CPU: Motorola 68000 16/32bit at 8mhz. 16 bit data bus/32 bit internal/24-bit address bus. MEMORY: RAM 512KB (1MB for the 1040ST models) / ROM 192KB GRAPHICS: Digital-to-Analog Converter of 3-bits, eight levels per RGB channel, featuring a 9-bit RGB palette (512 colors), 320x200 (16 color), 640x200 (4 color), 640x400 (monochrome). With special programming techniques could display 512 colors on screen in static images. SOUND: Yamaha YM2149F PSG "Programmable Sound Generator" chip provided 3-voice sound synthesis, plus 1-voice white noise mono PSG. It also has two MIDI ports, and support mixed YM2149 sfx and MIDI music in gaming (there are several games supported this). MEDIA/STORAGE: External single-sided 3,5" floppy disk drive. 360kb capacity(1040ST had double-sided drives which had a capacity of 720kb).
The Atari ST is a home/personal computer that was commercially available from 1985 to the early 1990s and released by Atari Corporation. The ST (as commonly called) was part of the 16/32 bit generation of home computers, based on the Motorola 68000 CPU. Preceding the Amiga's commercial release by almost two months, the Atari ST was the first computer to come with a fully bit-mapped color GUI, using a version of Digital Research's GEM. It runs with the Operating System TOS (The Operating System) with the GEM user interface. It was similar to other contemporary machines which used the Motorola 68000, the Apple Macintosh and the Commodore Amiga. In some markets, particularly Germany, the machine gained a strong foothold as a small business machine for CAD and Desktop publishing work. The ST supported only external Floppy disk drive and two joystick/mouse ports at the rear-right of the casing, in contrast to its successors STF and STFM. It featured an external single-sided floppy drive and an external power supply (while the STF/STFM had it built-in) and also it would only work with a monitor while the STFM had a built-in modulator that allowed a TV to be used. Note that the ST models featured good graphics and sound in games, sometimes comparable with the similar opponent Commodore Amiga!
The Atari ST (default) color palette
9-bit RGB 512-color palette (16 on-screen and up to 512 in static image)
Atari STF / STFM
released in 1986
CPU: Motorola 68000 16/32bit @ 8mhz. 16 bit data bus/32 bit internal/24-bit address bus. MEMORY: RAM 512KB (520STFM) -1024KB (1040STFM) / ROM 192KB GRAPHICS: Digital-to-Analog Converter of 3-bits, eight levels per RGB channel, featuring a 9-bit RGB palette (512 colors), 320x200 (16 color), 640x200 (4 color), 640x400 (monochrome). With special programming techniques could display 512 colors on screen in static images. SOUND: Yamaha YM2149F PSG "Programmable Sound Generator" chip provided 3-voice sound synthesis, plus 1-voice white noise mono PSG. It also has two MIDI ports, and support mixed YM2149 sfx and MIDI music in gaming (there are several games supported this). MEDIA/STORAGE: 3,5" Double-sided internal floppy, 720K
The Atari STF/STFM models were the successors of the original ST (main hardware architecture remained the same though). The 1040STF (no 520 STF released) shipped with a single-sided floppy drive (360k) and it was the first personal computer shipped with 1 MB of RAM (1986)! The STFM series family consists of the 520 STFM (516k RAM) and 1040 STFM (1024k RAM or 1MB). The Atari STF/STFM was part of the 16/32 bit generation of home computers, based on the Motorola 68000 CPU. It runs with the Operating System TOS (The Operating System) with the GEM user interface. It was similar to other contemporary machines which used the Motorola 68000, the Apple Macintosh and the Commodore Amiga. In some markets, particularly Germany, the machine gained a strong foothold as a small business machine for CAD and Desktop publishing work. The STFM model was generally similar to the earlier STF in terms of housing; Compared to the ST model it moved the external power supply inside on the rear left and a double-sided floppy drive on the rear right of the case, as opposed to being external (same as the STF but with a single-sided one). This added to the size of the machine, but reduced cable clutter in the back. Compared to the STF, the STFM featured a built-in modulator (oh, that's what the 'M' stands for!) that allowed a TV to be used (yes, the earlier STF models lacked this and would only work with a monitor). Note that the ST models featured good graphics and sound in games, sometimes comparable with the similar opponent Commodore Amiga!
The Atari STF / STFM (default) color palette
9-bit RGB 512-colors palette (16 on-screen and up to 512 in static image)
Atari Mega ST
released in 1986 and 1990
CPU: Motorola 68000 8MHZ MEMORY: RAM 1,2,4MB GRAPHICS: Digital-to-Analog Converter of 3-bits, eight levels per RGB channel, featuring a 9-bit RGB palette (512 colors), 320x200 (16 color), 640x200 (4 color), 640x400 (monochrome). With special programming techniques could display 512 colors on screen in static images. SOUND: Yamaha YM2149F PSG "Programmable Sound Generator" chip provided 3-voice sound synthesis, plus 1-voice white noise mono PSG. It also has two MIDI ports, and support mixed YM2149 sfx and MIDI music in gaming (there are several games supported this). MEDIA/STORAGE: Mega ST: 3,5" DD 720Kb internal floppy, 720KB, Megafile 20, 30, 60 - External hard drive, Mega ST matching case.
Although Atari's ST range was selling well, its styling leaned more toward the home rather than the business market. In order to make the machine more appealing to business users, the Mega ST range was introduced. Basically the same as the other models, the main difference was the use of a separate system unit and keyboard. First debuted at Comdex, 1986, it was received favorably. Renamed the Mega, this new machine included a detached high-quality keyboard, stronger case (to support the weight of a monitor), and internal bus expansion connector. Later new models arrived named Mega ST (MEGA2, MEGA4) - redesigned motherboard with 2 or 4 MB of RAM, respectively, in a much improved "pizza box" case with a detached keyboard too. Early models did not include the BLiTTER chip; most did. Also included a real-time clock and internal expansion connector. Although it s more -professional- looking, the Mega ST model is exactly the same with the -home micro- ST series in terms of hardware architecture and capabilities. It was supposed to be a more-or-less low-cost desktop publishing package along with the launch of the Atari s laser printer (SLM804).
The Atari Mega ST (default) color palette
9-bit RGB 512-colors palette (16 on-screen and up to 512 in static image)