---
name: "vga"
section: "4"
platform: "linux"
package: "xserver-xorg-video-vga"
version: "1:4.1.0-8"
release: "Debian 5.0 (Lenny)"
platforms: ["linux", "freebsd", "openbsd"]
url: "https://new.carta.tech/vga"
---

# vga(4)

Generic VGA video driver

## NAME

vga - Generic VGA video driver

## SYNOPSIS

```
Section "Device"
  Identifier "devname"
  Driver "vga"
  ...
EndSection
```

## DESCRIPTION

**vga** is an Xorg driver for generic VGA video cards.  It can drive most VGA-compatible video cards, but only makes use of the basic standard VGA core that is common to these cards.  The driver supports depths 1, 4 and 8.  All relevant visual types are supported at each depth. Multi-head configurations are supported in combination with some other drivers, but only when the **vga** driver is driving the primary head.

## SUPPORTED HARDWARE

The **vga** driver supports most VGA-compatible video cards.  There are some known exceptions, and those should be listed here.

## CONFIGURATION DETAILS

Please refer to [xorg.conf(5)](/xorg.conf/5.md) for general configuration details.  This section only covers configuration details specific to this driver.

The driver auto-detects the presence of VGA-compatible hardware.  The **ChipSet** name may optionally be specified in the config file **"Device"** section, and will override the auto-detection:

"generic"

The driver will only use 64k of video memory for depth 1 and depth 8 operation, and 256k of video memory for depth 4 (this is the standard VGA limit).

When operating at depth 8, only a single built-in 320x200 video mode is available.  At other depths there is more flexibility regarding mode choice.

The following driver **Options** are supported:

- **Option "ShadowFB" "***boolean***"**

  Enable or disable use of the shadow framebuffer layer.  Default: off.

  This option is recommended for performance reasons when running at depths 1 and 4, especially when using modern PCI-based hardware.  It is required when using those depths in a multi-head configuration where one or more of the other screens is operating at a different depth.

## SEE ALSO

[Xorg(1)](/Xorg/1.md), [xorg.conf(5)](/xorg.conf/5.md), xorgconfig(1), [Xserver(1)](/Xserver/1.md), [X(7)](/X/7.md)

## AUTHORS

Authors include: Marc La France, David Dawes, and Dirk Hohndel.