---
name: "ifb"
section: "4"
platform: "openbsd"
package: "man"
version: "8.0-current-20261101"
release: "OpenBSD 8.0-current (2026-11-01)"
platforms: ["openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/ifb"
---

# ifb(4)

inextricable frame buffer

## NAME

**ifb** – inextricable frame buffer

## SYNOPSIS

**ifb\* at pci?** **wsdisplay\* at ifb?**

## DESCRIPTION

The **ifb** driver attempts to support various frame buffer cards based on the 3DLabs ‘Wildcat’ chips, such as the Sun Expert3D-Lite, Expert3D, XVR-500, XVR-600 and XVR-1200 boards. It does not provide direct device driver entry points but makes its functions available via the internal [wsdisplay(4)](/wsdisplay/4.md) interface.

## DISPLAY RESOLUTION

If the **ifb** frame buffer is used as the console display, a different resolution than the default 1152x900 can be selected by changing the OpenPROM environment. To change the default resolution, type the following:

  *ok* setenv *output-device* screen:r1280x1024x76

to change to a 76Hz 1280x1024 resolution.

The **ifb** frame buffer accepts the following resolutions:

| | | | |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| **Mode** | **Resolution** | **Refresh** |  |
| **Identifier** |  | **Rate (Hz)** |  |
| r640x480x60 | 640x480 | 60 |  |
| r640x480x60i | 640x480 | 60 | Composite sync |
| r768x575x50i | 768x575 | 50 |  |
| r1024x768x60 | 1024x768 | 60 | Composite sync |
| r1024x768x70 | 1024x768 | 70 |  |
| r1024x768x75 | 1024x768 | 75 |  |
| r1024x768x77 | 1024x768 | 77 |  |
| r1024x800x84 | 1024x800 | 84 | Composite sync |
| r1152x900x66 | 1152x900 | 66 | Composite sync |
| r1152x900x76 | 1152x900 | 76 | Composite sync |
| r1280x800x76 | 1280x1024 | 76 |  |
| r1280x1024x60 | 1280x1024 | 60 |  |
| r1280x1024x67 | 1280x1024 | 67 | Composite sync |
| r1280x1024x75 | 1280x1024 | 75 |  |
| r1280x1024x76 | 1280x1024 | 76 | Composite sync |
| r1280x1024x85 | 1280x1024 | 85 |  |
| r1440x900x76 | 1440x900 | 76 | Composite sync |
| r1600x1000x66 | 1600x1000 | 66 |  |
| r1600x1000x76 | 1600x1000 | 76 | Composite sync |
| r1600x1280x76 | 1600x1280 | 76 |  |
| r1792x1344x75 | 1792x1344 | 75 |  |
| r1920x1080x72 | 1920x1080 | 72 | Composite sync |
| r1920x1200x70 | 1920x1200 | 70 |  |
| r1920x1200x75 | 1920x1200 | 75 |  |

Modes with the suffix letter ‘i’ are interlaced.

## SEE ALSO

[intro(4)](/intro/4.md), [pci(4)](/pci/4.md), [wscons(4)](/wscons/4.md), [wsdisplay(4)](/wsdisplay/4.md)

## BUGS

The second head of XVR-1200 cards is not supported.