Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!lll-winken!ames!killer!chasm
From: chasm@killer.DALLAS.TX.US (Charles Marslett)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: 16 bit cards vs 8, SHAFTED?
Summary: Good 16-bit cards do work in 8-bit systems!
Message-ID: <7314@killer.DALLAS.TX.US>
Date: 25 Feb 89 14:10:05 GMT
References: <37020@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu>
Organization: The Unix(R) Connection, Dallas, Texas
Lines: 38

In article <37020@tut.cis.ohio-state.edu>, calhoun@cis.ohio-state.edu (robert r. calhoun) writes:
> 
>         I recently purchased a Genoa VGA card for 1024X768 graphics,
>         I was asked if I wanted 16 or 8 bit type card, I was told
>         16 was faster, so I chose it.  I received the more expensive
>         16 bit card today (or did I) and it fits in my XT. As a 
>         matter of fact I am using it now.  I was under the impression
>         16 bit cards don't fit in XTs.  Do I have an 8 bit card?

The better quality card (better designed cards actually) will work fine
in 8-bit systems, and in fact BECOME 8-BIT CARDS  when inserted into an
8-bit slot in either an XT or an AT.  If the second set of "fingers" do
not contact an AT bus connector, the card should fall back into 8-bit only
access (it has to do 8-bit accesses anyway, to support byte reads and writes
from the CPU, as well as to support misaligned word accesses).

Were you shafted?

Maybe.  If Genoa's 16-bit card is like STB's, it is (obviously) a 16-bit card
and as such will run faster (in text mode, and perhaps in 256-color mode, ONLY)
but it may also have other useful features.  Ours also:

    1) uses a higher frequency oscillator for its 960x720 mode, resulting in
       much less flicker and better screen centering.
    2) uses that same oscillator to provide for 1024x768 in a non-interlaced
       mode (both 8 and 16 bit cards support 1024x768 in the 8514 interlaced
       format).
>                        Thanx for any help and advice.


You're very welcome (if I really helped!)

Charles
===========================================================================
Charles Marslett
STB Systems, Inc.  <== Apply all standard disclaimers
Wordmark Systems   <== No disclaimers required -- that's just me
chasm@killer.dallas.tx.us