Graphics cards with native Tandy / PCJr graphics emulation \ VOGONS

Graphics cards with native Tandy / PCJr graphics emulation

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First post, by rmay635703

Posted on 2026-02-17, 22:10

rmay635703 Offline

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Rank: l33t
Posts: 2013
Joined: 2019-01-19, 19:32

I thought there was already a post on this subject but I cant find one.

Is there a list of old graphics cards /graphics chips that had a simple method of emulating Tandy graphics?

When I search I get this blast from the past

www.oldskool.org/pc/tand-em/tand-em_docs.html

Which is interesting but likely overpowered for just using one of the strange vga cards that had an Tandy emulation mode or even
adding an emulation layer for Tandy to EGA/VGA or god forbid plantronics or Hercules Incolor, 🤣.

It’s sad that the graphics/color memory layout for Tandy graphics is strange making it slow to implement a CGA on HERC like emulator for Tandy to something else.

I have several games that are Tandy specific versions (either nicer 4 color or 16 color) that I can’t access now that I got rid of my Tandy 1000rl.

Ah well

Old adjacent post,

Emulating Tandy graphics on VGA 1000RLX

Not sure where newrisingsuns investigation of this was discussed

Reply 1 of 1, by Benedikt

Posted on 2026-02-21, 12:08

Benedikt Offline

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Rank: Oldbie
Posts: 643
Joined: 2019-02-14, 15:28
Location: Germany

Well, there is the Olivetti PC1 Hidden graphics mode that largely mimics 160x200 pixel 16-color mode.

And just like Tandy Video II's extended 640x200 pixel 16-color mode can be used to somewhat simulate MCGA mode 13h, the reverse is also possible.

Then there is the ATI Graphics Solution with its own 640x200 pixel 16-color mode with two Plantronics-like 32KiB pages - one for red and green and one for blue and intensity - with a fame buffer layout that mimics Tandy's 320x200 pixel 16-color mode. I.e. you get a picture, but an ugly 4-color one that uses only one of the ATI Graphics Solution's pages.

There may indeed be a few VGA chipsets that allow emulating the 320x200 pixel 16-color mode properly, but generally speaking, you either need get a Tandy machine or build your own graphics card.

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