DEAT wrote on 2026-02-16, 03:35:

Cirrus Logic GD5402 is the fastest card for Windows 3.0 on a 8088, mach8/mach32 for V20 - both of those have better performance than any other card with 8088/V20-compatible drivers.

I don't doubt that, but do you have an explanation why the frame-buffer-only GD5402 is able to beat the ATI mach cards that offer acceleration on an 8088? Does the ATI driver require 286 instructions, or does it in fact work on the 8088, but is less performant than the GD5402?

The first 16-bit ISA video cards were released in 1988, when 386 systems were already available.

Takedasun wrote on 2026-02-16, 13:48:

The first 16-bit ISA video cards were released in 1988, when 386 systems were already available.

The first Tseng ET3000 cards were from (late) 1987, the first Video Seven VGA-compatible cards as well. So your 1988 claim seems one year too late? (The first 386 system was of course the Compaq 386, from 1986. Since the IBM VGA was from 1987, and I don't think there were ever 16-bit EGA cards released, your claim still holds though.)

JAL

DEAT wrote on 2026-02-16, 03:35:

https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1SJCxU … 0#gid=374681240
(blue FAIL cells in the Windows 3.0 tab are drivers that cleanly dump back to DOS with a 640x480 framebuffer, indicating that they're incompatible with Win3.0 but don't crash the system)

Good spreadsheet. Thanks.
You should make a post with all the details as you collected a lot of them.

DEAT wrote on 2026-02-16, 03:35:

When it comes to SS7, you'll usually get significantly better framerates at higher resolutions and 32-bit colour depth with "non-period correct" GPUs if you choose drivers carefully, but DX6 cards with DX6 drivers will have significantly better performance at 640x480 16-bit colour depth - of course, it's also largely dependent on whether a game is also CPU-bound where it's difficult to reach 30fps.

There are always exceptions to the rules.
Thanks for the info.

Takedasun wrote on 2026-02-16, 13:48:

The first 16-bit ISA video cards were released in 1988, when 386 systems were already available.

+1

That PVGA1A chip was dated '88 most prominently.
EISA/ISA bus were specified in 1988, too.

A few of the early VGA cards such as ATI VIP (8-Bit) were released in summer/fall 1987, even. About half a year earlier, basically.
(The ATI VIP was an Super EGA card with added support for VGA mode 12h in 640x480 16c and mode 11h in 640x480 mono)
https://dosdays.co.uk/topics/Manufacturers/at … _wonder_vip.php

There are evidences that Windows/386 as such even pre-dated the usual retail release of Windows 2 (the famous Windows 2.03).
It was meant for use with Compaq Deskpro 386, I assume. Version was 2.01, I think.

However, I often tend to "forget" that. Also in respect of Amiga users.
If I would tell them that VGA already was technically "there" by the time their beloved A500/A2000 just had launched would just make them upset. 😬😰

Jo22 wrote on 2026-02-16, 19:00:

If I would tell them that VGA already was technically "there" by the time their beloved A500/A2000 just had launched would just make them upset. 😬😰

Amiga Users would ask you how many hardware sprites of which size your expensive VGA can display, and then dismiss you with a pitiful look. 😉

DEAT wrote on 2026-02-16, 03:35:

Cirrus Logic GD5402 is the fastest card for Windows 3.0 on a 8088, mach8/mach32 for V20 - both of those have better performance than any other card with 8088/V20-compatible drivers.

Is there any difference in dos? I am not going to try windows on any 16bit machine, but they may run some vga games, probably even with ems card.
Also i was talking about 8bit isa cards, rather that 16bit cards that can run in a 8bit slot.

For VGA games, the XT is too weak with any VGA video card.
The XT is best suited for CGA games and some EGA games.
Any 8-bit VGA card will do, there won't be much of a difference.
Early VGA-enabled games require at least a 286 system.