Atari 8-bit computer peripherals

List of peripherals

The names and the styling of Atari's 8-bit peripherals generally match the contemporary computer family. Thus, they can be divided into one of three groups: the 400/800 era (4xx/8xx), the XL era (10xx), and the XE era (beginning with 'X'). The XL-era naming reflects Atari's original intention to launch an "Atari 1000" line. These are superficial issues and the majority of peripherals are compatible with any 8-bit Atari computer.

Atari failed to release a large selection of machines and peripherals that were otherwise completed.

400/800 era (1979-1982)

• 410 410 Program Recorder - a tape drive, 600 bit/s on compact cassettes
  • There are several variants of the 410. Early models were sizeable due largely to a much bigger speaker area at the back, and had square cornered buttons. Later versions were smaller and had buttons that were rounded off on the front.
  • 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.
• 810 810 Disk Drive - a 5¼" floppy disk drive, single-density single-sided, 90 KB
  • Pre-1982 drives "have notoriously poor speed regulation", ANALOG Computing reported in 1983; unlike other companies, "ATARI did not begin incorporating a reliable separator into the 810 until early 1982".
• 820 820 40-Column Printer - dot matrix on adding machine paper
• 822 822 Thermal Printer - 40-column thermal on slightly wider paper
• 825 825 80-Column Printer - dot matrix, used the Centronics interface so required an 850 (repackaged Centronics 737)
• 830 830 Acoustic Modem - a 300-baud modem, using an acoustic coupler, used RS-232 so required an 850 (relabelled Novation CAT)
• 835 835 Direct Connect Modem - a 300-baud modem, direct connect, basic Hayes compatible with SIO interface
• 850 850 Interface Module - included four RS-232 ports and one Centronics parallel port
• cx30 CX30 Paddle Controllers - a set of 2 potentiometers attached to a single Atari joystick port. Originally released with the Atari VCS console.
• cx40 CX40 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.
• cx70 CX70 Light Pen - a light pen. Bundled with demonstration software on cassette
• cx85 CX85 Numerical Keypad - external keypad that plugs into the joystick ports.

Prototypes and vaporware

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

|File:Atari 410.jpg|410 Tape Drive (later version) |File:Atari 850.jpg|850 Expansion System |File:Atari-CX85.jpg|Atari CX85

XL era (1982-1984)

• 1010 1010 Program Recorder - a tape drive, a smaller replacement for the 410
• 1020 Color Printer - a 40-column plotter with 4 pens
• 1025 1025 Printer - 80-column dot matrix ( Okidata ML-80)
• 1027 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 1029 Programmable Printer - 80-column lower-quality 7-pin dot matrix sold in Europe (Seikosha mechanism)
• 1030 1030 Modem - 300 baud, direct connect with built in communications software.
• 1050 1050 Dual-Density Disk Drive - 5¼" floppy disk, "enhanced density" format single-sided, 130 KB
• 1064 1064 Memory Module - 64 KB memory expansion for 600XL
• cx75 CX75 Light Pen - a light pen. Bundled with the AtariGraphics drawing program on cartridge.
• cx77 CX77 Touch Tablet - a graphics tablet. Bundled with the AtariArtist drawing program on cartridge.
• cx80 CX80 Trak-Ball Controller - a trackball, also contains a switch for joystick emulation

Prototypes and vaporware

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

|File:Atari 1010 tape drive.jpg|1010 Tape Drive |File:Atari 1020 plotter.jpg|1020 4-color Plotter |File:Atari_1027_Printer.jpg|1027 Printer |File:Atari_1050_disk_drive.jpg|1050 Disk Drive

XE era (1985 onward)

• xep80 XEP80 Interface Module - provides 80-column display and a Centronics parallel interface for a printer, controlled by NS405, an 8048 based chip. Attached via a joystick port controlled at 15625 baud horizontal video timing.
• xc11 XC11 Program Recorder - a tape drive
• xc12 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 were released, not marketed by Atari, mainly in Eastern Europe and Latin America, including these:
  • XCA12 (same case as XC12)
  • CA12 (same case as XC12)
  • XL12 tape drive (an XC12 with minor changes)
• xf551 XF551 Disk Drive - 5¼" floppy disk, double-density double-sided, 360 KB
• xmm801 XMM801 Dot-Matrix Graphics Printer - 80-column
• xdm121 XDM121 Letter-Quality Daisy-Wheel Printer - 80-column
• xm301 XM301 Modem - 300 baud
• sx212 SX212 Modem - 1200 baud (also included RS-232 for use on Atari ST computers)
• xg1 XG-1 - a light gun, bundled with the Atari XEGS

Prototypes and vaporware

• xf351 XF351 - 3½" floppy drive (never released)
• xf521 XF521 - 5¼" floppy drive, 1050 compatible, XE style (never released)
• xc1441 XC1411 - 14" composite monitor (never released)
• xm128 XM128 - 12" monochrome monitor (never made)

|File:Atari XE joystick (colour restored).jpg|CX40 joystick (XE grey version) |File:Atari xc12 cassette data recorder.jpg|Atari XC12 program recorder |File:Atari XG-1 light gun.jpg|Atari XG-1 light gun

References

References

1. (April–June 2018). "The Toy Store: Shootout of the games systems".
2. "Peripheral Power".
3. (2014). ["Vintage Game Consoles"]({{Google books). Focal Press.
4. [http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/8BITS/1200xl/1200_Proto/1200.html The Atari Sweet-16 Project], atarimuseum.com. Article retrieved 2007-03-18.
5. "Atari 410, 810, 815, 816, 817, 820, 822, 825, 827, 830, 835, 837, 850, CX 40, CX 70, CX 85, CX 801, CX 852, CX 853 - atarimuseum.de".
6. Moriarty, Brian. (July–August 1983). "Utility #6: Snail".
7. "Atari Museum".
8. [https://books.google.com/books?id=-rbIcQgxMGAC&pg=PT34 Image Technology], By Don Leavitt, Popular Photography, Dec 1984, Page 140, ''...the Okimate 10...will also work with Atari Artist,...''
9. [https://books.google.com/books?id=pqIoAAAAMAAJ Get the magic touch with the Atari Touch Table], Science Digest, Volume 92, 1984, Page 83, ''...The ATARI Touch Tablet with Atari- Artist"' software cartridge turns your TV into a magic palette of 128 dazzling colors. The Touch Tablet works a little like an electronic slate. Hook it into any ATARI Computer and what you draw on the tablet ...''
10. [http://www.a8museum.com/rx8053-atariartist.html RX8053 Atariartist]{{Dead link. (June 2020)
11. [http://www.mathyvannisselroy.nl/hct2.htm NS405: the heart of the XEP80]
12. Current, Michael D.. (3 April 2014). "Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions".
13. Current, Michael D.. (3 April 2014). "Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions".
14. Ratcliff, Matthew. "Atari XEGS Information".