Mac Picasso 516/520
ROM revisions

This text is a short history of the ROM versions of the MacPicasso516 and MacPicasso520. It mentions the important changes. If you feel that you need an upgrade please contact us to know the procedure.

The ROM sits on the card and contains the basic driver software.

1. Version 1.5 - introduced on February 15th, 1997
2. Version 1.4 - introduced on December 23rd, 1996
3. Version 1.3 - introduced on October 9th, 1996
4. Version 1.2 - introduced on August 26th, 1996
5. Version 1.1 - introduced on July 9th, 1996
6. Version 1.0 - the first release

Text written by Harun Scheutzow.

Last edited: 1997-04-09 (year-month-day)

(C) Village Tronic Computer, Hubert Neumeier, Wellweg 95 D-31157 Sarstedt, Germany

• MP516 V1.5 1997-II-15 MP520 V1.5 1997-II-15
  The V1.5 ROM implements a new method for page flipping control. Apple invented a new method to control the page flipping (hardware double buffering) of graphics cards instead of using the old and known one.
  This new method is used by the Game Sprockets Library (DrawSprocket) used by some games.

• MP516 V1.4 1996-XII-23 MP520 V1.4 1996-XII-11
  Multiple page support for black&white (1 bit per pixel) too.
  Setting of colors in PAL and NTSC modes corrected (earlier ROMs could set wrong colors).
  Pivot monitor driver from "Portrait Displays Inc." recognizes now its required 17" multiple scan monitor encoding (csDisplayType Parameter) when suitable monitor connected to MacPicasso520.
  PAL and NTSC video mode timings corrected.
  Page flipping / multiple page support works now (all earlier ROMs might report multiple pages, but choosing an other page than 0 results in error). Page flipping was used only by a very small number of special programs.

• MP520 V1.3 1996-X-09
  Mac Monitor Sensing works again.
  This is the first ROM prepared for the new system extension for graphics acceleration (probably named MacPicasso_Accelerator_PPC). You need at least V1.3 to use this extension.
  The old acceleration control panel MacPicasso is not affected by this change. VERY IMPORTANT: Use either the extension MacPicasso_Accelerator_PCC or the control panel MacPicasso, never both at the same time, unless you like to get mystic graphics.
  Mode Locking implemented against some software which changes the video mode in a wrong way at a wrong time. To use Mode Locking you need the programs MaPi_Modes_Enable and MaPi_Modes_Disable.

• MP520 V1.2 1996-VIII-26
  Panning implemented. You can work on a larger screen than your monitor displays. The view on the monitor is a window into the full screen. This window tracks the mouse cursor automatically.
  Unfortunately Mac Monitor Sensing broken. If you connect a fixed frequency monitor, this ROM will in most cases detect only a VGA monitor and start at 640x480 60 Hz which gives no picture on many fixed frequency monitors.
  Basic DDC routines implemented.

• MP520 V1.1 1996-VII-09
  Works in the lower four slots of Umax Pulsar computers too.
  First ROM with version number printed on the label.

• MP520 V1.0
  The label on the ROM does not show any version information. It is simply a white paper with the word MacPicasso and some colored stripes on it, looking like a accident with a painted brush.
  This is the first ROM ever shipped with MacPicasso520.

last update: May 18th, 97