Trident TVGA8900CL ISA VGA Video Card 1992 DOS Windows 256KB 16-bit PC

Trident TVGA8900CL ISA VGA Video Card 1992 DOS Windows 256KB 16-bit PC

The Trident TVGA8900CL is a 16-bit ISA VGA graphics card built around Trident's own TVGA8900CL controller chip, dated 1992. It provides standard VGA and SVGA display output via a DB-15 analog connector and was designed for IBM-compatible PCs using the ISA bus — including 286, 386, and 486-class machines. The board carries a Quadtel VGA 8900 CL BIOS and bears a QC Passed inspection sticker.

Specifications & What's Included

• Chipset: Trident TVGA8900CL (markings: KQ160102C/9249, A29853.1, ©Trident/92)
• Bus interface: 16-bit ISA
• Video memory: 256KB VRAM (DIP memory chips, visible on PCB)
• Video output: DB-15 VGA analog connector (bracket-mounted)
• BIOS: Quadtel BIOS Software VGA 8900 CL
• Memory chips: Samsung DIP ICs (visible on component side)
• Form factor: half-height ISA card with full-height bracket
• Year: 1992
• Card only — no driver disk, cables, or accessories included

Applications

The Trident TVGA8900 series was among the most common VGA chipsets found in budget and mid-range ISA-bus PCs of the early 1990s. Cards based on this chipset were widely used in 286 and 386 systems running MS-DOS and Windows 3.x, where they provided reliable VGA and basic SVGA output at a low cost. The TVGA8900CL variant added improved SVGA support and was broadly compatible with the graphics standards of its era. Today these cards are sought after by vintage PC enthusiasts building or restoring period-correct 286, 386, and early 486 systems, as well as by retro gaming hobbyists who need an authentic ISA VGA card for DOS-era titles. Driver support exists for MS-DOS, Windows 3.1, and early Windows 95, and the card works in any ISA-equipped motherboard of the era.