Atari Falcon040
| Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Manufacturer | Atari Corporation |
| Type | Personal computer (prototype) |
| Released | Never released (c. 1993–1994 prototype) |
| Discontinued | Cancelled |
| Intro price | N/A (prototype only) |
| CPU | Motorola 68040 |
| Memory | Unknown (likely expandable via SIMM slots) |
| Storage | Internal IDE hard drive, 1.44 MB 3.5" floppy (planned) |
| Display | VIDEL programmable video controller (carried over from Falcon030) |
| Sound | 16-bit stereo DMA audio; Motorola 56001 DSP (carried over from Falcon030) |
| OS / Firmware | TOS / MultiTOS (planned) |
| Predecessor | Atari Falcon030 |
| Successor | None (Atari exited computer market) |
| Model no. | Falcon040 |
The Atari Falcon040 was a prototype successor to the Atari Falcon030, designed around the Motorola 68040 processor. Never released commercially, it was cancelled when Atari Corporation abandoned the personal computer market to focus exclusively on the Atari Jaguar games console in 1993–1994. Very few prototypes were built, and surviving units are among the rarest Atari computers in existence.
Background
[edit | edit source]The Falcon030, released in 1992, was the final production computer from Atari Corporation. Built around a Motorola 68030 at 16 MHz with a Motorola 56001 DSP, it was considered a capable multimedia workstation but was hampered by a 16-bit external data bus that limited CPU throughput. Even before the Falcon030 shipped, Atari engineers had begun exploring a successor based on the significantly more powerful Motorola 68040.
The 68040 offered a fully pipelined design with an integrated floating-point unit (FPU) and larger on-chip caches compared to the 68030, which would have delivered a substantial performance improvement without requiring an external FPU socket.
Design
[edit | edit source]The Falcon040 prototypes used a compact "microbox" case design that differed significantly from the Falcon030's 1040ST-derived keyboard case. The microbox form factor resembled a small desktop unit and could reportedly be positioned either vertically or horizontally — a design that has been compared to the later Sony PlayStation 2 console.
The motherboard included expansion slots, believed to be PCI-compatible, which would have represented a significant modernisation over the Falcon030's proprietary internal expansion connector. The system was expected to retain the Falcon030's VIDEL video controller and DSP capabilities while significantly increasing CPU performance.
Cancellation
[edit | edit source]By 1993, Atari Corporation was restructuring to focus entirely on the Jaguar console. The computer division had already seen declining sales and the Falcon030 itself was discontinued after roughly one year of production. The Falcon040 project was cancelled as part of this broader exit from the computer market. Atari Corporation eventually merged with JT Storage in 1996, ending any possibility of the design being revived.
Surviving Prototypes
[edit | edit source]A small number of Falcon040 prototypes are known to exist in private collections and museums. These units are considered extremely rare and are among the most sought-after items by Atari collectors.
See Also
[edit | edit source]References
[edit | edit source]- Atari Falcon — Wikipedia
- Falcon 040 — AtariForumWiki