this post was submitted on 24 Sep 2024
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No, but even modern GPUs can run in BIOS and VESA compatibility modes without drivers, which DOS does support. You just won't be able to use hardware 3D rendering.
It's not even VESA. DOS just uses the VGA 80x25 character terminal mode that all x86 computers still have to start in for backwards compatibility, where "video memory" is mapped to 0xb800 in the 1MB real mode address space. Software you run can then change the video mode, such as to a VESA mode if supported, or for ultra nostalgia, "screen mode 13" (320x200 256-color mode).
This is correct. I was more referring to software that runs on DOS, but didn't specify that.
Oof my brain hurts from that time period of computers
You could also just use a VGA or DVI to HDMI on a compatible card which supports DOS, you'll have to pump in external sound but that's already the case on Most Dos machines who's soundcard is external, and since DOS and its software library doesn't exactly support modern soundcard standards.
There is a TSR now for DOS that emulates Sound Blaster on some Intel audio chipsets.