Uploaded May 2026 | Updated September 2026, 3 hours ago

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In this video I type in and run a small graphics demo program directly from the IBM PC technical manual using PC Cassette BASIC on a real IBM 5150.

The program demonstrates:

LINE drawing
BOX drawing
Filled graphics
CGA 320x200 4-color graphics mode

What surprised me most was how fast the filled graphics are compared to many 8-bit systems from the same era. Watching the IBM 5150 rapidly fill shapes on-screen really shows the difference between the early 16-bit IBM PC and machines like the Commodore 64, Atari 8-bit, or ColecoVision.

This video also explores:

IBM CGA graphics modes
PC Cassette BASIC in ROM
Early IBM PC graphics capabilities
Real IBM 5150 hardware
BASIC graphics programming in 1981

Running on original IBM 5150 hardware with CGA graphics.

#IBM5150 #CGA #RetroComputing #VintageComputers #PCBasic #BASICProgramming #IBMPC #RetroTech #CassetteBasic #OldComputers