VCS 2600

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• Released in 1977
• First console with interchangable games released by Atari
• 8 bit

CPU

• • MOS Technologies 6507, a 6502-Variant with reduced address space of 8KB.
  • Clock speed of approx 1.19 MHz.

Video processor:

• • Atari TIA, with 121 colors out of a theoretical 128 (NTSC) and/or 114 colors of 128 (PAL).
  • No video RAM - the CPU must write each individual screen line in real time into a line buffer, synchronously for the TV raster. The program must keep a tight time frame, so that the video output does not break down. It was thereby very difficult to program, but extremely flexibly. NTSC programs must be rewritten for PAL and versa vice.

Audio processor:

• • Atari TIA, two voices, various waveform-shaping, mono output at the TV speakers.

RAM:

• • 128 bytes; some play modules starting from 1983 additionally again contained 128 or more byte RAM in the module.

Data medium:

• • ROM modules. Early modules were only 2 KB, up to a max of 4 KB. Starting from 1981 however many modules contained additional hardware, in order to bank switch larger memory and addressable up to 64 KB.

Revisions

• Woody
• Darth Vadar
• Wedge

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