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From: nr3m@unix.cis.pittsburgh.edu (Matthew A Henry)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Monochrome VGA
Message-ID: <18950@unix.cis.pittsburgh.edu>
Date: 1 Aug 89 01:31:19 GMT
Reply-To: nr3m@unix.cis.pittsburgh.edu (Matthew A Henry)
Distribution: na
Organization: Univ. of Pittsburgh, Comp & Info Services
Lines: 32


[I apologize if this is a repost, but am not sure if it went out
 the first time.]

Greetings net,

I am currently shopping for a 286 AT clone and am considering using
monochrome VGA for two reasons: 1) Reasonably low cost; and 2) the
ability to run software written for various graphic standards.  The 
second reason has me somewhat confused.  According to the August issue
of PC Magazine, where they have a review of monochrome VGA monitors,
"A color VGA system will show CGA and EGA graphics on its screen; a
monochrome VGA system will do likewise-without the special drivers
that are required by Hercules".  Is this true of all VGA cards?  I
also see VGA cards, like the Paradise VGA Plus, that is also MDA
Hercules compatible.  Would that work with a monitor that is only 
compatible with a VGA adapter?  If I bought an adapter with 800x600
resolution, hoping to some day have a color monitor which could handle
that resolution, work now with a monitor with 640x480 max resolution?
In short, will a low cost monochrome VGA monitor be able to display VGA,
EGA, CGA, MDA Hercules, and MCGA with the appropriate VGA adapter?

Any thoughts E-mailed or posted would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks...  Matt


Matt Henry  NR3M
(412) 443-5071
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