The maximum size of a playfield display is determined by the maximum
number of lines and the maximum number of columns. Vertically, the
restrictions are simple. No data can be displayed in the
vertical blanking area. The following table shows the allowable vertical
display area.
NTSC PAL
---- ---
Vertical Blank Start 0 0
Vertical Blank Stop $15 (21) $1D (29)
NTSC NTSC PAL PAL
Normal Interlaced Normal Interlaced
------ ---------- ------ ----------
Displayable lines
of screen video 241 483 283 567
=525-(21*2) =625-(29*2)
Table 3-13: Maximum Allowable Vertical Screen Video
Horizontally, the situation is similar. Strictly speaking, the hardware
sets a rightmost limit to DDFSTOP of ($D8) and a leftmost limit to
DDFSTRT of ($18). This gives a maximum of 25 words fetched in low
resolution mode. In high resolution mode the maximum here is 49 words,
because the rightmost limit remains ($D8) and only one word is fetched at
this limit. However, horizontal blanking actually limits the displayable
video to 368 low resolution pixels (23 words). These numbers are the same
both for NTSC and for PAL. In addition, it should be noted that using a
data-fetch start earlier than ($38) will disable some sprites .
Table 3-14: Maximum Allowable Horizontal Screen Video
Lores Hires
----- -----
DDFSTRT (standard) $0038 $003C
DDFSTOP (standard) $00D0 $00D4
DDFSTRT (hw limits) $0018 $0018
DDFSTOP (hw limits) $00D8 $00D8
max words fetched 25 49
max display pixels 368 (low res)
The limits on the display window starting and stopping positions described
in this section apply to the Amiga's original custom chip set. In the
Enhanced Chip Set (ECS), the limits for playfield display windows have
been changed. For more information on ECS and playfield display windows
refer to Appendix C, Enhanced Chip Set.