Quadram Quadcolor

{{Short description|An early CGA-compatible graphics adapter with additional features}}

{{Infobox GPU

| name = Quadram Quadcolor

| image =

| codename =

| created = {{Start date and age|1983}}

| designfirm =

| manufacturer = Quadram Corporation

| transistors =

| entry = Quadram Quadcolor I

| midrange =

| highend =Quadram Quadcolor II

| enthusiast =

| openglversion =

| d3dversion =

| predecessor = CGA

| successor =

|architecture =

}}

File:640x200 2c ar corrected.png

File:Quadram Quadcolor II 320 × 200 with 136 colors AR.png

File:640x200 16c ETGA ar corrected.png

The Quadram Quadcolor is a graphics card for IBM PC computers by Quadram Corporation, first sold in 1983. It is a superset of the then-current CGA standard, using the same monitor standard (4-bit digital TTL RGBI monitor or NTSC composite video){{Cite web |title=QUADCOLOR 1 |url=https://arvutimuuseum.ee/th99/v/P-R/52513.htm |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=arvutimuuseum.ee}}{{Cite book |last1=Longley |first1=Dennis |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fpOvCwAAQBAJ&dq=%22Quadram+Quadcolor%22+-wiki&pg=PA28 |title=Expanding and Networking Microcomputers: Most Comprehensive Guide for Apple II and I. B. M.Personal Computers |last2=Shain |first2=Michael |date=1985-06-18 |publisher=Springer |isbn=978-1-349-07625-3 |pages=28 |language=en}} and providing the same pixel resolutions.

Description

The Quadcolor has twice the memory of a standard CGA board (32k, compared to 16k),{{cite web |title=Quadcolor 1 |url=http://arvutimuuseum.ee/th99/v/P-R/52513.htm |website=Total Hardware 1999 – Jumper settings for 18655 devices}} and offers a {{resx|640×200}} mode with two freely definable colours.{{Cite book |url=https://minuszerodegrees.net/manuals/Quadram/Quadram%20Quadcolor%20I%20-%20Operation%20Manual.pdf |title=Quadcolor I Operation Manual |publisher=Quadram Corporation |pages=2}} If used with the Quadcolor II enhancement board, the additional memory can be used in graphics modes to double the color depth, allowing for two additional graphics modes — {{resx|320×200}} resolution with 136 colors, or {{resx|640×200}} resolution with 16 colors.{{Cite book |url=https://minuszerodegrees.net/manuals/Quadram/Quadram%20Quadcolor%20II%20-%20Operation%20Manual.pdf |title=Quadcolor II - Operation Manual |publisher=Quadram Corporation |pages=1, 21, 22}}

This card is supported by Dr. Halo II and Turbo Pascal Graphix Toolbox.{{Cite web |last=Maltais |first=Sylvain |date=2020 |title=Logiciel - Dr. HALO II - Carte vidéo supporté |url=https://www.gladir.com/SOFTWARE/DRHALOII/video-card-supported.htm |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=www.gladir.com}}{{Cite book |url=http://www.bitsavers.org/pdf/borland/turbo_pascal/Turbo_Pascal_Graphix_Toolbox_Version_1_1985.pdf |title=Turbo Pascal Graphix Toolbox |publisher=Borland International, Inc. |year=1985 |pages=14}}

Models

  • Quadram Quadcolor I
  • Quadram Quadcolor II{{Cite web |title=Manuals – Quadram |url=https://minuszerodegrees.net/manuals.htm#Quadram |access-date=2023-09-04 |website=minus zerodegrees (−0º) IBM 51xx PC Family Computers}}

Output capabilities

Quadram Quadcolor I offers the following modes:

  • {{resx|320×200}} with 4 colors (standard CGA mode)
  • {{resx|640×200}} with 2 colors (from a 4-bit RGBI hardware palette)

With the Quadcolor II enhancement board, Quadram Quadcolor offers the following modes:

  • {{resx|320×200}} with 136 colors (obtained from a mix of two 16 color palettes)
  • {{resx|640×200}} with 16 colors (4-bit RGBI hardware palette).

See also

References

{{Commons category|Quadram Quadcolor}}

{{reflist}}