Super VGA
Template:Short description Template:Infobox GPU Super VGA (SVGA) or Extended VGA is a broad term that covers a wide range of computer display standards that extended IBM's VGA specification.<ref> Template:Cite book </ref><ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
When used as shorthand for a resolution, as VGA and XGA often are, SVGA refers to a resolution of 800 × 600.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
History
In the late 1980s, after the release of IBM's VGA, third-party manufacturers began making graphics cards based on its specifications with extended capabilities. As these cards grew in popularity, they began to be referred to as "Super VGA".
This term was not an official standard, but a shorthand for enhanced VGA cards which had become common by 1988.<ref name=":0">Template:Cite journal</ref> The first cards that explicitly used the term were Genoa Systems's SuperVGA and SuperVGA HiRes in 1987.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
In November 1988, NEC Home Electronics announced its creation of the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) to develop and promote a Super VGA computer display standard as a successor to IBM's proprietary VGA display standard. Super VGA enabled graphics display resolutions up to 800×600 pixels, compared to VGA's maximum resolution of 640×480 pixels—a 56% increase.<ref name="InfoWorld 1988-11-14">Template:Cite news</ref>
Super VGA cards broke compatibility with the IBM VGA standard, requiring software developers to provide specific display drivers and implementations for each card their software could operate on. Initially, the heavy restrictions this placed on software developers slowed the uptake of Super VGA cards, which motivated VESA to produce a unifying standard, the VESA BIOS Extensions (VBE), first introduced in 1989,<ref name="asdfghjkl">Template:Cite web</ref> to provide a common software interface to all cards implementing the VBE specification.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Eventually, Super VGA graphics adapters supported innumerable modes.
Specifications
The Super VGA standardized the following resolutions:<ref name="asdfghjkl" />
- 640 × 400 or 640 × 480 with 256 colors
- 800 × 600 with 256 colors
- 1024 × 768 with 256 colors
- 1280 × 1024 with 256 colors
SVGA uses the same DE-15 VGA connector as the original standard, and otherwise operates over the same cabling and interfaces as VGA.
Early manufacturers
Some early Super VGA manufacturers and some of their models, where available:
- Ahead Technologies (Not related to Nero AG, formerly Ahead Software)
- Amdek: VGA ADAPTER/132 (Tseng Labs chipset)<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
- AST Research, Inc.: VGA Plus<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (rebranded Paradise)
- ATI Technologies: VIP (82C451),<ref name="GG1">Template:Citation</ref> VGA Wonder
- Chips and Technologies: 82C451<ref name="GG1"/>
- Cirrus Logic: CL-GD410/420<ref name="GG2">Template:Citation</ref>
- Compaq: VGC Board (Paradise chipset)
- Everex
- Genoa Systems: Genoa VGA 5100-5400<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (ET3000)<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
- Orchid Technology: Designer VGA<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (ET3000), Pro Designer Plus
- Western Digital's Paradise Inc.: VGA Plus<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> (PVGA1), VGA Plus 16, VGA Pro
- Sigma Designs: SigmaVGA (ET3000)
- STB Systems: VGA Extra/EM (ET3000),<ref name="GG">Template:Citation</ref><ref>Template:Citation</ref>
- Video Seven: V-RAM VGA<ref>Template:Citation</ref>
- Willow Peripherals: VGA-TV/Publisher's, VGA-TV + Genlock<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref>
- Trident Microsystems: TVGA8800, TVGA8900, and TVGA9000 series
Gallery
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ALiCat M3147V SVGA video card
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Cirrus Logic GD5429 VLB SVGA video card
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Early 1996 IGS IGA1682_A PCI SVGA video card
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S3 805 VLB SVGA video card
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WDC ISA SVGA video card
References
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