Matrox Alt-256**2 computer graphics card
Dublin Core
Title
Matrox Alt-256**2 computer graphics card
Subject
hardware: computer graphics card
Description
Matrox Electronic Systems was established in Montreal in 1976 at the peak of the North American computer hobby movement and the beginning of the rapid growth of the microcomputer market. Co-founders Lorne Trottier and Branko Matić identified an opportunity to expand the microcomputing market into video interfaces, providing microcomputers with graphic display capabilities. The company's first product, Video RAM (1976), was a specialized video-display device, which interfaced with a computer system to display computer-generated alphanumeric data stored in the device's RAM. The device's success generated the revenue necessary for the development of subsequent products. Among these were the MTX-1632 Video RAM and the ALT-series video graphics controllers. With the release of these devices, Matrox pioneered the graphics card add-on market for microcomputers.
By 1978, Matrox offered a diverse line of advanced CRT display controllers, which could be used in various combinations supported with a wide choice of display formats, character sets, TV standards, display resolutions, bus compatibility, etc. According to Matrox 1978 product catalogue, "Matrox displays have been used in more than 10,000 installations in every imaginable operation: from ground control displays for the Viking mission to Mars to hobby displays."
The following year, Matrox began to supply system integrators on Wall Street with a line of financial information display products. One of them, the Quad Video, powered four monitors becoming the first single-board hardware to provide multi-display support. This groundbreaking product established Matrox as the first graphics company to provide display solutions to the financial and business markets.
In the 1980s, the company embarked on designing and manufacturing a range of graphics products for a variety of computer bus standards. Matrox also expanded its operations to include the production of microcomputers, such as the CCB-7 MACS and the MAP-2000 Super Microcomputer. Throughout the 1990s, Matrox introduced several lines of high-quality graphics products, notably the Millennium graphics cards, while gradually shifting its focus towards specialized markets.
In the early 1990s, the company split into three distinct divisions: Matrox Graphics, Matrox Video, and Matrox Imaging. Matrox Graphics was focused on delivering graphics solutions, Matrox Video specialized in markets for the broadcast industry and digital video editing solutions, while Matrox Imaging concentrated on component-level solutions for machine vision applications.
By the turn of the century, Matrox emerged as a leading global digital imaging company, offering a broad spectrum of hardware choices supported with leading-edge software solutions. Its hardware and software products found applications across an extensive range of industries, spanning broadcast and media, education, enterprise, government, houses of worship, medical, military and defence, process control and utilities, security, and transportation sectors.
In 2022, Matrox Graphics was absorbed into Matrox Video. Two years later, Matrox Imaging, was acquired by Zebra Technologies Corp. In 2024, Matrox provided this concise corporate profile:
For over 45 years, Matrox has been synonymous with technology and innovation. A market leader in designing software and hardware solutions for Pro AV/IT, video, and imaging/machine vision applications, Matrox combines engineering excellence with deep industry expertise to deliver unique solutions that help our customers achieve their goals. Matrox has earned its reputation as industry leader by consistently meeting customer requirements for innovative technology and the highest manufacturing standards.
Co-founded by Lorne Trottier in 1976, Matrox has pioneered a number of innovative hardware and software solutions for an array of high-tech industries. Today, we continue to be at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, working closely with our global stakeholders to solve specific real-world issues. [from https://www.matrox.com/en/about/matrox]
Matrox 256**2
The ALT-256**2 was a computer graphics card designed for the industry standard S-100 bus. It was released in 1977 and offered graphics support for applications in areas such as computer aided design, business and education, etc. The card was supported with the MTX-GRAPH software package, which offerd commonly used low level graphics routines.
From the "The Matrox ALT-256 Video Board, Product Description":
The Matrox-256 represents one approach to high resolution graphics capabilities for the
Altair (S-100) bus. Multiple board systems can be used for medical displays, research
applications, pseudo color imaging, fast animated displays, computer aided design,
sophisticated computer games and computer generated art. For Star Trek freak, now
there is available a real (if imaginary) universe to save, rather than a slow printer
banging our descriptions. For the artist, a canvas; the researcher, a window; and the
kids, an electronic sketch pad.
Matrox 256**2 Technical specifications
The Museum holdings
By 1978, Matrox offered a diverse line of advanced CRT display controllers, which could be used in various combinations supported with a wide choice of display formats, character sets, TV standards, display resolutions, bus compatibility, etc. According to Matrox 1978 product catalogue, "Matrox displays have been used in more than 10,000 installations in every imaginable operation: from ground control displays for the Viking mission to Mars to hobby displays."
The following year, Matrox began to supply system integrators on Wall Street with a line of financial information display products. One of them, the Quad Video, powered four monitors becoming the first single-board hardware to provide multi-display support. This groundbreaking product established Matrox as the first graphics company to provide display solutions to the financial and business markets.
In the 1980s, the company embarked on designing and manufacturing a range of graphics products for a variety of computer bus standards. Matrox also expanded its operations to include the production of microcomputers, such as the CCB-7 MACS and the MAP-2000 Super Microcomputer. Throughout the 1990s, Matrox introduced several lines of high-quality graphics products, notably the Millennium graphics cards, while gradually shifting its focus towards specialized markets.
In the early 1990s, the company split into three distinct divisions: Matrox Graphics, Matrox Video, and Matrox Imaging. Matrox Graphics was focused on delivering graphics solutions, Matrox Video specialized in markets for the broadcast industry and digital video editing solutions, while Matrox Imaging concentrated on component-level solutions for machine vision applications.
By the turn of the century, Matrox emerged as a leading global digital imaging company, offering a broad spectrum of hardware choices supported with leading-edge software solutions. Its hardware and software products found applications across an extensive range of industries, spanning broadcast and media, education, enterprise, government, houses of worship, medical, military and defence, process control and utilities, security, and transportation sectors.
In 2022, Matrox Graphics was absorbed into Matrox Video. Two years later, Matrox Imaging, was acquired by Zebra Technologies Corp. In 2024, Matrox provided this concise corporate profile:
For over 45 years, Matrox has been synonymous with technology and innovation. A market leader in designing software and hardware solutions for Pro AV/IT, video, and imaging/machine vision applications, Matrox combines engineering excellence with deep industry expertise to deliver unique solutions that help our customers achieve their goals. Matrox has earned its reputation as industry leader by consistently meeting customer requirements for innovative technology and the highest manufacturing standards.
Co-founded by Lorne Trottier in 1976, Matrox has pioneered a number of innovative hardware and software solutions for an array of high-tech industries. Today, we continue to be at the forefront of cutting-edge technology, working closely with our global stakeholders to solve specific real-world issues. [from https://www.matrox.com/en/about/matrox]
Matrox 256**2
The ALT-256**2 was a computer graphics card designed for the industry standard S-100 bus. It was released in 1977 and offered graphics support for applications in areas such as computer aided design, business and education, etc. The card was supported with the MTX-GRAPH software package, which offerd commonly used low level graphics routines.
From the "The Matrox ALT-256 Video Board, Product Description":
The Matrox-256 represents one approach to high resolution graphics capabilities for the
Altair (S-100) bus. Multiple board systems can be used for medical displays, research
applications, pseudo color imaging, fast animated displays, computer aided design,
sophisticated computer games and computer generated art. For Star Trek freak, now
there is available a real (if imaginary) universe to save, rather than a slow printer
banging our descriptions. For the artist, a canvas; the researcher, a window; and the
kids, an electronic sketch pad.
Matrox 256**2 Technical specifications
- display: from 64 x 64 to 256 x 256 pixels, MTX GRAPH software selected, color or grayscale,
- display memory: 16KB dynamic RAM, sixteen Signteics 2660 dynamic RAM chips, 4096 x 1 bit each,
- video standard: American or European, jumper selectable,
- multiple board option: jumper selectable,
- software: MTX GRAPH.
The Museum holdings
- Matrox 256**2, technical documentation, Matrox (1977),
- ALT-256-AS graphics board, 1979, with two paper tapes containing
- MATROX 8080 Graphics Package, 1977
- Graphics Package Demo, 1977
- The Matrox ALT-256 Video Board, Product Description, Byte Magazine (May 1978), pp.24-30,
- Matrox Microprocessor Displays, Catalogue, SF1, Matrox (April, 1978).
Creator
Matrox Electronic Systems
Date
1977
Relation
Matrox collection
Files
Citation
Matrox Electronic Systems , “Matrox Alt-256**2 computer graphics card,” York University Computer Museum Canada, accessed May 28, 2025, https://museum.eecs.yorku.ca/items/show/297.