Atari MEGA STE

Atari Mega STE
Release date	1991; 33 years ago
Introductory price	US$1,799 (equivalent to $4,020 in 2023)
Operating system	Atari TOS
CPU	Motorola 68000 @ 8 MHz or 16 MHz
Memory	1, 2 or 4 MB
Display	320×200 (16 of 4096 colors); 640×200 (4 of 4096 colors); 640×400 (mono)
Graphics	BLiTTER
Sound	Yamaha YM2149

The Atari Mega STE is Atari Corporation's final Motorola 68000-based personal computer in the Atari ST series and the second to last model overall. Released in 1991, the Mega STE is a late-model STE mounted in the case of an Atari TT computer. It was followed by the higher end Atari Falcon in 1992.

Description[edit]

The MEGA STE is based on STE hardware. The 2 MB and 4 MB models shipped with a high-resolution mono monitor, and an internal SCSI hard disk^[3] (the 1 MB model includes neither a monitor, hard disk nor hard disk controller). While offering better ST compatibility than the TT, it also includes a number of TT features, from the ST-grey version of the TT case with a separate keyboard and system unit, optional FPU, a VMEbus slot, two extra RS232 ports (all 9-pin rather than 25-pin as previous models had), a LocalTalk/RS-422 port (no AppleTalk software was ever produced) and a 1.44 MB HD floppy support. Support for a third/middle mouse button is also included.

A unique feature of the MEGA STE in relation to previous Atari systems is the software-switchable CPU speed, which allows the CPU to operate at 16 MHz for faster processing or 8 MHz for better compatibility with old software. An upgrade to the operating system was also produced after the first units were shipped that upgraded the onboard ROMs to TOS 2.05 and later to 2.6/2.06.

The VME bus provides expansion capability using cards that enhance the computer's capabilities such as enhanced graphics processing capability and Ethernet network connectivity.

Technical specifications[edit]

CPU: Motorola 68000 @ 8 or 16 MHz with 16 KB cache
FPU: Motorola 68881 or Motorola 68882
BLiTTER - graphics co-processor chip
RAM: 1, 2 or 4 MB ST RAM expandable to 4 MB using 30-pin SIMMs
Sound: Yamaha YM2149 + enhanced sound chip same as in Atari STe
Drive: 720 KB (first MEGA STE version) or 1.44 MB (later version) 3½" floppy disk drive
Ports: MIDI In/Out, 3 x RS-232, "Serial LAN" LocalTalk/RS-422, printer, monitor (RGB and Mono), RF modulator, extra disk drive port, ACSI, SCSI (ACSI/SCSI daughterboard), port, VMEbus inside case,^[4] detachable keyboard, joystick and mouse ports on keyboard
Operating System: TOS (The Operating System) with the Graphics Environment Manager (GEM) graphical user interface (GUI)
- TOS versions: 2.05 or 2.06 in ROM
Display modes: 320×200 (16 out of 4096 colors), 640×200 (4 out of 4096 colors), 640×400 (mono)
Character set: Atari ST character set (based on code page 437)
Case: Two-piece slim desktop-style.

References[edit]

^ The Music & Computer Educator - Volume 2, Issues 1-6, 1991, Page 27, By Lorenz Rychner, ...True to their slogans, "power without the price" and "the computer for the rest of us," Atari has made it ... The MEGA STE (retail prices starting at $1,799.00)...
^ Z*Net Newswire: Atari at Comdex 1990, Mega STE a Reality, By John Nagy, START VOL. 5 NO. 6 / FEBRUARY/MARCH 1991, ...The Mega STE is real (this report was written on one). The configuration is as predicted months ago: A casing identical to the TT, although in grey rather than off-white, with 4MB RAM, an internal 40MB hard disk, LAN and VME ports, a 16MHz clock speed, and the new TT-style Desktop. The Mega STE is not in production yet but may see distribution in early 1991 with a retail base price of around $1,200. At least five Mega STEs were set up in the Atari booth along with several TTs...
^ Subject: Seagate ST-157N Hard Drive, by WOJCIE, 06 Aug 1993, Atari Board, ...So far I found out that the hard drive that I have inside of my Mega STe 4 is a Seagate ST-157N...
^ Atari VME Expansion for TT030 and Mega STE Products, Jul 19, 1991, ...TT030 and Mega STE Products. The TT030 and Mega STE each support one single height (3U) VME slot...

External links[edit]

(in English) Web page of Guillaume Tello What to do with a Mega STE?
(in English and French) Programs for the ST/TT family and technical articles (in french)
(in English) Atari MegaSTe Memory Cache
(in English) The MEGA STe review, 1992

[1] The Music & Computer Educator - Volume 2, Issues 1-6, 1991, Page 27, By Lorenz Rychner, ...True to their slogans, "power without the price" and "the computer for the rest of us," Atari has made it ... The MEGA STE (retail prices starting at $1,799.00)...

[2] Z*Net Newswire: Atari at Comdex 1990, Mega STE a Reality, By John Nagy, START VOL. 5 NO. 6 / FEBRUARY/MARCH 1991, ...The Mega STE is real (this report was written on one). The configuration is as predicted months ago: A casing identical to the TT, although in grey rather than off-white, with 4MB RAM, an internal 40MB hard disk, LAN and VME ports, a 16MHz clock speed, and the new TT-style Desktop. The Mega STE is not in production yet but may see distribution in early 1991 with a retail base price of around $1,200. At least five Mega STEs were set up in the Atari booth along with several TTs...

[3] Subject: Seagate ST-157N Hard Drive, by WOJCIE, 06 Aug 1993, Atari Board, ...So far I found out that the hard drive that I have inside of my Mega STe 4 is a Seagate ST-157N...

[4] Atari VME Expansion for TT030 and Mega STE Products, Jul 19, 1991, ...TT030 and Mega STE Products. The TT030 and Mega STE each support one single height (3U) VME slot...

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]