Atari 130XE, 65XE

I have Atari 65XE and two 130XE (both are CIB) main units,
three power adapters and Atari XC12 tape recorder (CIB).

type computer
country USA
year 1985
os XL OS (rom)
cpu MOS 6502c
speed 1.77 MHz
ram 64 KB (65xe) / 128 KB (130xe)
rom 24 KB
graphic 320×192 (16)
colors 256
sound 3 channel, 3,5 octaves
ports cartridge, serial i/o, two joysticks, RF

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The Atari 130XE and 65XE — The Final 8-bit Ataris

Released in 1985, the Atari XE series represented the final evolution of Atari’s 8-bit computer line, launched alongside the new ST family to provide a lower-cost option for budget-conscious buyers. The 65XE offered 64 KB of RAM in a sleek ST-influenced case design, while the 130XE doubled the RAM to 128 KB using a bank-switching scheme — making it one of the most memory-capable 8-bit computers available at its price point. Both machines were fully compatible with the extensive Atari 8-bit software library that had accumulated since 1979.

The Atari 8-bit Architecture

The Atari 8-bit computers used a 1.79 MHz MOS 6502 processor combined with three custom chips — ANTIC (display controller), CTIA/GTIA (colour/graphics), and POKEY (sound and I/O) — that gave them capabilities far beyond what the 6502 alone could deliver. ANTIC could generate complex display lists combining different graphics modes on the same screen, GTIA provided up to 256 colours in certain modes, and POKEY’s four-channel sound and precise interrupt timing made Atari 8-bit computers outstanding for both gaming and music applications.

The XE Game System Connection

The XE series also spawned the XEGS (XE Game System) in 1987 — a console variant of the 65XE designed to compete with the Nintendo NES. The XEGS could function as either a game console (with a detachable keyboard allowing it to become a full computer) or an 8-bit computer with the keyboard attached. It was Atari’s final 8-bit product and an interesting bridge between the company’s computer and gaming heritage.