0x3CA

0x3CA is a hexadecimal address commonly associated with the Video Display Combination (VDC) in the IBM PC and compatible systems. The hexadecimal system is a base-16 numbering system that uses digits 0-9 and letters A-F to represent values. In this context, 0x3CA is the address in the system's Input/Output (I/O) space where the VDC's status register can be accessed.

The VDC is a component of the IBM PC's video system, responsible for controlling the display of text and graphics on the screen. The status register at address 0x3CA provides information about the current state of the VDC, including whether it is in text mode or graphics mode, and the status of various display-related operations.

Programmers and developers working with low-level system programming, operating system development, or hardware emulation may need to interact with the VDC and its status register at address 0x3CA. Understanding the functionality and behavior of this address is crucial for tasks such as writing device drivers, optimizing system performance, or creating software that interacts directly with hardware components.

In summary, 0x3CA is a significant address in the IBM PC's I/O space, associated with the Video Display Combination's status register. It plays a vital role in controlling and monitoring the display output of the system.