Re: Video Upgrade

[Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net>]

Supertimer writes ...
> 
> Rubywand <rubywand@swbell.net> wrote:
> 
> >Below are responses on the "Video Upgrade" topic on Sandy's
> >Upgrade the GS site ...
> >
> >      Why don't we take a PC SuperVGA card, and create an interface for
> >it so it will work with some sort of Alternative Processor Card?
>

     The above Up-GS Message Base posting was not signed. Probably, it
was Sandy's own 'stimulus question'.

     Using a PC video card seems to make sense as a way to obtain good
New GS video output without a heavy investment in development. 


 
> Two words: Second Sight.
> 
> The Second Sight IS a bunch of PC SVGA chips interfaced to the
> IIGS graphics.  You get problems...the shadowed video is still
> limited in speed, and the shadowing takes time...the result is a
> noticeable choppy quality on a system with a TWGS or ZipGS.

    'Never used a Second Sight card. From the information which has been
posted, the design begins with a serious oversight-- that is, you can
not dsiplay all standard IIgs video modes (including double-hires, etc.)
on the attached SVGA monitor.

 


> 
> Personally, I think the TurboRez route would be better.  Making
> the GS like an Amiga (or rather, an old model Amiga) in terms
> of graphics is easier than making it use PC chips.

     TR is another board it would be nice to know about. What, exactly,
could/can it do? Will it display all 'old Apple II' and GS graphics and
text?


     As for a PC video card, there is no point in trying to have it show
current GS text and graphics-- way too much bother.

     So far, the easiest approach seems to be to let a relatively simple
in-GS Slot card handle conversion of GS video to SVGA. A user would, for
a start, be able to plug in a modern SVGA monitor and stick the old RGB
monitor in a closet (or slap on a "Rare GS Monitor" tag and sell the RGB
on some auction site).

     New GS display capabilities would come via a PC video board plugged
into an Expansion box. The final output to the SVGA monitor could be
switched between New GS video from the PC card and converted Regular GS
video from the in-GS Slot board.

     Users would have access to all current GS video displays-- and be
able to run all current software-- and they would have new PC video for
New Gs applications.



 
Rubywand