Info History of ATi Graphics cards Vol. 1

Page 2 - Seeking answers? Join the AnandTech community: where nearly half-a-million members share solutions and discuss the latest tech.

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
History of ATi Graphics cards Vol. 1
yjfy

On August 20, 1985, Lee Ka Lau, P. H. Lau, Kwok Yuen Ho, and Benny Lau from Hong Kong, China founded ATI as Array Technology Inc. in Canada.On December 18, 1985, it was renamed ATI Technologies Inc.

On June 24, 2006, AMD announced the acquisition of ATi for US$5.4 billion and completed the acquisition on October 25, 2006.

In the past 21 years, ATI has dedicated many beautiful graphics cards, even ATI cannot sort out the graphics card information. Many articles related to the history of ATI graphics cards are too superficial, which is not very helpful for computer hardware collectors. As a collector of computer hardware, the author writes a history of ATI graphics cards from the perspective of collection identification, focusing on introducing early ATI graphics cards and engineering sample graphics cards to create a collection guide for ATI graphics cards. In order to fully display the ATi graphics card, this article uses many pictures from collectors and websites. Thank you very much!

1.Graphics Solution series

At the beginning of its establishment, Working primarily in the OEM field, ATI produced integrated graphics cards for PC manufacturers such as IBM and Commodore.

ATI’s early graphics cards have very little information. Fortunately, almost all of them have passed the FCC ID certification, which is an important way to understand ATI graphics card models.

ATI's first product is Color Emulation Card. The card came equipped with a minimum of 16KB of memory. It was used for outputting text to a TTL monitor via a 9-pin DE-9 connector. I have never seen the Color Emulation Card, even the pictures are not left, maybe it is not a standard ISA interface card.

Graphics Solution series graphics cards are the earliest ATI graphics cards and the earliest ATI graphics cards that can be collected. The main chips and components of Ati's early graphics cards were not all developed by itself, but they were keen to put on the logo to declare the brand.

Graphics Solution series graphics cards have four models.

1.1 Graphics Solution

Graphics Solution is based on the UM6845E CRT controller, with the use of Central chip CW16800-A (ATI used ASIC technology to develop the first chip in October 1985), manufactured 8-bit ISA interface graphics card. This card uses the 64KB DRAM,supports Hercules Graphics Card mode and extended 132x25 / 132x44 text-modes on TTL Monochrome monitors,以及All CGA modes on both CGA/EGA and TTL Monochrome monitors。Composite output is available on an internal 3-pin connector (no support for colors, Works only in the 40x25 text-mode or 320x200 graphics modes)

Graphics Solution graphics cards have 3 revisions. Most of the ones that can be seen and collected are the REV 3 version, the REV 2 version is very rare, and the REV 1 or REV 0 version is only seen in the promotional pictures of ATi.

1.1.1 Graphics Solution REV 1

Graphics_Solution_rev1.jpg

The Graphics Solution graphics card in the picture is from ATI's official announcement picture, which is undoubtedly an engineering sample. It may be REV 1 or even REV 0 . The display chip is Hitachi HD460505SP-1, not UM6845 commonly used by ATI.
 

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
3.4.1 Official product

PN 1090010400 FCCID:

VGA_Basic-16_Palcal.jpg

(From Palcal on vgamuseum.info)

The VGA Integra (PN 109P014210 FCCID: EXMBVGA) to be sold later uses a PCB similar to VGA Basic-16, and the chip is ATI 28800-5.

OEM version has VGA Charger and VGA 1024D (PN 109P014400 FCCID:EXMBVGA1M).
 

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
3.5 VGA Wonder XL

PN 109P014310 FCCID:XMVGAXLV1

The FCCID passed the date 1991/7/26.

VGA Wonder XL is an enhanced version designed on the basis of VGA Wonder+. The video memory can reach up to 1MB. The high-end RAMDAC supports a higher refresh rate. The chip uses 28800-5 or 28800-6.

In 1992, the VGA Wonder XL24, the highest-end VGA Wonder display card supporting 24-bit true color mode, was released.

The OEM version has VGA 1024DXL.

VGA_WONDER_XL_Palcal.jpg

(From Palcal on vgamuseum.info)
 

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
3.6 VGA Stereo·F/X FCCID:EXMVGAFX

In 1991, VGA Stereo·F/X is a combo card that ATI integrated the functions of VGA Wonder XL graphics card and Stereo·F/X sound card. worth collecting. The VGAudio FX board and Audio FX board will be shipped in the third quarter.

3.6.1 VGA Stereo·F/X

VGA_Stereo·F_X.jpg
 

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
3.6.2 Stereo·F/X

ATI has produced two sound cards. In addition to the Stereo·F/X with 8-bit ISA interface, there is also a Stereo·F/X CD with 16-bit ISA interface.

STERO.F_X.jpg
 

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
4. Mach8 series

In the late 1980s and early 1990s, the era of DOS operating system, computers did not require high display technology. The graphics card at that time was called a display adapter, and its only function was image output, while the real graphics operations all depended on the CPU. With the advent of the Microsoft Windows operating system, the previous display adapters were overwhelmed. With the development of technology and the application of various software, the demand for computer graphics interface is getting higher and higher, and the Mach series came into being.

The ATI Mach8 line was a series of 2D graphics accelerators for personal computers developed by ATI Technologies.Being one of the first graphics accelerator chips on the market, the Mach 8 did not have an integrated VGA core. It was essentially a clone of the IBM 8514/A .

The Mach8 chip was sampled in September 1989, and the Mach8 graphics card was finalized in November 1990, and finally sold in early 1991. It is ATI's second-generation graphics chip.

4.1 8514/Ultra

FCCID:EXMULTRA1

Ati 38800 CHIP,1MB VRAM.

The FCCID certification passed date is January 23, 1991.

This is ATI's first 2D graphics accelerator card optimized for Windows, but like IBM's 8514/A, it can only handle 2D graphics operations but cannot provide VGA output.

ATi 8514/Ultra is addon accelerator with dual bus options 16-bit/16-bit ISA and MCA。

4.1.1 PN 1090011300

The picture below is a picture of the 8514/Ultra graphics card on the 8514/Ultra graphics box. Both the graphics card and the graphics accelerator chip are engineering samples. In this period, the two digits after PN are 00 are engineering samples.
8514_Ultra_ES.jpg
 
Last edited:

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
4.2 Graphics Ultra

PN 10911550 FCCID:EXMCOMBOVM1

Based on ATI 28800-6 main display chip, equipped with 512KB DRAM video memory, ati 38800-1 graphics processing chip, equipped with 1MB VRAM video memory.
Graphics_U-V.jpg
 

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
4.3 8514/Ultra AT BUS

PN 1090011710 FCCID:EXM8514VMAT1

8514/Ultra AT BUS used ATI38800 graphics processing chip, 1MB VRAM video memory, ISA interface.

ctesales_8514.jpg

(From ctesales)

There is also a MAC interface version of 8514/Ultra MCA BUS, FCCID: EXM8514MC. All have OEM version.

Later, there was 8514 Vantage AT dedicated to OEM, FCCID: EXMVANAT1, 1MB   DRAM video memory, ISA interface.
 

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
4.4 Graphics Vantage

PN 1090011840 FCCID:EXMCOMBODM

Graphics_vantage_Pirx.jpg

(From Pirx on vgamuseum.info)

Graphics Vantage is similar to Graphics Ultra, but it is equipped with 512KB +1MB DRAM video memory.

The Mach 8 series has not gained much commercially, and ATI even renamed Graphics Ultra to VGA Wonder

GT tried to rely on the fame of the previous generation "VGA Wonder" to open up sales.
 

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
5. Mach32 series

In April 1992, ATI released the Mach 32 graphics card with integrated graphics controller and graphics accelerator. The "32" in Mach 32 refers to the 32-bit architecture design, and the GUI 2D graphics acceleration capability is added for the first time. It supports ISA/EISA/VESA/MCA interfaces. Since ATI is a participant in the VESA Local Bus specification formulated in August 1992, the Mach 32 graphics card has become an earlier graphics card that supports 32bit VLB interfaces.

Nov. 16-20 COMDEX Fall '92,ATI Technologies Inc. announced the first Windows accelerator chip designed to support Intel’s PCI local bus specification.

On April 30, 1993, after the establishment of the PCI standard led by INTEL, ATI first developed the MACH32 graphics card with PCI interface.

The Mach 32 graphics card has graphics processing capabilities, which is different from the previous VGA Card that simply has the display function. The Mach 32 graphics card is a graphics accelerator card called Graphics Card.

5.1 Graphics Ultra Pro

PN 1090018940 FCCID:EXM688VM1

1/2MB VRAM

5.1.1 ISA

Graphics chip: Mach32 (68800-3/6)

The FCCID certification was passed on August 11, 1992. In September, the first Graphics Ultra Pro and Graphics Ultra+ with ISA interface were released.

Graphics_Ultra_Pro_ISA.jpg

The OEM model has ISA mach32.
 

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
5.1.4 VESA

68800-3/6

5.1.4.1 VRAM

PN 1090019530 FCCID:EXM195

The chip of the Graphics Ultra Pro graphics card below is an early version of Mach32 (68800-3), and the Mach32 logo has not yet been printed. The chip date on the card is 9238 weeks, which is the release date of the ISA version in mid-September, and the PCB date is 9242 weeks, which is mid-October. Also, the latest date of the components on the card is 9243 weeks, and the release year on the PCB is 1992.

Graphics Ultra Pro's VESA interface prototype card has been evaluated in October. Its performance is slightly higher than the ISA interface Graphics Ultra Pro, which is much higher than the VESA interface S3 86C911 and ET4000 chip graphics cards.In November, brand computers started using Graphics Ultra Pro with VESA interface.It can be seen that it should be available for retail sale in November 1992. Later than the ISA interface version.

VLB_Mach32_68800.jpg
 

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
5.1.4.3 OEM

5.1.4.3.1 Graphics Ultra XLR

PN 109-19500-50 FCCID:EXM195A

PN began to be divided into three segments. The U32 of the card below is for RAMDAC bit. I don’t know how to insert EPROM, can I still implant OEM information?

Graphics_Ultra_XLR_VLB_Palcal.jpg

(From Palcal on vgamuseum.info)
 

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
5.1.4.3.2 VLB Mach32-D

PN 1090019630 FCCID:EXM196

There are also VLB mach32-D 1MBDRAM, Graphics Ultra CLX VLB 2MBDRAM.

VLB mach32-D

VLB_mach32-D.jpeg

(From dependency-injection.com)
 

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
5.1.5 PCI

Chip: 68800 AX, 1/2 RAM

The Mach32 PCI interface version of the chip is 68800 AX, and the 68800-3/6 chip cannot be used directly. The 68800 AX redesign took more than a year. The first to be launched is Graphics Ultra Pro with VRAM memory version.

5.1.5.1 VRAM

5.1.5.1.1 Engineering Sample

PN 109-23000-00C FCCID:

The FCCID certification was passed on October 19, 1993 (9343 weeks). The PCB date of this engineering sample graphics card is 9332 weeks, and the display chip is PROTOTYPE.

I quoted a lot of engineering sample graphics card pictures above, which are just pictures.

This engineering sample graphics card picture is a real picture. It is the earliest engineering sample graphics card known in the collection of computer hardware collectors. It is also the earliest PCI graphics card.
ATI_PCI_ES.jpg

ATI_PCI_ES_1.jpg
 
Last edited:

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
5.1.5.2 DRAM

5.1.5.2.1 Engineering Sample

PN 109-25400-00C FCCID:EXM254A

The PCB date of this engineering sample graphics card is 9334 weeks, and the display chip is the official version. The chip date is 9332 weeks, the date is very early. It shows that the development of these two kinds of Graphics Ultra Pro graphics cards is almost simultaneous.
MACH32_PCI_ES.jpg

MACH32_PCI_ES_1.jpg
 

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
5.2 Graphics Ultra+

PN 1090019340 FCCID:EXM688DM1

ATI 68800-3/6,ISA, 1/2MB DRAM

Graphics_Ultra+_Palcal.jpg

(From Palcal on vgamuseum.info)

The time for FCCID certification is August 18, 1992.

OEM model has ISA mach32
 

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
5.3 Graphics Wonder

1MB DRAM

5.3.1 ISA

5.3.1.1 Engineering Sample

PN 109-22801-00B FCCID:EXM228M

The official announcement picture is an engineering sample, and “B” is added at the end of the third paragraph of PN, and “00B” is the label of the engineering sample.

Graphics_Wonder.jpg
 

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
5.3.2 VESA

PN 109-23400-00 FCCID:EXM234
Graphics_Wonder_Palcal.jpg
(From Palcal on vgamuseum.info)

Graphics Ultra Pro (FCCID: EXM229) was later partly called Graphics Wonder.

OEM Version of VGA 1024 VLB. It is based on Mach32, but it is placed in the VGAWonder series.
 

yjfy

Senior member
Feb 11, 2020
547
245
86
www.yjfy.com
6. Mach64 series

The further development of graphics technology makes personal computers enter the multimedia era from graphics. In 1994, ATI released the Mach64 chip, which is ATI's fourth-generation graphics chip. It has created many famous firsts. It was the world's first chip to support color conversion from YUV to RGB at that time, and it was a milestone for personal computers to provide video acceleration. It became the first graphics card adapter to be used on PC and Mac computers in the form of Xclaim, and provides full-motion video playback acceleration like S3's Trio.

6.1 Graphics Pro Turbo

Mach64 GX,2/4 MB VRAM

Graphics Pro Turbo graphics card was first released, its PCI and VESA Local Bus Versions ship in April 1994; an ISA Version ship in May.

6.1.1 PCI

PN 109-25500-20 FCC ID:EXM255

Graphics_Pro_Turbo.jpg

Graphics memory daughter card

PN 109-26400-0
Graphics_Pro_Turbo_1.jpg

There are Graphics Pro Turbo 1600, 4MB VRAM, 220Mhz RAMDAC (IBM 37RGB514), Video Card Maximum resolution: 1600 X 1200 non-interlaced.