Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!wuarchive!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!van-bc!rsoft!mindlink!a516
From: a516@mindlink.UUCP (Jordan Melville)
Newsgroups: comp.windows.ms
Subject: Re: What really limits video speed?
Message-ID: <4145@mindlink.UUCP>
Date: 15 Dec 90 16:06:52 GMT
Organization: MIND LINK! - British Columbia, Canada
Lines: 26

> pti4378@ritvax.isc.rit.edu writes:
> I am running win3 on someone's 16 Mhz 386SX with a 512K Paradise board at
> 640x480x256.  The video speed is (as many have pointed out) rather slow with
> the 256 color driver.
> 
> I would like to know whether it is the speed of the CPU, the video board, or
> the video driver that is the "weak link".  i.e., if I were to buy a different
> system, what would be the best component to improve upon to increase video
> speed?

The reason it's so much slower, is because Windows has twice as much graphical
information to worry about. 16 colours only needs 4 bits, whereas to you need 8
bits to create each pixel of colour on a 256 colour plane. This doubles the
video memory overhead, and doubles the amount of work Windows has to do to show
any information. It's a trade off, you just have to decide what you need more.

Jordan.
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Jordan C. Melville         Voice: (604) 943-7155
Vancouver, BC                BBS: (604) 943-3503 (2400baud)
UUCP: a516@mindlink.UUCP
"So let's make our own movies like Spike Lee, 'cause the roles bein'
offered don't strike me, as nothing the black man can use to learn,
BURN HOLLYWOOD, BURN" - Public Enemy "Burn Hollywood Burn"