IBM Monochrome Display Adapter

Monochrome Display Adapter
IBM PC original MDA and parallel printer adapter
Release date1981 (1981)
Discontinued1984
ArchitectureMotorola 6845
Cards
Entry-levelIBM MDA, Control Systems Artist 1, Hitachi HD6845SP, UMC UM6845
History
SuccessorHercules Graphics Card, Enhanced Graphics Adapter

The Monochrome Display Adapter (MDA, also MDA card, Monochrome Display and Printer Adapter, MDPA) is IBM's standard video display card and computer display standard for the IBM PC introduced in 1981. The MDA does not have any pixel-addressable graphics modes, only a single monochrome text mode which can display 80 columns by 25 lines of high-resolution text characters or symbols useful for drawing forms.


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