CGA Modes (Wuz: Win 3.0)

From: Lawrence Walker <lwalker_at_mail.interlog.com>
Date: Wed Feb 4 12:42:32 1998

On 3 Feb 98 at 17:22, Philip.Belben_at_powertech.co.uk wrote:

snip
>
> > I'm sure my 3270pc handles a "better" quality CGA. It just looks like
> > EGA, thought it was... It was running a version of Norton Utes and it
> > was just beautiful turquoise blue set and clear characters.
> >
> > I'd have to think this was better than CGA, especially since it took two
> > coupled long cards to run the video...
> >
> > -Mike
>
> No, it isn't PGA. (Although most of the chips on the cards are likely
> to be PGAs, in IBM custom metal cans, as I recall...)
>
> The IBM 5272, the 3270PC display, was a very nice monitor. I don't know
> the pixel resolution, but I'd guess at 800 x 400. Unfortunately, AFAIK,
> it only did 8 colours.
>
> The 3270PC display card did TEXT MODES ONLY - it was aimed at emulating
> the 3279 terminal. You could buy two add-on cards for it that went in
> the slots either side in the motherboard.
>
> 1. The PS card. This provided emulation of the Programmed Symbols
> option on the 3279. Very nice graphics, but only as a terminal, not as
> a PC (although presumably you could have written PC drivers for it...)
>
> 2. The APA card. This provided support of the All Points Addressable
> modes of the CGA. These CGA modes were displayed in the top lefthand
> corner of the screen. And the only 8 colours reduced the capability
> somewhat as well.
>
> It looked very good, but AFAIK IBM never supported it properly. Pity.
>
snip

> But your description of the 3270PC sounds like you've got only one of PS
> and APA, alas.
>
> Hope this helps
>
> Philip.
>
I've had a 5272 -23 monitor stashed for some time. Was never able to
get it working on an XT trying various standard cards and drivers,
altho it did display jumbled-up color lines so I figured it must be
the driver. IBM wouldn't/couldn't offer me any help.
 From the above, it appears that I would need a 3270pc display card
and one of two add-on cards. If I was fortunate enough to find these
would it work on an XT ?

  Also I pulled an IBM DM12n501 monitor out of a dumpster. No
power cord , just a 15 pin female connector . I surmise it's some
sort of dumb terminal. So before I dump it any idea on what it is ?

 ciao larry
lwalkerN0spaM_at_interlog.com
Received on Wed Feb 04 1998 - 12:42:32 GMT