Atari 8-bit computer peripherals

This article covers the range of peripherals available for Atari's 8-bit home computer range (including the 400/800, XL and XE series machines).

Because the Atari 400/800 8-bit computers included an RF modulator, stringent FCC regulations limiting radio emissions applied to the Ataris. Consequently, the Atari 400/800 systems internal construction used large metal frames as Faraday cages to prevent emissions. At this time most other computers used plug-in internal cards to add connections for peripherals. The Atari computers' internal structure made this impractical.

To permit easy expansion Atari developed the SIO (Serial Input/Output) bus. This bus daisy chains together all Atari peripherals into a single string -- disk drives, printers, modems, RS-232 interfaces. A primary goal of the Atari computer design was user-friendliness which was assisted by the SIO bus. Since only one kind of connector plug is used for all devices the Atari computer was easy for novice users to expand. Devices on the bus have their own IDs and peripherals can deliver downloadable drivers to the Atari computer during the boot process. However, the additional electronics in these "intelligent" peripherals made them cost more than the equivalent "dumb" devices used by other systems of that era.

List of peripherals

Both the names and styling of Atari's 8-bit peripherals generally matched the current computer range at the time they were released. Thus, they can be divided into one of three groups- those corresponding to the 400/800 era (4xx/8xx), the XL era (10xx) and the XE era (beginning with 'X') respectively. (The XL-era naming reflected Atari's original intention to launch an "Atari 1000" line.) Nevertheless, it should be emphasised that these are superficial issues; the majority of peripherals listed here will work with any 8-bit Atari computer.

In addition to those listed below, Atari failed to release a huge selection of machines and peripherals that were otherwise completed. (See the externally linked FAQ below for details.)

400/800 era (1979-1982)

• 410 Program Recorder - a tape drive, 600 bit/s on Compact Cassettes
  • There exist several variants of the 410; in particular, later models sold under the "410" name were both internally and externally noticeably different in appearance from the early ones.
  • The 410 used stereo with the data recorded on one track and the other track holding audio that could be fed through the 400 or 800's sound output (as demonstrated by the language courses). The tape could also be programmatically stopped and started, provided the 'Play' button was engaged.
• 810 Disk Drive - a 5¼" floppy disk drive, single-density single-sided, 90 KB
• 815 Dual Disk Drive - two 5¼" floppy disk drives, double-density single-sided, 180 KB
• 820 40-Column Printer - dot matrix on adding machine paper
• 822 Thermal Printer - 40-column thermal on slightly wider paper
• 825 80-Column Printer - dot matrix, used the Centronics interface so required an 850 (repackaged Centronics 737)
• 830 Acoustic Modem - a 300-baud modem, using an acoustic coupler, used RS-232 so required an 850 (relabelled Novation CAT)
• 835 Direct Connect Modem - a 300-baud modem, direct connect, basic Hayes compatible with SIO interface
• 850 Interface Module - included four RS-232 ports and one Centronics parallel port
• CX30 Paddle Controllers - a set of 2 potentiometers attached to a single joystick port. Originally released with the Atari VCS console.
• CX40 Standard Joystick - 8-directional 1-button joystick, originally released with the Atari VCS console. Bundled with some Atari 400/800 packages and also sold separately. Originally all-black, a version with a matching gray base was later bundled with the Atari XEGS.
  • By 1986 the CX40 was difficult to obtain, and some dealers could only order it with software.
• CX70 Light Pen - a light pen. Bundled with demonstration software on cassette
• CX85 Numerical Keypad - external keypad that plugs into the joystick ports.

Prototypes and vaporware

• 815 Dual Disk Drive - dual 5¼" floppy disks, double-density single-sided, 180 KB (only small number of prototypes produced)

• 
  410 Tape Drive (later version)
• 
  850 Expansion System
• 
  Atari CX85

XL era (1982-1984)

• 1010 Program Recorder - a tape drive, a smaller replacement for the 410
• 1020 Color Printer - a 40-column plotter with 4 pens
• 1025 Printer - 80-column dot matrix (Okidata ML-80)
• 1027 Letter Quality Printer - 80-column letter quality that printed with a 5-wheels-on-a-drum system kept inked by a top-mounted roller (Mannesmann Tally Riteman LQ)
• 1029 Programmable Printer - 80-column lower-quality 7-pin dot matrix sold in Europe (Seikosha mechanism)
• 1030 Modem - 300 baud, direct connect with built in communications software.
• 1050 Dual-Density Disk Drive - 5¼" floppy disk, "enhanced density" format single-sided, 130 KB
• 1064 Memory Module - 64 KB memory expansion for 600XL
• CX75 Light Pen - a light pen. Bundled with the AtariGraphics drawing program on cartridge.
• CX77 Touch Tablet - a graphics tablet. Bundled with the AtariArtist drawing program on cartridge.
• CX80 Trak-Ball Controller - a trackball, also contains a switch for joystick emulation

Prototypes and vaporware

• 1053 - a 5¼" floppy drive, looks like a 1050 but double-sided double-density, 360 KB
• 1055 - a 3½" floppy drive, single-side enhanced-density
• 1090 XL Expansion System - a case connected to the PBI port], with 5 slots intended for various expansion cards

• 
  1010 Tape Drive
• 
  1020 4-color Plotter
• 
  1027 Printer
• 
  1050 Disk Drive

XE era (1985 onwards)

• XEP80 Interface Module - provides 80-column display and a Centronics parallel interface for a printer, based on NS405, an 8048 based chip. Attached via a joystick port controlled at 15625 baud horizontal video timing.
• XC11 Program Recorder - a tape drive
• XC12 Program Recorder - a tape drive (small model like the 1010, sold worldwide). It was based on an earlier tape drive, Phonemark PM-4401A, not manufactured by Atari. A number of similar models, not marketed by Atari were released, mainly in Eastern Europe and Latin America. These included:
  • XCA12 (same case as XC12)
  • CA12 (same case as XC12)
  • XL12 tape drive (an XC12 with minor changes)
• XF551 Disk Drive - 5¼" floppy disk, double-density double-sided, 360 KB
• XMM801 Dot-Matrix Graphics Printer - 80-column
• XDM121 Letter-Quality Daisy-Wheel Printer - 80-column
• XM301 Modem - 300 baud
• SX212 Modem - 1200 baud (also included RS-232 for use on Atari ST computers)
• XG-1 - a light gun, bundled with the Atari XEGS

Prototypes and vaporware

• XF351 - 3½" floppy drive (never released)
• XF521 - 5¼" floppy drive, 1050 compatible, XE style (never released)
• XC1411 - 14" composite monitor (never released)
• XM128 - 12" monochrome monitor (never made)

• 
  CX40 joystick (XE grey version)
• 
  Atari XC12 program recorder
• 
  Atari XG-1 light gun

External links

• Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions- includes information on unreleased peripherals.