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Atari 800

Atari 800 · 1979–1983 · desktop

Specifications

Cpu: MOS Technology 6502B, 1.79 MHz
Ram: max: 48 KB on board across 4 memory module bays · base: 16 KB (8 KB on the earliest units)
Ports: 2× cartridge slots · 4× controller (joystick/paddle) ports · Serial I/O (SIO) bus for disk, cassette, and printer · Monitor and RF video out · Parallel bus interface connector
Display: ANTIC/GTIA chipset: palette of 256 hues/luminances, 40×24 text, graphics modes up to 320×192
Storage: base: Atari 410 cassette recorder (no internal storage) · options: Atari 810 5.25" floppy disk drive over the SIO bus
Os Support: latest: Atari DOS 2.5 · shipped: Atari BASIC / OS ROM cartridge
Release Price: $999.95 (16 KB configuration)

Variants

Models

800 (CTIA)1979-1981, original CTIA chip, full-travel keyboard

800 (GTIA)1981-1983, upgraded GTIA chip revision

Storage

16KB1979 base RAM configuration

48KBlater standard configuration, max RAM via expansion slots

Upgrade paths

RAM

48 KB on board by filling the internal memory module bays with 16 KB RAM boards · Requires opening the case to seat RAM modules in the internal bays; well documented in period service manuals.

MODERATE