# List of home computers by video hardware

This is a list of home computers, sorted alphanumerically, which lists all relevant details of their video hardware.
Home computers are the second generation of desktop computers, entering the market in 1977 and becoming common during the 1980s. A decade later they were generally replaced by IBM PC compatible "PCs", although technically home computers are also classified as personal computers.
Examples of early home computers are the TRS-80, Atari 8-bit computers, BBC Micro, ZX Spectrum, MSX, Amstrad CPC 464, and Commodore 64. Examples of late home computers are MSX 2 systems, and the Amiga and Atari ST systems.
Note: in cases of manufacturers who have made both home and personal computers, only machines fitting into the home computer category are listed. Systems in the personal computer category, except for Early Macintosh PCs, are generally based on the VGA standard and use a video chip known as a Graphics Processing Unit. Very early PCs used one of the much simpler (even compared to most home computer video hardware) video display controller cards, using parts like the MDA, the Hercules Graphics Card, the CGA and the EGA standard). Only after the introduction of the VGA standard could PCs really compete with the home computers of the same era, such as the Amiga and Atari ST, or even with the MSX-2. Also, not listed are systems that are typically only gaming systems, like the Atari 2600 and the Bally Astrocade, even though these systems could sometimes be upgraded to resemble a home computer.

## The importance of having capable video hardware

Early home computers all used similar hardware and software, mostly using the 6502, the Z80, or in a few cases the 6809 microprocessor. They could have as little as 1 KB of RAM or as much as 128K, and software-wise, they could use a small 4K BASIC interpreter, or an extended 12K or more BASIC. The basic systems were quite similar with the exception of the video display hardware. As a result, the success of a system proved to primarily rely on the performance of the video display hardware, since this had a direct implication on the kind of games that could be played on the system.
The most important aspect of a home computer was how far programmers could push the hardware to create games. A case in point is the Commodore 64. Its microprocessor lacked advanced math functions and was relatively slow. In addition, the built-in BASIC interpreter lacked any sort of graphics commands, as it was the same version that was developed for the older Commodore PET (a computer without any high-resolution graphics capabilities at all). However, these drawbacks were of little consequence, because the C64 had the VIC-II chip. When accessed by machine language programs, the graphic capabilities of this chip made it practical to develop arcade-style games on a home system. Additionally, specific machine language code exploiting quirks of the VIC-II chip allowed for special tricks to draw even better pictures out of the VIC-II chip. The comparatively large memory and the audio capabilities of the C64 also lent themselves well toward the production of larger games. An example of the opposite is the Aquarius by Mattel which had such incredibly limited video hardware that it was retracted from the market after only four months due to poor sales.

### Video arbitration logic

One major problem that early computer video hardware had to overcome was the video bus arbitration problem. The problem was determining a way to give both the video hardware (VDU) and the CPU continuous read access to the video RAM. The obvious solution, using interleaving time slots for the VDU and RAM was hard to implement because the logic circuits and video memory chips of the time did not have the switching speed necessary to do so. For higher resolutions, the logic and the memory chips were barely fast enough to support reading the display data, let alone for dedicating half the available time for the slow 8-bit CPU. That being said, one system, the Apple II, was one of the first to use a feature of the data-bus logic of the 6502 processor to implement a very early interleaving time slot mechanism to eliminate this problem. The BBC Micro used 4 MHz RAM with a 2 MHz 6502 in order to interleave video accesses with CPU accesses.
Most other systems used a much simpler approach, and the TRS-80's video logic was so primitive that it simply did not have any bus arbitration at all. The CPU had access to the video memory at all times. Writing to the video RAM simply disabled the video display logic. The result was that the screen often displayed random horizontal black stripes on screen when there was heavy access to the video RAM, like during a video game.
Most systems avoided the problem by having a status register that the CPU could read, and which showed when the CPU could safely write to the video memory. That was possible because a composite video signal blanks the video output signal during the "blanking periods" of the horizontal and especially the long vertical video sync pulses. So by simply waiting for the next blanking period, the stripes were avoidable. This approach did have one disadvantage, it relied on the software not to write to the screen during the non-blanking periods. If the software ignored the status register the stripes would re-appear. Another approach, used by most other machines of the time, was to temporarily stop the CPU using the "WAIT/BUSRQ" (Z80) "WAIT" (6809) or "SYNC" (6502) control signal whenever the CPU tried to write to the screen during a non-blanking period. Yet another, more advanced, the solution was to add a hardware FIFO so that the CPU could write to the FIFO instead of directly to the RAM chips, which were updated from the FIFO during a blanking interval by special logic circuitry. Some later systems started using special "two-port" video memory, called VRAM, that had independent data output pins for the CPU interface and the video logic.

## The main classes of video hardware

There are two main categories of solutions for a home computer to generate a video signal:
* A custom design, either built from discrete logic chips or based around some kind of custom logic chips (an ASIC or PLD).
* A system using some form of video display controller (VDC), a VLSI chip that contained most of the logic circuitry needed to generate the video signal
Systems in the first category were the most flexible and could offer a wide range of (sometimes unique) capabilities, but generally speaking, the second category could offer a much more complex system for a comparatively lower price.
The VDC based systems can be divided into four sub-categories:
* Simple video shift register based solutions, have a simple "video shifter chip", and the main CPU doing most of the complex stuff. Only one example of such a chip for a home computer exists, the RCA CDP1861 used in the COSMAC VIP. It could only create a very low-resolution monochrome graphic screen. The chip in the Sinclair ZX-81 also is a video shifter but is a custom logic chip (a ULA) rather than a single-purpose commercial IC like the CDP1861. Dedicated Video shifter chips did have some use in very early game systems, most notably the Television Interface Adaptor chip in the Atari 2600. Note that although one of the chips in an Atari ST is also called a "video shift register" it does not fall into this class, mainly because the IC's in this class depends on the main CPU to feed them with picture data. They do nothing more than generating the sync signals and convert parallel data into a serial video data stream. The Atari ST's chip used a DMA system to read out video data independent of the main CPU and contained a palette RAM, and resolution/color mode switching logic.
* CRTC (Cathode Ray Tube Controller) based solutions. A CRTC is a chip that generates most of the basic timing and control signals. It must be complemented with some "Video RAM" and some other logic for the "arbitration" so that the CPU and the CRTC chip can share access to this RAM. To complete the design, a CRTC chip also needs some other support logic. For example, a ROM containing the bitmap font for text modes, and logic to convert the output from the system into a video signal.
* Video interface controllers were a step up on the ladder, these were true VLSI chips that integrated all of the logic that was in a typical CRTC based system, plus a lot more, into a single chip. The VIC-II chip is probably the best-known chip of this category.
* Video co-processor chips are at the highest end of the scale; Video interface controllers that can manipulate, and/or interpret and display, the contents of their own dedicated Video RAM without intervention from the main CPU. These chips are highly flexible offering options and features with minimal CPU involvement that on other systems are impossible or at best difficult to produce, requiring extensive CPU overhead. The Atari ANTIC/GTIA and Amiga OCS/ECS/AGA are well known examples of this high-feature category. But note that not all video co-processors are powerful, some are even simpler than many Video interface controllers, notably the primitive SAA5243 which is still technically a co-processor.

## Explanation of the terms used in the tables
### System Name

    The name of the system, or if there are many similar versions, the name of the most well-known variant, see Notes.

### Year

    The year that the first version of this system came on the market.

### Chip name

    The name of the chip that was used as the basis for the video logic.

### Video RAM

    The maximum amount of RAM used for the video display, depending on the resolution used the system may use less.

### Video mode(s) [i.e. Text mode(s) and Graphics modes]

    The numbers of characters per line and lines of text the system supported and the number of colors they could have. Sometimes more than one mode was possible: The number of horizontal and Vertical pixels the system could display in a high resolution mode and The number of colors each pixel could have in High-resolution mode, where several high-resolution modes exist each one is listed separately. Beginning with the Xerox Alto, systems forwent independent text modes and drew text on a high-resolution graphics screen. This required more video RAM, but also freed computer fonts from a fixed grid.

### Font extras

    Describes extra graphical possibilities a video system had because of optional features of their character sets, there are currently three categories:

### LC

    Some systems could only display upper case characters in text mode because of their limited character set, If a system was able to also support lower case letters in a text mode, (in any high-resolution mode it is of course always possible), then there is LC (for Lower Case) in this column.

### BG

    Some systems used a matrix of blocky pixels instead of a letter in their font sets (or used dedicated hardware to emulate them, like the TRS-80 did), to support some sort of all points addressable (APA) mode. It's hard to call this a "high resolution" mode because the resolution could be as low as 80×48 pixels, but in any case, it was possible to draw pictures with them. In the case of systems that used such a system as its "APA" mode, there is BG (for Block Graphics) in this column.

### SG

    Some other systems used semi graphical characters like box-drawing characters dots and card symbols, and "graphical building block" geometric shapes such as triangles to give the system the appearance it could do high-resolution graphics while in reality it could not, Systems like that have SG (for semi graphical characters) in this column. Many systems like the PET had a few of such characters dedicated to blocking graphics for an APA mode as well, often only for 2×2 matrix characters. Sometimes the system filled (or could fill) a reprogrammable section of the font set which such characters, these systems mainly fall under the "soft font" heading. Note that the BG and SG entries are only used when the system relied on them, had them predefined in its default character set, or, (what often happened on early systems) had them printed on the keyboard keys for direct entry in combination with some kind of "graphic shift" key.

### Soft font

    When the system had a programmable font RAM instead of a static "font ROM", or when the video system did not have a hardware text mode, but painted text in the high-res screen using software, the video display wasn't dependent on a permanent font set, in this case we are talking about a system with a "soft" font.

### Color resolution

    in "high-resolution mode" it was often the case that a certain pixel could not be given an arbitrary color, often certain clusters of pixels, (quite often 8×8 pixels large) shared the same "color attribute", so as to spare video memory, as an 8-bit computer only had a 64 KB address space, and the CPU often had limited capabilities to manipulate video memory, therefore it was often necessary to keep the video RAM size as small as possible, so a minimum of the address space of the micro was used, and also the video content could be changed relatively rapidly.

### Palette support

    If the system could translate a "logical color" into a (larger number) or true colors using a palette mechanism then this column lists the number of logical colors the palette could accept, and the number of colors it could translate to.

### HW accel

    Short for "hardware acceleration", can take several forms, the most obvious form is "bit blitting", that is the moving of groups of pixels from one place in video memory to another without the CPU doing any of the moving, another often-used technique is hardware scrolling which in fact emulates moving the whole screen in the video RAM, the third form of hardware acceleration is the use of sprites implemented in hardware. Some systems also supported drawing lines (and sometimes rectangles) using special line drawing hardware. The entry in the column reveals which methods the hardware supported with two letters for each method.

### BL

    For blitter

### DR

    For hardware supported line drawing

### SC

    For hardware scrolling support

### SP

    For hardware sprite support

### TE

    For hardware Tile engine support in graphic mode

### Sprite details

    Covers three facets of the sprite support hardware the system used. Each number in the table cell is preceded by two letters.

### S#

    For the first facet, is the total number of hardware sprites the system could support, in hardware (not counting re-use of the same hardware). if the system doesn't support hardware sprites at all the table cell only contains "-" . If S# is 1 then the single sprite is most often used to support a mouse cursor.

### SS

    For the second facet, is the size of the sprite in screen pixels. A sprite could be displayed by the hardware, as a matrix of horizontal by vertical pixels. If more than one sprite size mode is available each one is listed.

### SC

    For the third facet, is the number of sprite colors, it gives the number of colors that a sprite could have. It is about the total number of colors that could be used to define the sprite (transparent NOT included), so if a sprite could only be displayed as a figure in a single color the number is 1. If more than one sprite color mode is available each one is listed.

### SP

    For the fourth facet, is the number of sprites per scan line. Hardware sprites use a kind of Z-buffer to determine which sprite is "on top". Availability of hardware to do this limits the number of sprites that can be displayed on each scan line. This number tells how many sprites could be displayed on a scanline before one of them became invisible because of hardware limitations.

### Unique features

    If the video display has unique features (or limitations) they will be listed here, if space is a limitation the remaining special features are expressed as notes.
A "-" in a table cell means that the answer is irrelevant, unknown, or in another way has no meaning, for example, the sprite size of a system that does not support hardware sprites.
A "?" in a table cell means that the entry has not yet been determined. if a ? follows an entry it means that other options than the listed ones may also exist
"Mono" in a table cell means monochrome that is, for example, black on white, or black on green.

## The list of home computers and their video capabilities
### Systems with video logic designed as terminals

| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Video mode(s) | Video mode(s) | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | unique features |
| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Text | Graphics | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | unique features |
| Apple I | 1976 | | 720 Bytes | 40×24 Mono | — | 40×24 Mono | | | | | |
| Datapoint 2200 | 1971 | | 840 Bytes | 80×12 Mono | — | 80×12 Mono | LC | | | None | Shift registers for RAM |
| MUPID | 1983 | | 64K | 40×25 16+16 colors | 320×240 16+16 colors | 320×240 | LC, BG, SG | Yes | 16 fixed colors, and 16 chooseable from a palette of 4096 colors | ? | Designed by academics as a BTX terminal, but with the capabilities of a home computer |
| SOL-20 | 1976 | — | 1K | 64×16 Mono | Limited 512x128 Mono with MC6574 | (64x16) | LC, SG | No | None | None | One of the first systems with built-in video hardware |

### Systems using software-driven video generation

| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Video mode(s) | Video mode(s) | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | unique features |
| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Text | Graphics | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | unique features |
| Aamber Pegasus | 1981 | — | 512 Bytes | 32×16 Mono text with programmable 7x9 characters | 32×16 Mono text with programmable 7x9 characters | (32x16) | LC | Yes | |
| Galaksija | 1983 | | 512 Bytes | 32×16 Mono | "Full": Limited 256×208 Mono Semi: 64×48 Mono | (64x48; 32, later 256x208) | BG | — | All systems were essentially "home-built", on a single-sided PCB. Like the ZX81 it was software-driven. |
| OSI Superboard II, Compukit UK101 and clones | 1979 | | 1K | 32×32 or 64x16 Mono | "Full": limited 256x256 or 512x128 Mono using full extended character set ROM Semi: 64x96 or 128x48 Mono using 64 characters (pseudo graphics) of the 128 characters of the optional extended character set ROM | (32×32 or 64x16) | LC, SG | | Early system with 256 character font, standard add-on card for full 256x256 graphics |
| OSI C4P | 1980 | | 2K | 64×32 8 colors | "Full": limited 512x256 8 colors Semi: 128x96 8 colors using part of its pseudo graphic characters set | 64x32 | LC, SG | | |
| ZX80, ZX81 | 1980, 1981 | | 792 Bytes | 32×24 Mono | Full: 256×192 Mono Semi: 64×48 Mono | (32x24) | BG, SG | No | "slow mode", software-generated display |
| BCS3 | 1984 | | 336 Bytes in BASIC 2.4 | 27x12 in BASIC 2.4 40x21 in BASIC 3.1 | Full: 128x64 Mono (additional hardware) | | LC, SG | No | Simple homebrew home computer form GDR, with software-generated display |

### Systems using discrete logic
#### With independent text mode(s)

| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Video mode(s) | Video mode(s) | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | unique features |
| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Text | Graphics | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | unique features |
| ABC80 | 1978 | | 1K | 40×24 Mono | Semi: 78×72 Mono | (39x24) | LC, BG | — | | | One of the first systems with serial attributes like Ceefax and Prestel systems, needed the first character of a line for switching to graphics mode, thus the horizontal resolution is 78, not 80 |
| Apple II | 1977 | | 18K | 40×24 Mono/6 colors | Full: 280×192 Mono/6 colors Semi: 40×48 15 colors | 40x48, 140×192 | | | | | First known system with 4 line "caption" and software scaling and rotation |
| Commodore PET 2001 | 1977 | — | 1000 Bytes | 40×25 Mono 9" Mono monitor | "Full": Limited 320x200 Mono Semi: 80×50 using part of its pseudo graphic characters set | (80x50, 40x200) | BG, SG | — | | | Original computer with non ASCII (PETSCII) character set. |
| Exidy Sorcerer | 1978 | | 1920 Bytes | 64×30 Mono | "Full": Limited 512×240 Mono Semi: 128x90 Mono | (128x90, 512x240) | LC, SG | Yes | | | Programmable character set allowed TRS-80 and PET like graphics |
| Ferguson Big Board | 1980, 1982 | | 1K | 80x24 Mono | | | LC | No | | | |
| Grundy NewBrain | 1982 | | max 20K | 32×25/30, 40×25/30, 64×25/30, or 80×25/30 Mono | Full: 256x256, 320x256, 512x256, 640x256 Mono Semi: 64x75/90, 80x75/90, 128x75/90, 160x75/90 Mono | (64x75/90, 80x75/90, 128x75/90, 160x75/90; 256, 320, 512, 640x256) | LC, BG | — | | | Built in one line VFD, Videotext mode support |
| Interact Home Computer | 1979 | | 2184 Bytes | 17×12 4 colors | Semi: 112×78 4 colors | 112×78 | Characters were drawn on a 112×78 pixel graphics screen which means that each character was 6×6 pixels, including blank space between the characters, which led to very blocky characters, which simply didn't allow for distinct lower case characters. | In theory, the "graphics" screen text was drawn on could be the text-mode semigraphics screen for a more standard (for the time) 56x26 or 56x39 high-resolution text mode, though in practice this real text mode was apparently never used (if it even could be). | 4 of 8 | | |
| Kaypro II series | 1982 | | 2 KB | 80×24 Mono, on 9" built in CRT | Semi: Presumably 160x72 Mono | (80x24) | LC, BG | No | — | — | |
| NASCOM 1 NASCOM 2 | 1977 1979 | | 1K | 48×16 Mono | — | — | LC | No | None | None | |
| Osborne 1, Osborne Executive and Osborne Vixen | 1981, 1982, 1984 | | 4K | 52x24 Mono on 5" CRT, later 80x24 on 7" CRT | "Full": Presumably limited 416x192 Mono, later limited 640x192 using its pseudo graphic characters set | (52x24, later 80x24) | LC, SG | | None | None | Uses virtual screen to make up for limitations of original 5" CRT, a feature presumably not dropped from later models in order to achieve full backward compatibility |
| Panasonic JR-200 | 1983 | | 2K+2K | 32×24 8 colors | "Full": 256x192 8 colors Semi: 64×48 8 colors | 32x24 | LC, BG | | None | None | unique semi-graphic pixel color attribute scheme made that each of the 64×48 semi-graphic "pixels" (consisting of a quarter of an 8×8 pixel character space) could have its own independent color, these semi-graphics could be combined with predefined characters, or programmable characters, each of which could also have an independent foreground and background color out of a palette of 8. |
| Jupiter Ace | 1982 | | 2K | 32×24 Mono | "Full": Limited 256x192 Mono by using the 128 characters Semi: 64×48 Mono | 32x24 | LC, BG | Limited | — | {{{1}}} | |
| LINK 480Z and Research Machines 380Z | 1982 | | 2K | 40×25 or 80×25 Mono | A separate independent video display generator board could be added that did support high resolution graphics of 640×192×1, 320×192×2 or 160×96×4 bits per pixel | A separate independent video display generator board could be added that did support high resolution graphics of 640×192×1, 320×192×2 or 160×96×4 bits per pixel | LC | | n of 16 with Hires expansion board; 16 out of 256 logical intensities with composite interface, 16 logical colors with TTL RGB interface | | |
| MZ-80K | 1979 | | 1000 Bytes | 40×25 Mono | "Full": Limited 320x200 Mono Semi: 80×50 Mono | (40x25) | LC, BG, SG | No | None | | many well-chosen pseudo-graphics characters |
| KC 87, KC85/1 | 1987 | | 960 bytes 87.x1: 960+960 bytes | 85/1, 87: 40x20 Mono for 85/1, 87.x0; 16 foreground colors + 8 background colors for 87.x1 | 85/1, 87: Limited 320x192 Mono for 85/1, 87.x0; 16 foreground colors + 8 background colors for 87.x1 using its pseudo graphic characters set | 87.x1: 40x24 | LC | | | | |
| TRS-80 Models I and III | 1977, 1980 | | up to 1K | 32×16 or 64×16 Mono | Semi: 64×48 or 128×48 Mono | (32x16 or 64x16) | LC, BG | No | None | | The canonical system to use Text semigraphics |
| TRS-80 Model 4 | 1983 | | 1920 bytes | 32×16, 40x24, 64×16 or 80x24 Mono | Semi: 64×48, 80x72, 128×48 or 160x72 Mono | (32x16, 40x24, 64x16 or 80x24) | LC, BG | | | | Can display full 640x240 or 512x192 graphics with a standardized expansion board |

#### Without independent text mode(s)

| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Video mode(s) | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | unique features |
| Apple III | 1980 | | 64K | 40×24 Text in 280×192 Graphics or 80×24 in 560×192 2 or 16 colors | 140x192, 280x192; 140x192, 560x192 | LC | | | 228 programmable characters, bundled with Apple II software emulator |
| Apple Lisa/Macintosh XL | 1983 | | Presumably 2x32760 bytes | drawn by software on 720x364r/608x432s mono, (4 gray scales) | (720x364r/608x432s) | LC | Yes | | |
| Apple Macintosh 128K and other compact models | 1984 | — | 2x21888 bytes | drawn by software on 512x342 mono, (4 grayscales) | (512x342) | LC | Yes | | SE/30 and Classic were the only 32-bit models to use discrete logic to implement video hardware |
| DAI Personal Computer | 1979 | — | 31680 bytes | 88×65, 176×130, 352×260, 60x24 Text in 528×240 Graphics 4 or 16 colors | 88×65, 176×130, 352×260, 528×240 | LC | — | 4 of 16 | split screen text and graphics mode with 4-line caption |
| PMD 85 | 1985 | | 9600 Bytes | 48×32 Text in 288×256 Graphics 4 gray-scales, 4 colors for 85/3 | 288x256 | LC | | 4 out of ? gray-scales, 4 out of ? colors for 85/3 | no text modes, only a single 288×256x2 bits per pixel graphics mode |
| Tiki 100 | 1984 | — | 32K | 40×25 Text in 256×256 Graphics 16 colors, 80×25 in 512×256 4 colors, 160×25 in 1024×256 2 colors | 256×256, 512×256, 1024×256 | LC | Yes | 256 | SC |
| Robotron KC 85/2 | 1984 | | 16K | 320x256 | 40x64 (16fg8bg) | | Yes | No | CPU VRAM access can cause visual distortions, Half-character attribute cells (8x4) |
| KC 85/3 | 1986 | | 16K | 320x256 | 40x64 (16fg8bg) | LC | Yes | No | CPU VRAM access can cause visual distortions, Half-character attribute cells (8x4) |
| KC 85/4 | 1988 | | 64K | 320x256 | 40x256 (16fg8bg), 320x256 (4) | LC | Yes | No | Vertical video ram, Single line vertical attribute cells (8x1), 2 buffers |
| Xerox Alto | 1973 | | 61206 bytes | drawn by software on 606x808 Mono | (606x808) | LC | Yes | | First known system with graphics First known system without separate text buffer |
* ↑ Relationship to KC85/1 in name only. The KC85/2 and KC85/3 were very similar overall, the only difference being more ROM and an internal piezo speaker
* ↑ white, black, red, cyan

### Systems using simple Video Shift Registers

| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Video mode | soft fonts | unique features |
| COSMAC VIP, Telmac 1800 | 1977 | CDP 1861 | 256 Bytes | 64 × 32 Mono graphics | Yes | Incredibly primitive but supporting color |
| Oscom NANO, ETI 660, Telmac 2000 | 1980, 1981 | CDP 1864 | 1.5K | 64 × 192 Mono graphics | Yes | Incredibly primitive but supporting color |

### Systems using custom logic ICs
#### With independent text mode(s)

| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Video mode(s) | Video mode(s) | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | unique features |
| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Text | Graphics | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | unique features |
| Apple IIe, Apple IIc | 1983, 1984 | MMU/IOU | 27K | 40×24 or 80×24 Mono | Full: 280×192 6 or 15 Colors or 560×192 15 colors Semi: 40×48 or 80×48 15 colors | 40x48, 80x48; 140x192, 280x192; 140x192 | LC | No | None | | |
| Apple IIGS | 1986 | VGC | 32K | 40×24 or 80×24 16 colors | Full: 280×192 6 or 16 colors or 560×192 16 colors, 320×200 16-3200 colors or 640×200 4-800 pure or 16 dithered colors Semi: 40×48 or 80×48 16 colors | 40x48, 80x48; 140x192, 280x192; 140x192; 320x200, 640x200 | LC | No | Apple][ modes none, other modes 4096 | | |
| Mattel Aquarius | 1983 | TEA1002 | 2000 bytes | 40×25 16 colors | "Full": Presumably at least limited 320x200 16 colors through (assembly language routines and) graphical symbols included in its character set Semi: 80×75 16 colors | 40×25 | LC, BG | — | None | | |
| TRS-80 Color Computer Model 3 | 1986 | GIME | 72000 bytes | 20x16-25, 32x16-25, 40x16-25, 64x16-25 or 80x16-25 16 colors | Full: 64×64 4 colors, 128×64, 128×96, 128×192 2 or 4 colors; 160x192-225, 256×192-225, 320x192-225 2, 4, 16 or 256 colors; 512x192-225 or 640x192-225 2, 4 or 16 colors Semi: 64x32 9 colors, 64x48 4 colors | 64×64, 128×64, 128×96, 128×192, 160x192-225, 256×192-225, 320x192-225, 512x192-225 or 640x192-225; 64x32, 64x48 | BG, LC | No | | ? | |

#### Without independent text mode(s)

| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Video mode(s) | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | unique features |
| Atari ST | 1985 | ST Shifter | 32K | drawn by software 16 colors on 320×200 16 colors, 640×200 4 colors or 640×400 2 colors | 320x200, 640x200 | LC | Yes | Yes 512 | | Hi-Res non-interlaced 31 kHz-72 Hz |
| Electronika BK -0010/-0011 | 1985 | ULA | 16K | 32×25 Text in 256×256 Graphics 4 colors or 64×25 in 512×256 2 colors | 256×256 or 512×256 | LC | Yes | Yes | SC | |
| Enterprise 64 | 1985 | Nick | 64K | Full: 80x256 256 colors, 160x256 16 colors, 40×32 Text in 320x256 Graphics 4 colors, 80×32 or 28 in 640x256p/ 64 in 512i 2 colors Semi: 80x96, 160x84p/96p/192i 2 or 4 colors via soft fonts | 80x256, 160x256, 320x256, 640x256p/512i: 40×32, 80×32 or 28 or 80×64 interlaced | LC | Yes | Yes | | Advanced for its time |
| Oric 1 | 1983 | HSC 10017 ULA | 8K | Full: 40×28 Text in 240×200 Graphics 8 colors (limited 240x224 through soft font) Semi: 80x84 8 colors through soft font | 40×224 | LC | Yes | None | None | |
| Nimbus PC-186 | 1984 | FPGA | 64K | 40×25 Text in 320×250 Graphics 16 colors or 80×25 in 640×350 4/16 colors | 320×250 or 640×350 | LC | — | 4 of 16 | | Early x86-based non IBM-PC system with good graphics |
| SAM Coupé | 1989 | ASIC | 24K | 32×24 Text in 256×192 Graphics 8 or 16 colors or 85×24 in 512×192 4 colors | 32×24, 32×192 or 256×192; 512×192 | LC | — | 16 entries 128 colors | | Backward compatible with Sinclair Spectrum |
| Sinclair ZX Spectrum | 1982 | ULA | 6912 Bytes | Full: 32x24 Text in 256×192 Graphics 15 colors Semi: 64x48 15 colors | 32×24 | LC, BG | — | None | None | color limitations |
| Timex/Sinclair TS2068 | 1983 | Timex SCLD (CPLD) | 12288 bytes (max) | Full: 32x24 Text in 256×192 Graphics 15 colors or 64x24 in 512×192 Mono Semi: 64x48 15 colors or 128x48 Mono | 32×24, 32×192 | LC, BG | — | None | None | swapping between two 256×192 screens |
| ZX Spectrum Next | 2020 | FPGA | 6912 Bytes, 48K (layer 0) + 1280 Bytes sprite RAM | Full: 32x24 Text in 256×192 Graphics 15 or 256 colors 80x24 in 512x192 2 or 256 colors Semi: 64x48 15 colors | 32×24, 32x192, 256×192, 512x192 | LC, BG, SC, SP | Yes | 256 entries 512 colors | 64 sprites, hardware scrolling, copper, tile-map | backward compatible with older Spectrums |
| Sinclair QL | 1984 | ZX8301 ULA | 32K | Full: 42×25 Text in 256×256 Graphics 8 colors or 85×25 in 512×256 4 colors Semi: 84x75 8 colors or 170x75 4 colors through soft font, 128x128 8 colors or 256x128 4 colors stippled | 256×256 or 512×256, 128x128 or 256x128 | LC | Yes | none | none | hardware pixel-based blinking |
| Thomson MO5 | 1984 | EFGJ03L gate array | 16K | Full: 40×25 Text in 320×200 Graphics 16 colors Semi: 80x75 16 colors through soft font | 40×25, 320x200 | LC | Yes | none | none | |
| Thomson TO7 | 1982 | MC 13000 ALS gate array on TO-7/70 | 14000 bytes, either 15000 or 16000 bytes for TO7/70 | 40×25 Text in 320×200 Graphics 8 colors, 16 for TO7/70 | 40×200 | LC | | none | none | |
| Thomson systems MO6, TO8 and TO9+ | 1986 | custom TI gate array plus EF-9369P color palette | 16K | Full: 8 modes from 160×200 16 colors to 640×200 2 colors (40×25 Text in 320×200 Graphics and 80×25 in 640×200) Semi: 80x75 4 colors or 160x75 2 colors through soft font | from 160×200 to 640×200 | Yes | | 16 entries 4096 colors | | |

### Systems using a CRTC
#### MC6845 or second source
##### With independent text mode(s)

| System name | Year | Video RAM | Video mode(s) | Video mode(s) | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | unique features |
| System name | Year | Video RAM | Text | Graphics | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | unique features |
| ABC 800 series | 1981 | 1K (800C), 2K (800M, 802, 806) + 128K (806) | 40x24 or 80×24 (800M, 802, 806) 8 or 2 colors | Full: 256×240 or 512x240 16 colors (806) semi: 78x75 8 or 2 colors [or 158x75 (800M, 802, 806)] | 256×240 or 512x240 (806), 40x24 or 80×24 ( 802, 806) | LC, BG | No | None | None | HR board for 800 and 802 provides 16K for 240×240 graphics in 4 of 8 colors |
| Aster CT-80 | 1979 | 1K or 2K | 64×16, 32×16, 80×25 or 40×25 Mono | Semi: 128×48, 64x48, 160×75 or 80x75 3 gray scales | 128×48, 64x48, 160×75 or 80x75 | LC, BG, SG | No | None | Dual memory map support | Early clone of the TRS-80 with additional graphic modes |
| Commodore PET 4000 and 8000 series | 1980, 1981 | 1000 Bytes (4000), 2000 Bytes (8000) | 40×25 (4000) or 80×25 (8000) Mono, on 12" Mono monitor | "Full": Limited 320x200 Mono (4000) or 640x200 Mono (8000) Semi: 80×50 Mono (4000) or 160×50 Mono (8000) using part of its pseudo graphic characters set | [40×25 (4000) or 80×25 (8000)] | BG, SG | No | None | | |
| LNW-80 | 1982 | 1K or 2K | 80×24, 64×16 or 32×16 8 colors | Full: 480×192 2 colors or 384x192 8 colors Semi: 160×72 or 128×48 8 colors | 480×192, 64×16 | LC, BG | No | | | |
| LOBO MAX-80 | 1982 | 1K or 2K | 80×24 or 64×16 Mono | "Full": Limited 640x240 or 512x192 Mono via programmable character set Semi: 160×72 or 128×48 Mono | (80x24 or 64x16) | LC, BG | Yes | | | |
| MicroBee | 1982 | 4K | 64×16 Mono | "Full": 17 limited modes from 512x128 to 512x256 Mono in steps of 8 lines Semi: 128×48 Mono | 64x16 | LC, BG | Yes | | | |
| Sony SMC-70 | 1982 | 38KB | 40×25 or 80×25 2 colors | 160×100, 320×200 16 colors, 640×200 4 colors or 640×400 2 colors | 40×25 or 80×25, 160×100, 320×200, 640×200, 640×400 | LC | Yes | n of 16 | | Genlocker (G & P versions) |

##### Without independent text mode(s)

| System name | Year | Video RAM | Video mode(s) | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | unique features |
| Camputers Lynx | 1983 | 32K | Full: 40×24 Text in 256×252 Graphics 8 colors Semi: Presumably 80x72 8 colors | 40x24, 256x252 | LC | No | None | None | |
| Colour Genie | 1982 | 16K | "Full": Limited 40×24 Text in 320×192 Graphics using 8×8 pixel programmable characters 16 colors Semi: 160x96 4 colors or presumably 80×72 16 colors | 40x24, 160x96 | LC, BG, SG | Yes | 4 of 16 | | Programmable characters |
| Sharp X1 (CZ-800C) | 1982 | 48000 bytes | 40×25 Text in 320×200 Graphics, 80×25 in 640×200 8 colors | 320×200, 640×200 | LC | Yes | None | | powerful APA color PCG |
| Casio FX-9000P | 1980 | 4K | 32×16 Text in 256×128 Graphics Mono | (256x128) | LC | Yes | None | ? | |

#### Other models

| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Video mode(s) | Video mode(s) | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | unique features |
| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Text | Graphics | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | unique features |
| Compucolor II | 1977 | SMSC CRT5027 | 4K | 64×32 or 64×16 8 colors on 13" built-in color screen | "Full": Limited 512x256 8 colors Semi: 128×128 8 colors or presumably 128×96 8 colors or 128x48 8 colors (through block graphics characters included in the font) | 64x16 or 64x32, 128x128 | BG | | | | said to be the first color home computer on the market, very nice graphics for the time |
| Comx-35 and clones | 1983 | CDP1869 CDP1870 | 3K | 40×24 8 foreground colors (4 per 6×8 or 6×9 pixels, 1 per 6-pixel line)+ 8 background colors (for the whole screen) | "Full": Limited 240×192(NTSC)/240x216 (PAL)/240x384 (expanded RAM) 8 foreground colors (4 per 6×8 or 6×9 pixels, 1 per 6 pixel line)+ 8 background colors (for the whole screen) Semi: 80×72/120×96 8 foreground colors (4 per 6×8 or 6×9 pixels, 1 per 6-pixel line)+ 8 background colors (for the whole screen) | 40x24 | BG, SG | Yes | 8 foregrounds + 8 background out of? | | |
| Durango F-85 | 1977 | Intel 8275 | 2 KB | 80×24 or 64×16 Mono, on 9" built-in CRT | Semi: Presumably 160x72 or 128x48 Mono | (80x24 or 64x16) | LC, BG | | | | |
| MZ-700 | 1982 | M60719 | 2000 Bytes | 40×25 8 colors | "full": Limited 320x200 8 colors semi: 80×50 8 colors | 40x25 | LC, BG, SG | No | | | |
| PC-8001 | 1979 | ìPD3301D | 3K, 16K, 48K | 40×20, 40×25, 80×20 or 80×25 8 colors | Full: 320x200 or 640x200 8 colors Semi: 160×100 8 colors | 320x200 or 640x200, 80x25 | LC, BG | No | | | |
| Robotron 1715 | 1984 | Intel 8275 | 2 KB | 80×24 or 64×16 Mono | Semi: Presumably 160x72 or 128x48 Mono | (80x24 or 64x16) | LC, BG | for 1715W model | | | had two switchable ROMs for Cyrillic/Latin letters |
| Telmac TMC-600 | 1982 | CDP1869 CDP1870 | 1K | Presumably 40x24 8 colors | Semi: 80x72 8 colors | 40x24 | LC | No | | | |
| Matra Alice 32/90 and clones and Philips VG5000 | 1984 | EF9345 | 8K | 32×16, 40×25 or 80×25 9 colors | Full: 160×125 or 320×250 16 colors Semi: 64x32, 80x50 or 160x50 9 colors | 32x16, 40x25, 80x25 | LC, BG | 3×100 user definable characters, but only in 40×25 text mode | Full and half-intensity foreground plus background out of 8 | DR | Video Input |

### Systems using a Video Interface Controller
#### MC6847 or second source

| System name | Year | Chip name | Video mode(s) | Video mode(s) | color resolution | Font extras | HW accel | Sprite details |
| System name | Year | Chip name | Text | Graphics | color resolution | Font extras | HW accel | Sprite details |
| Acorn Atom, APF Imagination Machine, APF-MP1000, GEM 1000 / Charlemagne 999, Laser 100/110, Laser 200/210 and 310, SPC-1000 (later models), CCE MC-1000, Gakken Compact Vision TV Boy, Dragon 32/64, TRS-80 MC-10 and clones | 1978, 1979, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985 | MC6847 | 32×16 9 colors | Full: 64×64 4 colors, 128×64, 128×96, 128×192 2 or 4 colors or 256×192 2 colors Semi: 64×32 9 colors or 64×48 4 colors | 64×64, 128×64, 128×96, 128×192 or 256×192; 64×32 or 64×48 | BG | None | None |
| SPC-1000 (early models) | 1983 | AMI S68047 | 32×16 9 colors | Full: 64×64 4 colors, 128×64, 128×96, 128×192 2 or 4 colors or 256×192 2 colors Semi: 64×32 9 colors or 64×48 4 colors | 64×64, 128×64, 128×96, 128×192 or 256×192; 64×32 or 64×48 | BG | None | None |
| NEC PC-6001 | 1981 | M5C6847P-1 | 32×16 9 colors | Full: 64×64 4 colors, 128×64, 128×96, 128×192 2 or 4 colors, 256×128 or 256×192 2 colors Semi: 64×32 9 colors or 64×48 4 or 9 colors | 64×64, 128×64, 128×96, 128×192, 256×128 or 256×192; 64×32 or 64×48 | | | |
| TRS-80 Color Computer 1 & 2 and clones | 1980 | MC6847+MC6883 | 32×16 9 colors | Full: 64×64 4 colors, 128×64, 128×96, 128×192 2 or 4 colors or 256×192 Semi: 64×32 (64×64, 64×96 or 64×192) 9 colors, 64×48 4 colors | 64×64, 128×64, 128×96, 128×192 or 256×192; 64×32, 64×48, 64×64, 64×96 or 64×192 | BG | The MC6883 could actually be used as a limited sort of sprite hardware in semigraphics modes, making them in practice limited 256×192×9 graphics modes | The MC6883 could actually be used as a limited sort of sprite hardware in semigraphics modes, making them in practice limited 256×192×9 graphics modes |

#### Other models
##### With independent text mode(s)

| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Video mode(s) | Video mode(s) | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | Sprite details | unique features |
| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Text | Graphics | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | Sprite details | unique features |
| VIC-20 | 1980 | VIC | 506 bytes + 506 nibbles | 22×23 16 colors (upper 8 unusable as foreground) | Technically full: 160×160 16 colors (upper 8 unusable as foreground) (or more in special cases) or limited 176×184 16 colors (upper 8 unusable as foreground) Semi: technically 44x46 16 colors (upper 8 unusable as foreground) using part of its PETSCII character set | 22×23 | LC, BG, SG | Yes | not really, but something similar could be done by manipulating the four colors out of sixteen chosen for each tile, or the global background color | The VIC chip allowed a character generator in RAM to redefine the pixel-by-pixel depictions of the on-screen characters and it allowed for double-height characters (8 pixels wide, 16 pixels high). It was possible to get a fully addressable 160 by 160 screen by filling the screen with a sequence of 200 different double-height characters, then turning on the pixels selectively inside the RAM-based character definitions. The 200-character limitation was so that enough bytes would be left over for the screen character grid itself to remain addressable by the VIC chip. The Super Expander cartridge provided such a mode in BASIC, although it often had to move the BASIC program around in memory to do it. It was also possible to fill a larger area of the screen with addressable graphics using a more dynamic allocation scheme if the contents were sparse or repetitive enough. | The VIC chip allowed a character generator in RAM to redefine the pixel-by-pixel depictions of the on-screen characters and it allowed for double-height characters (8 pixels wide, 16 pixels high). It was possible to get a fully addressable 160 by 160 screen by filling the screen with a sequence of 200 different double-height characters, then turning on the pixels selectively inside the RAM-based character definitions. The 200-character limitation was so that enough bytes would be left over for the screen character grid itself to remain addressable by the VIC chip. The Super Expander cartridge provided such a mode in BASIC, although it often had to move the BASIC program around in memory to do it. It was also possible to fill a larger area of the screen with addressable graphics using a more dynamic allocation scheme if the contents were sparse or repetitive enough. | The VIC-20 had hardware support for a Light pen, but its most obvious features were its text mode with very wide characters and its built-in composite video output and the NTSC VIC's interlaced mode |
| Commodore 64 | 1982 | VIC-II | 16K | 40×25 16 colors | Full: 160×200 or 320×200 16 colors (semi: 80×50 16 colors using part of its pseudo graphic characters set) | 40x25 | LC, BG, SG | Yes | 1 (320 px) or 3 (160 px) foreground + 1 background out of 16 | SP, SC | S#= 8 SS= 24×21, 12×21 SC=1 SP=8 | Many |
| Commodore 65 | 1991 | VIC-III | up to 500K supported | 40×25 or 80×25 16 colors | full: 160×200, 160×400, 320×200, 320×400, 640×200, 640×400, 1280×200 or 1280×400 up to 256 colors (semi: 80×50 or 160x50 16 colors using part of its pseudo graphic characters set) | 40x25; 160×200, 160×400, 320×200, 320×400, 640×200, 640×400, 1280×200 or 1280×400 | LC, BG, SG | Yes | 4096 | SP, SC, BL | S#= 8 SS= 24×21, 12×21 SC=1 SP=8 | All the Commodore 64, plus DMA blitter support & genlock. |
| Commodore 16, 116 and Plus/4 | 1984 | TED | 8K | 40×25 16 colors | Full: 160×200 or 320×200 121 colors (semi: 80×50 16 colors using part of its pseudo graphic characters set) | 40x25 | LC, BG, SG | Yes | 1 (320 px) or 3 (160 px) foreground + 1 background out of 121 | None | None | Some |
| IBM PCjr & Tandy 1000 | 1984 | "Video Gate Array" + 6845 (PCjr) / Tandy proprietary chip | 32K | 40×25 or 80×25 16 colors | Full: 160×200, 320×200 4 or 16 colors or 640×200 2 or 4 colors ("semi": 160×100 16 colors) | 40×25 or 80x25; 160×200, 320×200 or 640×200 | LC | No | 2 or 4 out of 16 | | | |
| IBM PS/1 | 1990 | "VGA" | 128K | Commonly 80×25, 40×25, 80×43 or 80×50 16 colors on 14" Monitor | Commonly 640×480, 640×400, 640×350 16 colors or 320×200 16 or 256 colors | Commonly 640×480, 640×400, 640×350 or 320×200 | LC | Yes | 16 or 256 colors out of a 262144 colors palette (6 bit per RGB channel) | SC | — | "Video tweaking" |

##### Without independent text mode(s)

| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Video mode(s) | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | Sprite details | unique features |
| Acorn Archimedes | 1987 | VIDC1 | 480KB (from system RAM) | Text sized by software in Flexible Graphics, no more than 256 colors (e.g. 800×600 16cols) | up to 1152x896 | LC | Yes | 16 groups of 16 from 4096 | SP | S#= 1 SS= 32×n SC=3 SP=1 | |
| Acorn RiscPC | 1994 | VIDC20 | 2MB, 1MB | Text sized by software in Flexible Graphics, up to 16M colors (e.g. 1600×1200 256cols) | up to 1600x1200 | LC | Yes | In ≤256 color modes | SP | S#= 1 SS= 32×n SC=3 SP=1 | |
| NEC PC-8801 | 1981 | SGP | 48K | Full: 80×25 Text in 640×200 Graphics, 640×400 2 colors, 40×25 in 320×200 or 320×400 8 colors Semi: 160×100 8 colors | 160x100; 640×200, 640×400, 320×200 or 320×400 | LC, BG, SG | Yes | 8 or 2 out of 512 | No | No | early highres support |
| VideoBrain | 1978 | UV-201 & UV-202 | 168 bytes | 384x336i Graphics 16 colors 16×7 Text in 128x56 Semigraphics 16 colors | 16×7, 384x336i | SG | No | None | None | None | |

### Systems using a video co-processor
#### With independent text mode(s)

| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Video mode(s) | Video mode(s) | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | Sprite details | unique features |
| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Text | Graphics | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | Sprite details | unique features |
| Atari 8-bit computers | 1979 | ANTIC, CTIA/GTIA | 18K+ of 64K | 32/40/48×24 (30), 16/20/24x24 (30) or 16/20/24x12 (15) 2 (5) colors | 32/40/48x24 (30), 64/80/96x48 (60), 64/80/96x96 (120), 128/160/192x96 (120), 128/160/192x192 (240) 2 or 4 colors, 256/320/384x192 (240) 2 colors, 64/80/96×192 (240) 9/16/8 or 16 colors | 32/40/48x24 (30), 64/80/96x48 (60), 64/80/96x96 (120), 128/160/192x96 (120), 128/160/192x192 (240), 64/80/96×192 (240) | LC, BG, SG | Yes | 16 out of 128 (with FGTIA or GTIA) or 256 (only with GTIA) | SP, SC | S#=4+4 or 5 SS=8 + 2 or 5×256(max) SC=1 SP=4+4 or 5 | Many, especially hardware support for a Light pen and the Display list. Possibly the most capable hardware of the early 80s considering it was designed in the 70s. |
| Coleco Adam, VTech CreatiVision, MSX1, Pencil 2, Memotech MTX, Sega SC-3000, Sord M5, SV-318 and SV-328, Tatung Einstein, TI-99/4, TI-99/4A, Tomy Tutor/Pyuuta | 1979-1984 | TMS9918A | 16K | 32×24 16 colors or 40×24 2 colors | Full: 256×192 16 colors Semi: 64×48 16 colors | 32x24, 32×192 | LC, (BG, SG) | Yes | None | SP, TE | S#=32 SS=8×8, 16×16 SC=1 SP=4 | The TMS9918 was designed for the TI-99/4, it has text characters of 8x8 (32 characters per line) or 8x6 pixels (40 characters per line ,and features limited attribute clash colour limitations, it has 32 monochrome sprites of 8x8 or 16x16 pixels. |
| MSX2, MSX2+/TurboR | 1986, 1988 | Yamaha V9938, Yamaha V9958 | 64K, 128K, or 192K | 32×24, 32×26.5 16 colors, 40×24, 40×26.5 2 colors, 80×24 or 80×26.5 4 colors | Full: 256×192p, 256×212p, 256×384i, 256×424i 4, 16 or 256; later also 12499 or 19268 colors, 512×192p, 512×212p, 512×384i, 512×424i 4 or 16 colors Semi: 64×48p, 64x53p, 64x96i or 64x106i 16 colors | 32×24, 40×24, 80×24, 32×26.5, 40×26.5 or 80×26.5; 32x192; 256×192p, 512×192p, 256×212p, 512×212p, 256×384i, 512×384i, 256×424i, 512×424i | LC, BG, SG | Yes | 2, 4 or 16 out of 512 colors | SP, TE, SC, BL, DR | S#=32 SS=8×8, 16×16 SC=16 SP=8 | Many unique features |
| P2000T | 1980 | SAA5243 | 960 Bytes | 40×24 8 colors | Semi: 80×72 8 colors | 40×24 | LC, BG | No | None | | — | One of the earliest systems with color Teletext graphics |

#### Without independent text mode(s)

| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Video mode(s) | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | Sprite details | unique features |
| FM-7 | 1982 | MC6809 | 48K, 96 or 144K in AV mode | 40×25 or 40×20 Text in 320x200 Graphics 4096 colors for FM-77AV and AV20 or 262144 colors for FM-77AV40 or 80×25, 80×20 Text in 640x200 Graphics 8 colors | 320x200 or 640x200 | LC | Yes | None | None | None | 320x200x4096 colors for FM-77AV and AV20 or 262144 colors for FM-77AV40 and 640×200×8 colors without color limitations |
| Amiga (first generation) | 1985 | Agnus and Denise | 1M "Chip RAM" | Any Text size up to 80×32 (80x64 in interlaced mode) in 320×200p, 640×200p, 320×400i or 640×400i Graphics 2 to 64 colors and 4096 colors | 320×200p, 640×200p, 320×400i or 640×400i | LC | Yes | 2 to 32 colors out of 4096 colors | BL, SP, SC, DR | S#=8 SS=16 wide, arbitrary height SC=3 or 15 SP= 8 | Many unique features |
| Amiga (second generation) | 1990 | Super-Agnus and Hires Denise | 1M or 2M "Chip RAM" | Any Text size up to 160×32 (160x64 in interlaced mode) in NTSC Graphics: 320×200, 640×200, 320×400, 640×400 2 to 64 colors and 4096 colors, 1280×200p or 1280x400i 4 colors PAL Graphics: 320x256, 640x256, 320x512, 640x512 2 to 64 colors and 4096 colors, 1280×256p or 1280x512i 4 colors | NTSC: 320×200, 640×200, 320×400, 640×400, 1280×200p or 1280x400i PAL: 320x256, 640x256, 320x512, 640x512, 1280×256p or 1280x512i | LC | Yes | 2 to 32 colors out of 4096 colors | BL, SP, SC, DR | S#=8 SS=16 wide, arbitrary height SC=3 or 15 SP= 8 | even more unique features |
| Amiga (Third generation) | 1992 | Advanced Graphics Architecture (AGA) | 2M "Chip RAM" | Any Text size up to 160×32 (160x64 in interlaced mode, 100x75 in Super72 mode) in NTSC: 320×200 .. 1280×400 Graphics 2 to 256, 4096 to 262144 colors PAL: 320×256 .. 1280×512 Graphics 2 to 256, 4096 to 262144 colors VGA: 640×480 2 to 256, 4096 to 262144 colors Super72: 400×300 .. 800×600 (interlaced) Graphics 2 to 256, 4096 to 262144 colors | NTSC: 320×200 .. 1280×400 PAL: 320×256 .. 1280×512 VGA: 640×480 Super72: 400×300 .. 800×600 (interlaced) | LC | Yes | 2 to 256 colors out of 16,777,216 colors | BL, SP, SC, DR | S#=8 SS=64 wide, arbitrary height SC=2 or 15 SP=8 | still more unique features |
| Atari Falcon | 1992 | VIDEL, COMBEL (Blitter) | 1 to 14M "Chip RAM" | Any Text size up to 160×32 in CRT: 320×200 to 1600×608 Graphics 2,4,16,256 colors (indexed), 32768 colors (+overlay), 65536 colors (Hi-Color) VGA: 640×480 or 800×608 Graphics 2,4,16,256 colors (indexed), 32768 colors (+overlay), 65536 colors (Hi-Color) | CRT: 320×200 to 1600×608 VGA: 640×480 or 800×608 | LC | Yes | 2 to 65536 colors out of 262,144 colors | BL | — | scan doubler |

### Systems that fall into multiple classifications

For these systems, it is established that they are based on multiple technologies. The hardware chosen to be used by these systems may have a substantial or insubstantial impact on the video they output.
| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Video mode(s) | Video mode(s) | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | Sprite details | unique features |
| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Text | Graphics | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support | HW accel | Sprite details | unique features |
| Acorn Eurocard systems | 1980 | MC6845 + SAA5050 | 1K | 40×25 8 colors | Semi: 80×75 8 colors | 40x25 | LC, BG | No | None | None | None | |
| Commodore CBM-II Series | 1982 | MC6845/VIC-II | 2000 Bytes with CRTC, 16K with video interface controller | 80×25 Mono on 12" Mono monitor with CRTC or 40x25 16 colors with video interface controller | Full: limited 640×200 Mono with CRTC or 160x200 or 320x200 16 colors with video interface controller Semi: 160×50 Mono with CRTC (or 80×50 16 colors with video interface controller) using part of its pseudo graphic characters set | (80×25 with CRTC) or 40x25 with video interface controller | LC with video interface controller, BG, SG | No | 1 (320 px) or 3 (160 px) foreground + 1 background out of 16 with video interface controller | SP, SC with video interface controller | S#= 8 SS= 24×21, 12×21 SC=1 SP=8 with video interface controller | |
| Commodore 128 | 1985 | VIC-IIE (40 column mode), VDC (80 column mode) | 16K+16K (128) or 64K (128D) dedicated to VDC | 40×25, 80×25 or 80×50 16 colors | Full: 160×200 or 320×200 (40 column mode), 640×200 or 640×400 (80 column mode) 16 colors (semi: 80×50, 160x50 or 160x100 16 colors using part of its pseudo graphic characters set) | 40x25 (40 column mode), 640x200 or 640x400 (80 column mode) | 1 (320 px) or 3 (160 px) foreground + 1 background out of 16 (40 column mode) | No | SP, SC (40 column mode); BL (80 column mode) | S#= 8 SS= 24×21, 12×21 SC=1 SP=8 (40 column mode) | | Uses two different video circuits |
| Amstrad CPC | 1984, 1990 | MC6845+ASIC | 16K | 20×25 16 colors, 40×25 4 colors or 80×25 2 colors | 160×200 16 colors, 320×200 4 colors or 640×200 2 colors | 160×200, 320×200 or 640×200 | LC | Yes | 17 of 27 (original), 32 of 4096 (Plus) | SC, SP (Plus) | S#=16 SS=16×16 SC=1 SP=16 (Plus) | 3-level RGB (original), screen control (Plus) |
| BBC Micro | 1981 | MC6845+SAA5050 | 20K (max) | 80×32 or 80×25 2 colors, 40×32 2 or 4 colors, 40×25 2, 4 or 8 colors, 20×32 4 or 8 colors | Full: 640×256, 640×200 2 colors, 320×256, 320×200 2 or 4 colors or 160×256 4 or 8 colors Semi: 80×75 8 colors | 640×256, 320×256, 160×256, 640×200 or 320×200; 40x25 | LC, BG | No | 16 | None | None | Teletext mode, shadow RAM support |
| NEC PC-6001 MKII | 1983, 1984 | MC6845+M5C6847P-1 | 50K | 32×16 or 40x20; later also 40x25, 80x20 or 80x25 9 or 16 colors | Full: 64×64 4 or 16 colors, 128×64, 128×96, 128×192 2, 4 or 16 colors, 256×128, 256×192 2 or 16 colors, 160x200, 320x200 4 or 16 colors; later also 640x200 4 colors Semi: 64x32 9 or 16 colors or 64x48 4, 9 or 16 colors or 80x40 16 colors; later also 80x50, 160x40, 160x50 16 colors | 64×64, 128×64, 128×96, 128×192, 256×128, 256×192, 160x200, 320x200; later also 640x200: 32×16 or 40x20; later also 40x25, 80x20 or 80x25 | LC, BG | No | 2 or 4 of 16 | None | None | — |
| Polycorp Poly-1 | 1980 | 2 x SAA5050 + SAA5020 + discrete logic | 48K | 40×24, 80x20 8 colors | Full: 240x204 or 480x204 8 colors Semi: 80×72 8 colors | 240x204 or 480x204, 40×24 | LC, BG | None | Also used three Teletext chips designed for TV's.| | None | None |
| Sharp X68000 | 1987 | VINAS 1 + 2, VSOP, CYNTHIA / Jr, RESERVE | 1056K | from 16×16 to 128×128 256 colors | from 256×256 to 1024×1024 256 colors | from 256×256 to 1024×1024 | LC | Yes | 65,536 Palette | SP | S#=128 SS=16×16 SC=16 SP=32 | special hardware options |

### Systems that could not be classified

For these systems, it could not be established what technology they are based on, therefore, some information regarding them may be inaccurate.
| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Video mode(s) | Video mode(s) | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support |
| System name | Year | Chip name | Video RAM | Text | Graphics | color resolution | Font extras | soft fonts | palette support |
| Agat series | 1983 | Un­known | 8 KB | 32×32 16 colors | 64x64 16 colors, 128x128 8 colors or 256×256 2 colors | 64x64, 128x128 or 256×256 | LC | Un­known | n out of 16 |
| Orao | 1984 | Un­known | up to 24 KB | 32×32 up to 8 Gray levels | Full: 256×256 up to 8 Gray levels Semi: 64x96 up to 8 Gray levels | 32x32, 256x256 | LC | Yes | |
| Vector-06C | 1987 | Un­known | 32 KB | 32×32 2 or 16 colors or 64x32 2 or 4 colors | 256×256 2 or 16 colors or 512x256 2 or 4 colors | 256×256 or 512x256 | LC | Un­known | 256 |