VBGamer

16 *is* a base 2 binary number :P You can in fact grab a 16-bit pixel without having it access the next 16 as well, because the cpu will simply use the low-order word of one of the e*x registers (ie: ax, bx, cx, dx). 555 mode is truly 15-bit mode, but it still 'hogs' the 16th bit, because there would be MASSIVE memory access penalties on the cpu time if you wanted to access stuff split across multiple aligned areas of memory. Whichever mode is used is determined by the video card's manufacturer; it will use whatever was built into it... In other words, you have no control over it :P That's why you need to check which mode your card uses before making any calls to things like vbdabl. David