Video Graphics Array (VGA)

█▌Overview▐█ 
  The VGA is generally upwardly-compatible with the CGA▲, EGA▲, and MDA▲,
  but it has increased graphics resolution and color capabilities.  It was
  introduced in 1987 with IBM's PS/2 line and is currently the most often
  seen video standard.  TECH Help! covers the following VGA and general
  video topics:

    Video Modes ........... includes VGA modes
    Video Services ........ INT 10H video services
    Video Memory Layouts .. accessing VGA video memory

    VGA Data Areas ........ BIOS data variables specific to EGA
    BIOS Data Area ........ includes video-specific variables in low memory

    Screen Attributes ..... codes determine colors for text mode
    Color Table ........... exhaustive listing of screen attributes

    VGA I/O Ports ......... I/O port addresses; video controller registers
    VGA Pin Outs .......... connectors on VGA cards

    Font Definition Data .. layout of binary data that defines a font
    .CPI Font Files ....... the DOS interface for EGA font definition

  It supports 25-, 43-, and 50-line text modes and graphics modes up to
  640x400 with 256 colors.  You can redefine fonts and remap the color
  palette.

  In text mode, video memory begins at b800:0.  In graphics modes 0dH-10H,
  video memory is at a000:0 (see Video Memory Layouts).

█▌Testing for a VGA▐█
  To see if you are running on a VGA, use INT 10H 1bH.  If that fails, see
  EGA, CGA, or MDA for fall-back tests.

See Also: CGA
          EGA
          MDA
          SuperVGA
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