[David Murray], aka The 8-Bit Man, did a captivating video (embedded underneath the destroy) at the time line of PC graphics playing cards from CGA thru to EGA. No longer most effective does he provide an explanation for the other choices of the day, but additionally proceeds to exhibit maximum of them.
It’s attention-grabbing to be told about one of the most video modes that went principally unused in those playing cards. Even supposing board designers come with top answer modes and higher colour palettes, if instrument programmers don’t use them they’re forgotten.
We have been specifically inspired via a few examples he had that have been full-sized, double-stacked ISA playing cards — the ones have been beasts. Each CGA and EGA kind of withered when the Nineties arrived.
In step with [David]’s analysis, CGA screens endured for use for a while even after EGA used to be offered — basically as a result of value. It could value you $400 to get an ATI EGA Marvel card, and that or extra for an EGA track. Many other people simply upgraded the cardboard first, and took good thing about the truth that the EGA Marvel may power CGA screens.
If you have an interest within the historical past and generation of those previous playing cards, take a look at our protection from 2016 the place [David] does a deep dive into CGA playing cards and discusses, amongst different issues, the CGA composite video mode.