Editing Multi-Color Graphics Array

{{short description|Video subsystem built into the motherboard of the IBM PS/2 Model 30}}
{{Multiple issues|{{More citations needed|date=May 2023}}
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{{Infobox GPU
| name = Multi-Color Graphics Array
| image = 
| codename = 
| created = {{Start date and age|1987|04}}
| transistors = 
| entry = [[IBM PS/2 Model 30]] & [[IBM PS/2 Model 25|25]] motherboards; [[Epson Equity]] Ie motherboard; [[Delta Computer]] DG-630 motherboard<ref name=deltagoldii>{{cite journal | last=Brownstein | first=Mark | date=May 30, 1988 | url=https://books.google.com/books?id=4D4EAAAAMBAJ&pg=PA27 | title=Delta Announces PC-Compatible Product Line | journal=InfoWorld | publisher=IDG Publications | volume=10 | issue=22 | page=27 | via=Google Books}}</ref>
| midrange = 
| highend  = 
| enthusiast  = 
| openglversion = 
| d3dversion = 
| predecessor = [[Color Graphics Adapter]]
| successor   = [[Video Graphics Array]]
}}

The '''Multi-Color Graphics Array''' or '''MCGA''' is a [[Video card|video subsystem]] built into the [[motherboard]] of the [[IBM PS/2 Model 30]], introduced in April 1987, and [[IBM PS/2 Model 25|Model 25]], introduced later in August 1987; no standalone MCGA cards were ever made.<ref>{{Cite book |last1=Sanchez |first1=Julio |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=gZ5SDTpMR-MC&pg=PA122 |title=The PC Graphics Handbook |last2=Canton |first2=Maria P. |publisher=CRC Press |year=2003 |pages=122|isbn=9780203010532 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.vogons.org/viewtopic.php?t=95426 | title=MCGA Games (PC/DOS) - LCD vs CRT \ VOGONS }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://ancientelectronics.wordpress.com/2014/12/19/epson-equity-1e | title=Epson Equity 1e | date=20 December 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://nerdlypleasures.blogspot.com/2012/04/unique-pc-hardware-game-support.html | title=Nerdly Pleasures: Unique PC Hardware & Game Support | date=28 April 2012 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U4Ij3Ak7tak | title=Epson Equity 1e | website=[[YouTube]] | date=4 August 2015 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFih3TTpRR0 | title=Epson Equity 1e a second look | website=[[YouTube]] | date=23 May 2022 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web | url=https://www.swiat-owocow.pl/lang/en/1285.html | title=The secret story of MCGA | date=26 December 2020 }}</ref>

The MCGA supports all [[Color Graphics Adapter|CGA]] display modes plus {{resx|640x480}} monochrome at a refresh rate of 60&nbsp;[[Hertz|Hz]], and {{resx|320x200}} with 256 colors (out of an [[List of monochrome and RGB color formats#18-bit RGB|18-bit RGB palette of 262,144]]) at 70&nbsp;Hz. The display adapter uses a [[D-subminiature|DE-15]] connector, sometimes referred to as HD-15.

MCGA is similar to [[Video Graphics Array|VGA]] in that it had a 256-color mode (the 256-color mode in VGA was sometimes referred to as MCGA) and uses 15-pin analog connectors. The PS/2 chipset's limited abilities prevent [[Enhanced Graphics Adapter|EGA]] compatibility and high-resolution multi-color VGA display modes.

The tenure of MCGA was brief; the PS/2 Model 25 and Model 30 were discontinued by 1992, and the only manufacturer to produce a clone of this display adapter was [[Epson]], in the [[Epson Equity|Equity Ie]] and [[Epson PSE-30|PSE-30]], since the VGA standard introduced at the same time was considered superior.<ref>{{Cite book |last=REM |url=https://files.support.epson.com/pdf/e1e___/e1e___ps.pdf |title=Equity Ie - CGA/EGA/VGA/MCGA Video Mode Compatibility |publisher=Epson |year=1989 |pages=13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last=Farquhar |first=Dave |date=May 2022 |title=MCGA vs VGA |url=https://dfarq.homeip.net/mcga-vs-vga/ |website=The Silicon Underground}}</ref>

==Software support==
The 256-color mode proved most popular for gaming. 256-color VGA games ran fine on MCGA as long as they stuck to the basic {{resx|320x200}} 256-color mode and didn't attempt to use VGA-specific features such as multiple screen pages.

Games lacking support for 256-color graphics were forced to fall back to four-color CGA mode (or not run at all) due to the incompatibility with EGA video modes ({{resx|320x200}}, {{resx|640x200}}, or {{resx|640x350}}, all in 16 colors). Some games, including point-and-click adventures from [[Sierra On-line]] and [[Lucasfilm Games]], as well as simulation and strategy titles from [[Microprose]], solved this problem for low-resolution titles by supporting the MCGA's {{resx|320x200}} 256-color mode and picking the colors most resembling the EGA 16-color RGB palette, while leaving the other available colors in that mode unused. 

Higher resolution titles were often unsupported unless graphics could be converted into either MCGA low or high ({{resx|640x480}} monochrome, which would also support {{resx|640x400}} and {{resx|640x350}} with some letterboxing) resolution mode in an acceptable fashion. An alternative approach used by a small number of (generally earlier) games was to use four-color CGA assets but make use of the adaptor's ability to freely change the palette for a slightly enhanced appearance.

==Output capabilities==
MCGA offered:
*'''{{resx|640x480}} monochrome''' (mode 11h)
*'''{{resx|320x200}} in 256 colors''' (from a palette of 262,144; mode 13h)

CGA compatible modes:
*'''{{resx|40x25}} text mode''' with 8×8 pixel font (effective resolution of {{resx|320x200}}; mode 0/1h)
*'''{{resx|80x25}} text mode''' with 8×8 pixel font (effective resolution of {{resx|640x200}}; mode 2/3h)
*'''{{resx|320x200}} in four colors''' from a 16 color hardware palette with a pixel aspect ratio of 1:1.2. (mode 4/5h)
*'''{{resx|640x200}} in two colors''' with a pixel aspect ratio of 1:2.4 (mode 6h)

==See also==
*[[List of defunct graphics chips and card companies]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}
* {{cite book |first=Scott |last=Mueller |title=Upgrading and Repairing PCs |edition=Second |publisher=Que Books |year=1992 |isbn=0-88022-856-3 |url-access=registration |url=https://archive.org/details/upgradingrepairi0000muel_2ndedition }}

{{Computer display standard}}
{{IBM personal computers}}

[[Category:Computer display standards]]
[[Category:IBM PS/2]]
[[Category:IBM video hardware|Multi-Color Graphics Adapter]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1987]]