ATI Wonder series

Last updated
ATI Wonder series
Release date1986;37 years ago (1986)
CodenameWonder
Cards
Entry-levelWonder MDA/CGA
Mid-rangeWonder EGA
High-endWonder VGA
History
Successor Mach series
Support status
Unsupported

The ATI Wonder series represents some of the first video card add-on products for IBM Personal Computers and compatibles introduced by ATI Technologies in the mid to late 1980s. These cards were unique at the time as they offered the end user a considerable amount of value by combining support for multiple graphics standards (and monitors) into a single card. The VGA Wonder series added additional value with the inclusion of a bus mouse port, which normally required the installation of a dedicated Microsoft Mouse adapter.

Contents

The VGA Wonder series later merged with the ATI Mach series of cards in 1990. The ATI Graphics Ultra (VRAM) and ATI Graphics Vantage (DRAM) cards both featured independent VGA Wonder ASICs in addition to their Mach8 8514 compatible graphics processor. The Graphics Ultra was later renamed the VGA Wonder GT. In 1992, their following product line, the Mach32, integrated the VGA wonder core and coprocessor into a single IC. At this point the VGA Wonder line was cancelled and replaced with a cost reduced DRAM based version of Mach32 known as the "ATI Graphics Wonder".

MDA/CGA cards

One of the early graphics cards from ATI Technologies: a Graphics Solution Rev 3 Hercules graphics card from 1986. As can be seen from the PCB the layout was done in 1985, whereas the marking on the central chip CW16800-A says "8639" meaning that chip was manufactured week 39, 1986. ATI Hercules Card 1986.xcf
One of the early graphics cards from ATI Technologies: a Graphics Solution Rev 3 Hercules graphics card from 1986. As can be seen from the PCB the layout was done in 1985, whereas the marking on the central chip CW16800-A says "8639" meaning that chip was manufactured week 39, 1986.

Release Date: 1986

ATI Graphics Solution Rev 3

ATI Color Emulation Card

ATI Graphics Solution plus (1987)

Graphics Solution Plus SP

Graphics Solution SR

ATI Small Wonder Graphics Solution ATI Small Wonder Graphics Solution.jpg
ATI Small Wonder Graphics Solution

ATI Small Wonder Graphics Solution (1988)

Graphics Solution Single Chip or GS-SC with Game (1988)

EGA cards

ATI EGA Wonder 480 ATI EGA Wonder 480.jpg
ATI EGA Wonder 480
ATI EGA Wonder 800 AT EGA Wonder 800.jpg
ATI EGA Wonder 800
ATI EGA Wonder 800+ ATI EGA Wonder 800+-9841.jpg
ATI EGA Wonder 800+

Release Date: 1987

ATI EGA Wonder (March 1987)

ATI EGA Wonder 480

ATI EGA Wonder 800

ATI EGA Wonder 800+

VGA cards

Release Date: 1987

ATI VIP or VGA Improved Performance (1987)

ATI VGA Wonder (1988)

ATI VGA Edge 8

ATI VGA Wonder-16 ATI VGA Wonder-16.jpg
ATI VGA Wonder-16

ATI VGA Wonder-16 (1988)

ATI VGA Edge-16

ATI VGA Wonder+ (1990)

ATI VGA Wonder+ ATI Wonder.jpg
ATI VGA Wonder+

ATI VGA Integra (1990)

ATI VGA Basic-16 (1990)

ATI VGA Charger (1991)

ATI VGA Wonder XL (May 1991)

ATI VGA Stereo·F/X

ATI VGA Stereo*F/X ATI VGA Stereo FX.jpg
ATI VGA Stereo·F/X

ATI VGA Wonder XL24 (1992)

ATI VGA Wonder 1024

See also

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