This register contains two fields which, combined with the output bits from the palette registers, determine the 8-bit address used to select one of the 256 color registers. It is possible to segment the color registers into 16 groups with each group consisting of 16 registers. This is useful because in all but mode 13h, the maximum number of simultaneous colors that can be displayed is 16. Thus, it is possible to rapidly select from 16 different color palettes by simply modifying the C45 and C67 fields of this register.
A second technique segments the color registers into 4 groups of 64 registers each. Thus, it is possible to select from 4 different EGA palettes by modifying the C67 field of this register.
- Color 7 and color 6 (bits 3-2) Address bits 6 and 7 combine with the six output bits from the color palette to form the eight address bits to the color registers.
- Color 5 and color 4 (bits 1-0) Address bits 4 and 5 combine with the two address bits from the C67 field above and the four low-order output bits from the color palette to form the eight address bits to the color registers. This field is used only if the IPS field of the Mode control register is set to 1.