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Usage of graphics cards

The current version of PCVideo establishes the following settings for the following video cards (some exceptional conditions for certain machines are also noted here):

VGA

establishes EGA mode, 640 across x 350 down x 16 colours. Each of the 25 text rows simulated therefore has 14 pixel rows vertically. This not only shows the Borland character set better (it looks distorted at full VGA resolution), but avoids problems with semicompatible EGA or VGA boards that confuse the BGI system's automatic detection. The EGA board in the Zenith Z286 is one example, tending to resemble a VGA to Borland's autodetection.

Keep EGAVGA.BGI in the current directory to support VGA.

Colour alterations are:

yellow, palette index 6

: (R, G, B) = (63, 63, 0)

green, palette index 2

: (R, G, B) = (0, 34, 0)

cyan, palette index 3

: (R, G, B) = (0, 35, 35)

magenta, palette index 5

: (R, G, B) = (40, 0, 40)

SuperVGA

A variety of these are sold at present. They tend to conform to VGA capabilities, but with higher resolutions and/or more colours. Though PCVideo doesn't explicitly support any of them, any that can function as a standard VGA as driven by Borland graphics should function with no problem under PCVideo.

Whether SuperVGA adapters will recieve the colour adjustments given for the VGA, above, will depend on whether Borland's autodetection sees them as VGA's; however,

EGA

treated as with VGA above, except that the RGB colour adjustments under VGA are not made.

Keep EGAVGA.BGI in the current directory to support EGA.

CGA

establishes full resolution CGA mode, 640 across x 200 down, black and white.

Keep CGA.BGI in the current directory to support CGA modes.

MCGA

this is an unusual graphics board, believed to be used only in the PS/2 Model 25. It is believed that IBM is discontinuing its use even for that machine, recommending VGA instead. When Graph detects an MCGA board, PCVideo places it into CGA-emulation mode.

AT&T PC6300

Also an unusual graphics board, believed used only in the AT&T PC6300 which AT&T sells (or sold) for Olivetti. At its full resolution it has 400 pixels down; but it has a CGA-compatible mode where it takes 2 pixels vertically for each one addressed. PCVideo establishes this mode.

Keep ATT.BGI in the current directory to support the AT&T PC6300.