Atari 800XE

Atari 800XE
	Atari 800XE Home Computer
Specifications
Manufacturer	Atari Corporation
Type	Home Computer
Released	1985
Discontinued	1992
Intro price	Varied by market (European distribution)
CPU	MOS Technology 6502C @ 1.77 MHz (PAL)
Memory	64 KB RAM, 24 KB ROM (OS + BASIC)
Storage	External cassette tape (410/1010), optional 5.25" floppy disk drive (1050/XF551)
Display	320×192 pixels, 40×24 text, 16 colours (256 hue/luminance combinations via ANTIC/GTIA)
Sound	POKEY: 4 voices, 8-bit, noise, envelope, keyboard scan
Dimensions	34 cm × 24 cm × 5 cm
Weight	1.2 kg
OS / Firmware	Atari OS (in ROM), Atari BASIC Rev. C
Predecessor	Atari 800XL
Successor	Atari XE Game System
Codename	—
Model no.	800XE

The Atari 800XE is an 8-bit home computer produced by Atari Corporation as part of the XE ("XL Enhanced") series. It is functionally identical to the Atari 65XE but was marketed under the "800" designation in certain European countries — most notably Germany, some Eastern European markets, and other territories where the "800" brand carried stronger recognition from the original Atari 800.

The 800XE features 64 KB of RAM, the standard Atari 8-bit custom chipset (ANTIC, GTIA, POKEY, PIA, FREDDIE), and full backward compatibility with the Atari 400/800/XL software library. It shares the same light-grey wedge case design as the 65XE and Atari 130XE.

Architecture and Processor

The 800XE uses the MOS Technology 6502C (Sally) microprocessor running at 1.77 MHz (PAL systems). NTSC versions of the 800XE are extremely rare; the machine was primarily a PAL-market product.

The system architecture is identical to the 65XE:

ANTIC (CO21698) — Display list processor for video DMA
GTIA (CO14889) — Graphics Television Interface Adaptor for colour video output
POKEY (CO12294 / CO12294B) — Sound, keyboard, serial I/O, paddle input
PIA (CO14795 / 6520) — Peripheral Interface Adaptor for joystick ports
FREDDIE (CO61991 or CO61922) — Memory controller for DRAM timing and bus arbitration
MMU (CO61618) — Memory Management Unit (PAL-based address decoder)

Unlike the Atari 130XE, the 800XE does not include an EMMU chip, as it has only 64 KB of RAM with no bank-switching capability.

Memory and Storage

The 800XE is equipped with:

64 KB RAM — typically 8 × 4164 (64K×1) DRAM chips on the earlier CO70067 board, or 2 × 41464 (64K×4) on the later cost-reduced CA200519 board
24 KB ROM, comprising:
- 16 KB for the operating system (Atari OS)
- 8 KB for Atari BASIC (Revision C)

Storage options are identical to other XE-series machines:

Cassette tape drive (Atari 410/1010)
5.25" floppy disk drive (Atari 1050, XF551)
Cartridge slot for instant program loading

Display and Graphics

Video output is managed by the ANTIC and GTIA chips:

Resolution up to 320×192 pixels (Graphics mode 8)
Text display: 40 columns × 24 rows
16 colours simultaneously from 256 possible hue/luminance combinations
Multiple graphics modes with hardware scrolling
Player/Missile Graphics (sprites): 4 players and 4 missiles with collision detection

Output options:

Composite video via 5-pin DIN monitor port
RF modulated output for TV connection (PAL channel selection)

Sound Capabilities

Audio is generated by the POKEY chip:

4 independent audio channels with 8-bit frequency control
Selectable clock bases for different frequency ranges
Programmable noise generation
Volume-only mode for digital audio playback

Input/Output and Expansion

The 800XE provides:

Cartridge slot — standard Atari 8-bit cartridge interface
SIO port — Serial Input/Output for peripherals
Two joystick ports — DE-9 connectors
ECI (Enhanced Cartridge Interface) — edge connector for system bus expansion
Monitor port — 5-pin DIN (composite video, luma, chroma, audio)
RF output — built-in PAL modulator

Differences from the 65XE

The 800XE and 65XE are electronically identical. The differences are purely commercial:

Feature	65XE	800XE
Model number badge	"65XE"	"800XE"
Target market	Worldwide	Select European markets
RAM	64 KB	64 KB
Motherboard	CO70067 or CA200519	CO70067 or CA200519
Chipset	Identical	Identical
Case design	Identical	Identical
Software compatibility	Identical	Identical

The "800" designation was used because the Atari 800 name had stronger brand recognition in European markets. Some retailers and consumers were confused by the "65" designation, interpreting it as indicating a lower-specification machine.

PCB Variants

The 800XE was produced on the same motherboards as the 65XE:

Board Number	RAM Configuration	Notes
CO70067 Rev B/C	8 × 4164 (64K×1)	Standard XE board with 8 RAM positions populated (of 16 available)
CA200519	2 × 41464 (64K×4)	Cost-reduced board, fewer components

Related Pages