The ATi Wonder series represents some of the first graphics add on products for IBM PCs and compatibles introduced by ATi Technologies in the mid to late 1980s. These cards were unique at the time as they offered the end user a considerable amount of value by combining support for multiple graphics standards (and monitors) into a single card. The VGA Wonder series added additional value with the inclusion of a bus mouse port, which normally required the installation of a dedicated Microsoft Bus Mouse adapter.
The VGA Wonder series later merged with the ATI Mach series of cards in 1990. The ATi Graphics Ultra (VRAM) and ATi Graphics Vantage (DRAM) cards both featured independent VGA Wonder ASICs in addition to their Mach8 8514 compatible coprocessor chips. The Graphics Ultra was later renamed the VGA Wonder GT. In 1992, their following product line, the Mach32, integrated the VGA wonder core and coprocessor into a single IC. At this point the VGA Wonder line was cancelled and replaced with a cost reduced DRAM based version of Mach32 known as the "ATi Graphics Wonder".
Release Date: 1986
ATi Graphics Solution Rev 3
Chipset: ATI CW16800-A
Supports: Hercules Graphics Card mode
Port: 8-bit PC/XT bus
ATi Color Emulation Card
Did at least support CGA graphics output to a TTL Monochrome monitor
ATi Graphics Solution plus (1987)
Chipset: ATI CW16800-B
Supports CGA, Plantronics Colorplus CGA & Hercules Graphics Card graphics modes
Compatible with MDA, CGA (and therefore also EGA displays), DIP switch selectable
64kb of DRAM
Port: 8-bit PC/XT bus
Graphics Solution Plus SP
Chipset: ATI CW16800-B
Adds Serial/Parallel Ports
Graphics Solution SR
Chipset: ATI CW16800-B
Uses Static RAM
ATi Small Wonder Graphics Solution (1988)
Chipset: ATI 18700
Also known as Graphics Solution Single Chip or just GS-SC
Single-chip version of the Graphics Solution plus
64kb of static RAM
Composite Output
Graphics Solution Single Chip or GS-SC with Game (1988)
Includes a game port
Lacks external composite connector
Release Date: 1987
ATi EGA Wonder (March 1987)
Chipset: ATI16899-0 + CHIPS P86C435
Supports CGA, Hercules mono & EGA graphics modes
Removes support for plantronics mode/Single-page Hercules mode/composite output
Compatible with MDA, CGA and EGA displays (DIP switch selectable)
Internal composite port for machines such as IBM 5155 Portable
256kb DRAM
Port: 8-bit PC/XT bus
Original MSRP: $399
ATi EGA Wonder 800
Added support for extended EGA text and graphics modes (requires multisync monitor)
Added support for 16-colour VGA modes
ATi EGA Wonder 800+
Rebadged VGA Edge lacking the analogue VGA port
Chipset: ATI 18800
Can auto-detect monitor type connected (DIP switches no longer present)
Release Date: 1987
ATi VIP or VGA Improved Performance (1987)
Chipset: ATi 16899-0 & Chips P82C441
Supports CGA, Hercules mono, EGA & VGA graphics with Softsense automatic mode switching
Compatible with MDA, CGA, EGA and VGA displays (DIP switch selectable)
9-pin TTL and 15-pin analogue connectors
256kb DRAM
Port: 8-bit PC/XT bus
Original MSRP: $449 ($99 for Compaq expansion module)
ATi VGA Wonder (1988)
Chipset: ATI 18800
Adds support for SVGA graphics modes
Adds support for monitor auto-sensing (switchless configuration)
Uses on-board EEPROM to store configuration information
256kb or 512kb DRAM
Port: 8-bit PC/XT bus
ATi VGA Edge 8
Cost Reduced VGA Wonder
256KB DRAM
ATi VGA Wonder 16 (1988)
Speed enhancements due to a wider bus
VGA pass through connector
Bus mouse connector
256KB or 512KB DRAM
Port: 16-bit PC/AT bus (ISA), 8-bit compatible
Original MSRP: $499 or $699 respectively
ATi VGA Edge-16
Cost reduced VGA Wonder 16
Lacks the bus mouse connector and the digital TTL output
256kb DRAM (not expandable to 512kb)
ATi VGA Wonder+ (1990)
Chipset: ATI 28800-2, -4, or -5
Based on a new chipset which claimed to offer speeds rivalling VRAM based cards
Dual page mode memory access
Dynamic CPU/CRT interleaving
256KB or 512KB DRAM
ATi VGA Integra (1990)
Cost reduced version based on new ATi 28800 ASIC
Lacks bus mouse connector
Uses a much smaller PCB with a surface mount BIOS & RAMDAC
Supports SVGA Graphics with 72 Hz refresh rates
512KB DRAM
ATi VGA Basic-16 (1990)
PCB layout similar to VGA Integra but using cheaper RAMDAC
Only supports the basic 60 Hz VGA modes of the IBM VGA standard from 1987
256KB DRAM (not upgradable)
ATi VGA Charger (1991)
Similar to VGA Basic-16, but can be upgraded to 512KB
ATi VGA Wonder XL (May 1991)
Sierra RAMDAC adds support for 15-bit colour in 640x480@72 Hz, 800x600@60 Hz
Supports a flicker-free vertical refresh rate of 72 Hz
256KB, 512KB or 1MB DRAM
Original MSRP: $229, $349, $399 respectively
ATi VGA Stereo·F/X
Chipset: ATI 28800
Combines a VGA Wonder XL with a Sound Blaster 1.5
Features "fake" stereo sound
512KB or 1MB DRAM
ATi VGA Wonder XL24 (1992)
Contains a Brooktree Bt481KPJ85 RAMDAC that adds support for hi and true colour graphics modes
512KB or 1MB DRAM
ATi VGA Wonder 1024
A series of OEM cost reduced versions of several VGA Wonder models
Typically lacks the bus mouse connector and/or the digital TTL output