STB PowerGraph / PowerGraph VGA / Ergo VGA
The PowerGraph, also sold as the PowerGraph VGA and PowerGraph Ergo-VGA, was a Super VGA card based on the Tseng Labs ET4000 chipset, released in 1990. It came with 512 KB in DRAM sockets.
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Released | 1990 |
| Bus | ISA 16-bit | |
| Chipset | Tseng Labs ET4000AX | |
| Standards | Hercules, CGA, EGA, VGA | |
| Memory | 512 KB | |
| RAMDAC | Kyocera KD0476CN | |
| Ports | 15-pin DSUB (analogue video out) | |
| Part # | - | |
| FCC ID | - | |
| Price | $201 (512 KB) | |
| See Also | VGA/640, MS Plus |
I ran some benchmark tests with this card in my OPTi 386/486 Hybrid motherboard review (page 2).
Board Revisions
I don't have any information on board revisions for the PowerGraph card.
Competition
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In the Media
PROS: Low price, fast AutoCAD performance
CONS: Menuless driver installation
At a street price of $201 with 512K of RAM, STB's PowerGraph Ergo-VGA is
one of the three least expensive boards reviewed. It's an attractive buy, offering both fast performance and nearly switchless installation.
The PowerGraph tied for first place in the AutoCAD tests. CAD performance hounds should note that this board lists for $200 less than Orchid's equally speedy ProDesigner II.
As with the SigmaVGA Legend, you may have to move a jumper or two: one for 72-Hz screen refresh at 800 by 600, and the other to avoid conflicts with your network card. When you install drivers, there are no menus; you must do so from the command line.
If you use AutoCAD and you're looking for a fast VGA board at a bargain price, the PowerGraph is an excellent choice." PC World, August 1991
Setting it Up
The PowerGraph has jumpers to configure the card:
| Jumper | Value | Up Position |
Down Position |
|---|---|---|---|
| J1 | Zero Wait-State | On | Off |
| J2 | IRQ 2/9(for feature connector use) | On | Off |
| J3 | Vertical Screen Refresh Rate | S:60Hz 640x480 60Hz 800x600 56Hz 1024x768 interlaced |
E:72Hz 640x480 72Hz 800x600 72Hz 1024x768 60Hz |
| J5 | BIOS Interface | Left:(preferred) A: 8-Bit | Right: 16-Bit |
Downloads
For Windows 95 drivers, just use the suggested drivers that come with the operating system. The same for Windows NT 3.51 and NT 4.0 - use the included ET4000 drivers.
Operation Manual Get in touch if you can provide this missing item! |
Original Utility Disk Includes setmode, demo, etc for the ERGO. |
ROM BIOS Get in touch if you can provide this missing item!, |
Windows 3.x Drivers Windows 3.0/3.1 drivers for P/G, P/V, & ERGO. This is the full set of drivers including all resolutions. |
More Pictures
Another STB Systems PowerGraph card