Famous Graphics Chips: IBM’s professional graphics, the PGC and 8514/A

IBM for a long time offered two levels of display capabilities: one for general purpose business users doing word processing, database entry, and Lotus spreadsheets, and one for engineering users—the latter always having higher resolution, more expensive monitors and controllers.  The IBM Professional Graphics Controller (PGC)  Before the 8514/A, in 1984, IBM introduced a multi-board AIB called the Professional Graphics Controller (PGC) often called Professional Graphics Adapter and sometimes Professional Graphics Array.  The PGC consisted of three interconnected PCBs and contained a graphics processor and memory. Targeted for programs such as CAD and page-layout, the PGC was, at the time