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From: hades@eleazar.dartmouth.edu (Hades)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.mac.hardware
Subject: Re: 32-bit video for the LC?
Keywords: 32-bit video, LC, VRAM
Message-ID: <1991May1.142721.5101@dartvax.dartmouth.edu>
Date: 1 May 91 14:27:21 GMT
References: <2599@optima.cs.arizona.edu>
Sender: news@dartvax.dartmouth.edu (The News Manager)
Organization: Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH
Lines: 37

gerhard@cs.arizona.edu (Gerhard Mehldau) writes:


>Another question for all you hardware gurus out in NetLand:

>The LC comes standard with 256K of Video RAM, which allows
>me to run the Apple 12" monitor in 8-bit mode, and the 13"
>monitor in 4-bit mode.

>Apple (as well as some third-party vendors) also sell a
>512K VRAM chip, that replaces the 256K chip and lets me
>run the 12" monitor in 16-bit mode, and the 13" monitor
>in 8-bit mode.

>Now, does anyone know what is preventing Apple (or third
>parties, for that matter) from making 1M or 2M VRAM chips,
>that would allow me to run the 13" monitor in 16- or 32-bit
>mode?  Technology?  Price?  Also, would the LC be able to
>take advantage of such chips, or are there some limitations
>in the design of the machine that would prohibit this?

>Inquiring mind wants to know...

    This was the first thing I complained about when I knew I was getting
an LC for my office. The problem I believe is the fact that the VRAM SIMM
socket doesn't know how to access more than 512k. I think that it would be
amazing if Apple could reconfigure the VRAM socket to handle 1M and 4M SIMM
chips thereby giving 16 bit and 32bit color on the 13" RGB. The only other
meathod of getting more than 8 bit color on a 72 dpi monitor is to use up
the PDS slot for a video card, of which I don't believe any exist as of
right now. I'll have to re-check my MacWeeks to be sure. Later.

-- 
-Hades
 Hustler Emeritus, Alpha Theta Co-ed Fraternity
 hades@Eleazar.Dartmouth.Edu
-You know the economy's going to hell when drug dealers buy fuel efficient cars