Video Graphics Array

Not to be confused with Variable gauge.
"VGA" redirects here. For other uses, see VGA (disambiguation).
Video Graphics Array
Release dateApril 1987; 37 years ago (1987-04)
Cards
Entry-level
  • Chips and Technologies 82c441
  • Video-7 VEGA Deluxe
  • ATI Graphics Solution Plus
    • S3 (911
    • 911A
    • 924
    • 801
    • 805
    • 805i
    • 928
    • 805p
    • 928p)
  • Matrox MAGIC RGB
  • Plantronics Colorplus
  • Paradise Systems PEGA 1
  • Tseng Labs ET3000
  • Cirrus Logic CL-GD400s
Mid-range
High-end
History
Predecessor
Successor

Video Graphics Array (VGA) is a video display controller and accompanying de facto graphics standard, first introduced with the IBM PS/2 line of computers in 1987,[1][2][3] which became ubiquitous in the IBM PC compatible industry within three years.[4] The term can now refer to the computer display standard, the 15-pin D-subminiature VGA connector, or the 640 × 480 resolution characteristic of the VGA hardware.[5]

VGA was the last IBM graphics standard to which the majority of IBM PC compatible computer manufacturers conformed, making it the lowest common denominator that virtually all post-1990 PC graphics hardware can be expected to implement.[6]

VGA was adapted into many extended forms by third parties, collectively known as Super VGA,[7] then gave way to custom graphics processing units which, in addition to their proprietary interfaces and capabilities, continue to implement common VGA graphics modes and interfaces to the present day.

The VGA analog interface standard has been extended to support resolutions of up to 2048 × 1536 for general usage, with specialized applications improving it further still.[specify][8]

  1. ^ Petzold, Charles (July 1987). "Triple standard: three new video modes from IBM". PC Magazine. Ziff Davis. Retrieved 2020-04-13.
  2. ^ Polsson, Ken. "Chronology of IBM Personal Computers". Archived from the original on 2015-02-21. Retrieved 2015-01-28.
  3. ^ "What is VGA (Video Graphics Array)?". Retrieved 2018-08-13.
  4. ^ Enterprise, I. D. G. (1990-10-22). Computerworld. IDG Enterprise.
  5. ^ "Drawing In Protected Mode". OSDev Wiki. Retrieved 2020-12-20.
  6. ^ Dr. Jon Peddie (12 March 2019). "Famous Graphics Chips: IBM's VGA. The VGA was the most popular graphics chip ever". Retrieved 2020-04-13. It is said about airplanes that the DC3 and 737 are the most popular planes ever built, and the 737, in particular, the best-selling airplane ever. The same could be said for the ubiquitous VGA, and its big brother the XGA. The VGA, which can still be found buried in today's modern GPUs and CPUs, set the foundation for a video standard, and an application programming standard.
  7. ^ Eckert; Azinger (April 15, 1991). "Product Comparison - Super VGA Boards". InfoWorld. pp. 53–63.
  8. ^ Magazines, S. P. H. (April 2007). HWM. SPH Magazines.