From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article covers the range of peripherals available for Atari's 8-bit home computer range (including the 400/800, XL and XE series machines).

All of Atari's external peripherals used the proprietary SIO port, which allowed them to be daisy chained together into a single string; a method also used in Commodore's home computers from the VIC-20 onwards. These "intelligent" peripherals were more expensive than the standard IBM PC devices, which did not need the added SIO electronics.

Contents 1 List of peripherals 1.1 400/800 era (1979-1982) 1.2 XL era (1982-1985) 1.3 XE era (1985 onwards) 2 References and notes 3 External links

Both the names and styling of Atari's 8-bit peripherals generally matched the current computer range at the time they were released. Thus, they can be divided into one of three groups- those corresponding to the 400/800 era (4xx/8xx), the XL era (10xx) and the XE era (beginning with 'X') respectively. (The XL-era naming reflected Atari's original intention to launch an "Atari 1000" line.)^[1] Nevertheless, it should be emphasised that these are superficial issues; the majority of peripherals listed here will work with any 8-bit Atari computer.

In addition to those listed below, Atari failed to release a huge selection of machines and peripherals that were otherwise completed. (See the externally linked FAQ below for details.)

• 410 tape drive, 600 bit/s on cassettes
• 810 5¼" floppy disk, single-density single-sided, 90 KiB
• 815 dual 5¼" floppy disks, double-density single-sided, 180 KiB (only small numbers produced)
• 820 printer, 40-column dot matrix on adding machine paper
• 822 printer, 40-column thermal on slightly wider paper
• 825 printer, 80-column dot matrix (Centronics 737)
• 830 300-baud modem, using an acoustic coupler, used RS-232 so required an 850 (Novation CAT)
• 835 300-baud modem, direct connect, basic Hayes compatible with SIO interface
• 850 expansion system, included four RS-232 ports and one Centronics parallel port
• CX-85 Numerical Keypad, external keypad that plugs into the joystick ports.

• 1010 tape drive, a smaller replacement for the 410
• 1020 color printer, 40-column plotter with 4 pens
• 1025 printer, 80-column dot matrix (Okidata ML-80)
• 1027 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 printer, 80-column lower-quality 7-pin dot matrix sold in Europe (Seikosha mechanism)
• 1030 300 baud modem, direct connect
• 1050 5¼" floppy disk, "enhanced density" format single-sided, 130 KiB
• 1064 memory module, 64 KiB memory expansion for 600XL
• CX77 touch tablet

• XEP80 80-column display module, parallel port
• XC11 tape drive
• XC12 tape drive (small model like the 1010, sold worldwide). Similar models were released, mainly in Eastern Europe.^[2] These included:-
  • XCA12 (same case as XC12)
  • CA12 (same case as XC12)
  • XL12 tape drive (an XC12 with minor changes)
  • XC13 - "T2000 ready" version of XC12
• XF551 5¼" floppy disk, double-density double-sided, 360 KiB
• XMM801 printer, 80-column dot matrix
• XDM121 printer, 80-column letter quality daisy wheel
• XM301 300 baud modem
• SX212 1200 baud modem (also included RS-232 for use on Atari ST computers)

1. ^ The Atari Sweet-16 Project, landley.net. Article retrieved 2007-03-18.
2. ^ "What other cassette recorders can I use with my Atari?", Atari 8-bit computers FAQ. Version used last updated 2006-11-07, accessed 2006-11-08.

• Atari 8-Bit Computers: Frequently Asked Questions- includes information on unreleased peripherals.