Atari 800
I the have main unit and power adapter (usa).
type computer
country USA
year 1979
os Atari 800 OS in rom
cpu MOS 6502
speed 1.79MHz
ram 16KB
rom 10KB
graphic 320 x 192 (16×16)
colors 16 / 256
sound 4 voices, 3.5 octaves
ports HFTV, cartridge, expansion, serial I/O, four joystick, tape recorder
The Atari 800 — The Original Atari 8-bit Computer
Released in 1979, the Atari 800 was the premium model in Atari’s first home computer line and one of the most technically sophisticated personal computers of its era. Designed by a team including Jay Miner — who would later create the Amiga’s custom chips — the 800 used three custom chips (ANTIC, GTIA/CTIA, and POKEY) alongside the MOS 6502 processor to deliver graphics and sound capabilities that far exceeded what any competitor could offer at the time. It came with 8 KB of RAM (expandable to 48 KB), four controller ports, two ROM cartridge slots, and a full-travel keyboard that impressed users accustomed to the chiclet keyboards of early home computers.
The Custom Chip Architecture
The Atari 800’s three custom chips were its defining technical achievement. ANTIC (Alphanumeric Television Interface Controller) handled display generation independently of the 6502, generating complex screens using a programmable display list while freeing the processor for game logic. CTIA/GTIA (Colour Television Interface Adapter/George’s Television Interface Adapter) managed colour, sprites (called Player-Missile Graphics), and collision detection. POKEY (POtentiometer/KEYboard) handled sound generation with four independent voices, serial I/O, keyboard scanning, and random number generation. Together these chips gave the Atari 800 capabilities that competitors with comparable or faster processors simply could not match.
Professional Quality at Consumer Prices
The Atari 800 was designed with a level of engineering quality uncommon in consumer products of 1979. The metal RF shielding, the modular cartridge and RAM expansion system, and the sturdy full-travel keyboard reflected Atari’s origins as an arcade game company with high standards for component reliability. The machine remained in production until 1983, when the XL series replaced it, by which time a comprehensive library of games, educational software, and productivity applications had made it one of the most capable 8-bit platforms available.