[continued from previous message]
ANTIC, both, or neither, to access the currently-selected bank of "extra" memory, based on the settings of PORTB bits 4-5 (CBE and VBE).
EXCEPTIONS -- Did not utilize the 130XE RAM banking standard:
- "The Quarter-Meg Atari 800XL" project by Claus Buchholz, Byte 9/85,
designed before the release of the 130XE, used a system of eight 32KiB
banks.
- The Atari 130XE Memory Upgrade project by Rich Andrews (FREDDIE version
adds 32 RAM chips; C025953 versions adds 24 RAM chips) used a system of
four banks of 64KiB (adding to the computer's main 64KiB RAM, for a total
of 320KiB system RAM, with the loss of internal BASIC).
32KiB system total, for the 600XL
- RC Systems AM2, plugs into the PBI, 1984
- W.E.Electronics 16KiB, plugs into the PBI, 1985
- Card could be upgraded from 16KiB to 32KiB
48KiB system total, for the 600XL
- RC Systems AM1, plugs into the PBI, 1984
- FirstWare (Mosaic) 48K Expander (internal), 1984
- Expander Package Upgrade Kit upgrades 48K Expander to 64K
- W.E.Electronics 32KiB, plugs into the PBI, 1985
64KiB system total, for the 600XL
- 64KiB internal daughterboard by BOT Engineering, 1983. Possibly only
installed in some new 600XL units for sale in Canada and never marketed
directly to consumers.
- Atari 1064, plugs into the PBI, 1984
- Provides pass-through interface for additional PBI devices
- Only 48KiB of 64KiB in DRAM chips is used; the computer's internal
16KiB RAM remains enabled as well for 64KiB system total
- MPP MicroRam 64K Memory Board, plugs into the PBI, 1984
- RC Systems AM64, plugs into the PBI, 1984
- FirstWare (Mosaic) 64K Expander (internal), 1984
- W.E.Electronics 48KiB, plugs into the PBI, 1985
- 600XL 64K Kit, by Computer Service Land (internal), 1986
- 600XL to 64K RAMKit, by Computer Support, 1986
- 600XL to 64K internal upgrade kit, York Computer Centre, 1987
- Atari 600XL to 64K RAM project by Ken Sumrall, 1987
- Innovative Concepts Ramdrive + 64K (16KiB to 64KiB internal), 1987
- 64K Upgrade for 600XL project by Don Neff, February 1988 issue of
Michigan Atari Magazine
128KiB system total (Atari 130XE standard)
PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 2,3
2 bank-selection bits allows selection of 2^2 = 4 16KiB memory banks.
- Innovative Concepts Ramdrive + 128K (65XE 64KiB to 128KiB)
- True ANTIC banking
- Innovative Concepts Ramdrive + XE-GM1 (XEgs 64KiB to 128KiB) (1988)
- True ANTIC banking
- Innovative Concepts Ramdrive + XL to XE (800XL/600XL 64KiB to 128KiB)
- True ANTIC banking ("including Extended Antic modes") (1989)
192KiB system total
PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 2,3,6
3 bank-selection bits allows selection of 2^3 = 8 16KiB memory banks.
- Compy-Shop 128K for 600XL
- No separate ANTIC banking. (Question: Is 6502/ANTIC banking
simultaneous, or does ANTIC have no access to banked memory?????)
- Innovative Concepts Ramdrive + 192K (130XE 128KiB to 192KiB), 1988-11-11
- True ANTIC banking (?)
- Innovative Concepts Ramdrive + XE-GM2 (XEgs 128KiB to 192KiB). Upgrade
for XEgs with IC's XE-GM1 128KiB upgrade already installed.
- True ANTIC banking
256KiB system total
4 bank-selection bits allows selection of 2^4 = 16 16KiB memory banks, but
there are only 12 "extra" banks available because these REPLACE the
computer's main 64KiB RAM.
> "Newell" bank-selection type
PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 2,3,5,6 (only 12 banks available)
PORTB Bit 5 use is inverted relative to the later "Rambo" type.
- Newell Industries 256KXL for 800XL/1200XL, ANTIC 'E' required, 1985
- ANTIC has no access to banked memory
- Main memory is protected from bank-selection.
- Shipped with MYDOS 4.x
- SCXM Sector Copier (1985) sold separately
- 256KXL Mods published by Newell
1. Allow 6502/ANTIC simultaneous banked memory access via PORTB bit 4
2. Main memory can be bank-selected.
- NOTE: After the RAMBO XL gained strong marketplace acceptance, the
Newell 256KXL was replaced with the Newell 256KXLE, see below.
> "Rambo" bank-selection type
PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 2,3,5,6 (only 12 banks available)
PORTB bit 5 use is inverted relative to the earlier "Newell" type.
- 130XE-Compatible 800XL 256K Upgrade, project by Claus Buchholz
- Revision of his "Quarter-Meg Atari 800XL" project
- 6502/ANTIC banking is simultaneous only, controlled by PORTB bit 4
- Main memory can be bank-selected.
- Ramaster, by ABC Consulting, for 800XL
- Commercialized version of the Buchholz 130XE-Compatible 800XL 256K
- 6502/ANTIC banking is simultaneous only, controlled by PORTB bit 4
- Main memory can be bank-selected.
- RAMBO XL by ICD, for 800XL or 1200XL, 1986
- Commercialized version of upgrade of same name by Madison Area Atari
Users Group (MAAUG) published Oct-Nov 1985, itself a close derivative
of the Buchholz 130XE-Compatible 800XL 256K Upgrade.
- 6502/ANTIC banking is simultaneous only, controlled by PORTB bit 4
- Main memory can be bank-selected.
- 800XE PLUS, by Triple "C" Computer, for 800XL or 1200XL, 1986
- 6502/ANTIC banking is simultaneous only, controlled by PORTB bit 4
"It's entirely compatible with the 130XE"
- 256k RAM for 800XL, by Computer Support, 1986 (may be "Newell" type????)
- "Includes Ramdisc software for all DOS systems"
- "Full 130XE compatibility"
- Magna Systems Ramcharger 256K for 800XL or 1200XL, 1987
- ANTIC has no access to banked memory.
- Innovative Concepts Ramdrive + XL (800XL 64KiB to 256KiB), 1987
- True ANTIC banking (???? mc doubts it)
- Yorky, design by Dave Malham for York Computer Centre (1987), then
Richard Gore (1993), for 800XL or 64KiB 600XL
- Plugs into the PBI
- Uses the 600XL/800XL power supply; supplies power for the computer
- 3-way switch: Off, 64K, or 256K
- 6502/ANTIC banking is simultaneous only, controlled by PORTB bit 4
- Wizztronics 256K for 800XL, c1990 (by Steve Cohen)
- 6502/ANTIC banking is simultaneous only, controlled by PORTB bit 4
- Newell 256KXLE, for 800XL/1200XL, c1991
- NOTE: Replaced the earlier Newell 256KXL
- True ANTIC banking
- Shipped with MYDOS 4.5x and COPY256E sector copier
- CSS Power Plus, 800XL or 65XE installation
- True ANTIC banking
- Atarimax 256k Memory Upgrade for 800XL and 1200XL
- 6502/ANTIC banking is simultaneous only, controlled by PORTB bit 4
- Reimaged Rambo XL 256k Memory Upgrade, by Bits of the Past, (2011?)
- For 800XL or 1200XL
- 6502/ANTIC banking is simultaneous only, controlled by PORTB bit 4
- Reimaged Wizztronics 256k Memory Upgrade, by Bits of the Past, (2011?)
- For 800XL
- Separate versions for ANTIC C012296 or ANTIC C021697
- 6502/ANTIC banking is simultaneous only, controlled by PORTB bit 4
- SuperRAM, by Super Products, for 600XL/800XL
- No soldering required
- 6502/ANTIC banking is simultaneous only, controlled by PORTB bit 4 320KiB system total
4 bank-selection bits allows selection of 2^4 = 16 16KiB memory banks.
These ADD to the computer's main 64KiB RAM.
> "Atari magazin" bank-selection type
Bank-selection is the same as the "Rambo" type but with 16 banks available.
PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 2,3,5,6
- The 130XE/320K upgrade by Scott Peterson, 1985
- ANTIC has no access to banked memory.
- Credits the 800/288K upgrade (D.G.Byrd) and the 800XL/256K upgrade
(C.Buchholz) for inspiration
- The Windhover SuperRam 130XE Upgrade, by Jay Torres/The Windhover Project
- Published in the Windhover Newsletter 1985
- Clone of the 130XE/320K Upgrade project by Scott Peterson
- ANTIC has no access to banked memory.
- The 65XE 130XE/320K Upgrade! by Scott Peterson (for the 65XE), 1986
- 100% compatible with the previous 130XE/320K upgrade by Scott Peterson
- ANTIC has no access to banked memory.
- Magna Systems Ramcharger 320K for 130XE, 1987
- ANTIC has no access to banked memory.
- Innovative Concepts Ramdrive + XE (130XE 128KiB to 320KiB), 1987
- True ANTIC banking (?)
- Atari magazin "320 KByte im Eigenbau" for 800XL, by Rolf Schmidtke,
issue 1987n2p56; bugfixes/updates 1987n3p54, 1988n4p62, 1988n5p86
- 6502/ANTIC banking is simultaneous only, controlled by PORTB bit 4
- Innovative Concepts Ramdrive + 320K (65XE 64KiB to 320KiB)
- True ANTIC banking
- CSS Power Plus, 130XE installation
- True ANTIC banking
- RAM 320XL, by ctirad, for 600XL/800XL, 2010
- Plugs into the PBI
- Standard mode ADDS 256KiB of expansion memory. This gives a 16KiB
600XL 272KiB system total, while a 64KiB 800XL has 320KiB system
total.
- Remapped base RAM mode DISABLES internal RAM, makes 64KiB main memory
available from the RAM 320XL device, for 320KiB total
- 6502/ANTIC banking is simultaneous only, controlled by PORTB bit 4
-
http://atariage.com/forums/topic/162420-ram-320xl/
- SuperRAM, by Super Products, for 130XE
- 6502/ANTIC banking is simultaneous only, controlled by PORTB bit 4
> "Compy-Shop" bank-selection type
PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 2,3,6,7
- Compy-Shop 256K, versions for 800XL or 130XE (versions for any others?)
- True ANTIC banking
- Megaram XL/XE (Version 1, Version 2, or Version 3 256KiB installation),
by Klaus Peters, for 800XL, 800XE, 65XE, 130XE, or XE System Console.
- ANTIC has no access to banked memory.
- Fixes for refresh errors:
http://www.b-pahl.de/atari8bit/RAM-Disk/doku/BugFix/bugfix.html
> Multiple bank-selection types supported
- 256 kByte im 800XL project by Bernhard Pahl
- Two modes: Atari magazin and Compy-Shop
-
http://www.b-pahl.de/atari8bit/RAM-Disk/800xl_1/800xl_1.html
- 256 kByte im 800XLF / 65XE / 800XE / XEgs project by Bernhard Pahl
- Two modes: Atari magazin and Compy-Shop
-
http://www.b-pahl.de/atari8bit/RAM-Disk/800xe_1/800xe_1.html
- 256 kByte im 130XE project by Bernhard Pahl
- Two modes: Atari magazin and Compy-Shop
-
http://www.b-pahl.de/atari8bit/RAM-Disk/130xe_1/130xe_1.html
- RAM-Erweiterung 256kB fur 130XE, by Heuser Family (2005). Two modes:
- Rambo/Atari magazin mode with 6502/ANTIC simultaneous banking
- Compy-Shop mode with true ANTIC banking
-
http://www.asselheim.de
512KiB system total
5 bank-selection bits allows selection of 2^5 = 32 16KiB memory banks, but
there are only 28 "extra" banks available because the computer's main 64KiB
RAM has been REPLACED.
- 512K Atari 800XL/1200XL V1.1, by Dan Schmidt. For computers that
already have a 256K RAMBO XL or Claus Buchholz upgrade installed.
- NOTE: The original non-V1.1 version does not work!
- PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 2,3,5,6,7
- 6502/ANTIC banking is simultaneous only, controlled by PORTB bit 4 576KiB system total
5 bank-selection bits allows selection of 2^5 = 32 16KiB memory banks.
These ADD to the computer's main 64KiB RAM.
- Irata Verlag 512K RAM 800XL RAMFloppy plugs into the 800XL PBI (1986)
- PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 2,3,5,6,???
- ANTIC has no access to banked memory.
- Sold separately: 512K RAM BetriebsSystem Chip for 800XL + RAMFloppy
- The 130XE/576K upgrade, by Scott Peterson. (1986) Two modes:
- 576KiB mode: PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 1,2,3,5,6
- Internal BASIC is lost via software control (PIA Port B bit 1)
- ANTIC has no access to banked memory.
- 130XE mode: 192KiB RAM, PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 2,3,6
- "100% compatible 130XE"
- Magna Systems Ramcharger 576K for 130XE (1987)
- PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 2,3,5,6,7
- Self Test is lost via software control (PIA Port B bit 7)
- ANTIC has no access to banked memory.
- Innovative Concepts Ramdrive + 576K (130XE 320KiB to 576KiB), 1987
- Upgrade for 130XE with IC's 130XE 320KiB upgrade already installed.
- PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 2,3,5,6,???
- True ANTIC banking (?)
- 512 kByte im 800XL / 800XE project by Bernhard Pahl
- Two modes: Atari magazin and Compy-Shop
-
http://www.b-pahl.de/atari8bit/RAM-Disk/800xl_2/800xl_2.html
- 512 kByte im 130XE project by Bernhard Pahl
- Two modes: Atari magazin and Compy-Shop
-
http://www.b-pahl.de/atari8bit/RAM-Disk/130xe_2/130xe_2.html
- 512k SRam Extended Memory for XL/XE, project by Bernd Herale (BigBen) and
Wolfram Fischer. (2007?) Internal upgrade with four modes:
- 512KiB using PORTB bits 2,3,5,6,7; 6502/ANTIC simultaneous banking
- 256KiB Compy-Shop mode with true ANTIC banking
- 256KiB Rambo (Atari magazin) and 6502/ANTIC simultaneous banking
- Extended RAM off
-
http://www.abbuc.de/~bernd/selfmade-hardware/512k-memory-extension/
- 512k SRAM extension for Atari XL/XE, project by Matthias Reichl, v1.3,
(2006-2010), and Wolfram Fischer. Internal upgrade with four modes:
- 0KiB / off
- 256KiB Compy-Shop with true ANTIC banking
- 256KiB Rambo/Atari magazin with 6502/ANTIC simultaneous banking
- 512KiB using PORTB bits 2,3,5,6,7; 6502/ANTIC simultaneous banking
-
http://www.horus.com/~hias/atari/#sram512k
-
http://www.mega-hz.de/Angebote/512K/512k.html
- RAM 320XE/576, by ctirad, for 130XE/800XE/65XE with ECI, 2014
- Plugs into Cartridge+ECI
- All cards have a cartridge pass-through connector
- Optionally, the ECI port pass-through connector can be added
- Supports four RAM configurations:
- 128KiB 130XE, 320KiB Rambo, 320KiB Compy-Shop, 576KiB Rambo
- 130XE and 320KiB Compy-Shop modes with true ANTIC banking
-
http://atariage.com/forums/topic/232856-ram320xe576-order-thread/ 1088KiB system total
6 bank-selection bits allows selection of 2^6 = 64 16KiB memory banks.
These ADD to the computer's main 64KiB RAM.
- Scott Peterson 1088XE project for the 130XE
- April 1986 (initial release); Version 2.0(This one works!) June 1986
- PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 1,2,3,5,6,7
- Self Test is lost via software control (PIA Port B bit 7)
- Internal BASIC is lost via software control (PIA Port B bit 1)
- ANTIC has no access to banked memory.
- Magna Systems Ramcharger 1088K for 130XE. (1987)
- PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 1,2,3,5,6,7
- Self Test is lost via software control (PIA Port B bit 7)
- Internal BASIC is lost via software control (PIA Port B bit 1)
- ANTIC has no access to banked memory.
- Newell 1 Meg XL for 800XL/1200XL (1990)
- Installation Method 1: (1088KiB accessible RAM)
- PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 1,2,3,5,6,7
- Self Test is lost via software control (PIA Port B bit 7)
- Internal BASIC is lost via software control (PIA Port B bit 1)
- True ANTIC banking
- Installation Method 2: (1072KiB accessible RAM)
- PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 2,3,4,5,6,7
- Self Test is lost via software control (PIA Port B bit 7)
- 6502/ANTIC simultaneous banked memory access is ALWAYS enabled;
16KiB of main memory is not accessible
- Installation Method 3: (1072KiB accessible RAM)
- PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 0,1,2,3,5,6
- Internal BASIC is lost via software control (PIA Port B bit 1)
- True ANTIC banking
- 16KiB RAM under the Operating System is not accessible
- Shipped with MYDOS 4.50 M1 and M1Copy Sector Copier, both for use with
Method 1 installation
- Newell Meg XL for 800XL/1200XL (1991), Meg 65 for 65XE (1991), or Meg 130
for 130XE (1991), 1MiB installations
- PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 1,2,3,5,6,7
- Self Test is lost via software control (PIA Port B bit 7)
- Internal BASIC is lost via software control (PIA Port B bit 1)
- Installation option: Toggle switch to select internal BASIC
- True ANTIC banking
- Shipped with MYDOS 4.50 M1 and M1Copy Sector Copier
- Megaram XL/XE (Version 3 1024KiB installation, Super-Megaram), by Klaus
Peters, for 800XL, 800XE, 65XE, 130XE, or XE System Console
- Bank-selection bits: PIA Port B bits 2,3,6,7 and memory location 54784
($D600) bits 0,1
- ANTIC has no access to banked memory.
- Fixes for refresh errors:
http://www.b-pahl.de/atari8bit/RAM-Disk/doku/BugFix/bugfix.html
- Satantronic 1MiB SIMM RAM expansion project for 800XL, 800XE, 130XE, XEgs,
by Dodo (Jozef Friedmansky). (2002)
Internal upgrade, with or without switches, with or without GAL chip.
- 1MiB mode uses PORTB bits 1,2,3,5,6,7
- 256KiB Compy-Shop mode
- 256KiB Rambo/Atari magazin mode
- 64KiB 130XE mode
-
http://satantronic.atari.sk/?str=xe_1mbram
- 1024 kByte im 800XL project by Bernhard Pahl
- PORTB bits: 1,2,3,5,6,7
- Two modes: 1024KiB without BASIC, or 512KiB with BASIC
- 1MiB SIMM project for 800XL, 65XE, 130XE, 800XE, by Pasiu/SSG. (2004?)
Internal upgrade works in two modes:
- 512KiB Compy-Shop with true ANTIC banking
- 1024KiB with 6502/ANTIC simultaneous banking
-
http://hardware.atari8.info/simm.php
- mega-mem 1024KB for 800XL, 800XE/65XE, 130XE, 1200XL, by Matthias Reichl
and Wolfram Fischer, 2009. Internal upgrade with 8 modes:
- 0KiB (off)
- 64KiB 130XE compatible (true ANTIC banking?)
- 128KiB (true ANTIC banking?)
- 256KiB Compy-Shop compatible (true ANTIC banking?)
- 256KiB Rambo or Atari magazin and 6502/ANTIC simultaneous banking
- 512KiB with ANTIC access (simultaneous only?)
- 512KiB without ANTIC access
- 1024KiB (built-in BASIC not available) (no ANTIC banking?)
-
http://www.mega-hz.de/Angebote/1024K/1mb.html
- Ultimate1MB, by Sebastian Bartkowicz (Candle'O'Sin), for 65XE/130XE or
800XL/600XL/1200XL, 2011. Internal upgrade with 4 modes:
- disabled
- 320KiB "Rambo" (Atari magazin) with 6502/ANTIC simultaneous banking
- 578KiB "Compy-Shop" with true ANTIC banking
- 1088KiB "Rambo" with 6502/ANTIC simultaneous banking
- Also includes 4 flashable OS ROM slots
-
http://spiflash.org/node/14
- Ultimate 1MB Revised 2k14 available from Lotharek:
http://lotharek.pl/product.php?pid=67
4MiB system total
8 bank-selection bits allows selection of 2^8 = 256 16KiB memory banks.
These ADD to the computer's main 64KiB RAM.
- Newell Meg XL for 800XL/1200XL (1991), Meg 65 for 65XE (1991), or Meg 130
for 130XE (1991), 4MiB installations (4064KiB accessible RAM)
- PIA Port B bank-selection bits used: 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7
- Self Test is lost via software control (PIA Port B bit 7)
- Internal BASIC is lost via software control (PIA Port B bit 1)
- Installation option: Toggle switch to select internal BASIC
- 6502/ANTIC simultaneous banked memory access is ALWAYS enabled;
16KiB of main memory is not accessible
- 16KiB RAM under the Operating System is not accessible
- Installation option makes RAM under the OS available, but only
usable if OS is first moved to RAM
- Shipped with MYDOS 4.50 M1 and M1Copy Sector Copier
------------------------------
Subject: 6.12) What personality boards were produced for the Atari 800?
This should be a complete list of personality boards released for the 800.
Atari CX801 10K ROM Personality Module (1979)
- 400/800 OS, C012399 Floating Point Package (FPP) + C012499 + C014599
- Early units: 400/800 OS Rev.A/NTSC
- Most units: 400/800 OS Rev.B/NTSC
Atari CX801-P 10K ROM Personality Module (1981)
- 400/800 OS Rev.A/PAL, C012399 (FPP) + C015199 + C015299
L.E. Systems disk drive (1982)
- Device is a personality board (oversized) for the 800
- Detailed elsewhere in this FAQ list (using industry standard floppy disk
drives)
Ramrod MMOS Custom Operating System Board, by Newell Industries (1982)
- Five ROM chip sockets
- Two sockets for standard 400/800 OS chips or direct replacements
- One socket for standard 400/800 FPP chip or direct replacement
- Two sockets for addressing the 4KiB byte block of memory at $C000
- Only one socket can address the entire 4KiB block. In order to use
two 4KiB chips, a hardware toggle switch must be utilized.
- These two sockets can be reconfigured to support standard 400/800 OS
chips or direct replacements. A hardware toggle switch is then used
to select between the two OS versions installed on the Ramrod.
- Earliest units shipped with Supermon! by David Young and 4KiB RAM, and
optionally also shipped with 8KiB EPROM (two 4KiB chips)
- Other early units shipped with Omnimon! by CDY Consulting and 4KiB RAM, and
optionally also shipped with 8KiB EPROM (two 4KiB chips)
- Later/Most units shipped with both Newell OSN and (standard 4KiB) Omnimon!
- "Ramrod 2" shipped with OSN but without Omnimon!
- "Ramrod 3" shipped with neither OSN nor Omnimon!
- Board designed by System Innovations for Newell
Integrater, with built-in smallDOS, by ADS (1983)
- For Corvus hard disk drive and/or Axlon-compatible RAMdisk users
- Software & hardware design by D.S.S.A. (David & Sandy Small and
Associates); sales support by Adams Computer Systems, Inc. (Allan Adams)
- RAMdisk runs about 2 times faster than original Axlon MMS RAMdisk
- RAMdisk can be designated as any drive without system reboot or using an
application program
- Can boot the Atari directly from the Corvus
- The Corvus can boot directly into an application program using standard
Atari AUTORUN.SYS techniques and programs
- Resident Mount Table Editor (replacement for Corvus "Mount" program) with
Corvus, Axlon RamDisk, and standard floppy disk drive support
MEM/EX, by Prairie Physics (1983)
- Requires 400/800 OS chips moved from a CX801
- Adds 4KiB RAM at $C000
- Switch/program-selectable write-protection
- Shipped with COM/EX software utility package on diskette
- Resides in MEM/EX RAM
- Adds ten new direct-mode commands for use with Atari BASIC or
Assembler Editor
- Machine-language monitor
Incognito, by Sebastian Bartkowicz (Candle'O'Sin), 2012
- 4 slots for OS separate for Colleen and XL/XE mode
- 64KiB of flash memory for future GUI
- 2 slots for BASIC/cartridge
- Built-in, configurable CF card storage
(works as PBI in XL/XE mode, and through SDX driver in Colleen mode)
- Built-in FAT32 loader (SIDE) with both ATR and XEX file handling
- SpartaDOS X
- Onboard RTC - Real Time Clock
- 1MiB Axlon compatible memory expansion for Colleen mode
- 64KiB/320KiB/576KiB/1088KiB total memory available in XL/XE mode
- Up to 52KiB of memory in Colleen mode (configurable)
- Developer site:
http://spiflash.org/index.php/block/29.html
------------------------------
Subject: 7.1.1) What is the Atari Operating System?
"An operating system (OS) is a collection of software that manages computer hardware resources and provides common services for computer programs. The operating system is a vital component of the system software in a computer system. Application programs require an operating system to function." (Wikipedia 8/15/2012)
Atari 8-bit computers were supplied with the proprietary Atari Operating
System contained in Read Only Memory (ROM) as an integral feature of the computer. Major design elements of the Atari OS (derived here from De Re Atari):
MONITOR
Executed upon system power (Coldstart) or [System Reset] keypress
(Warmstart). Sets up memory management, initializes I/O Subsystem, sets up
System Vectors, boots (loads software into RAM) from cassette or diskette if
present, selects and launches program execution environment
INTERRUPT PROCESSING STRUCTURE
The OS processes 6502 interrupts as generated by events including: keyboard
keystrokes, the [Break] key, some serial bus events, system timer timeouts,
and the vertical blank interval on the television/monitor. An Interrupt
ReQuest (IRQ) Handler and a Non-Maskable Interrupt (NMI) Handler are both
provided.
SYSTEM VECTORS
Design consideration allows for:
- User programs to directly utilize OS routines
- User programs to substitute for OS routines
INPUT/OUTPUT SUBSYSTEM
Multi-layered provision for user program access to hardware peripherals.
Device Handlers may be added by user programs. Includes a complete Cassette
Handler and a rudimentary Diskette Handler, but notably does not include a
complete Disk Operating System. Described in greater detail in a separate
section of this FAQ list.
REAL TIME PROGRAMMING
Hardware timers and system software timers are provided to facilitate
predictable and controllable speeds of software routine execution.
ROM CHARACTER SET
Atari ASCII, or ATASCII. May be substituted by user programs. Described in
greater detail in a separate section of this FAQ list.
FLOATING POINT PACKAGE (FPP)
Set of mathematical routines that use binary coded decimal (BCD) arithmetic
to provide standard mathematical functions (+, -, *, /), exponential and
logarithmic functions as well as conversion from ATASCII to BCD and BCD to
ATASCII. Developed apart from the rest of the Atari OS by Shepardson
Microsystems, Inc. (SMI) for internal use by Atari BASIC, but placed in
operating system ROM by Atari for universal availability.
Software can reliably determine the version of the Atari Operating System running as follows. (primary source: OS Manual XL Addendum, p.28)
First, determine whether the system is running a 400/800 OS version or an
XL OS version by checking the value of memory location $FCD8. In Atari
BASIC, PEEK(64728) is the equivalent test.
Read Result Means
$A2 (162) 400/800 OS
$4C (76) XL OS
Then, if running a 400/800 OS version as determined above, now check the
values of BOTH memory locations $FFF8 and $FFF9. In Atari BASIC, PEEK(65528) and also PEEK(65529) and interpret the results as follows:
$FFF8 (65528) $FFF9 (65529) 400/800 OS Rev. Rev. Date
------------- ------------- --------------- ---------
$FF (255) --> "Operating System 255"1979-04 (VERY RARE)
$DD (221) $57 (87) --> Rev.A/NTSC 1979-06 (uncommon)
$D6 (214) $57 (87) --> Rev.A/PAL 1979-06 (common)
$F3 (243) $E6 (230) --> Rev.B/NTSC 1981-09 (common)
$22 (34) $58 (88) --> Rev.B/PAL 1981-09 (NOT SHIPPED?)
About "Operating System 255" --
A pre-production demo unit release, possibly a few thousand once existed.
For more info see
https://mcurrent.name/os255/410insert-os255.htm and
https://mcurrent.name/os255/softside.htm and the 17-Nov-79 essay
Atari_CASSETTE_TAPES.pdf found in post #2 in:
http://atariage.com/forums/topic/204930-some-early-atari-a8-development-docs/
If running an XL OS version as determined above, the Revision number of the XL OS is available at memory location $FFF7. In Atari BASIC, PEEK(65527) for the XL OS Revision number. XL OS Revisions released:
XL OS (Dec.) Hex Rev. Date Shipped in
Rev.A (10) $0A 1982-10-26 1200XL (all)
Rev.B (11) $0B 1982-12-23 - (rarely installed in serviced 1200XLs)
Rev.1 (1) $01 1983-03-11 600XL (early/most)
Rev.2 (2) $02 1983-05-10 600XL(later) / 800XL/65XE/130XE (most)
Rev.3 (3) $03 1985-03-01 65XE/130XE (late) / 800XE (all)
Rev.4 (4) $04 1987-05-07 XE System Console (all)
Rev.3B (59) $3B 1987-07-21 Arabic Atari 65XE Najm (all)
OS MANUALS FROM ATARI (FPP coverage included)
- Operating System User's Manual
- Author: Harry B. Stewart, NEOTERIC for Atari
- (c)1980 edition
- GREEN title page (printings with line-printed title page include
printing date imprint; printing with Atari logo on title page lacks
printing date)
- 215 numbered pages
- Table of contents lacks page numbers
- Contents of pages numbered 191 and 192 are reversed
- The last two sections are:
pp. 177-199 Appendix K. OS Database Variable Functional Descriptions
pp. 200-215 Appendix L. Equate File (400/800 OS Rev.A source excerpt)
- Included in earlier printings of C016555 Atari Personal Computer
System Operating System User's Manual and Hardware Manual (official
nickname: "Technical User's Notes"), including printings dated:
November 1980 (orange cover page), August 1981 (cover page??)
- (c)1980 Rev. 0.2 edition
- GREEN title page (line-printed)
- 261 numbered pages
- Identical to the earlier (c)1980 edition through page number 191
- Confusingly, this includes the portion of the superseded version
of Appendix K from the earlier edition on pages numbered 177-191
- Pages marked 192 through 261 marked: "C016555 - Rev. 0.2"
- Pages 192-197: Appendix K. Device Characteristics
(content not included in the earlier edition)
- Pages 198-261: Appendix L. OS Database Variable Functional
Descriptions
(complete revision of the Appendix K. from the earlier edition)
- The Appendix L. Equate File content from the earlier edition is not
included.
- Included in January 1982 printing of C016555 Atari Personal Computer
System Operating System User's Manual and Hardware Manual (official
nickname: "Technical User's Notes") (yellow cover page)
- (c)1982 edition
- GRAY title page (with Atari logo)
- 273 numbered pages
- Completely revised table of contents, including page numbers
- Completely revised layout; content is heavily revised in some places
- Includes Index (pages 271-273)
- Included in C016555 Rev. A (1982) Technical Reference Notes
- De Re Atari: A Guide to Effective Programming
- C060070, (c)1981 edition (early version for registered developers)
https://archive.org/details/DeReAtari_early_version
- APX-90008, (c)1982 edition (common version sold via APX)
http://www.atariarchives.org/dere/
- Also published in German and French language editions
- Operating System Manual: Supplement to Atari 400/800 Technical Reference
Notes C024515 (ii+38 pages covers changes from the 400/800 OS to the XL OS)
- REV. A with green cover: "Atari 1200XL: Atari Home Computer System"
- White cover: "Atari XL Addendum: Atari Home Computer System"
- Author (uncredited): Robert A. Peck
OS SOURCE CODE PUBLISHED BY ATARI
(excluding the FPP; see "What is Atari BASIC" FAQ section for FPP source code)
- Operating System Source Listing C017893 / CA016557 (order#)
- August 1981, (c)1981
- "This is the original June 1979 Atari 400/800 computer operating system
listing" (page 1)
- 131 numbered pages (5785 lines) + 24 un-numbered pages (Cross Reference)
- Operating System Source Listing, (c)1982
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