---
title: Atari PC
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- U.S.A.
years:
- '1987'
cpus:
- Intel 8086
params:
  name: PC
  image: /media/museum/photos/atari_pc1_system_s1.jpg
  company: /companies/atari
  company_name: Atari
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: PC
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Atari
  - label: TYPE
    value: Professional Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: U.S.A.
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1987'
  - label: END OF PRODUCTION
    value: Unknown
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: Unknown
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full stroke keyboard
  - label: CPU
    value: Intel 8086
  - label: SPEED
    value: 8 mHz
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: Optional 8087 Math coprocessor
  - label: RAM
    value: 512 KB
  - label: VRAM
    value: Unknown
  - label: ROM
    value: Unknown
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 40 x 25 / 80 x 25
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: All CGA, EGA and Hercules resolutions
  - label: COLORS
    value: 16 among 64 in EGA mode, monochrom in Hercules mode
  - label: SOUND
    value: Beeper
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Centronics, RS232c, Mouse, Monitor
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: one 5.25'' disk-drive
  - label: OS
    value: MS DOS, GEM
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in power supply unit
  - label: PRICE
    value: Unknown
  tabs:
  - photos
  - links
  forum_thread: 92
  photos:
  - title: PC1 - LARGE VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/atari_pc1_system_s2.jpg
  - title: PC1 - ANOTHER VIEW
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to **Rob den Hartigh**
    image: /media/museum/photos/atari_pc1_system_s3.jpg
  - title: PC1 - FRONT & REAR SIDES
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      Rear connectors, from left to right:\
      • Mouse\
      • Parallel port\
      • Serial port\
      • Video output\
      • Video select switches\
      • External FDD unit\
      • Keyboard
    image: /media/museum/photos/atari_pc1_frontrear_s1.jpg
  - title: PC1 - INSIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: There is no way to add an expansion card or another mass storage device into the case although one finds some unused expansion conectors on the main board (more info needed).
    image: /media/museum/photos/atari_pc1_inside_s1.jpg
  - title: PC1 - ORIGINAL DISKETTES
    subtitle: ''
    text: The PC-1 shipped with both MS-DOS and GEM OSs.
    image: /media/museum/photos/atari_pc1_diskettes_s1.jpg
  - title: PC1 - MAIN BOARD
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/atari_pc1_mainboard_s1.jpg
  links:
  - title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
    url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
    text: ''
  related:
  - /museum/sharp-pc-3101
  - /museum/sharp-pc-3201
  oc_id: 77
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230531223206/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=77
    date: '2023-05-31'
---

Just after the [Atari ST series](/museum/atari-520-st-st-stm/), Atari decided to launch a series of PC compatible systems. The **PC-1** was the first model. It used the shell of the Atari Mega ST4 and its mouse. It held 512 KB of RAM, an optional 20 or 23 MB HDD, but didn't have ISA extension slot, to use a PC card, an expansion box was necessary.\
However, the PC-1 had Parallel, serial and mouse ports built-in as well as an universal video interface allowing either colour CGA and EGA or Hercules monochrome monitors to be connected to the same video port.

The range of Atari PC compatible systems was also comprised of:\
• The **PC3**, a 8088 8Mhz based system with 640 KB ram, CGA graphics and 20MB hard drive,\
• The **PC4**, a 80286 16Mhz based system with a 60MB hard drive in which - optionally- a 3.5 1.44 Mb drive could be fitted (the front needed to be cut out and the metal casing sawed by the user). It also featured VGA graphics,\
• The **ABC**, a 80386sx 16Mhz model with a 40MB hard disk and vga graphics. This one came with a 3.5 floppy built in,\
• The **PC5**, a 20MHz 80386 PC featuring 60 MB hard disk and SVGA graphics with same 3.5 floppy disk option as with the PC4,\
• the **N386** laptop.

---

**Matt Lloyd** adds:\
I bought one of these when I attended college in 1988. The Ram was expandable to 640K. However the selling point was it had an ST compatible floppy/HD connector which meant that you could add ST floppy and hard drive which were alledgedly cheaper than the PC equivalent. It also came with the GEM operating sytem in an attempt to provide an ST like interface for the PC.

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>