Atari  Atari PC1
ata_pc1

Atari PC-1

In 1987 Atari introduced the PC-1 at the Consumer Electronics Show. This was Atari's first foray into the IBM PC Compatible market and would later be known as the Atari PC1. Priced at a US$699, it was marketed as Atari's entry level system and was soon followed by the Atari PC2 also in the same year.

The machine was an Intel 8088 PC-Clone with 512KByte RAM and onboard EGA Graphics. Uniquely it reused the Atari Megafile 44 Chassis, however this came at a cost. Unlike many other IBM Compatible XT systems on the market the slim Megafile chassis did not allow for upgrades via ISA expansion cards. Apart from being able to upgrade the RAM to 640K and to add an 8087 co-processor, you were very much limited to the original configuration of the computer.

Intel 8088 CPU

The Intel 8088 microprocessor is a variant of the Intel 8086. The 8088 has an 8-bit external bus instead of the 16-bit bus that the 8086 has. The 16-bit registers and the 1MByte address range are unchanged, however. The 8086 and the 8088 have the same execution unit (EU), only the Bus Interface Unit (BIU) differs.

The original IBM PC architecture is based on the Intel 8088. The CPU runs at 5 to 16 MHz, has a 20-bit address bus and can work together with the 8087 Co-Processor. The 8088 was launched in 1979. The 8088 is compatible with the Intel 8085.

Released 1987 Country United States Brand Type ATARI PC Name Atari PC1 CPU Class 8088 CPU Intel 8088 Memory 512kB RAM Sound Chip none Sound beeper Display Chip Onboard CGA Display CGA Graphics Sprites n/a System OS GEM/DOS Storage 5.25" Disk Drive
Related Systems
 
Atari 400/800
 
Atari XL/XE
 
Atari Portable
 
Atari Portable ST
 
Atari ST
 
Atari PC
 
Atari  PC1 (1987)
Books & Publications
 
6502 CPU
Collection of books on the 6502 and compatible CPUs
 
Atari 8-bit
Programming and other books for the 8-bit Atari line (400/800/XL/XE) of computers.
Magazines & Serials
 
Analog Computing
A.N.A.L.O.G. Atari Newsletter And Lots Of Games
 
Antic Catalog
Antic Software and merchandise Catalog, later rebranded to just The Catalog
 
Antic Magazine
Antic was a magazine devoted to the Atari 8-bit family of home computers and the 16-bit Atari ST.
Manuals & Catalogs
 
Atari 5200
A collection of technical and service manuals for the Atari 5200 game system.
 
Atari Software
Software Catalogs for the Atari computers
Software & Game Manuals
 
Atari 5200 Games
A collection of Game Manuals for the Atari 5200 game system.
World Wide Web Links
 
Atari.Com
Official Atari website
 
Best Electronics
Specializing in Replacement Parts and Accessories for all Consumer Based Atari Game Systems and Atari Computers.
 
Atari Age
Fan website for Atari Game Consoles (2600, 5200, 7800, Lynx, Jaguar). Some home-brew 800 and XE games and hardware in the AtariAge Store.