Atari 2600
Atari's 1977 cartridge console, first sold as the Video Computer System (VCS), for collectors and anyone comparing the first home consoles with their successors.
- Type
- Home console
- Output
- –
- Memory
- 128 bytes
- Storage
- –
- Weight
- –
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specPerformance
- Type
- Home console
- CPU
- MOS Technology 6507, 1.19 MHz
- GPU
- Television Interface Adaptor (TIA)
- Memory
- 128 bytes
- Disc drive
- No
- CPU
- MOS Technology 6507 at about 1.19 MHz in the original NTSC VCS (Atari service and developer manuals)
- GPU
- Atari Television Interface Adaptor (TIA), which generates video and two channels of sound (Atari manuals)
- Memory detail
- 128 bytes of RAM in the 6532 RAM and I/O chip (Atari developer manual)
- Storage detail
- ROM cartridges
Display and video
- Built-in screen
- No built-in screen
- Video output
- RF output to a TV
Connections
- Controller
- Joystick; also paddles, driving controllers, keypads and Trak-Ball (Atari manuals)
Pros and cons
Pros
- Games on swappable ROM cartridges
- Works with joysticks, paddles, driving and keypad controllers
- Large library over a long life, sold until 1992
Cons
- 128 bytes of RAM
- 1.19 MHz 8-bit CPU
- No frame buffer; games draw the picture line by line as the TV scans
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Output | Memory | Storage | Weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home console | – | 4 KB | – | – | 1986 | |
| Home console | – | 24 KB | – | – | Aug 1987 | |
| Home console | – | 128 KB | – | – | Sept 1990 |
Sources
- atari.com/pages/history
- archive.org/details/atari-2600-video-computer-system-owners-manual-c-020268-rev…
- atariage.com/2600/programming/2600_101/docs/stella.html
- manualzz.com/doc/22395669/atari-domestic-field-service-manual
- atari8bit.net/db
Photo: Atari official 1977 VCS history photograph; complete supplied family scene retained
