Atari 2600
Revision as of 23:18, 23 May 2013 by 88.109.19.135 (talk)
The Atari 2600 is a video game console released in September 1977 by Atari, Inc. It is credited with popularizing the use of microprocessor-based hardware and ROM cartridges containing game code, instead of having non-microprocessor dedicated hardware with all games built in. The first game console to use this format was the Fairchild Channel F; however, the Atari 2600 receives credit for making the plug-in concept popular among the game-playing public.
Technical specifications
IC's
- CPU: MOS Technology 6507 - 8bit, 1.19MHz
- TIA 1A - Television Interface Adaptor Model 1A (Video, Audio, Input Ports)
- PIA 6532 - (128 bytes RAM, I/O Ports, Timer)
CPU and Memory
- CPU: MOS 6507, 8bit, 1.19MHz (cutdown 6502 with only 8K address space)
- RAM: 128 Bytes (additional 128 or 256 bytes in some cartridges)
- VRAM: None (Picture controlled by I/O Ports only)
- ROM: External Game Cartridge (usually 2KB or 4KB, or banked 2x4KB)
Video
- Output: Line-by-line (Registers must be updated each scanline)
- Resolution: 160x192 pixels (NTSC 60Hz), 160x228 pixels (PAL 50Hz)
- Playfield: 40 dots horizontal resolution (rows of 4 pixels per dot)
- Colors: 4 colors at once (one color per object)
- Palette: 128 colors (NTSC), 104 colors (PAL), 8 colors (SECAM)
- Sprites: 2 sprites of 8pix width, 3 sprites of 1pix width
Input/Output Ports, Audio, Timer
- I/O: Two 8bit I/O ports, six 1bit Input ports
- Timer: One 8bit Timer (with prescaler; 1,8,64,1024 machine cycles)
- Audio: Two sound channels (with Frequency, Volume, Noise control)
Console Switches
- Switches: Color/Mono Switch (PAL/NTSC only), and two Difficulty Switches
- Buttons: Select Button, Reset Button (or Switches in older consoles)
- Hardware: Power Switch, TV Channel Select Switch (not software controlled)
Connectors
- Slot: One 24 pin Cartridge Slot (with 4K address bus)
- Controls: Two 9 pin Joystick ports (also used for Paddles, Keyboards)
- TV: One Cinch Socket (Video/Audio TV Signal)
- Power: 9V DC, 500mA (internally converted to 5V DC)