CompuServe Messages

Here is a message I posted to the gamdev forum a while back. I lean towards mode 13, because it is easier to program and it is faster on new systems. Mode X advantages: 1) Fast VRAM-VRAM blits. This isn't a big advantage anymore with PCI and VLB cards. In fact, I'm not even sure if it is faster on these types of cards. 2) Hardware scrolling. There are very limited uses for hardware scrolling. If you wanted to use hardware scrolling, you would have to combine it with a dirty rectangle algorithm. This would be a pain and may end up slower, than just rewdrawing the screen every time. 3) Square pixels. 4) Smooth animation with page flipping. This is still a good reason to use mode X. Although there are ways to get smooth animation in 13h. 5) Tripple buffering, so that you don't have to wait for verticle retrace. Another good reason to use mode X. You can waist a lot of time waiting for verticle retrace. It is possible to time the verticle retrace in mode 13h, but it is a lot harder to program than tripple buffering. Mode X Disadvantages: 1) HARDER TO PROGRAM 2) Slower. This is debatable. It usually depends on the aplication. Mode 13h advantages: 1) EASY TO PROGRAM 2) Faster. Again this is debatable. 3) Easier to port to Windows and OS/2. Mode 13h disadvantages: 1) TEARING. PCI and VLB video cards can blit a screen fast enough that you will not get any tearing. You can also avoid tearing on slow cards by waiting for the end of verticle retrace.