Super Video Graphics Array
Super Video Graphics Array
Super Video Graphics Array (SVGA) is a video standard that emerged in the early 1990s, enabling higher resolutions and colors than previous display technologies, and became the de facto standard for personal computer graphics during the decade.
Super Video Graphics Array
Super Video Graphics Array (SVGA) refers to a high-resolution graphics standard developed by the Video Electronics Standards Association (VESA) in 1989. It defines the minimum requirements for graphics adapters and monitors to support higher resolutions and color depths than the previous Video Graphics Array (VGA) standard.
SVGA’s primary feature is its support for resolutions up to 1024 x 768 pixels, significantly enhancing the display capabilities of personal computers. It also introduced a wider color palette, allowing for more vivid and realistic images. The standard defined several modes with different resolutions, color depths, and refresh rates, enabling developers to optimize graphics performance based on specific applications.
Applications
SVGA has played a crucial role in the advancement of computer graphics. Its higher resolutions enabled the development of more sophisticated and immersive graphical user interfaces (GUIs), paving the way for modern operating systems and applications. SVGA’s enhanced color capabilities facilitated the creation of vibrant and eye-catching Multimedia content, such as images, videos, and presentations.
In the gaming industry, SVGA’s support for higher resolutions and color depths allowed for more detailed and realistic 2D and 3D graphics. This innovation significantly contributed to the popularity and advancement of PC gaming, enabling the development of immersive and visually stunning gaming experiences.
History
SVGA emerged in response to the limitations of VGA, which was the dominant graphics standard at the time. VGA was limited to a resolution of 640 x 480 pixels and a color depth of 16 colors, which proved insufficient for advancing graphical capabilities.
In 1989, VESA introduced the SVGA standard, which addressed these shortcomings by defining a series of higher resolution and color depth modes. SVGA quickly gained widespread adoption, becoming the de facto standard for graphics adapters and monitors.
Over time, SVGA evolved to support even higher resolutions and color depths. In 1994, VESA released the SVGA 2.0 specification, which introduced support for resolutions up to 1600 x 1200 pixels and a 24-Bit color palette. This further enhanced the capabilities of personal computers for both professional and entertainment applications.