Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!samsung!usc!sdd.hp.com!ucsd!ucbvax!EMUNIX.EMICH.EDU!stretch
From: stretch@EMUNIX.EMICH.EDU (Brian Stretch)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: TSENG 4000 Cards
Message-ID: <9010301701.AA07975@emunix.emich.edu>
Date: 30 Oct 90 17:01:56 GMT
Sender: daemon@ucbvax.BERKELEY.EDU
Lines: 42

#1 Rule when picking out a VGA card: Don't settle for anything less than
a TSENG4000-based card.  There is no reason to. 

Now, as for which card to get.. the STB PowerGraph seems to provide the
most bang for the buck (I have one, bought from Softwarehouse).  Just make
sure you get the PowerGRAPH and not the cheaper PowerVIEW.. both are
TSENG4000's, but the View card will only accept 512K (it uses a slower
TSENG4000 chip).  Last I knew, the PowerGraph's were $180 for the 256K
card.. Softwarehouse wants $9/chip for 256Kx4's, you can get 256Kx4-80ns
chips for half that (or less) from various chip merchants.  Get 8 256Kx4's
if you go that route.. STB includes 100ns chips, and you might as well have
all 80's (what the hell, $10 more, even tho I doubt it makes a performence
diff). 

If you want all-out speed, go with the Diamond SpeedStar.  It is also a
TSENG4000 card, but Diamond did some really nice stuff with it.. they
aren't telling what (something about buffering?), but it's a good 30%
faster than other standard TSENG4000 cards (like the PowerGraph).  It'll
cost you closer to $300.. that may or may not be worth it for you.  Worth
a look if you can find a place selling them (or can get your dealer to
order one).  Sorry, don't have Diamond's phone # in front of me right now..

Something else about the STB card.. STB now has a VESA-compatible BIOS. 
It's either done or coming RSN (think it's done).. there are already VESA-
compatible GIF viewers out there (Vuimg 2.62 for one), no doubt more
programs are coming soon.  Imagine a uniform protocol all the way up to
1280x1024x256.. anyhow, STB sends out BIOS upgrades for FREE (just give
them a reason, ie you have a VESA-supporting program you want to use). 
Also, there's a new chip ("Sierra"?) coming out RSN for the TSENG4000
boards that allow 32,000 color screens.. ie 640x480x32K.. and this chip
is socketed on the PowerGraph (STB planned for it).  Proper BIOS support
is being worked on.  I do not know what Diamond is doing to support this
chip.  (The upgrade is in the two-digit price range.. don't know enough
specifics I'm afriad, but I'm going to get the upgrade ASAP). 

Anyhow.. STB puts out a great card and gives very good customer support. 
Diamond makes the fastest card overall.. wish I had more info on them. 
ONE THING TO NOTE: To get the most performence out of these cards, you
need a 286/386/486 with a fast 16-bit bus.. you might have to tweek the
I/O bus wait states.  It'll still be faster than anything else short of
a Hercules Graphics Station tho. 
     ---Brian Stretch (stretch@emunix.emich.edu)