How do different resolutions (pixel sizes) work? I get that everything memory related (including color mode and depth) could be switched on a raster line.
In theory it should be possible to change the frequency of the video signal mid screen as well, but I have a hard time to imagine switching repeatedly every frame wouldn't have driven the monitors of the time crazy. Even multi-sync monitors needed probably a couple of frames to sync, right?
Kinda, but a CRT literally doesn’t have precise pixel targeting in the way an LCD does. Instead, you’re telling the electron gun to draw red for a little while, and it paints what it paints.
weinzierl · · focus · HN ↗
In theory it should be possible to change the frequency of the video signal mid screen as well, but I have a hard time to imagine switching repeatedly every frame wouldn't have driven the monitors of the time crazy. Even multi-sync monitors needed probably a couple of frames to sync, right?
noone_youknow · · focus · HN ↗
For wider pixels, the hardware just drew each pixel for longer, and for taller pixels each pixel spanned more lines.
Pixels weren’t real in the CRT days :)
fallat · · focus · HN ↗
kstrauser · · focus · HN ↗