ARK Logic ARK1000VL / ARK1000PV / ARK2000PV
The ARK1000VL, ARK1000PV and ARK2000PV were 2D graphics accelerator chips designed and manufactured by ARK Logic. The 1000VL and 1000PV were the 32-bit variants and 2000PV was the 64-bit one.
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Released | May 1995 |
| Bus | VESA Local Bus (ARK1000VL) or PCI (ARK1000PV and ARK2000PV) | |
| Standards | Super VGA | |
| Memory | 1 MB to 4 MB of FPM DRAM | |
| Part # | ||
| See Also | ARK2000MT |
The graphics accelerator GUI engine supported graphics functions such as BITBLT, Line Draw, Pattern-BLT, Color Expansion, and Raster-OPs that were extensively used by GUI-based application programs. The products provided resolutions ranging from 640x480 to 1600x1200 pixels and color depths from 4 to 24 bits per pixel depending on the resolution and amount of DRAM installed.
The ARK devices were able to display near photo realistic images with 24-bit color modes (16.7 million colors per pixel) at resolutions up to 800 x 600. Flicker-free displays were supported with refresh rates up to 90 Hz. ARK Logic provided display driver software for Windows 95, Windows 3.1, Windows NT, OS/2 Warp, and AutoCAD.
ARK1000PV and ARK1000VL were their first graphics accelerators, joined shortly after with the ARK2000PV.
Both chips supported a memory clock of 80 MHz, with the ARK1000PV able to access up to 2 MB of FPM DRAM, and the ARK2000PV able to access up to 4 MB of FPM DRAM. The core clock is not known, but likely 100 MHz - 135 MHz.
A special variant of the ARK1000PV for the VESA Local Bus was called ARK1000VL.
All these chips had excellent native DOS compatibility - on par with Cirrus Logic chips up to CL-GD544x.
The ARK1000PV can be found on the following graphics cards:
- Hercules Stingray Pro (PCI, 1 MB)
- Octek PVGA-1000 (PCI, 1 MB)
- Paradise/Western Digital Bali32 (PCI, 1 MB or 2 MB)
The ARK2000PV can be found on the following graphics cards:
- Diamond Stealth64 2001 (PCI, 1 MB or 2 MB)
- Hercules Stingray 64 (PCI, 1 MB or 2 MB)
- Octek Speed 64 (PCI, 1 MB or 2 MB)
- Legend 64 (PCI, 1 MB or 2 MB)
Chip Revisions
I have no information on revisions of the 1000PV or 2000PV.
Competition
Cirrus Logic were probably ARK Logic's main competitor. In 1994 they already had the first of their new Alpine chips out (CL-GD5434 and CL-GD5436).
In the Media
Downloads
It is advisable to firstly check your graphics card manufacturer's website for drivers (or on DOS Days, do a search for your card) and use the drivers for that. If there are none available, try these.
ARK1000PV Datasheet **Only front summary page and block diagram** |
ARK2000PV Datasheet **Only front summary page and block diagram** |
Windows 3.1 Drivers
Windows 3.1 display drivers |
Windows 95 Drivers
Windows 95 display drivers |
Windows 95 Drivers
Windows 95 display drivers for ARK1000VL only |
Windows 95 Drivers
Windows 95 display drivers for ARK1000PV, ARK2000PV, and ARK2000MT |
Windows 95 Drivers
Windows 95 display drivers for ARK2000MI and ARK2000MI+ |
Windows NT 3.5x Drivers
Windows NT 3.50/3.51 display drivers |
Windows NT 4 Drivers
Windows NT4 display drivers |
Windows NT 4 Drivers
Windows NT4 display drivers |
OS/2 Warp 3.0 Drivers
OS/2 Warp 3.0 display drivers |
OS/2 Warp 4.0 Drivers
OS/2 Warp 4.0 display drivers ** WILL ONLY WORK WITH WARP 4 ** |
More Pictures