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IBM VGA

1987

IBM's 1987 Video Graphics Array, the analogue PC display standard that established 640x480 and the 256-colour 320x200 mode.

Emulators

EmulatorTypeLicenseSite
BochsdownloadableLGPL-2.1Website ↗
BoxerdownloadableGPL-2.0Website ↗
DOSBox ECEdownloadableGPL-2.0Website ↗
DOSBox PuredownloadableGPL-2.0Website ↗
DOSBox StagingdownloadableGPL-2.0Website ↗
DOSBox-XdownloadableGPL-2.0Website ↗
DOSEMU2downloadableGPL-2.0Website ↗
MartyPCbothMITWebsite ↗
PCemdownloadableGPL-2.0Website ↗
PCjsonlineMITWebsite ↗
XTulatordownloadableGPL-2.0Website ↗
em-dosboxonlineGPL-2.0Website ↗
vDosdownloadableGPL-2.0Website ↗
vDosPlusdownloadableGPL-2.0Website ↗

Reference & documentation

External technical references for programming IBM VGA and for writing emulators.

ResourceTypeNotes
IBM VGA/XGA Technical Reference Manual (May 1992) ↗DatasheetOfficial IBM VGA/XGA register and function reference manual
FreeVGA VGA Display Memory ↗Memory mapFour bit-planes, chain-4, odd/even, aperture addressing
VGA connector (DE-15) pinout ↗PinoutDE-15 pin assignments, RGBHV signals, DDC/EDID lines
FreeVGA Standard VGA Chipset Reference ↗ProgrammingHardware-level VGA register programming, functionality and timing
Abrash Black Book: Mode X 256-color VGA Magic ↗ProgrammingMode X 320x240 register setup with assembly listings
PCjs IBM VGA BIOS ROM + disassembly ↗ROMs1986 IBM VGA BIOS ROM with full disassembly
FreeVGA CRT Controller Registers ↗ReferenceCRTC register fields including horizontal and vertical timing
RS/6000 VGA Programming Model (Harvard mirror) ↗ReferenceFull register/memory programming model with bit definitions
PCjs VGA Black Book Tests ↗Test suiteAbrash Black Book programs used for VGA conformance
VGATEST - DOS VGA functionality tester ↗ToolTests text/graphics modes, bandwidth and fill-rate