What is VGA?
The term Video Graphics Array can be used to refer to many different things, but the original usage was by IBM for the graphics standard implemented in their PS/2 computer line. The original IBM VGA standard marketed in 1987 consisted of a 640 pixel by 480 pixel 16-color display at its highest resolution, but also included lower resolutions. Among those alternate modes, the 320 by 200 pixel 256-color “Mode 13h” was a common resolution for computer games because of the increased range of colors available to developers. Some of the specifications for the VGA standard included the following: • 256 kilobytes of video RAM • A palette of 262,144 colors • Refresh rates up to 70 Hz • Smooth-scrolling hardware support • A barrel shifter • Split-screen support • 480 maximum lines, and a maximum of 720 horizontal pixels Another aspect of the VGA standard is the physical connection from the monitor to the computer; VGA uses a 15-pin D-subminiature connector (often just “D-SUB”, a family of plugs a
VGA (Video Graphics Array) is a basic standard for color resolution in computer monitors that, today, represents the lowest common denominator for compatibility. For example, when a computer boots into the Microsoft™ Windows™ operating system, the opening splash screen or Windows logo is presented in VGA mode using a palette of 32 colors and a resolution of 640 x 480. Once the system is fully loaded, the video card’s device driver takes over at a higher resolution. In the early days of computers, monitors were originally monochrome or two-color. This was followed by IBM’s Color Graphics Adapter (CGA) in 1981 that boasted a 4-bit palette of 8 colors and a maximum resolution of 640 x 280. The adapter was standard in the new IBM personal computer line, known as the IBM PC. In 1984 IBM introduced an upgraded video card. The Enhanced Graphics Adapter (EGA) built on the previous standard by doubling the color palette to 16 colors at a resolution of 640 x 350. This video card coincided with t
VGA stands for Video Graphics Array, sometimes referred to as Video Graphics Adapter. It is a video card, which is an interface between a computer and its corresponding monitor. The VGA card is the most common video card — nearly every video card has VGA compatability — and it is fairly easy to program. It offers many different video modes, from 2 color to 256 color, and resolutions from 320×200 to 640×480. This tutorial pays close attention to the VGA’s only 256-color mode, known as mode 0x13.
Stands for “Video Graphics Array.” It is the standard monitor or display interface used in most PCs. Therefore, if a montior is VGA-compatible, it should work with most new computers. The VGA standard was originally developed by IBM in 1987 and allowed for a display resolution of 640×480 pixels. Since then, many revisions of the standard have been introduced. The most common is Super VGA (SVGA), which allows for resolutions greater than 640×480, such as 800×600 or 1024×768. A standard VGA connection has 15 pins and is shaped like a trapezoid.
