@rasteri #MDA still being supported is something I do know, as I literally build @OS1337 with only MDA @ 80×25 terminal size.

• I just assume that modern graphics automatically occupy both MDA & #VGA addresses and automaically switch between the modes when one gets turned on. Supporting MDA only as a compatibility option.

The question I have is whether #MSDOS-Style mixed mode is possible, i.e. some application writing their outputs to a #VGA framebuffer with a native MDA terminal being the primary output.

• Sadly I don't have hardware to test this (I wish I had some - if I had the money I'd do a tiny486 build) but I guess this would necessitate like an MDA card (recreation) and a VGA card (with disabled MDA output or something), and nowadays anyone wanting an MDA-Style console uses serial tty interface anyway…

@adamsdesk well, according to @rasteri zhis works because #MDA has it's own #DMA address space vs. #CGA / #HGA / #EGA / #VGA, so in theory #Linux should be able to implement this, tho I'm nit shure if current versions of Linux still support it.

• I really should read the #dcumentation, but I hoped someone on the #Fediverse would actually knows it...

That being said this does require a setup with a seperate #MDA card exclusively occupying it's address space and a #VGA adaptor that ignores it.

• Most #SOM|s and #embedded as well as #consumer #GPU|s don't do that but take on both address spaces and simply disconnect the MDA part in terms of #BIOS compatibility once they get switched into #VGA mode and only switch back when the VGA mode is turned off.

Also this combo is rather uncommon and basically died with multi-display cards in lieu of #TTY-Terminal access.