Atari 8bit demos, what hardware?
category: general [glöplog]
I think about buying an atari8bit computer to watch demos and stuff. I mean the AtariXL computer series.
I am just not sure yet, which model? The 800xl? Of course it needs expansion memory. I'll look into that. But which model is more common?
Will it be easy to transfer? It seems to have a cartidge. Easiest option to transfer demos?
p.s. I all decided to think about buying this, when I tried to get my dream, Sam Coupe. But even one with broken keyboard goes over 300 pounds now. So, I said screw this, and went to my very next dream 8bit (because of the demos).
I am just not sure yet, which model? The 800xl? Of course it needs expansion memory. I'll look into that. But which model is more common?
Will it be easy to transfer? It seems to have a cartidge. Easiest option to transfer demos?
p.s. I all decided to think about buying this, when I tried to get my dream, Sam Coupe. But even one with broken keyboard goes over 300 pounds now. So, I said screw this, and went to my very next dream 8bit (because of the demos).
Hi Optimus,
Best place to ask: www.atari.org.pl/forum
Best place to ask: www.atari.org.pl/forum
Some hardware you might like:
http://www.lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=67
http://www.lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=68
http://www.lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=67
http://www.lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=68
Those look great! Ok +80pounds, but it's good to be able to easily find stock.
When I made the same decision a while ago, I opted for a 130XE and an SIO2SD.
That runs most demos, but to be able to run all demos, you will need more than the standard 128kb in the 130XE.
That runs most demos, but to be able to run all demos, you will need more than the standard 128kb in the 130XE.
OH FUCK THEY REALLY ARE TAKING OVER HALP
U need stock Atari 65/130XE or 800XL + 1MB Ultimate + STEREO + SIO2SD
That's good. I am looking at a not so expensive 65 now.
You should be able to get an Atari 8-bit machine quite easily from Ebay UK, they are cheap and fairly easy to get hold of. Then either send it over (or visit a Sillyventure demoparty) to Lotharek, who will fit you the Ultimate 1mb upgrade, a SIO2SD and anything else you will need and you'll be good to go :)
Good luck with obtaining the hardware and getting it upgraded :)
Good luck with obtaining the hardware and getting it upgraded :)
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OH FUCK THEY REALLY ARE TAKING OVER HALP
Just think of the 8-bitter Atari's as baby Amiga's...
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Just think of the 8-bitter Atari's as baby Amiga's...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Midwich_Cuckoos
I have a 130XE with a handmade 1MB Simm expansion and a SIO2PC cable... It plays all demos. 20€ for the XE, 25€ for the chip needed for the Expansion. I think I got the SIO2PC Cable from a friend for free. Soo....50€ is almost for free. :)
optimus, what model you prefer is mostly a matter of aesthetics, except for memory size there no major differences between all the atari 8bit machines
djefke/rbbs gave me (iirc) a 400xl and a 600xl some years ago to use for "useful purposes". one purpose was already found, you could be the next if you like. so if you fancy the old case style, just let me know. i can send it tou you today, but as others have noted before, you really want a 1mb upgrade, so i suggest you make arrangements for that first. lotharek is awesome, if you choose to work with him i'd be happy to send the machine to his address directly so you can save a few euros in shipments ;)
djefke/rbbs gave me (iirc) a 400xl and a 600xl some years ago to use for "useful purposes". one purpose was already found, you could be the next if you like. so if you fancy the old case style, just let me know. i can send it tou you today, but as others have noted before, you really want a 1mb upgrade, so i suggest you make arrangements for that first. lotharek is awesome, if you choose to work with him i'd be happy to send the machine to his address directly so you can save a few euros in shipments ;)
Thanks for the offer, but I bought the 65XE yesterday.
So, these expansion are not plugged in easily? One would need soldering or something?
So, these expansion are not plugged in easily? One would need soldering or something?
Yep, almost solderless as possible (only RW, PHI2, HALT and RESET lines need soldering)
800XL and 600XL _with socketed circuits_ (not all of them are like that) are the easiest when installing the Ultimate. I've expanded one 65XE, but that was a major pain in the ass, since you need to remove a couple of ICs.
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optimus, what model you prefer is mostly a matter of aesthetics, except for memory size there no major differences between all the atari 8bit machines
What about the CTIA / GTIA ?
There's no such thing as CTIA's around. At least not in PAL. Around 100.000 of NTSC CTIA were made 1979.(According to Wikipedia.) But in the Europe release of the Atari 800/400, only GTIAs were made from that point onwards.
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But in the Europe release of the Atari 800/400, only GTIAs were made from that point onwards.
OK, that's great!
According to Wikipedia: "Unfortunately, the 65XE and 800XE machines sold in Eastern Europe had a buggy GTIA chip, specifically those machines made in China in 1991."
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According to Wikipedia: "Unfortunately, the 65XE and 800XE machines sold in Eastern Europe had a buggy GTIA chip, specifically those machines made in China in 1991."
What's an 800XE?
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According to Wikipedia: "Unfortunately, the 65XE and 800XE machines sold in Eastern Europe had a buggy GTIA chip, specifically those machines made in China in 1991."
Ouch.
Funnily enough, my first Atari 8-bit (a 600XL) and first Amiga (an A500) had hardware faults. Only just realised it this moment.
I have an XE with that buggy GTIA. It only has slower register changes and some GTIA specific exploits don't work(like alternating modes withn a raster line). The only way to test is to show pictures with rastersplits and Players directly in relation with bitmap. Since they are off-sync, many G2F pics look terrible. Long time Ago I've made a program that shows black stripes on a bad GTIA and a white screen on a good one.
Just got myself a SIDE2 (have an SIO2SD too, ofcoz), but haven't had the time to test it yet. It seems to support ATR files if you have an Ultimate installed. Any idea if demos work with it?
Happened to get a memory expansion just before the Ultimate came out, but the old one only works with a certain type of XE mobo that has less memory chips. Never owned one like that so it's just gathering dust now :/
Happened to get a memory expansion just before the Ultimate came out, but the old one only works with a certain type of XE mobo that has less memory chips. Never owned one like that so it's just gathering dust now :/
To answer my own question: demos work fine with a SIDE2 - at least all that I tried (around 20). XEX files are easy and load quick, but ATRs require some extra effort and only work if you have an Ultimate installed. My Ultimate was so old that it needed to be reflashed to support ATR, but after that following the instructions was enough.