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/* Hardware */
[[File:Atari XE Games System-gen1.jpeg|thumb|right|Atari XEGS]]
The [[Atari 8-bit]] computer series, launched in 1979 as the Atari Home Computer System, included the Atari 400 and 800. Powered by the 8-bit MOS Technology [[6502 ]] CPU and custom coprocessors, these computers offered advanced graphics and sound for their time.
The Atari 800 was the high-end model, while the 400 was a budget-friendly option with a membrane keyboard and 8 KB of RAM. Both supported plug-and-play peripherals via the Atari SIO serial (Serial I/O) bus, a precursor to USB technology. The architecture was later used in the 1982 Atari 5200 console, though the systems were not software-compatible.
Newer models followed, beginning with the short-lived 1200XL in 1983, replaced by the 600XL and 800XL. After Atari Corporation took over, the 65XE and 130XE were released in 1985, featuring a lighter design, two joystick ports, and built-in Atari BASIC. The 130XE had 128 KB of RAM.
==Hardware==
The 400/800 originally used the standard 6502B CPU. Later 400/800 CPU board was released that boards used the SALLY 6502C (the C is for custom, not CMOS) chip. The SALLY chip equipped all new Atari 400 & 800, and their successors.
ANTIC and CTIA together produce the graphics, up to a resolution of 320x192 pixels, sprites, scrolling in any direction, different graphic modes that can be mixed on the same screen, etc.
When launched in the US, the Atari 400 & 800 came with a CTIA (Color Television Interface Adapter) chip, which offered 9 graphic and text modes (GR.0-8) in Atari BASIC and a 128-colour palette. In early 1982, CTIA was replaced by GTIA (Graphic Television Interface Adapter), which provided 3 additional graphics modes (GR.9-10-11) in Atari BASIC, with a 256-colour palette. The GTIA chip equipped all new Atari 400 & 800, and their successors.
==Links==
*[https://youtu.be/57CNQ7xp69o Over 50 Atari 400/800 games in under 30 minutes] [https://youtu.be/06oF6gGybZI 1000 Atari 8-bit games]
*[https://youtu.be/WDAZAgrzNoo How Atari 8-Bit Computers Work!] by [[The 8-Bit Guy]]
* [https://www.atariarchives.org/dere/ De Re Atari] [https://www.musanim.com/mam/DeReAtari.pdf PDF version]
* [[media:Atari 400-800 Service Manual.pdf|Atari 400-800 Service Manual]]
* [[media:Pokey datasheet.pdf|POKEY]] [[media:GTIA datasheet.pdf|GTIA]] [[media:ANTIC datasheet.pdf|ANTIC]] Datasheets