website/content/museum/atari-5200-supersystem.md

---
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
  forum_thread: 881
  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 ?
  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