ATI EGA Wonder 800
The EGA Wonder 800 arrived in just three months after the release of the EGA Wonder on which it was based. It added support for extended EGA text and graphics modes, though these required a multisync monitor. The 800 also added support for 16-colour VGA modes.
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Released | June 1987 |
| Bus | ISA 8-bit | |
| Chipset | ATi16899-0 and Chips & Technologies P82C435 | |
| Standards | Hercules, CGA, EGA, Extended EGA | |
| Memory | 256 KB DRAM | |
| Ports | 9-pin DSUB (supports mono and colour RGB TTL) RCA Composite out Parallel port daughterboard (optional) RF modulator daughterboard (optional) |
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| Part # | 16890, 16900, 104001500-0 | |
| FCC ID | ||
| Price | At launch: $399, May 1988: $219, Apr 1989: $225 | |
| See Also | EGA Wonder, EGA Wonder VIP, EGA Wonder 800+ |
IBM's VGA standard was brand new at the time of this card's release, but it could run in 800 x 560 resolutions as well as VGA 640 x 480 and 732 x 410 on a multisync monitor. The 732 x 410 resolution would also work on a standard 400-line non-multisync 25 KHz monitor.
The 132-line extended text mode would also work on multisync monitors, EGA 400-line 25 KHz monitors, RGB, TTL monochrome and most other monitors.
Board Revisions
There were at least two revisions of the EGA Wonder 800 - one that has the RCA composite jacks and one that only has solder pads for these as well as the jumpers to configure them.
It is thought that the only difference between the EGA Wonder 800 and the original is its upgraded firmware, so you could turn an EGA Wonder into an EGA Wonder 800 just by replacing the BIOS chip (or rewriting it with a version of the EGA Wonder 800's BIOS).
Competition
Just like the slightly earlier EGA Wonder, the ATI EGA Wonder 800 competed against Ahead Systems EGA Wizard Deluxe, Quadram Quad EGA Prosync, Video Seven Vega Deluxe, Sigma Designs VGA and STB Systems VGA Extra.
In the Media
Setting it Up
The below switch settings are valid for all cards in the EGA Wonder range as well as VIP cards:
| SWITCH SETTING | Power-Up Video Mode | Monitor Type | ATI Enhanced Features | |||||
| Monitor Attached | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 |
| MultiSync (see note) | off | on | on | off | on | off | on | Switch 8 enables the "enhanced" features of the card. Turn this switch off if you experience difficulties. |
| EGA | off | on | on | off | on | off | off | |
| RGB (& Composite) | on | on | on | off | on | on | off | |
| TTL mono | off | on | on | off | off | on | off | |
| 25KHz (see note) | off | on | on | off | off | off | on | |
| Composite mono | on | on | on | off | on | on | off | |
| Compaq (see note) | off | on | on | off | off | off | off | |
| IBM Analog (see note) | on | on | on | off | off | on | on | |
Notes:
OFF = OPEN, ON = CLOSED.
Switches 5 and 6 on a PC or XT motherboard must be set to ON.
"MultiSync" monitors at this time tended to support 15 - 31.5 kHz (*not* 31.5 and up), and used a 9-pin digital connector.
25kHz monitor requires Jumper P8 set to connect pins 2 & 3 (not available on VIP).
Compaq Internal Monitor requires an "optional module" (no longer available).
IBM Analog monitor support is only available on the VIP.
Downloads
Operation Manual Get in touch if you can provide this missing item! |
Original Utility Disk Get in touch if you can provide this missing item! |
EGA BIOS ROM Get in touch if you can provide this missing item! |
EGA BIOS ROM Get in touch if you can provide this missing item! |
More Pictures
ATI EGA Wonder 800 without the RCA composite jacks