--- title: Atari 520 / 1040 STf / STfm categories: - Computers types: - Home Computer origins: - U.S.A. years: - '1986' cpus: - Motorola MC 68000 params: name: 520 / 1040 STf / STfm image: /media/museum/photos/atari_520stf_2logoversions_s1.jpg company: /companies/atari company_name: Atari specs: - label: NAME value: 520 / 1040 STf / STfm - label: MANUFACTURER value: Atari - label: TYPE value: Home Computer - label: ORIGIN value: U.S.A. - label: YEAR value: '1986' - label: KEYBOARD value: Full stroke keyboard with numeric keypad, editing keypad and 10 function keys - label: CPU value: Motorola MC 68000 - label: SPEED value: 8 mHz - label: RAM value: 512 KB (up to 4 MB) - label: ROM value: 32 KB with TOS on disk / 192 KB with TOS on ROM - label: TEXT MODES value: 40 or 80 chars. x 25 lines (bitmapped graphics) - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: 16 colors among 512 (320 x 200) / 4 colors among 512 (640 x 200) / monochrome (640 x 400) this last mode needs a special monitor. - label: COLORS value: max. 512 - label: SOUND value: 3 voices + 1 noise channel, 8 octaves (Yamaha YM-2149) - label: I/O PORTS value: Cartridge, Midi (in, out), Centronics, RS232c, Hard Disk, Floppy disk, RGB, Joystick, mouse - label: BUILT IN MEDIA value: 3.5'' disk-drive - label: OS value: TOS + GEM - label: POWER SUPPLY value: Built-in power supply unit tabs: - photos - adverts - hardware - emulators - links - docs forum_thread: 44 photos: - title: SAME MODELS subtitle: '' text: The 520STF and 1040STF were same machines, apart from RAM size and floppy disk drive capacity. image: /media/museum/photos/atari_520stf_with1040_s1.jpg - title: LARGE VIEW subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/atari_520stf_system_s2.jpg - title: LEFT & RIGHT SIDES subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** Midi In and Out DIN sockets\ **(2)** ROM cartridges connector. image: /media/museum/photos/atari_520stf_sides_s1.jpg - title: TWO 520 STF VERSIONS subtitle: '' text: The top one has 360 KB floppy disk, the bottom one has a 720 KB version. image: /media/museum/photos/atari_520stf_2fdversions_s1.jpg - title: REAR CONNECTORS subtitle: '' text: |- From left to right: • Serial port dedicated to an external modem\ • Parallel printer connector\ • External hard disk drive interface\ • External floppy disk drive interface (15-pin DIN socket)\ • Monochrome or RGB monitor DIN socket\ • Power switch and plug\ • Reset switch (the grey plastic button is missing) image: /media/museum/photos/atari_520stf_rear_s1.jpg - title: INSIDE subtitle: '' text: Like almost all Atari machines, the mainboard, power supply unit and floppy drive are surrounded with a metallic protection against magnetic fields. image: /media/museum/photos/atari_520stf_inside_s1.jpg - title: 520 STF MAINBOARD subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** 512 KB RAM chips (16x41256). Provision is made to upgrade the RAM size to 1 MB\ **(2)** TOS ROM's (2x32K)\ **(3)** MMU custom chip\ **(4)** 68000 CPU, here a Hitachi version\ **(5)** The Shifter custom video chip is protected by a metallic cover\ **(6)** Glue custom chip\ **(7)** Multi-Function Peripheral (MFP) chip\ **(8)** 2x6850 ACIA chips\ **(9)** Yamaha sound chipset\ **(10)** Floppy disk controller chip\ **(11)** DMA controller chip For more information about each custom chip, see the 'Motherboard' picture of the Atari [520ST](/museum/atari-520-st-st-stm/) page. image: /media/museum/photos/atari_520stf_mainboard_s1.jpg - title: 1040 MAINBOARD subtitle: '' text: All the RAM area is populated with 41256 chips. image: /media/museum/photos/atari_520stf_inside1040_s1.jpg - title: MAINBOARD CLOSE-UP subtitle: '' text: This version doesn't hold the TOS in ROM. image: /media/museum/photos/atari_520stf_mainboard_s2.jpg - title: 'ATARI 2080 #1' subtitle: '' text: |- Just before launching the Mega-ST series, Atari sold little quantities of this unofficial 2MB RAM version called 2080STf. A 4160STf was also planned but never left the Commodore research department. Thanks to **Sveto** image: /media/museum/photos/atari_1280stf_system_s1.jpg - title: 'ATARI 2080 #2' subtitle: '' text: |- Atari labels Thanks to **Sveto** image: /media/museum/photos/atari_2080stf_system_s2.jpg adverts: - title: U.K. AD. (1986) subtitle: '' text: In U.K., at 1986 Christmas period, the 1040 STF was sold £799 + VAT for the 12" monochrome version, and £999 + VAT for the 14" colour version. image: /media/museum/pubs/atari_1040st_pub_1.jpg - title: U.K. AD. (1986) subtitle: '' text: |- Advert said: As the American magazine 'Byte' commented, "for some time to come the 1040STF will be the clear leader in price/performance." image: /media/museum/pubs/atari_1040stf_pub_1.jpg - title: FRENCH AD (DEC. 1985) subtitle: '' text: |- "At the fingertip of the mouse..." "... 16/32 bits technology" image: /media/museum/pubs/atari_520stf_pub_auboutdelasouris.jpg - title: U.K. AD. 1989 subtitle: '' text: |- Special 520-STFM bundle advert.\ Advert said: There's no catch. We're giving you the Atari 520 STFM and £500 worth of great software titles for just £399.99.\ The twenty-three super titles include some of the greatest games and three excellent programs which introduce you to the BASIC programming language, computer-created music and the more popular computer applications such as word processing and spreadsheets... image: /media/museum/pubs/atari_520stfm_pub_1.jpg hardware: - title: SF-354 subtitle: Single density disk-drive text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_st_sf354-diskdrive_1.jpg - title: SF-314 subtitle: Disk-drive text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_st-disk-drive_sf314.jpg - title: CUMANA DRIVE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_520_cumanadrive_1.jpg - title: SUPRADRIVE subtitle: 20 Mb hard-disk text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_supradrive_20mb.jpg - title: 170MB QUANTUM HARD-DRIVE subtitle: '' text: This unit has an ICD Host Adapter. image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_st_quamtum_hd170.jpg - title: ATARI MEGAFILE 30 subtitle: '' text: This hard-drive has a 30Mb capacity. image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_st_megafile30_1.jpg - title: INSIDE THE MEGAFILE 30 subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** Seagate MFM 30 MB hard-disk Type ST-238\ **(2)** Power supply\ **(3)** Logical board\ **(4)** Power and disk access LED's image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_megast_insidemegafile_1.jpg - title: ATARI UNIVERSAL MODEM subtitle: '' text: |- The SX212 modem was one of the rare Atari peripherals that could be used with all the Atari computers range, from the 400/800 series up to the Falcon. It had both the Atari I/O ports for the 8-bit systems and a standard RS-232 connector for ST's It was a 300/1200 baud modem compatible with the well-known Hayes 'AT' commands.\ Cable and software was sold separately, depending of the computer used. image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_520_modemsx212_1.jpg - title: SML-804 subtitle: Laser printer text: |- The SLM-804 was actually a Kyocera F1000 printer but without neither on-board processor and memory nor buttons other than the on/off switch. It was first delivered with the Mega ST but could be connected on all of the ST series computers through a dedicated interface box.\ The printer used the processing power and the RAM memory of the ST computer for printing at 8 pages per minute and 300 DPI. The paper tray held 250 sheets. Thanks to **Francois Michaud** who donated us this printer. image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_megast_slm804printer_s1.jpg - title: SMLC-804 subtitle: Laser printer interface text: This interface allowed the SML-804 printer to be connected to any Atari ST holding at least 1 MB RAM. image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_megast_slmcinterface_s1.jpg emulators: - title: Pacifist ! url: http://www.pacifist.fatal-design.com/ platform: MS DOS text: Pretty good emulator - title: Emulators Online url: http://www.emulators.com/ platform: Windows text: Demo of Gemulator, a commercial product from BraSoft. - title: Gemulator url: http://www.emulators.com/gemul8r.htm platform: Windows text: '' - title: MagiCPC url: http://www.application-systems.de/magicpc/index.html platform: Windows text: '' - title: Pacifist url: http://www.pacifist.fatal-design.com/ platform: Windows text: The best Atari ST emulator - title: SainT url: http://saint.atari.org platform: Windows text: The best Atari ST Emulator ! - title: Steem url: http://steem.atari.st/ platform: Windows text: Excellent emulator for 1040/520 STE ! - title: STonX Homepage url: http://www.complang.tuwien.ac.at/nino/stemu.html platform: Windows text: The Atari ST Emulator for Linux/X windows - title: Toad Computers' Atari Central url: http://www.ataricentral.com/ platform: Windows text: Demo of Magic, a commercial emulator for PC/Windows and Macintosh. - title: Tos2Win url: http://www.aixit.com/tos2win/ platform: Windows text: A good Atari GEM Emulator ! - title: TOSBOX Atari emulation homepage url: http://www.geocities.com/SiliconValley/Vista/4448/ platform: Windows text: '' - title: WinSTon url: http://www.winston.fatal-design.com/ platform: Windows text: An emulator for Win95 / Win NT - title: MagiCMac url: http://www.application-systems.de/magicmac/index.html platform: Apple text: '' - title: NoSTalgia & PowerST url: http://users.skynet.be/sky39147/ platform: Apple text: '' - title: NoSTalgia The AtariST Emulator for the Macintosh url: http://users.skynet.be/sky39147/ platform: Apple text: '' - title: Toad Computers' Atari Central url: http://www.ataricentral.com/ platform: Apple text: Demo of Magic, a commercial emulator for PC/Windows and Macintosh. - title: STonX Homepage url: http://www.complang.tuwien.ac.at/nino/stonx.html platform: Unix / Linux text: '' - title: STonX Homepage url: http://www.complang.tuwien.ac.at/nino/stonx.html platform: Unix / Linux text: '' - title: Atari ST Emulator url: http://www.atari-st.lovely.net/ platform: Other platform text: Written in Java ! - title: ARAnyM url: HTTP://ARANYM.ATARI.ORG platform: Multiplatform text: Multiplatform project - title: Hatari url: http://hatari.sourceforge.net/ platform: Multiplatform text: Hatari is an Atari ST emulator for Linux, BSD, BeOS, Mac OS X and other systems that are supported by the SDL library. More precisely, Hatari is an adaption of the WinSTon source code to the SDL library. links: - title: Application Systems Heidelberg url: http://members.aol.com/ashinfo/index.html text: '' - title: Atari & Commodore Home Computer Museum url: http://www.best.com/~hmk/ text: '' - title: Atari Demo Scene url: http://rzserv2.fh-lueneburg.de:8080/Demo_Scene text: '' - title: Atari game links url: http://www.fortunecity.com/skyscraper/cache/369/index.html text: '' - title: Atari Music Network url: http://www.atarimusic.net/ text: Atari Music Network welcomes and celebrates all vintage digital musicians no matter what their computer - title: Atari ST Demo History url: http://wwwbrauer.in.tum.de/~brandtf/ataridemos.html text: '' - title: Atari ST Download Area url: http://www.chebucto.ns.ca/Services/PDA/atari.shtml text: Atari 400/800/XL/XE & ST/TT/Falcon Software download page - title: Atari ST Download Area url: http://www.gpfn.sk.ca/Services/PDA/atari.html text: '' - title: ATARI.ORG url: http://www.atari.org/ text: Looking for something on any Atari machine ? Follow the links ! - title: Atari-WEB url: http://web.cnam.fr/Comp/Atari/ text: '' - title: Calculating Pi and Atari ST-Falcon url: http://www.ast.univie.ac.at/~wasi/PI/stuart_lyster/stlib.htm text: '' - title: CareBears Online url: http://hem1.passagen.se/carebear/ text: '' - title: Centek Homepage url: http://www.centek.fr text: '' - title: Dead Hackers Society url: http://www.dhs.nu/ text: Atari demo scene - title: Elysium Atari & TOS Compatible Pages url: http://www.users.zetnet.co.uk/aseabrook/a_index.htm text: '' - title: Emulators Online url: http://www.emulators.com/ text: '' - title: Gem programmer's page url: http://www.dtek.chalmers.se/~d2cg/gem/ text: '' - title: Little Green Desktop url: http://www.atari.st/ text: Largest Atari ST ressource! - title: Medusa computer url: http://www.kingx.com/kingx/medusa/thes.html text: You can still buy an Atari ST family clone computer - title: MiNTOS Distribution url: http://www.earth.ox.ac.uk/~steve/mintos.html text: '' - title: Musique.Atari.Org url: HTTP://MUSIQUE.ATARI.ORG text: Web site dedicated to the ATARI and the Music... - title: PLOPBOX - Atari music archive and jukebox url: http://www.plopbox.net/ text: listen to atari tunes directly from your browser - title: Polish Atari Wikipedia url: http://atariki.krap.pl text: A lot of info about Atari (in polish) - title: ST Anwender Bern url: http://my.blackpoint.ch/stab/ text: Atari ST Usergroup Bern (Swiss) - title: The Atari Historical Society url: http://www.atarimuseum.com/ text: The complete history of Atari Arcade and Home games and computers. Complete site with pictures, commercials (streaming), and full text articles. Amazing site ! - title: The Atari ST Quick FAQ url: http://www.megacom.net/~q-funk/ST/ text: '' - title: The Atari WebRing Homepage url: http://b.webring.com/hub?ring=atari text: Useful ! - title: The New Funkyware Generation url: http://www.megacom.net/~q-funk/ text: '' - title: The Ultimate ATARI Resource url: http://www.atari.org text: '' - title: The Wonderful World of Atari Computing url: http://inet.uni-c.dk/~netop/atari.htm text: '' - title: What is TOS url: http://www.vanc.igs.net/~roughley/tos_main.htm text: '' - title: Atari ST-TT-Falcon030 FTP sites url: http://www.mcc.ac.uk/~dlms/ftplinks.html text: '' - title: Index of -~archive-atari- url: http://www.umich.edu/~archive/atari/ text: '' - title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com text: French forum docs: - title: ATARI 520 ST OWNER'S MANUAL url: http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/atarist/index.htm cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/atari_520st_user_doc.jpg text: |- [**ATARI 520 ST OWNER'S MANUAL**](http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield/atarist/index.htm)written by Atari  compiled/archived by Daves Old Computers\  type of document : PDF\  size : 5 Mb\  source : [Daves Old Computers](http://www.classiccmp.org/dunfield) **... READ THE ONLINE VERSION BY CLICKING BELOW :** related: - /museum/atari-130-st-260-st - /museum/atari-4160-ste - /museum/atari-520-1040-ste - /museum/atari-520-st-st-stm - /museum/atari-falcon-030 - /museum/atari-falcon-030-microbox - /museum/atari-fx-1-sparrow - /museum/atari-mega-st - /museum/atari-mega-ste - /museum/atari-st-book - /museum/atari-stacy - /museum/atari-stylus-st-pad - /museum/atari-tt-030 oc_id: 25 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230406043136/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=25 date: '2023-04-06' --- The Atari 520 and 1040 STf were the direct successors of the [Atari 260 ST and Atari 520 ST](/museum/atari-520-st-st-stm/). In fact, they had the same technical characteristics except from built-in floppy drive (hence the **f** of STf). The 3.5" floppy disk drive has been integrated with the power supply into the computer. The early first versions of the Atari 520 STf had a RAM based Operating System (they have a 32 KB ROM), this ROM will be quiclky replaced by a 192 KB ROM which holds all the operating system (called TOS 1.0). An enhanced version of the Atari 520 STf was launched a few months later : the **Atari 1040 STf** to replace the Atari 520+ : It also had the same characteristics as the 520 STf except its memory (1 MB instead of the 512 KB) and the floppy disk drive : it used 3.5" double side disks (720 KB).\ Not long after the launch of the 1040 STf, the 520 STf would be "unofficially" equipped with 720 KB floppy disk drives.\ There was also a **STfM** model with a built-in floppy (the f) and an RF Modulator (the M).