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
- Atari, Inc. (1979–1984)
- Atari Corporation (1984–1992)
November 1979
- 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
4 million
Custom
Atari DOS (optional)
MOS Technology 6502B or
MOS Technology 6502 SALLY
384 pixels per TV line, 256 colors, 8 × sprites, raster interrupts
4 × oscillators with noise mixing
or 2 × AM digital
- 2 or 4 × Atari joystick port
- 1 × Atari SIO
- 0–1 × PBI
- 0–1 × Composite monitor
- 1–2 × ROM cartridge
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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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]
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