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Atari 8-bit computers

The Atari 8-bit computers, formally launched as the Atari Home Computer System,[2] are a series of 8-bit home computers introduced by Atari, Inc. in 1979 with the Atari 400 and Atari 800.[3] The architecture is designed around the MOS Technology 6502 CPU and three custom coprocessors which provide support for sprites, smooth multidirectional scrolling, four channels of audio, and other features. The graphics and sound are more advanced than most of its contemporaries, and video games are a key part of the software library. The 1980 first-person space combat simulator Star Raiders is considered the platform's killer app.

Manufacturer

November 1979 (1979-11)

  • Atari 400: US$550 (equivalent to $2,310 in 2023)
  • Atari 800: US$1,000 (equivalent to $4,200 in 2023)[1]

January 1, 1992 (1992-01-01)

4 million

Custom
Atari DOS (optional)

MOS Technology 6502B or
MOS Technology 6502 SALLY

  • @ 1.79 MHz (NTSC)
  • @ 1.77 MHz (PAL)

384 pixels per TV line, 256 colors, 8 × sprites, raster interrupts

4 × oscillators with noise mixing
or 2 × AM digital

The Atari 800 was positioned as a high-end model, and the 400 as more affordable. The 400 has a pressure-sensitive, spillproof membrane keyboard and initially shipped with a non-upgradable 8 KB of RAM. The 800 has a conventional keyboard, a second cartridge slot, and allows easy RAM upgrades to 48K. Both use identical 6502 CPUs at 1.79 MHz (1.77 MHz for PAL versions) and coprocessors ANTIC, POKEY, and CTIA/GTIA. The plug-and-play peripherals use the Atari SIO serial bus, and one of the SIO developers eventually went on to co-patent USB (Universal Serial Bus).[4] The core architecture of the Atari 8-bit computers was reused in the 1982 Atari 5200 game console, but games for the two systems are incompatible.


The 400 and 800 were replaced by multiple computers with the same technology and different presentation. The 1200XL was released in early 1983 to supplant the 800. It was discontinued months later and succeeded by the 600XL and 800XL. After the company was sold and reestablished, Atari Corporation released the 65XE (sold as the 800XE in some European markets) and 130XE in 1985. The XL and XE are lighter in construction, have two joystick ports instead of four, and Atari BASIC is built-in. The 130XE has 128 KB of bank-switched RAM. In 1987, Atari Corporation repackaged the 65XE as a game console, with an optional keyboard, as the Atari XEGS. It is compatible with 8-bit computer software and peripherals.


Two million Atari 8-bit computers were sold during its major production run between late 1979 and mid-1985.[5] In 1984, Atari reported 4 million owners of its computers and 5200 game console combined.[6] The 8-bit computers were sold both in computer stores and department stores such as Sears using an in-store demo to attract customers.[7] The primary global competition came when the similarly equipped Commodore 64 was introduced in 1982. In 1992, Atari Corporation officially dropped all remaining support for the 8-bit line.[8]

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400 and 800 (1979) – original machines in beige cases. Both have 4 joystick ports below the keyboard and a cartridge slot covered by a door on the top of the machine. The 400 has a . The 800 has full-travel keys, a second, rarely used, cartridge slot, and monitor output. Both have expandable memory (up to 48 KB); the RAM slots are easily accessible in the 800. Later PAL versions have the 6502C processor.

membrane keyboard

1200XL (1983) – new aluminum and smoked plastic case. Includes 64 KB of RAM, two joystick ports, a Help key, and four function keys. Some older software was incompatible with the new OS. Starting with the 1200XL, the single cartridge slot is on the side of the case, and there are only 2 joystick ports.

600XL and 800XL (1983) – the 600XL has 16 KB of memory and PAL versions have a monitor port. The 800XL has 64 KB and monitor output. Both have built-in BASIC and a expansion port. The last produced PAL units contain the Atari FREDDIE chip and Atari BASIC revision C.

Parallel Bus Interface (PBI)

65XE and 130XE (1985) – the 130XE has 128 KB of bank-switched RAM and an instead of a PBI. The first revisions of the 65XE have no ECI or PBI, and the later ones contain the ECI. The 65XE was relabelled as 800XE in some European markets, and was mostly sold in West Germany, Austria and Switzerland.[66]

Enhanced Cartridge Interface (ECI)

XE Game System (1987) – a 65XE styled as a game console. The basic version of the system shipped without the detachable keyboard. With the keyboard it operates just like other Atari 8-bit computer models. The cartridge slot is on the top, like other consoles.

OS Rev. A – 10 KB ROM (3 chips) early machines

OS Rev. B – 10 KB ROM (3 chips) most common

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Legacy[edit]

At the beginning of 1992, Atari Corporation officially dropped all remaining support for all the 8-bit computers.[8] In 2006, Curt Vendel, who designed the Atari Flashback,[81] claimed that Atari released the 8-bit chipset into the public domain.[82] There is agreement in the community that Atari authorized the distribution of the Atari 800's ROM with the Xformer 2.5 emulator, which makes the ROM legally available today as freeware.[83][84]


On March 29, 2024, Atari SA and Retro Games Ltd, via the distributor Plaion, released the Atari 400 Mini, at a cost of £99.99 (€119.99 / $119.99). It is a half-sized scale-model microconsole emulation of the Atari 400. preloaded with 25 games. It comes with an updated Atari CX40 joystick with additional buttons.[85][86]

List of Atari 8-bit computer emulators

Keyboard computer

. Atari Museum. Archived from the original on December 8, 2012. Retrieved November 13, 2008.

"The Atari 800 Personal Computer System"

Goldberg, Marty; Vendel, Curt (2012). . Syzygy Press. ISBN 9780985597405.

Atari Inc: Business is Fun

Levy, Steven (1984). Hackers: Heroes of the Computer Revolution. Doubleday.  0-385-19195-2.

ISBN

Alcorn, Al (April 12, 2015). . Antic (Interview). Interviewed by Randy Kindig.

"ANTIC Interview 32 - Al Alcorn, Atari Employee #3"

Current, Michael D. (May 29, 2023) [1992]. . Retrieved October 10, 2023.

"Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions"

Archived December 11, 2014, at the Wayback Machine

Atari 400/800 Peripherals

at Gamasutra

"A History of Gaming Platforms: Atari 8-bit Computers"

Archived July 2, 2019, at the Wayback Machine

Atari XL Series Systems & Prototypes

Technical chipset information

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