Josh: Created Atari PC5 article

2026-03-30T01:33:28Z

Created Atari PC5 article

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{{Infobox computer
| name = Atari PC5
| image =
| caption = Atari PC5
| manufacturer = [[Atari Corporation]]
| type = IBM PC/AT Compatible
| release date = 1989
| discontinued = 1990
| price =
| cpu = Intel i386DX @ 16 MHz or 20 MHz (switchable to 8 MHz)
| memory = 2 MB or 4 MB RAM
| storage = 1× Epson SD-680L 5.25" 1.2 MB floppy drive; Seagate ST-277R 66 MB RLL hard drive; optional 1.44 MB 3.5" floppy
| display = Western Digital WD VGA Plus 16 (256 KB)
| sound = PC Speaker
| os = MS-DOS 3.3, GW-BASIC 3.2, Microsoft Windows/386 v2.0 (or Eurix Unix System V/386)
| predecessor = [[Atari PC4]]
| successor = [[Atari ABC computers|Atari ABC 386]]
}}
The '''Atari PC5''' was Atari Corporation's most powerful entry in the original Atari PC line of IBM-compatible computers. Equipped with an Intel i386DX processor, it was the first 386-class system Atari produced and represented the high end of the Atari PC range before the company transitioned to the ABC (Atari Business Computer) series.

== Overview ==
Unlike the [[Atari PC4|PC4]], which used an Atari-designed motherboard, the PC5 was built around a third-party American Megatrends (AMI) 386XT Series-4 motherboard. This was a practical decision, as designing a 386-class motherboard in-house would have been costly. The AMI board featured a socket for an Intel 387 co-processor and supported CPU upgrades up to a 386DX-25.

The PC5 was notable for being the only Atari PC offered with a Unix-based operating system option: "Eurix", a German-localised version of Unix System V/386 Release 3.2, was available as an alternative to the standard MS-DOS and Windows/386 configuration. This positioned the PC5 as potentially suitable for business and technical workstation applications.

One downside of the AMI motherboard was its lack of onboard RAM expansion slots — all memory was handled through a 32-bit memory expansion card, which was typically limited to 2 MB on the 16 MHz model and 4 MB on the 20 MHz model.

== Specifications ==
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Component !! Details
|-
| Processor || Intel i386DX, 16 MHz or 20 MHz (switchable to 8 MHz)
|-
| Co-processor socket || Intel 80387
|-
| Motherboard || American Megatrends (AMI) 386XT Series-4
|-
| RAM || 2 MB (16 MHz model) or 4 MB (20 MHz model), via 32-bit memory expansion card
|-
| Graphics || Western Digital WD VGA Plus 16, 256 KB VRAM
|-
| Storage || 1× Epson SD-680L 5.25" 1.2 MB floppy drive; optional 1.44 MB 3.5" floppy; Seagate ST-277R 66 MB RLL hard drive
|-
| Hard drive/floppy controller || Adaptec ACB-2372B floppy/hard drive controller
|-
| Multi-I/O || Kouwell KW-524F Multi I/O card
|-
| Expansion || PS/2-style expansion slots
|-
| Ports || Monitor port, RS-232 serial port, Centronics parallel port, keyboard port
|-
| Keyboard || Mitsumi KPQ-E99YC AT keyboard
|-
| Mouse || Mitsumi 2-button serial mouse
|-
| Sound || PC Speaker
|}

== Bundled Software ==
=== Standard Configuration ===
* Microsoft MS-DOS 3.3
* GW-BASIC 3.2
* Microsoft Windows/386 Version 2.0

=== Alternative Configuration ===
* "Eurix" — German-localised Unix System V/386 Release 3.2

== Upgrades ==
* Intel 80387 co-processor (socket provided)
* CPU upgrade to Intel 386DX-25 (the AMI Series-4 motherboard supports this)
* Memory expansion via the 32-bit expansion card

== Legacy ==
The PC5 was the last model in the original numbered Atari PC series. Atari continued producing IBM-compatible computers with the ABC (Atari Business Computer) line, beginning with the ABC 286/30 in 1990 and culminating in the ABC 386 SX and DX models in 1991. These later systems used completely off-the-shelf components and bore little resemblance to the earlier, more distinctively Atari-branded PC line.

== See Also ==
* [[Atari PC4]]
* [[Atari ABC computers|Atari ABC Series]]
* [[Atari PC1]]

== External Links ==
* [https://www.ataripc.net/pc5-386/ AtariPC.net — Atari PC5 386-16/20]
* [https://binaryvalue.com/index.php/ibm-pc/atari-pcs BinaryValue — Atari PCs]
* [http://atarimuseum.ctrl-alt-rees.com/computers/pccomputers/pc-5.html Atari Museum — Atari PC-5]

[[Category:Atari Systems]]
{{Navbox-AtariVintageComputers}}

Atari PC5 - Revision history

Josh: Created Atari PC5 article