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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).
added on the 2013-11-29 11:11:09 by Optimus Optimus
Hi Optimus,

Best place to ask: www.atari.org.pl/forum
added on the 2013-11-29 11:28:17 by propeller propeller
Some hardware you might like:
http://www.lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=67
http://www.lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=68
added on the 2013-11-29 11:30:47 by propeller propeller
Those look great! Ok +80pounds, but it's good to be able to easily find stock.
added on the 2013-11-29 11:40:51 by Optimus Optimus
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.
added on the 2013-11-29 13:44:39 by Sdw Sdw
OH FUCK THEY REALLY ARE TAKING OVER HALP
added on the 2013-11-29 14:10:48 by ferris ferris
U need stock Atari 65/130XE or 800XL + 1MB Ultimate + STEREO + SIO2SD
added on the 2013-11-29 14:13:46 by at0m at0m
That's good. I am looking at a not so expensive 65 now.
added on the 2013-11-29 14:24:24 by Optimus Optimus
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 :)
added on the 2013-11-29 22:59:18 by Felice Felice
Quote:
OH FUCK THEY REALLY ARE TAKING OVER HALP


Just think of the 8-bitter Atari's as baby Amiga's...
added on the 2013-11-29 23:33:24 by CiH CiH
Quote:
Just think of the 8-bitter Atari's as baby Amiga's...


BB Image
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Midwich_Cuckoos
added on the 2013-11-29 23:54:41 by Preacher Preacher
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. :)
added on the 2013-11-30 00:43:51 by Exin Exin
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 ;)
added on the 2013-11-30 09:30:13 by havoc havoc
Thanks for the offer, but I bought the 65XE yesterday.
So, these expansion are not plugged in easily? One would need soldering or something?
added on the 2013-11-30 12:14:41 by Optimus Optimus
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.
added on the 2013-11-30 13:55:36 by Marq Marq
Quote:
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 ?
added on the 2013-11-30 21:58:21 by Foebane72 Foebane72
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.
added on the 2013-11-30 22:31:05 by Exin Exin
Quote:
But in the Europe release of the Atari 800/400, only GTIAs were made from that point onwards.


OK, that's great!
added on the 2013-11-30 22:41:42 by Foebane72 Foebane72
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."
added on the 2013-11-30 23:47:01 by Marq Marq
Quote:
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?
added on the 2013-12-01 01:30:24 by Foebane72 Foebane72
Quote:
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.
added on the 2013-12-01 01:47:56 by Foebane72 Foebane72
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.
added on the 2013-12-01 09:58:00 by Exin Exin
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 :/
added on the 2013-12-01 10:59:37 by Marq Marq
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.
added on the 2013-12-01 19:24:34 by Marq Marq

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