--- title: Atari 5200 SuperSystem categories: - Consoles origins: - U.S.A. years: - '1982' cpus: - 6502C params: name: 5200 SuperSystem image: /media/museum/photos/atari_5200_1s.jpg company: /companies/atari company_name: Atari specs: - label: NAME value: 5200 SuperSystem - label: MANUFACTURER value: Atari - label: ORIGIN value: U.S.A. - label: YEAR value: Summer 1982 - label: END OF PRODUCTION value: Spring 1984 - label: KEYBOARD value: 'Model Atari CX52 Joystick: Analog (360 Degrees of Motion); Four Fire Buttons (two on each side); 12 Button Keypad that Accepts Overlays; and Start, Pause and Reset Buttons' - label: CPU value: 6502C (8-bit) - label: SPEED value: 1.79 MHz - label: CO-PROCESSOR value: 3 custom VLSI's - label: RAM value: 16 KB RAM (VLSI) - label: ROM value: 64 KB Maximum - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: 320 x 192 - label: COLORS value: 256 Color Palette, 16 on-screen - label: SOUND value: 4 Channels - label: I/O PORTS value: Four or Two Controller Ports Depending on System Model, Cartidge slot, Audio/Video output - label: BUILT IN MEDIA value: Cartridge, 32K Maximum - label: OS value: Over 75, including prototypes - label: POWER SUPPLY value: |- Four port models : 11.5VDC @ 1.95A\ Two port models : 9.3VDC @ 1.95A - label: PERIPHERALS value: Atari 2600 CX55 VCS Cartridge Adapter; CX53 Trak-Ball Controller - label: PRICE value: $270 (USA, summer 1982) tabs: - photos - adverts - hardware - software - links photos: - title: ATARI 5200 subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/atari_5200_1b.jpg - title: 4 PORT MODEL subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/atari_5200_2.jpg - title: CONTROLLER subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/atari_5200_controller.jpg - title: 'CONTROLLER #2' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/atari_5200_controller_2.jpg - title: BOX subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/atari_5200_box_1.jpg - title: 'BOX #2' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/atari_5200_box_2.jpg adverts: - title: PROMOTIONAL PICTURE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/pubs/atari_5200_brochure_1.jpg hardware: - title: WICO JOYSTICK subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_5200_wico_joystick.jpg - title: UNIT subtitle: '' text: What is this for ? image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_5200_masterplay-5200-interface.jpg - title: BOX subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_5200_trackball_box_2.jpg - title: BOX - BOTTOM subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_5200_trackball_box_1.jpg - title: BOX & UNIT subtitle: '' text: This adaptor was used to play VCS 2600 games on the 5200. image: /media/museum/hardware/atari_5200_2600-adaptor.jpg screenshots: - title: SOME CARTRIDGES subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/software/atari_5200_carts_1.jpg links: - title: Atari7800.com > 5200 section url: http://www.atari7800.com/5200/history.htm text: Excellent general information - title: 'AtariAge : 5200 section' url: http://www.atariage.com/software_search.html?SystemID=5200 text: Very complete info. - title: AtariHQ - 5200 section url: http://www.atarihq.com/5200/ text: Everything you wanted to know about the 5200 system - title: FAQ url: http://www.atarihq.com/5200/5200faq/index.html text: What's a system without a FAQ ? comments: - author: walmartcartpusher date: Saturday 18th April 2009 text: |- The Masterplay 5200 Interface: This is THE device to have for any collector or die-hard gamer. The handy plug-in unit allows 5200 owners to replace the system''s analog joystick with any number of 2600-compatible, digital joysticks. In addition, the Interface features a slide switch so that a digital joystick can be used in either a remote ''start'' mode or a ''fire'' model depending upon the game. A second slide switch lets you keep the unit permanently connected to the console so that the analog controller functions, including the use of the keyboard portion by itself, can be accomplished simply and easily. The Masterplay Interface originally came packaged with a second fire button for games that require it. This button can either be taped or velcroed to the 2600-compatible controller. - author: walmartcartpusher date: Saturday 18th April 2009 text: \*I mis-spelled Google\* - author: walmartcartpusher (Ohio, US) date: Saturday 18th April 2009 text: |- to HUMANO\ The power adapter depends on which version of the 5200 you have. If your system has 4 controller ports on it, the adapter and RF Switch are in the same unit (sparks fly when connecting the power source by the way).\ The other works like the 2600 switch and has 2 controller ports. as for the 4 port 5200 go here\ http://www.atariage.com/5200/archives/hardware.html or here\ http://www.atarihq.com/5200/index.html or if you want to see it actually hooked up in a video use gogle and look up "AVGN Atari 5200" - author: Alex Martin (Seattle, WA) date: Saturday 4th February 2006 text: I love this console! It wasn't my first (that honor going to the interton vc 4000) but is certainly one of my favorites. I got one when the supersystem first hit stores and wiled away many an hour on it. Some people don't like this console because of the easy-to-break controllers, and the small game collection, but in my opinion its a real gem, if not for everyone. - author: HUMANO (Frisco Bay) date: Wednesday 3rd December 2003 text: |- I bought a 5200 in 83\ I reacquire it in 2003\ I need to know more about the power adapter. oc_id: 901 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230604042713/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=901 date: '2023-06-04' --- The Atari 5200 SuperSystem, released in late 1982 for $270 (USA), was the direct follow-up to the highly successful [Atari 2600 (VCS)](/museum/atari-vcs-2600/), and predecessor of the [Atari 7800 ProSystem](/museum/atari-7800-prosystem/). Atari chose to design the 5200 around technology used in their popular Atari [400](/museum/atari-400/)/[800](/museum/atari-800/) 8-bit computer line, but was not directly compatible, unlike Atari’s much later pastel-colored XEGS (XE Game System) console. The similarities in hardware did allow for relatively easy game conversions between the two systems, however, particularly when porting from the computer line to the 5200. The Atari 5200, as designed, was more powerful than Mattel’s [Intellivision](/museum/mattel-electronics-intellivision/) and roughly equivalent to Coleco’s [ColecoVision](/museum/colecovision/), both of which were the [2600](/museum/atari-vcs-2600/)’s main competition at the time and the systems Atari had to target in order to remain technologically competitive in the console marketplace. Besides the unusually large size of the 5200 console, the controversial automatic RF switch box (incompatible with many televisions of the day without the included extra adapter) that also supplied power to the system and the innovation of four controller ports (the [Atari 800](/museum/atari-800/) computer also featured four controller ports), the most notable feature of the system was the inclusion of analog joysticks, which to the frustration of most gamers were fragile and did not self center, but had a keypad that accepted overlays and featured one of the first pause buttons. Part of the 5200’s girth accommodated storage for these controllers to the rear of the console, as well as a wire wrap underneath. --- Text and info by Bill Loguidice