• Hercules Graphics Card (HGC)
• Hercules Text Card
• Hercules Graphics Card Plus
• Hercules Color Card
• Hercules Color Card/NP
• Hercules InColor Card
• Hercules Network Card Plus

The Hercules Graphics Card, Graphics Card Plus, and the Hercules InColor Card use all of the address space B0000-BFFFF; other video circuitry assigned to this address must be disabled or removed. Machines that do not provide this option are not Hercules compatible. The Hercules Graphics Card Plus, and the InColor Card's parallel port must be disabled if the computer has a parallel port at address 03BC that cannot be removed (please not that the original Hercules Grahics Card does not allow the user to disable the port). If the computer has a parallel port at the address 0378 that cannot be reassignd or disabled, the Hercules Color Card cannot be installed (in this case you can use the Hercules Color Card/NP). [2]

The original Hercules Graphics Card that set the standard for high resolution monochrom graphics. It features high quality text characters and flicker-free scrolling, plus Hercules 720 x 348 bit-mapped graphics and a parallel printer port. [2]

So far I have been able to identify the following versions of the original HGC.

• GB100: .... 1982
• GB101: .... 1983
• GB102: .... 1984
• GB102Z: ... 1988

The Hercules Graphics Card uses the address space B0000-BFFFF (2 x 32 kByte pages).

GB100

GB101

GB102

GB102Z

High resolution test-only card provides all of the funtionality of the IBM Monochrome Display & Printer Adapter (MDA), but in a half card, short slot size. It also includes a parallel printer port. [2]

The new standard for monochrom text and graphics display for the IBM PCs and compatibles. All the features of the original Hercules Graphics Card plus RamFont, the new mode that improves the performance of many popular programs. The Hercules Graphics Card Plus includes the three modes you need: Standard text, exclusive RamFont mode, and Hercules 720 x 348 Graphics mode, plus a parallel printer port. [2]

The Hercules Graphics Card Plus uses the address space B0000-BFFFF (2 x 32 kByte pages).

The famous color card that more than 250,000 discriminating PC owners have selected in place of the IBM Color Graphics Adapter. It runs popular graphics programs the IBM card runs - yet it's only the half size. It fits in the short slot of your XT or PC portable. and of course, it will fit in a PC or AT as well. This board also includes a built-in parallel printer port. For use with IBM CGA compatible monitors. [2]

The Hercules Color Card uses the address space B8000-BFFFF (2 x 16 kByte blocks). The IBM CGA uses only one 16 kByte block (B8000-BBFFF). The Hercules Color Card can co-exist with the Hercules Graphics Card (HALF mode, using only B0000-B7FFF).

This board is the same as the Hercules Color Card, but without a built-in parallel printer port. [2]

Runs more software at a higher resolution (720 x 348) than any color graphics card. Color compatibilities: 16 color selected from a palette of 64. Compatible with thousands of programs that run on your monochrom card without changing video drivers. Features enhanced RamFont mode (in Color) with up to 3,072 programmable characters in up to 16 color and 12,288 characters in two colors. For use with IBM enhanced color display, multi-sync monitors or equivalant. [2]

• Owner's manual Hercules Graphics Card (GB101)
• BYTE: 08-12 The Hercules Graphics Card (1983)

You want to try HBASIC with the Hercules Graphics Card? See here.

• HBASIC for the Hercules Graphics Card (GB101): Download (33 KByte) / Also works with the GB102

1. (↑) Courtesy of Valentine Pillow-Wilcox, 2024
2. (↑) Hercules Compatibility Guide, Spring 1987, Edition 2.0 Update 4/87
3. (↑) https://blog.adafruit.com/2019/12/24/the-prototype-hercules-graphics-card-ibmpc-vintagecomputing-history/