RetroTechCollection

Atari 1040STE

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The Atari 1040STE (often stylized 1040STe) is the enhanced 1 MB member of Atari’s ST^E series, adding a 12‑bit (4096‑color) palette, stereo 8‑bit DMA audio, BLiTTER support, two enhanced joystick/analogue ports, and SIMM‑based RAM, while retaining full ST compatibility. Introduced in late 1989 and sold through the early 1990s, it was popular in Europe for music production (built‑in MIDI), DTP, and gaming.[14][15]

Atari 1040STE
1040STE with SC1224 RGB monitor
Specifications
ManufacturerAtari Corporation
TypeHome computer
ReleasedNovember 1, 1989
Discontinued1992
Intro priceC$999 (Nov 1990, Canada); reduced to C$699 (Dec 1990, Canada).[1][2]
CPUMotorola MC68000FN8 @ 8 MHz (PLCC‑68)[3]
Memory1 MB RAM standard; expandable to 4 MB via 30‑pin SIMMs (or early SIPP)[4]
StorageInternal 3.5″ DS/DD 720 KB floppy (WD1772 controller); external 14‑pin DIN floppy; ACSI (DB‑19) hard‑disk port.[5][6]
Display320×200 (16 colors from 4096) at 50 Hz PAL / 60 Hz NTSC; 640×200 (4 colors from 4096); 640×400 mono (SM124, ~71.2 Hz).[7]
SoundYamaha YM2149F PSG (3 voices + noise) + 8‑bit stereo DMA PCM at 6.258/12.517/25.033/50.066 kHz; LMC1992 analog audio mixer.[8][9]
Dimensions475 mm W × 290 mm D × 70 mm H (18.7 × 11.4 × 2.8 in).[10]
Weight≈4.3 kg (≈9.5 lb).[11]
OS / FirmwareTOS 1.06 (1.60) or TOS 1.62 in ROM; user‑upgradable to TOS 2.06.[12][13]
PredecessorAtari 520STE
SuccessorMega STe
Model no.1040STE

Architecture and Processor

The 1040STE uses a 16/32‑bit CISC CPU and a small set of Atari and third‑party support ICs:

  • CPU: Motorola MC68000FN8 (PLCC‑68) clocked at 8 MHz; 16‑bit data bus, 24‑bit address bus (16 MB address space).[16]
  • MFP: Motorola MC68901 (interrupt controller, timers, RS‑232 control).[17]
  • ACIAs: 2 × MC6850 (keyboard/IKBD and MIDI serial links).[18][19]
  • PSG: Yamaha YM2149F programmable sound generator (3 tone channels + noise).[20]
  • DMA sound: 8‑bit PCM stereo using dedicated DMA audio hardware; sample rates 6,258 / 12,517 / 25,033 / 50,066 Hz.[21]
  • Audio mixer/EQ: National (TI) LMC1992 (Microwire‑controlled volume/bass/treble/balance).[22]
  • Video: GST Shifter (STe variants C300588‑001 / C301712‑001) with 12‑bit palette; hardware fine scroll; BLiTTER support via discrete PLCC‑68 BLiTTER or integrated MCU (see below).[23]
  • MMU/GLUE: STe “GST MCU” (C300589 without BLiTTER; later C302183 with BLiTTER integrated, 144‑pin QFP).[24]
  • Floppy disk controller: Western Digital WD1772 (most commonly WD1772‑02‑02).[25]
  • ACSI/DMA disk interface: early STE boards use DMA IC C025913‑38; later boards use C398739‑001A with timing fix (see Troubleshooting).[26]

Clocks and regional timing

  • CPU clock: nominal 8 MHz.
  • Video timing: 50 Hz PAL / 60 Hz NTSC in color modes; ~71.2 Hz vertical in high‑resolution mono (SM124).[27]

Bus architecture and DMA

  • Data bus: 16‑bit; address bus: 24‑bit; flat memory model (0–4 MB ST‑RAM typical). BLiTTER and DMA arbitrate memory with the GST MCU; DMA channels for floppy and ACSI hard disk; separate audio DMA engine for stereo PCM.[28][29]

Input/Output and Expansion

All connectors (by physical type):

  • Video: 13‑pin Atari DIN (RGB analog, mono, H/V sync, audio in/out, +12 V sense). Pinout widely documented for ST/STE.[30][31]
  • Television RF (region dependent): present on NTSC “W/MOD” assemblies (onboard modulator).[32]
  • Audio out: 2 × RCA (Left/Right) stereo line outputs (rear panel).[33]
  • MIDI: 2 × 5‑pin DIN (MIDI IN/OUT), 31.25 kbit/s via 6850 ACIA.[34]
  • Serial (modem): DB‑25 male RS‑232C; printer: DB‑25 female Centronics‑compatible parallel.[35]
  • Joystick/mouse (legacy): 2 × DE‑9 male under keyboard (Port 0 mouse/joystick; Port 1 joystick). Pinout is standard Atari/Kempston.[36]
  • Enhanced joystick/analogue: 2 × DA‑15 (DB‑15F) “Enhanced Joystick Ports” (supporting extra buttons, paddles/light pen).[37][38]
  • External floppy: 14‑pin round DIN.[39]
  • ACSI (DMA hard‑disk/laser printer): 19‑pin D‑sub (DB‑19).[40]
  • Cartridge: 40‑contact card‑edge slot (128 KB ROMs typical).[41]

I/O controller devices on the mainboard commonly include MC68901 MFP, MC6850 ACIAs (2×), RS‑232 line drivers/receivers (e.g., SN75188/SN75189 or MC1488/MC1489 on some revisions).[42]

Display and Graphics

Video subsystem (GST Shifter, STe variant):

  • Resolutions and color depths:
    • 320×200 pixels, 16 colors chosen from a 12‑bit (4096‑color) palette.
    • 640×200 pixels, 4 colors from 4096.
    • 640×400 pixels, 1‑bit mono (SM124 monitor at ~71.2 Hz).[43]
  • Palette: 16 registers, 12‑bit RGB (4‑4‑4). Raster tricks permit more onscreen colors.
  • Scrolling and BLiTTER: hardware fine horizontal/vertical scroll; BLiTTER accelerates block moves, line fills, and masked ops (PLCC‑68, or integrated in later GST MCU).[44]
  • Sprites: none (implemented in software with BLiTTER or CPU).
  • Outputs: 13‑pin DIN RGB/mono; optional RF modulator on “W/MOD” assemblies for TV display; SCART compatible with passive cable (resistor recommendations vary by model).[45]

Memory and Storage

RAM organization and expansion

  • Stock RAM: 1 MB ST‑RAM using 30‑pin SIMMs (some early boards used SIPPs). Configurations of 0.5/1/2/4 MB supported officially; 4 MB max via 4×1 MB or 2×2 MB depending on socketing; 2.5 MB is not officially supported.[46]
  • Addressing: contiguous ST‑RAM in the lower 4 MB of the 24‑bit space; DMA sound fetches must reside in first 4 MB.[47]

ROM

  • TOS 1.06 (1.60) or 1.62: 256 KB (two 128 KB ROMs in most STEs). 1.62 fixed desktop medium‑resolution boot bug in 1.60; users often upgrade to TOS 2.06 (256 KB) for enhanced desktop and 1.44 MB floppy support in Mega STE class machines.[48][49]

Floppy and mass storage

  • Floppy: 3.5″ DS/DD 720 KB internal; WD1772 controller (many -02‑02 variants). Stock STE units are DD; later HD support requires “AJAX” controller (C302096) not normally fitted to 1040STE (standard on Mega STE).[50]
  • ACSI hard‑disk: external via DB‑19; common modern replacements include UltraSatan/ACSI2STM. Early DMA IC C025913‑38 can cause write corruption on some STE boards; later C398739‑001 fixes timing (see Troubleshooting).[51]

Sound Capabilities

Programmable sound and PCM playback:

  • YM2149F PSG: three independent square‑wave tone channels plus white noise; 4‑bit per‑channel volume and envelope generator; routed through LMC1992 mixer.[52]
  • DMA PCM: 8‑bit mono or stereo, sample rates ≈6.258/12.517/25.033/50.066 kHz; memory‑mapped control registers at $FF8900–$FF8924; addresses must be even, and buffers must reside within first 4 MB of ST‑RAM.[53]
  • Outputs: rear L/R RCA line out; mono audio is also available on the 13‑pin monitor connector (pin 1).[54]

PCB Schematics & Service Manual

Atari provided an official field service manual covering both 520STE and 1040STE with schematics and parts lists.

  • Core documents:
    • 520/1040STE Field Service Manual (81 pages), includes: CPU/BLiTTER/ROM/CLK; RS‑232/Parallel/MIDI/PSG; DMA/FDD; MCU/SHIFTER/Video; Stereo Sound/Enhanced Joystick; RAM; PSU; Test fixture.[55]
    • 1040STE schematic set (assembly C300780‑001 Rev. A).[56][57]

Motherboard assemblies and identifiers (examples from parts list and service docs):

Assembly/Part Description / Region Notable features
CA400339‑201 Main assembly 1040STE W/MOD (USA) NTSC unit with RF modulator (TV).[58]
CA400340‑111 PCB 1040STE USA W/MOD Board assembly for NTSC with modulator.[59]
CA400329‑101 PCB sub‑assembly STE NTSC W/MOD Sub‑assembly with modulator, cabling.[60]
CA400366‑001 TOS ROM set 1.62 (USA) ICs C301163‑002 (HI), C301164‑002 (LO).[61]
CA070059‑003 PSU 110 V assembly (USA/CAN) Region PSU module.[62]

Technical Details

Subsystem ICs / part numbers Notes
CPU Motorola MC68000FN8 (C398061) 8 MHz PLCC‑68; 16‑bit data / 24‑bit address.[63]
System glue/MMU GST MCU C300589 (no BLiTTER) or C302183 (with BLiTTER) 144‑pin QFP on later boards; integrates address decode, DRAM timing, joystick A/D, BLiTTER (when C302183).[64]
Video (Shifter) GST Shifter C300588‑001 / C301712‑001 12‑bit palette (4096 colors).[65]
BLiTTER PLCC‑68 Atari BLiTTER (various revs) or integrated in C302183 Block move/line op accelerator.[66]
PSG Yamaha YM2149F 3 voices + noise; envelope generator.[67]
DMA sound DMA engine in STe video/audio path; DAC‑08 class converters; LMC1992 mixer Stereo 8‑bit PCM at 6.258–50.066 kHz; Microwire control.[68][69]
Floppy controller WD1772 (often ‑02‑02) 720 KB DD; late HD requires AJAX (not stock on 1040STE).[70]
ACSI/DMA C025913‑38 (early) or C398739‑001(A) (later) Later IC fixes write‑timing corruption on some early STEs.[71]
I/O support MC68901; 2× MC6850; RS‑232 line drivers/receivers Timers/interrupts, MIDI/IKBD ACIAs; DB‑25 RS‑232/parallel.[72]

Technical Documentation

References

  1. ↑ Z*Net: 15-Dec-90 #549, Atari Explorer, Z*Net & ST Report (archived at AtariMax), 1990-12-15—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  2. ↑ Time Capsule: News - Jan.90 - Mar.90, AtariArchives.org, 1990—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  3. ↑ DOIT_ST: Parts (IC cross‑refs), DOIT_ST (archived)—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  4. ↑ Atari ST – STE section, Wikipedia, 2025—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  5. ↑ WD1772, AtariForumWiki—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  6. ↑ Atari ST – Ports, Wikipedia, 2025—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  7. ↑ Atari ST – STE, Wikipedia, 2025—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  8. ↑ The Atari Compendium – STe/TT DMA Sound, Bus Error mirror of Atari Compendium—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  9. ↑ Atari ST – STE, Wikipedia, 2025—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  10. ↑ Atari 520/1040 STE dimensions (user measurement), AtariAge Forums, 2008—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  11. ↑ Atari 1040STe exhibit, MyOldComputers Museum, 1999—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  12. ↑ TOS: The Operating System– Dirk van den Burg—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  13. ↑ Atari TOS, Wikipedia, 2024—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  14. ↑ Atari ST – STE, Wikipedia, 2025—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  15. ↑ Time Capsule: News - Jan.90 - Mar.90, AtariArchives.org, 1990—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  16. ↑ DOIT_ST: Parts (C398061 68000FN8 PLCC MPU, STE), DOIT_ST—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  17. ↑ Atari ST MFP (MC68901), Lynn3686—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  18. ↑ Atari STE Hardware (translated ST Mag. No. 44), Info‑Coach.fr, 2021-08-16—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  19. ↑ Concise Atari ST Programmer’s Guide – IKBD interface—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  20. ↑ Yamaha YM2149, AtariForumWiki—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  21. ↑ Atari Compendium – STe/TT DMA Sound, Bus‑Error mirror—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  22. ↑ Atari ST – STE, Wikipedia, 2025—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  23. ↑ Atari‑Forum: STE shifter & MCU part numbers, Atari‑Forum, 2016—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  24. ↑ Missing BLiTTER from STE (IC IDs), AtariAge Forums, 2017—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  25. ↑ WD1772, AtariForumWiki—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  26. ↑ A new Atari STE bad DMA investigation– Christian Zietz, CHZ‑Soft, 2023-04-22—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  27. ↑ Atari ST – Models/Video, Wikipedia, 2025—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  28. ↑ Atari STE Hardware, Info‑Coach.fr, 2021-08-16—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  29. ↑ Atari Compendium – STe/TT DMA Sound, Bus‑Error mirror—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  30. ↑ Atari ST 13‑pin video pinout, AtariForumWiki, 2006—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  31. ↑ Atari ST Interfaces / Connectors / Cables, Info‑Coach.fr—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  32. ↑ Atari 520/1040STE Field Service Manual – Parts List, ManualsLib—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  33. ↑ Atari STE Stereo Audio Interface, Info‑Coach.fr—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  34. ↑ Concise Atari ST Programmer’s Guide – IKBD/MIDI—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  35. ↑ Atari ST – Ports, Wikipedia, 2025—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  36. ↑ Atari ST 9‑pin joystick/mouse pinout, TruMouse—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  37. ↑ Atari Enhanced 15‑pin joystick (STE/Falcon/Jaguar) pinout, AllPinouts—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  38. ↑ Atari STE Hardware – New Joysticks/Paddles/Pen, Info‑Coach.fr, 2021-08-16—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  39. ↑ Atari ST – Ports, Wikipedia, 2025—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  40. ↑ Atari ST – Ports, Wikipedia, 2025—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  41. ↑ Atari ST – ST cartridge port, Wikipedia, 2025—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  42. ↑ DOIT_ST: Parts, DOIT_ST—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  43. ↑ Atari ST – STE and video modes, Wikipedia, 2025—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  44. ↑ DOIT_ST: BLiTTER, DOIT_ST—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  45. ↑ Atari Video cables and SCART mapping, Info‑Coach.fr—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  46. ↑ Atari ST – STE memory (SIMM/SIPP), Wikipedia, 2025—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  47. ↑ Atari Compendium – DMA sound register map, Bus‑Error mirror—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  48. ↑ TOS versions overview– Dirk van den Burg—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  49. ↑ Atari TOS, Wikipedia, 2024—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  50. ↑ WD1772, AtariForumWiki—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  51. ↑ STE bad DMA investigation– Christian Zietz, 2023-04-22—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  52. ↑ Yamaha YM2149, AtariForumWiki—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  53. ↑ Atari Compendium – STe DMA sound, Bus‑Error mirror—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  54. ↑ Atari ST Interfaces – Video/Audio pins, Info‑Coach.fr—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  55. ↑ Atari 520STE / 1040STE Field Service Manual, ManualsLib—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  56. ↑ ATARI 1040STE C300780‑001 Rev.A – Schematics, Elektrotanya, 1986—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  57. ↑ Atari 1040STe Schematic, Internet Archive, 1986—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  58. ↑ Service Manual – Parts (CA400339‑201), ManualsLib—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  59. ↑ Service Manual – Parts (CA400340‑111), ManualsLib—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  60. ↑ Service Manual – Parts (CA400329‑101), ManualsLib—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  61. ↑ Service Manual – Parts (CA400366‑001), ManualsLib—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  62. ↑ Service Manual – Parts (CA070059‑003), ManualsLib—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  63. ↑ DOIT_ST: Parts, DOIT_ST—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  64. ↑ Missing BLiTTER from STE (IC IDs), AtariAge Forums, 2017—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  65. ↑ Atari‑Forum: STE Shifter part numbers, Atari‑Forum, 2016—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  66. ↑ DOIT_ST: BLiTTER, DOIT_ST—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  67. ↑ Yamaha YM2149, AtariForumWiki—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  68. ↑ Atari Compendium – DMA sound, Bus‑Error mirror—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  69. ↑ DOIT_ST: Parts (C398058 LMC1992; C398057 DAC‑0800), DOIT_ST—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  70. ↑ WD1772, AtariForumWiki—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  71. ↑ STE bad DMA investigation– Christian Zietz, 2023-04-22—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  72. ↑ Atari STE Hardware, Info‑Coach.fr, 2021-08-16—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  73. ↑ Atari 520/1040STE Field Service Manual, ManualsLib—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  74. ↑ Atari 1040STe Schematic, Internet Archive—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
  75. ↑ TOS: The Operating System—link(accessed 2025-08-12)
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