To: djgpp AT delorie DOT com
Subject: Re: Mode-X ?
Message-ID: <19970129.150806.4951.0.chambersb@juno.com>
References: <32EFB92E DOT 1443 AT post DOT comstar DOT ru>
From: chambersb AT juno DOT com (Benjamin D Chambers)
Date: Wed, 29 Jan 1997 18:07:30 EST


On Wed, 29 Jan 1997 12:55:10 -0800 Dim Zegebart <zager AT post DOT comstar DOT ru>
writes:
>Hi,
>Since I spend all my time in standart VESA modes, 
>I'm wonder - what is Mode-X. And what benefits it has ?
Mode-X is a hackish way to use high-res modes with stock VGA.  It's
slower than VESA, generally lower resolutions, and only 8bpp graphics (at
most - I've never heard of anyone doing 16 or 4 color modes with Mode-X,
but I suppose they could...)
Anyways, it was the best there was when VGA came out (simply incredible
at the time) but now I wouldn't suggest bothering with it.  It's like
being able to use an abacus faster than anyone else in the world - nifty,
but a 486dx/33 is still faster...

...Chambers