VESA Local Bus video chips DOS game compatibility test results

note: lot motherboards has hardware incompatibility with some videocards!
My "Video chips using VESA Local Bus compatibility with motherboards" table you can see at the bottom of the page

video chip VBE version (in video BIOS) Commander Keen 4
(demo)		 Commander Keen 5 Commander Keen 6
(demo)		 Commander Keen in Keen Dreams
(demo)		 Prehistorik Prehistorik 2 (cracked by Hybrid) Jazz Jackrabbit Duff Mario
- the shareware 1995.08.26		 Pinball Fantasies (640x350) Boulderoid v1.12 Boulderoid v1.15 Jurassic Park Lollypop Wonderland
in Paradise SVGA mode:
-disp p
(800x600)		 Flight Simulator 5.x
(SVGA 640x400 HQ)		 DOOM 2 v1.9 Warcraft:
Orcs & Humans

"Noise" problem can occur mostly at build (at select area for a building)		 Tilt!
a.k.a.
hyper 3-D Pinball
(built-in UniVBE 5.1a)		 Flight Unlimited Pinball Illusions Terra Nova: Strike Force Centauri The Last Express X-Men: Children of the Atom Alien Trilogy Quake v1.06 8x14 font
(SimCity)		 Chris' 3d SVGA Benchmark
HYBRID intro (640x400) HYBRID nfo (640x400) title screen mode screen preview screen 640x480
3D scrolling playfield		 800x600
3D full screen		 640x480 1024x768 360x350 640x480 800x600 256 color mode high color mode 320x200 360x200 320x240 360x240 320x400 360x400 320x480 360x480

Alliance ProMotion 3210		 1.2 serious display problem at scroll serious display problem at scroll serious display problem at scroll serious display problem at scroll OK 78Hz (OK on CRT) OK OK OK scroll problem OK OK OK 62.2Hz OK OK OK OK OK UniVBE 5.2 - 5.3a OK depends on the RAMDAC chip OK OK OK UniVBE 6.0
& supplied UniVBE with
flight +BadLinModes
or
UniVBE 6.0A - 6.5.3
& supplied UniVBE with
flight +BadPalDac +BadMedRes
but crash		 62Hz (OK on CRT) OK OK OK UniVBE 5.2 - 5.3a
but display problem		 UniVBE 6.0 - 6.53
& VBEPlus
but not stretched small screen at top-left corner		 freezes display problems than reboots OK 62.2Hz OK 53Hz OK 62.2Hz OK 53Hz OK OK
ARK Logic ARK1000VL
Ark reference bios (1994-Jun-29)		 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK display problem UniVBE 5.1 - 5.1a OK depends on the RAMDAC chip UniVBE 5.1 - 5.1a OK OK
with
flight +BadLinModes		 flight +BadLinModes
but 87Hz (OK on CRT)		 OK playfield is OK
but scoreboard is missing		 playfield is OK
but scoreboard is missing		 OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 color problem some LCD monitors have color problems OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
ARK Logic ARK1000VL
with 2theMax (PCI) bios (1995-Jun-21)		 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK display problem OK OK depends on the RAMDAC chip OK OK OK
with
flight +BadLinModes		 flight +BadLinModes
but 87Hz (OK on CRT)		 OK playfield is OK
but scoreboard is missing		 playfield is OK
but scoreboard is missing		 OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 color problem some LCD monitors have color problems OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
ARK Logic ARK1000PV
Hercules bios (1994-Oct-07)		 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK display problem UniVBE 5.1 - 6.52 OK depends on the RAMDAC chip UniVBE 5.1 or later UniVBE 5.1 - 6.53 OK
with
flight +BadLinModes		 flight +BadLinModes
but 87Hz (OK on CRT)		 OK playfield is OK
but scoreboard is missing		 playfield is OK
but scoreboard is missing		 OK OK UniVBE 5.3A - 6.0A; 6.7 color problem some LCD monitors have color problems OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
ARK Logic ARK1000PV
with 2theMax (PCI) bios (1995-Jun-21)		 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK display problem OK OK depends on the RAMDAC chip OK OK OK
with
flight +BadLinModes		 flight +BadLinModes
but 87Hz (OK on CRT)		 OK playfield is OK
but scoreboard is missing		 playfield is OK
but scoreboard is missing		 OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 color problem some LCD monitors have color problems OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
ATI Mach32
(688LX20)		 none scroll problem scroll problem scroll problem OK OK OK OK OK OK scroll problem OK OK scroll problem OK OK OK small scroll problem OK display problem VVESA 2.x
or UniVBE 5.2		 OK depends on the RAMDAC chip VVESA 2.x
or UniVBE 5.2		 VVESA 2.x
or UniVBE 5.2		 VVESA 2.x VVESA 2.x OK position problem position problem OK
with supplied UniVBE and
tn +BadPalDac +BadLinModes
but 87Hz (OK on CRT)
or
VVESA 2.x		 VVESA 2.1x or later VVESA 2.1x or later VVESA 2.1x or later
or
UniVBE 5.3 - 6.0a		 VVESA 2.1x or later
but half sized screen		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK VVESA 2.x
Avance Logic ALG2201 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK top border problem OK OK OK OK OK display problem UniVBE 5.1 - 6.52
but dashboard is a bit noisy		 OK Avance Logic ALG1201 RAMDAC is OK UniVBE 5.1 or later except 6.53 OK OK with supplied UniVBE
but 87Hz (OK on CRT)		 OK position and color problems position and color problems OK
with supplied UniVBE		 UniVBE 5.1 or later except 6.53 OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK display problem OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK freezes
Avance Logic ALG2228 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK smaller top border problem OK OK OK OK OK display problem OK OK Avance Logic ALG1201 RAMDAC is OK UniVBE 5.1 or later except 6.53 OK OK OK OK position and display problems position problem OK
with supplied UniVBE		 UniVBE 5.1 or later except 6.53 OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK display problem OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
CHIPS F64300
(Chips and Technologies 64300)		 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK display problem OK OK small noise OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK OK OK OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK display problem OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
Cirrus Logic CL-GD5424 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK noise OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 with supplied UniVBE
but 87Hz (OK on CRT)		 OK OK OK OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
Cirrus Logic CL-GD5426 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK noise OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 with supplied UniVBE
but 87Hz (OK on CRT)		 OK OK OK OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
Cirrus Logic CL-GD5428 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK noise OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 with supplied UniVBE
but 87Hz (OK on CRT)		 OK OK OK OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
Cirrus Logic CL-GD5434
[I-O DATA GA-DVL2]		 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK noise OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 with supplied UniVBE
but 87Hz (OK on CRT)		 OK OK OK OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK 8x14 font fixer OK
IIT AGX015
(IIT AGX-015)
[Hercules Graphite VL Pro]
with single RAMDAC: BrookTree Bt481		 none display problem display problem display problem display problem displaced lines at vertical scrolling OK OK OK displaced lines at vertical scrolling displaced lines at vertical scrolling displaced lines at vertical scrolling displaced lines at vertical scrolling displaced lines at vertical scrolling OK displaced lines at vertical scrolling displaced lines at vertical scrolling displaced lines at vertical scrolling displaced lines at vertical scrolling display problem HGVVESA
but display problems		 OK Bt481 RAMDAC has big noise HGVVESA HGVVESA HGVVESA no signal small problem on menu screen position problem
and small problem on menu screen		 position problems
and small problem on menu screen		 HGVVESA HGVVESA
& UniVBE 5.1 (with uvconfig -d32)
but display problem		 HGVVESA
& UniVBE 5.1 (with uvconfig -d32)
but display problem and too slow		 HGVVESA display problem OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK HGVVESA
Matrox Impression Lite
(IS-ATHENA R1)		 none OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK small problems with falling skulls OK OK OK OK OK SETVGA -M2 display problem MGAVESA
and
SETVGA -M2
but too slow		 OK BrokTree Bt485 RAMDAC has big noise MGAVESA
and
SETVGA -M2
but too slow		 MGAVESA
and
SETVGA -M2
but too slow		 OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK OK OK SETVGA -M2 no no crash at intro serious display problem and crash SETVGA -M2 no signal SETVGA -M2 no signal SETVGA -M2 no signal SETVGA -M2 no signal OK MGAVESA
but too slow
S3 805-P
(86C805-P)		 1.2 Some cards have problem depending by it's bios. Diamond has problem. Some cards have problem depending by it's bios. Diamond has problem. Some cards have problem depending by it's bios. Diamond has problem. Some cards have problem depending by it's bios. Diamond has problem. OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK display problem OK OK depends on the RAMDAC chip OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE and
flight +BadPalDac +BadMedRes		 with supplied UniVBE and
flight +BadPalDac +BadMedRes
but 87Hz (OK on CRT)		 OK size and position problems size and position problems OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
S3 805-Q
(86C805-Q)
[Digital Equipment Corp. PC76H-EA]		 1.2 display problem display problem display problem display problem OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK display problem UniVBE 5.2 or later OK depends on the RAMDAC chip OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE and
flight +BadPalDac +BadMedRes		 OK
with supplied UniVBE and
flight +BadPalDac +BadMedRes		 OK OK OK OK OK too slow OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
S3 805i
(86C805i-P)		 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK display problem UniVBE 5.2 or later OK depends on the RAMDAC chip OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE and
flight +BadPalDac +BadMedRes		 OK
with supplied UniVBE and
flight +BadPalDac +BadMedRes

& REFRESH (for LCD)		 OK OK OK OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
S3 Vision864
(86C864-P)
[Diamond Stealth 64 DRAM]		 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK display problem OK OK depends on the RAMDAC chip OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE and
flight +BadPalDac +BadMedRes		 OK
with supplied UniVBE and
flight +BadPalDac +BadMedRes

& S3REFRSH (for LCD) 2		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
S3 Vision868
(86C868-P)		 1.2 Some cards have problem depending by it's bios. ELSA (868 PCI; 968 PCI), Number Nine (868 VLB; 964 VLB), miro (964 PCI) and Diamond (968 PCI) has problem.

Canopus (868 PCI; 968 PCI) and Diamond (868 VLB) are OK.		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK display problem S3VBE20
or
UniVBE 5.2 or later		 OK depends on the RAMDAC chip OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE and
flight +BadPalDac +BadMedRes		 OK
with supplied UniVBE and
flight +BadPalDac +BadMedRes		 OK resolution problem resolution problem OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
S3 Vision964
(86C964-P)
[Number Nine #9GXE64 Pro]		 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK display problem S3VBE20 OK Texas Instruments (P)TVP3025 RAMDAC is OK OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK playfield is OK
but scoreboard is missing		 playfield is OK
but scoreboard is missing		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
S3 Trio64
(86C764)		 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK display problem S3VBE20
or
UniVBE		 OK small noise OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK
with supplied UniVBE

& S3REFRSH (for LCD)		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
Trident TGUI9400CXi 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK serious display problem and freeze OK OK OK OK OK blank screen OK OK small noise OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK serious display problems serious display problems OK OK UniVBE (except 5.3a)
but too slow		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
Trident TGUI9420DGi 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK serious display problem and freeze OK OK OK OK OK blank screen OK OK small noise OK OK UniVBE 5.3a or later
& supplied UniVBE with
flight +NoUnivbe		 UniVBE 5.3a or later
& supplied UniVBE with
flight +NoUnivbe		 OK serious display problems serious display problems OK OK UniVBE (except 5.3a)
but too slow		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
Trident TGUI9440AGi 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK blank screen OK OK small noise OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK
with supplied UniVBE

for 60Hz UniVBE 6.51 or later
& supplied UniVBE with
flight +NoUnivbe		 OK OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK UniVBE
Trident TGUI9440-1 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK blank screen OK OK small noise OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE (as 9440AGi) with
flight +BadMedRes		 OK
with supplied UniVBE (as 9440AGi) with
flight +BadMedRes

for 60Hz UniVBE 6.51 or later
& supplied UniVBE with
flight +BadMedRes +NoUnivbe		 OK OK OK OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK UniVBE
Trident TGUI9660
[I-O DATA DRAGONSTAR 64 GA-DR2/VLB]		 1.2 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK blank screen OK OK small noise OK OK UniVBE 5.3a or later
& supplied UniVBE with
flight +NoUnivbe		 UniVBE 5.3a or later
& supplied UniVBE with
flight +NoUnivbe

for 60Hz UniVBE 6.51 or later
& supplied UniVBE with
flight +NoUnivbe		 OK General Protection Fault General Protection Fault OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
Tseng ET4000/W32P 1.2 serious display problem serious display problem serious display problem serious display problem OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK black screen OK OK OK OK OK display problem OK OK depends on the RAMDAC chip problems in scroll modes OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 with supplied UniVBE
but 87Hz (OK on CRT)		 OK OK OK OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
Weitek Power 9000
[Diamond VIPER VLB (later type)]
with OAK OTI087X (for VGA compatibility: 16bit frame buffer; bit block transfer; LineDraw)
BIOS version: 3.09		 none serious display problems serious display problems serious display problems serious display problems OK OK OK OK OK OK OK small problem with falling skulls OK OK OK OK OK OK display problem VPRVESA OK depends on the RAMDAC chip VPRVESA
but serious display problems		 VPRVESA UniVBE 6.0 or later
& supplied UniVBE :
first load UniVBE 6.x than generate the supplied UniVBE drv file (video.bat), than
flight +BadPalDac		 UniVBE 6.0 or later
& supplied UniVBE :
first load UniVBE 6.x than generate the supplied UniVBE drv file (video.bat), than
flight +BadPalDac		 OK serious display problem serious display problem VPRVESA VPRVESA VPRVESA VPRVESA VPRVESA
but half sized screen		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK VPRVESA
but display problem

Western Digital WD90C33		 1.1 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK UniVBE 5.0 or later except 6.53 OK depends on the RAMDAC chip missing menu and flashing elements OK OK OK
with supplied UniVBE with
flight +BadPalDac		 OK serious display problem serious display problem OK UniVBE 5.0 or later except 6.53 UniVBE 5.0 - 5.1a UniVBE 5.0 or later except 6.53 UniVBE 5.0 or later except 6.53 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK



1: It is OK in: OPTi 895

2: On my Diamond Stealth 64 DRAM for 1024x768 60 Hz I need to set 1024x768 to 70 Hz in the S3REFRSH.EXE Version 2.21.



SciTech UniVBE 6.70:

Note that from version 5.2 to 6.53 this product was renamed to "SciTech Display Doctor".
Warning! UniVBE version 6.70 has refuses to detect any VGA on a pre-PCI systems/motherboards, therefore running UVCONFIG.EXE of the UniVBE 6.70 on an ISA only or ISA + VLB motherboard with a graphics chip (which known by UniVBE 6.70), UVCONFIG.EXE will writes "No supported SuperVGA chip detected!", but the same video card will be detected by UniVBE 6.70 on a system with PCI bus too.
So if you use your VLB video card in a VLB/PCI motherboard, UniVBE 6.70 will detect and configure it (will write it is a PCI card but this is no problem) and works, but if you use a "VLB only" (so no PCI) motherboard, you cannot use UVCONFIG.EXE of the UniVBE 6.70. You need to use an older version of UniVBE (which are not free), or run the UVCONFIG.EXE of the UniVBE 6.70 on a system with PCI bus too with your VLB video card and move the UNIVBE.DRV to the target system because UNIVBE.EXE will load/use it (only UVCONFIG.EXE refuses to work).
Since 2002-Oct all versions are free!
You can download the SciTech UniVBE 6.70 DOS only installer (plus 5.3a and 6.53 versions) from VOGONS Vintage Driver Library:
http://www.vogonsdrivers.com/getfile.php?fileid=346

Registration codes:

SciTech UNIVBE 6.70
Supports DOS.
No Code Required

SciTech Display Doctor 6.x versions (from 6.52)
Supports: Windows and DOS.
Free Version Code
Reg Code: 00000-173D626E-02002
Full Name: 6.x Free Edition

SciTech Display Doctor 5.x versions (from 5.2)
Supports: Windows and DOS.
Free Version Code
Reg Code: 00000-816EAD30-20020
Full Name: 5.x Free Edition


SciTech UniVBE 6.70 consumes about 20000 byte in the conventional memory.


Modified univbe.drv drivers by Rob Muller (2001-Oct-10):

"If the video card is not being recognized correctly, then that might be caused by the fact that some games use a built-in version of univbe/SDD (UVBELib) and are not able to use the VBE BIOS from the video card. UVBELib generates a driver (univbe.drv) that contains video card specific code. If you have a video card that is newer than the version of UVBELib that is being used then there is a problem. This problem can be fixed by using a driver (univbe.drv) which is modified to use the BIOS of the video card."
    Rob Muller

univbe.drv files included for these versions of univbe/SDD: 5.1a; 5.2; 5.3; 5.3a

You can download the modified univbe.drv set package here: modified.zip


VBEPlus version 0.81 (beta) by Rob Muller (2001-Oct-17):

"VBEPlus is a TSR (Terminate Stay Resident) program that adds new VESA resolutions to your video card. The resolutions it adds are fully user configurable.
VBEPlus adds all the resolutions your video card does not support like the low res modes or 1280x960.
nVidia cards are fully supported, support for all other cards is 'experimental'."
    Rob Muller

You can download the VBEPlus v0.81 (beta) here: vbeplus.zip

VBEPlus 0.81 (beta) consumes 832 byte in the conventional memory.


VBE15bpp version 0.8 by Rob Muller (2000-Oct-04):

"VBE15bpp converts any VESA VBE 16bpp modes into 15bpp modes. If you have a game that insists on using 15bpp modes (like X-Men: Children of the Atom) and your video card does not support 15bpp then you can't run that game. VBE15bpp overcomes this problem by converting any 16bpp modes to 15bpp modes. This is not done in hardware but with a software trick, so the tool is hardware independant."
    Rob Muller

You can download the VBE15bpp v0.8 here: vbe15bpp.zip

VBE15bpp 0.8 consumes 224 byte in the conventional memory.


VESA12 version 0.8 by Rob Muller (2000-Nov-01):

"This program lets the VESA bios report that it supports VESA VBE 1.2. This will prevent other applications to use higher versions of VESA VBE. Linear video modes and the protected mode interface are not supported with VESA 1.2 so every problem that is caused by using linear video modes or the PM interface are prevented by this tool.
You can use this program if you can't get an application to work properly with your video card. Flight Unlimited I from Looking Glass running on a GeForce2 GTS suffered from a problem which is fixed by running vesa12.com.
Note: this tool does not give your card VESA support, it only degrades the VBE from a higher version to VESA VBE 1.2."
    Rob Muller

You can download the VESA12 v0.8 here: vesa12.zip

VESA12 consumes 192 byte in the conventional memory.


6bitDAC version 0.8 by Rob Muller (2000-Nov-05):

"With many VGA cards the RAMDAC (which turns the information from the video memory into video signals) can be switched from 6bit (the default setting with VESA VBE video modes) to 8bit per primary color with 256 color video modes. The advantage from this is that an application can choose from 4 times as many colors; it can use 256 colors at once out of a gamma of 16M colors instead of a gamma of 256k colors. 6bitdac simply let the VESA bios report that it is not capable of switching to an 8bit DAC.
Why would you want to do this, since this limits the amount of colors? Some games like Flight Unlimited I from Looking Glass have buggy support for the 8bit DAC. Flight Unlimited I switches the DAC to 8bits per primary color, but it does not reprogram the DAC with proper 8bit values which result in a very dark image. Loading 6bitDAC before running Flight Unlimited I will prevent the game from switching the DAC to 8bit which effectively solves the problem of the dark screen."
    Rob Muller

You can download the 6bitDAC v0.8 here: 6bitdac.zip

6bitDAC 0.8 consumes 176 byte in the conventional memory.


UniRefresh version 1.41 by Rob Muller (2000-Aug-05):

"UniRefresh is a freeware universal dos refresh rate utility. It is easy to use, the only data needed are the specifications of the monitor. It consists of two parts: a setup program (setup.exe) and a TSR (Terminate Stay Resident) program (unirfrsh.com). The setup program calculates the timings for the refresh rates and saves these timings in a file. The TSR (resident part only 208 bytes) reads the refresh rate data needed for setting a video mode from the file that was created by the setup program."
    Rob Muller

You can download the UniRefresh v1.41 here: unirfrsh.zip

UniRefresh 1.41 consumes 208 byte in the conventional memory.


S3 VBE/Core 2.0 (S3VBE20) Version 3.18 by Dietmar Meschede:

S3 VBE/Core 2.0 supports the following S3 graphics chips:
Vision864; Vision868; Vision964; Vision968; Trio32; Trio64; Trio64V+; Trio64UV+; Trio64V2/DX; Trio64V2/GX; ViRGE; ViRGE/VX; ViRGE/DX; ViRGE/GX

You can download the S3 VBE/Core 2.0 from here: S3VBE318.ZIP

S3 VBE/Core 2.0 consumes 4096 byte in the conventional memory.


REFRESH.EXE :

REFRESH.EXE supports S3 801; 805 and 928.
The program has no direct parameters like the later S3REFRSH.EXE so you need to set Hz-s every time.

You can download the REFRESH.EXE from here: S3REFRSH.ZIP

REFRESH.EXE is not memory resident program so consumes 0 byte in the conventional memory.


S3REFRSH.EXE Version 2.21:

S3REFRSH.EXE Version 2.21 supports most S3 graphics chips from Vision864 up to Trio64V+; ViRGE; ViRGE/VX. I have tested and fully functioning on one of my Trio64V2/DX but on the older one is not works (nor with direct parameters).
(The program is not functioning on 928PCI; Trio64UV+; S3 Aurora64V+; ViRGE/DX; ViRGE/GX; Trio 3D)
It seems to me also not work on Vision868 (nor with direct parameters)
(The program is partly functioning on ViRGE/GX2; Trio 3D/2X; Savage3D)

You can download the S3REFRSH.EXE Ver. 2.21 from here: S3REFRE.ZIP

S3REFRSH.EXE is not memory resident program so consumes 0 byte in the conventional memory.


VVESA.COM VESA Super VGA BIOS Extension for ATi Mach8 and Mach32 (VGA cards before Mach64) versions 1.0; 2.01; 2.14 and 2.22 :

Here is a list of VVESA advanced command line keywords:

    OFF   Remove the driver from the system memory.

    PAN   Enable Linear Address
          It allows user to pan or scroll within the entire display memory. Standard VGA will wrap around at the end of 64K in planar mode. Linear address is disabled at default.

    55rw  Force single page read & write mode
          The Write Page number is set to Read Page number when a display mode is initialized. (Note that only display controller 28800-5 or higher is default to dual page mode, i.e. the writeable and readable windows can be programmed independently)

    DUALPAGE
          Turns on individual read and write windows which can be programmed independently for all supported 8, 15 and 24 bit modes including: 100h, 101h, 103h, 105h, 110h, 112h and 113h.


    FOR MACH32 CARD USERS ONLY:

    DUALPAGE
          Does not enable separate read and write windows for the following 15 and 16 bit modes: 110h, 111h, 113h, 114h, 115h, 116h and 117h.

    NOHICOLOR
          Disables support for 32,768, 65,536 and 16.7M colour modes on mach32 products. It also disables support for mode 107h (1280 x 1024 256 colours). It will save above 4K of system memory if your application does not support these high color modes.

The following VESA modes are supported:

     MODE      RESOLUTION        MEMORY    MEMORY           PRODUCT
     NUMBER    /COLORS           REQUIRED  MODEL            REQUIRED

     100h      640x400   /256    512KB     packed pixel
     101h      640x480   /256    512KB     packed pixel
     102h      800x600   /16     256KB     4-plane planar
     103h      800x600   /256    512KB     packed pixel
     104h      1024X768  /16     512KB     4-plane planar   all except V3
     105h      1024X768  /256    1MB       packed pixel
     107h      1280X1024 /256    1MB       packed pixel     mach32
     108h      80x60/16          256KB     Text mode
     109h      132x25/16         256KB     Text mode
     10Ah      132x43/16         256KB     Text mode
     110h      640x480/32768     1MB       packed pixel     XL, XL24, mach32
     111h      640x480/65536     1MB       packed pixel     mach32
     112h      640x480/16.7 M    1MB       packed pixel     XL24, mach32
     113h      800x600/32768     1MB       packed pixel     XL24, mach32
     114h      800x600/65536     1MB       packed pixel     mach32
     115h      800x600/16.7 M    2MB       packed pixel     mach32
     116h      1024x768/32768    2MB       packed pixel     mach32
     117h      1024x768/65536    2MB       packed pixel     mach32

Note that some display adapters may not be capable of displaying all the modes listed above depending on the model, amount of video memory and how the display adapter is configured. Check the user's manual of your display adapter for information on how to configure display adapter and the available modes.

Note that when using modes 107h, 110h, 111h, 112h, 113h, 114h, 115h, 116h, or 117h on the mach32 some applications may appear with dim or incorrect colors. This happens because these modes require the colour registers (i.e. DAC registers) to be set through video BIOS calls only. Some applications set these registers directly, which results in incorrect colour settings in these modes. If you encounter this problem, contact the application publisher.


You can download the VVESA from here: VVESA.ZIP


VPRVESA version 1.2 rev. H (shareware) by Frido Garritsen (Himalaya Software) (1994-Nov-07):

Some applications, mostly games, which support double buffering or page flipping will not work properly with Weitek Power graphics chips (i.e. Flight Simulator 5.0; Space Simulator; Alien Trilogy). VPRVESA can solve these problems. VPRVESA is "VESA VBE driver for the Diamond Viper VLB", Diamond Viper VLB is a Vesa Local Bus (VLB) card with Weitek Power 9000 graphics chip, but this driver helps to get the Alien Trilogy 256 color mode works on my Papilio PCI bus Weitek Power 9100 card with 1MB video memory.
Microsoft Flight Simulator 5.0; Microsoft Space Simulator (640x400x256 and 800x600x256 modes) needs 2MB video memory!

You can download the VPRVESA version 1.2 rev. H (shareware) from here: vprvsh.zip

VPRVESA version 1.2 rev. H consumes 3456 byte in the conventional memory (but can use "High Memory" if memory manager is loaded/present).


HGCVESA, HGVVESA and PGVVESA - VESA Bios Extension (VBE) for Hercules IIT AGX based video cards:

You can download HGCVESA, HGVVESA and PGVVESA from here: HGCVESA.ZIP


CVLBVESA - VESA Bios Extension (VBE) for Orchid IIT AGX based video cards:

You can download CVLBVESA from here: CVLBVESA.ZIP


VESAFIX version 1.8 by Mok (1999-Jan-21):

"This little tool fixes some (not all!) bugs in the VESA VBE implementation of 3DFX Banshee based gfx cards. If you have problems with some old dos VESA games/utilities try it, maybe it will solve your problem."
    Mok

Although it is "VESAFIX for 3DFX Banshee" but it will work also on other chips, not only on 3Dfx. On the Matrox G550 Flight Unlimited will work only by VESAFIX.

Usage: VESAFIX.EXE [-r] [-6] [-m#]

-r: removes VESAFIX from memory (if possible).
-6: disables support for 8-bit palette. Some programs don't like 8-bit
    palette due to buggy support for this option (ie. flight unlimited).
-m: select video ram size in megs: 1-16 (default:8)

You can download the VESAFIX v1.8 here: vesafx18.zip

VESAFIX 1.8 consumes 2160 byte in the conventional memory.






8x14 font fixer TSR programs:

BTTR Software FIX8X14 - 8x14 font fixer (GNU GENERAL PUBLIC LICENSE)
Work with all videochips;
The SYS version consumes 3760 byte in the conventional memory.
You can download from BTTR Software FIX8X14 - 8x14 font fixer page at "downloads":
http://www.bttr-software.de/products/fix8x14/

Matrox FNT8X14.COM
Work with all videochips;
Consumes 4352 byte in the conventional memory.
You can download from Matrox Graphics "Archived Support Drivers" page at "BIOS" > "setup351.exe"
http://www.matrox.com/graphics/en/support/drivers/previous/

Alliance Semiconductor PM_FONT.COM
Work with some videochips;
Consumes 4320 byte in the conventional memory.
You can download from Alliance Semiconductor "Archived Graphics Drivers - AT3D" page at "DOS" > "Font TSR" > "pm_font.exe"
http://www.alsc.com/support/at3d.htm

Cirrus Logic TSRFONT.COM
Work with some videochips;
Consumes 4304 byte in the conventional memory.
You can download from Soleau Software "Scrambled Text Characters in DOS games" page at "Tsrfont.zip"
http://www.soleau.com/tsr.html

Diamond Multimedia Systems VGA8X14.COM
Work with all videochips but have bugs on some videochips;
Consumes 37616 byte in the conventional memory.
You can find it in Diamond Viper V330 and V330 ZX BIOS updates: flash162.exe ; flash162tv.exe ; flash182b.zip


Updates on the table above:
 2018 Dec 14 — Project has started.
 2019 Jan 30 — Warcraft: Orcs & Humans raw has added. Most video cards has problem: when you select a building to build, the screen will be a bit noisy. This problem is special because it is caused by RAMDAC.
 2019 May 05 — Some of my cards are tested.
 2019 May 08 — Cirrus Logic CL-GD5428 has added.
 2019 May 11 — Chips and Technologies 64300 has added.
 2019 May 12 — S3 805i has added.
 2019 May 13 — Tseng ET4000/W32P has added.
 2019 May 14 — S3 Vision868 has added.
 2019 Dec 07 — Avance Logic ALG2201 has added.
 2019 Dec 08 — Trident TGUI9420 retest and error corrections.
 2021 Feb 17 — Flight Simulator 5.x (SVGA 640x400 HQ) has added.
 2021 Feb 17 — Pinball Illusions (360x350; 640x480; 800x600) and The Last Express has added, special thanks to carlostex.
 2021 Feb 28 — Weitek Power 9000 and Digital DECpc 86C805-Q has added.
 2021 Mar 02 — S3 Vision864 and Trio64 has added.
 2021 Mar 03 — REFRESH.EXE by S3 has added and internal download links are corrected.
 2021 Mar 04 — Trident TGUI9400 has added and some Trident TGUI9420 retests.
 2021 Mar 05 — Cirrus Logic CL-GD5426 has added.
 2021 Mar 06 — Wonderland - with Paradise SVGA mode 800x600 has added.
 2021 Mar 06 — S3 86C805-P has added.
 2021 Mar 09 — I-O DATA DRAGONSTAR 64 GA-DR2/VLB (Trident TGUI9660) has added.
 2021 Mar 12 — Trident TGUI9440AGi has added.
 2021 Mar 12 — UniVBE/SciTech Display Doctor 5.3a and 6.53 free registration codes has added.
 2021 Apr 03 — ATI Mach32; IIT AGX-015; VVESA; *G*VESA and CVLBVESA has added
 2021 Jun 04 — Sticky table headers for better scroll has added. Special tanks to Peter Godwin and dns_nx.
 2021 Jun 09 — Avance Logic ALG2228 has added.
 2022 Apr 20 — Number Nine #9GXE64 Pro (S3 Vision964) has added.
 2022 Apr 20 — I-O DATA Major ACCELA GA-DVL II (GA-DVL2-2) (Cirrus Logic CL-GD5434) has added.
 2022 Apr 21 — Matrox Impression Lite (IS-ATHENA R1) has added.
 2022 May 17 — Trident TGUI9400CXi and Trident TGUI9420DGi had retested in an other motherboard.
 2022 Nov 30 — Trident TGUI9440-1 has added.
 2022 Nov 30 — All Trident cards and the Matrox Impression Lite have been retested by Duff.








Video chips using VESA Local Bus compatibility with motherboards


Panda 386V
(ALI M1429)		 Data Expert EXP-3406
(OPTi 495XLC)

Doom II demo and timedemo stops		 ASUS VL/I-468SVGO
(SiS 471 RU)		 4DMS=HL3G-L4-VI
(SiS 471 ST)		 TMC PAT48PG-0.30
(OPTi 895)		 QDI V4P895P3/SMT 5.0
(OPTi 895)

Prehistorik 2 always crashes in game		 Jetway J437
(VIA 496G)		 SOYO 4SAW2
(SiS 496/497)		 PcChips M912 v6.1
(UMC UM8498F)
JP17 ON = WS1		 PcChips M919 v3.4B/F
(UMC 8881/8886)		 NexGen Nx586 VESA/ISA
(NexGen NxVL)
SPGA463 Nx586 mb

run as "P75"		 EDOM 586VIP
(OPTi 546/547)
Socket 5 Pentium mb

Prehistorik2:
freezes if system BIOS cacheable is enabled		 Jetway 503 VIP
(OPTi 596/597)
Socket 4 Pentium mb

Prehistorik2:
freezes if system BIOS cacheable is enabled		 DFI G586VPA
(VIA 535MV/531MV)
Socket 5 Pentium mb

this is the slowest Socket 5 board I have ever seen
Alliance ProMotion 3210 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK Prehistorik2:
"FATAL! : Video not 100% compatible VGA !"
but with turned off CPU L1 cache it is OK 		Prehistorik2:
"FATAL! : Video not 100% compatible VGA !"
but with turned off CPU L1 cache it is OK 		OK OK OK OK OK
ARK Logic ARK1000VL OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
(if waitstate is 1)		 OK
(if waitstate is 1)		 OK OK OK OK OK
ARK Logic ARK1000PV OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK
(if waitstate is 1)		 OK
(if waitstate is 1)		 OK OK OK OK OK
ATI Mach32
(688LX20)		 Prehistorik2:
"FATAL! : Video not 100% compatible VGA !"		 Prehistorik2:
"FATAL! : Video not 100% compatible VGA !"		 OK OK Prehistorik2
title screen:
2nd fading is missing		 Prehistorik2
title screen:
2nd fading is missing		 OK OK not boot wrong colors in Doom OK Prehistorik2
title screen:
2nd fading is missing		 OK OK
Avance Logic ALG2201 OK boot halts at beginning OK OK OK OK OK OK not boot OK OK OK OK OK
Avance Logic ALG2228 OK
(if waitstate is 1)		 OK
(if waitstate is 1)		 OK OK OK OK OK
(if waitstate is 1)		 OK
(if waitstate is 1)		 not boot boot halts at clearing the screen OK
(if waitstate is 1)		 OK OK OK
CHIPS F64300
(Chips and Technologies 64300)		 Doom sometimes not starts OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK wrong colors in Doom OK not boot OK Prehistorik2:
freezes
Cirrus Logic CL-GD5424 not stable OK freezes OK OK OK OK boot halts at OS boot OK wrong colors in Doom OK Doom:
problem with falling menu screen and end text screen		 Doom:
problem with falling menu screen and end text screen		 Doom:
problem with falling menu screen and end text screen
Cirrus Logic CL-GD5426 OK OK freezes OK serious problems
not stable		 not stable OK Prehistorik2:
small problem with caveman and other elements		 OK not boot OK gives a wrong text/image from Video BIOS boot not boot
Cirrus Logic CL-GD5428 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK not boot OK Doom:
problem with falling menu screen and end text screen		 Doom:
problem with falling menu screen and end text screen
Cirrus Logic CL-GD5434
[I-O DATA Major Accela GA-DVL II]		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK freezes wrong colors in Doom OK OK OK OK
IIT AGX015
(IIT AGX-015)
[Hercules Graphite VL Pro]
with single RAMDAC: BrookTree Bt481		 OK OK sometimes
SB Pro sound
continuous
clicking problem
in Doom II		 OK Doom II halt for a randomly long time Doom II halt for a randomly long time OK OK not boot OK Doom:
problem with the end text screen		 Doom:
problem with the end text screen		 OK Doom:
problem with the end text screen
Matrox Impression Lite
(IS-ATHENA R1)		 halt at boot OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK wrong colors in Doom OK OK OK OK
S3 805-P
(86C805-P)
[Diamond Stealth 24VL]		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK lot problems not boot wrong colors in Doom OK OK OK not boot
S3 805-Q
(86C805-Q)
[Digital Equipment Corp. PC76H-EA]		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK not boot wrong colors in Doom OK OK OK halt at boot
S3 805i
(86C805i-P)		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK not boot wrong colors in Doom OK OK OK OK
S3 Vision864
(86C864-P)
[Diamond Stealth 64 DRAM VLB]		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK wrong colors in Doom OK OK OK OK
S3 Vision868
(86C868-P)
[Diamond Stealth Video VLB]		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK sometimes wrong colors in Doom OK OK OK OK
S3 Vision964
(86C964-P)
[Number Nine #9GXE64 Pro]		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK wrong colors in Doom OK OK OK OK
S3 Trio64
(86C764)
[SPEA V7-Mirage P64 VL]		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK sometimes wrong colors in Doom OK OK OK OK
Trident TGUI9400CXi OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK halts at boot Doom:
wrong colors

Prehistorik2:
1st and 2nd screense are missing;
fadings are missing		 OK OK OK first BIOS screen not visiable

Doom:
wrong colors

Prehistorik2:
"FATAL! : Video not 100% compatible VGA !"
Trident TGUI9420DGi OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK not boot wrong colors in Doom OK OK OK
Trident TGUI9440AGi OK OK OK OK OK OK OK DOS/4GW crashes OK wrong colors in Doom OK OK OK halt at boot
Trident TGUI9660
[I-O DATA DRAGONSTAR 64 GA-DR2/VLB]		 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK wrong colors in Doom OK OK OK halt at boot
Tseng ET4000/W32P OK OK OK OK OK OK OK not boot Prehistorik2:
"FATAL! : Video not 100% compatible VGA !"
but with turned off CPU L1 cache it is OK 		card not starts OK not boot not boot Prehistorik2:
"FATAL! : Video not 100% compatible VGA !"
but with turned off CPU L1 cache it is OK
Weitek Power 9000
[Diamond VIPER VLB (later type)]
with OAK OTI087X (for VGA compatibility: 16bit frame buffer; bit block transfer; LineDraw)
BIOS version: 3.09		 OK not tested OK not tested OK OK OK not tested not tested not tested OK not tested Prehistorik2:
"FATAL! : Video not 100% compatible VGA !"
but with turned off CPU L1 cache it is OK 		OK
Western Digital WD90C33 OK OK OK OK OK OK OK OK card not starts wrong colors in Doom OK OK OK OK