Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!samsung!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!think.com!snorkelwacker!bloom-beacon!eru!hagbard!sunic!mcsun!cernvax!chx400!urz.unibas.ch!ganter
From: ganter@urz.unibas.ch
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc.hardware
Subject: Re: TSENG 4000 Cards
Message-ID: <1990Nov13.124907.1173@urz.unibas.ch>
Date: 13 Nov 90 11:49:06 GMT
References: <9010301701.AA07975@emunix.emich.edu>
Organization: University of Basel, Switzerland
Lines: 55

In article <9010301701.AA07975@emunix.emich.edu>, stretch@EMUNIX.EMICH.EDU 
(Brian Stretch) writes:
> #1 Rule when picking out a VGA card: Don't settle for anything less than
> a TSENG4000-based card.  There is no reason to. 
>
ok !
 
lot of staff deleted
> 
> 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).  
> 
again stuff deleted
>
> 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).  

That sounds great !
If You don't need super speed (or don't have K$ to buy a hires-graphics 
card with its own processor), that could be of great interest for lots of
low cost 'CAD-ers and Image-processing-guys'. 

But another point would be of great interest too: What is the whole 
color-palette ? 256K or 16M ?.
To do image processing, You need at least 256 grayscales. But that works 
only,if You have 16M colors to choose (that means a 24 bit CLUT, not only 
18 bits).
Now, if You can upgrade some of these cards to do 32K colors at same time,
is it possible to exchange also the 18 bit CLUT-chip with a 24-bitter
(if it isn't integrated in one of these VVVLSI's)?

And why the hell don't they start to use VRAM (I know they are more expen-
sive, but with these few memory chips, that would not be a serious problem)
With VRAM You wouldn't have these great timing problems (speed !!) in hires 
modes.

I would be very interested to get more info about these cards (especially the
Diamond SpeedStar), that meens:
How many colors/out of how many (256K or 16M) in hires modes,
Upgrade possibility to do 32K colors (why not in 800x600, there is enough
memory to do that (800x600x2=960K)).
Addresses for dealers of these cards (eventually European dealers).

Any pointers appreciated.

Robert                              

Robert Ganter                       
University of Basel                 
Switzerland                         
                                    
ganter@urz.unibas.ch