding operations are proceeding, but all the totes of hens teeth and barrels of rocking horse poop give them plenty of hiding spots.