Path: utzoo!utgpu!jarvis.csri.toronto.edu!mailrus!tut.cis.ohio-state.edu!rutgers!rochester!pt.cs.cmu.edu!cadre!pitt!darth!liber
From: liber@darth.UUCP (Eric Liber)
Newsgroups: comp.sys.ibm.pc
Subject: Re: Seeking advice on purchase of VGA card
Summary: Paradise VGA 16 + user
Message-ID: <478@darth.UUCP>
Date: 12 Apr 89 14:56:32 GMT
References: <3580012@eecs.nwu.edu>
Organization: Darth Software, Pittsburgh Pa.
Lines: 48

In article <3580012@eecs.nwu.edu>, button@eecs.nwu.edu (Patrick Button) writes:
> 
>      I'm currently trying to resolve a dilemna over which 16-bit VGA
> video card to buy and am hoping that some of you netters out there could
> give me some advice.  I intend to use this VGA card with a Mitsibushi
. 
.
I have been using a Paradise VGA 16 + card with a NEC Multisync II in a 20mhz
386 (AT style buss) for about 5 months now.  I like the combination very much.
It works very well at all resolutions including the 800 x 600 mode (if you 
have a driver) even though NEC says the Multisync II can only do 560 lines!

I have found only a vanishingly small set of software that does not work with
this board.  Most of that is OLD games that assume you have a CGA and simply
start writing to the screen.  Some of those can be taken care of by setting
and locking the video mode prior to running the game.  The remainder that will
not work are not worth the hassle.  (probably not more than .5% of the total 
tested.  

The only problem (if you can call it that) that I had was with the automatic
8 vs 16 bit sensing.  The board tries to determine if it can use 16 bit 
transfers or not and sets itself automatically.  In my box (a gateway 20mhz 
386) it seemed to think that it could only do 8 bit.  However, a utility 
supplied by paradise indicated that 16 bit might work.  Sooo.. I set the 
dip switch on the back to force 16 bit and it has worked happily ever after.

ASSIDE: there has been some 8 bit vs 16 bit discussion going on here recently.
a 16 bit board can give you significant throughput increases IN A 16 BIT BOX.
These boards are designed to work in either an 8 bit (XT) or 16 bit (AT) buss.
IF YOU ARE USING AN 8 BIT BUSS THE ADDITIONAL EDGE CONNECTOR FOR 16 BIT IS NOT
CONNECTED TO ANYTHING AND IT IS ONLY GOING TO DO 8 BIT TRANSFERS.  However, in
a 16 bit box it will help considerably.  I did some crude tests and showed a
50 - 100% increase in raw pixel writes using 16 bit vs 8 bit transfers.  The
tests were far from scientific and exhaustive but the 16 bit mode was 
definately faster.

One other thing.  It appears that the Paradise VGA 16 + card is Identical to 
the Pardise Professional card with the exception of a row of 256k memory chips
and associated decoding.  Has anybody verified this and attempted to upgrade 
their card?   Or will somebody that has a professional card please post the
chip lineup from their card.

I recommend the Paradise VGA 16 + card without hesitation.

If i can be of further help i can be reached at pitt!darth or
412-374-5311 (work  7:30am - 4:30pm edt)
412-367-7308 (home other times)
Eric (the red baron) Liber