On 10/22/2010 10:45 PM, Peter Stuge wrote:
quoted text
> Patrick McNamara wrote:
>    
>> Well, we have the windows piece, and then the fact that almost
>> every PC BIOS on the planet needs VGA text mode and/or occasionally
>> VGA graphics mode.
>>      
> No BIOS I have seen requires VGA text mode. It can not know. And many
> BIOS are happy even without a VGA BIOS in the system.
>
> If your does happen to require a VGA BIOS, and you don't have one
> otherwise, then you can always use SGABIOS, or create a derivative,
> to suit your needs.
>
> But now there is a VGA BIOS for OGD1 so the point is moot.
>
>
> //Peter
> _______________________________________________
>
>    

I suppose I should clarify what I meant by required.  You are correct 
that it is not required to boot the system.  However, in order to change 
any BIOS settings or interact with the system prior to a driver being 
loaded (the grub boot menu, for example), a basic text and/or VESA 
graphics capability is needed.

Here is an example.  The test system I am using has an on board video 
controller and I have an OGD1 card installed.  I can select which card 
is used as the primary graphics by selecting whether the PCI or AGP 
(yes, its old) graphics card is initialized first.  In order to switch 
this I have to be able to go into the BIOS settings.  If the system is 
configured to select the OGD1 card first, it has to support basic VGA 
text so that I can use it to switch the BIOS setting.

All that said, I agree with Tim, in general, VGA performance is not a 
major focus.  Having the basic functionality is important though.

Patirck M
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