Atari 2600 hardware

Atari 2600 Hardware

Atari hardware has gone through many makeovers and revisions in its 14 year history.

Six Switch Models (CX2600)

There were two different designs for the six switch models. Both designs incorporated a switch board as well as a motherboard in which the two were connected via 12-pin ribbon cable.

File:Heavy Sixer ID3.jpg

This is a Heavy Sixer. Notice the curves on the front right and left molding as well as the thick molding on the sides running towards the back.

This is a Light Sixer. Notice the sharper curves on the front right and left molding as well as the thin molding on the sides running towards the back.

This is a woodgrain CX2600-A. Practically identical to the Light Sixer except for the four switches.

File:Vader ID.jpg

This is the "Darth Vader" 2600. Same as the woodgrain CX2600-A, but its all black.

Heavy Sixer
For their first year of production (1977), Atari manufactured the CX2600 with heavy aluminum radio frequency shielding as well as 1/2 inch thick plastic bottom half. These units are easily differentiated from other years of production by their thick molding on the sides of the case, the curved molding on the front of the unit, as well as is heavier weight.

Light Sixer
These models were introduced in 1978 and stayed in production for about two years. The thick molding on the sides and curved molding on the front gave way to thinner and more sharply angled molding reducing the weight of the system. The thick RF shielding remained until the four switch models came out. Atari also included a channel select switch on the bottom right hand side of these systems for the first time.

Four Switch Models (CX2600-A)

These models also had two different designs. For the most part, the only difference between the four switch models and the "Light Sixer" is that there are only four switches and retain much of the same moldings. Instead of having two separate boards connected through a ribbon cable, the CX2600-A had one motherboard.

Four Switch Woodie
These models were introduced in 1980.

Darth Vader
These models were introduced in 1982 and were the first to use "2600" in its name. These do not have woodgrain on the front and are primarily black.

VCS Internals

This is the motherboard inside a Vader 2600, but it is exactly like the mobo for the 2600-A.

This is the motherboard and switchboard inside a Heavy Sixer.

The Television Interface Adapter(TIA) chip CO1044(D), CPU chip CO10745, and combination Ram+I/O chip CO10750 are the same used throughout the 2600's production.

The motherboards when through several revisions as well.
2600A Motherboards

"2600A MODEL REVISIONS 1-14
In addition to the component changes, the physical location of several parts has also been changed. Instead of having the right and left difficulty switches placed on top of the game, they are located at the rear of the console next to the game controller plugs. The channel selector switch is also located at the rear of the console. The game cartridge socket is no longer angled, but is mounted vertically on the board.

2600A MODEL DIFFERENCES - REVISIONS 14 AND 15
Revisions 14 and 15 contain the model differences described above, and in addition have new components on the TIA lines, LM1 and Sync. There are two IN914 diodes to prevent feedback on the lines and two additional pull-up resistors to insure the signal is a t +5v. To compensate for any signal loss, R215 and 217 have been changed to 47K (R215) and 24K (R217).

2600A MODEL DIFFERENCES - REVISIONS 14 AND UP
Revisions 16 and up contain the model differences described above; they also include a timer chip (A205) added to the reset circuitry of the MPU chip. This chip eliminates the problem of power-on reset failures."