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

title, categories, origins, years, cpus, params

title	categories	origins	years	cpus	params
Atari 5200 SuperSystem	Consoles	U.S.A.	1982	6502C	name image company company_name specs tabs photos adverts hardware screenshots links comments oc_id source 5200 SuperSystem /media/museum/photos/atari_5200_1s.jpg /companies/atari Atari label value NAME 5200 SuperSystem label value MANUFACTURER Atari label value ORIGIN U.S.A. label value YEAR Summer 1982 label value END OF PRODUCTION Spring 1984 label value KEYBOARD 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 value CPU 6502C (8-bit) label value SPEED 1.79 MHz label value CO-PROCESSOR 3 custom VLSI's label value RAM 16 KB RAM (VLSI) label value ROM 64 KB Maximum label value GRAPHIC MODES 320 x 192 label value COLORS 256 Color Palette, 16 on-screen label value SOUND 4 Channels label value I/O PORTS Four or Two Controller Ports Depending on System Model, Cartidge slot, Audio/Video output label value BUILT IN MEDIA Cartridge, 32K Maximum label value OS Over 75, including prototypes label value POWER SUPPLY Four port models : 11.5VDC @ 1.95A\ Two port models : 9.3VDC @ 1.95A label value PERIPHERALS Atari 2600 CX55 VCS Cartridge Adapter; CX53 Trak-Ball Controller label value PRICE $270 (USA, summer 1982) photos adverts hardware software links title subtitle text image ATARI 5200 /media/museum/photos/atari_5200_1b.jpg title subtitle text image 4 PORT MODEL /media/museum/photos/atari_5200_2.jpg title subtitle text image CONTROLLER /media/museum/photos/atari_5200_controller.jpg title subtitle text image CONTROLLER #2 /media/museum/photos/atari_5200_controller_2.jpg title subtitle text image BOX /media/museum/photos/atari_5200_box_1.jpg title subtitle text image BOX #2 /media/museum/photos/atari_5200_box_2.jpg title subtitle text image PROMOTIONAL PICTURE /media/museum/pubs/atari_5200_brochure_1.jpg title subtitle text image WICO JOYSTICK /media/museum/hardware/atari_5200_wico_joystick.jpg title subtitle text image UNIT What is this for ? /media/museum/hardware/atari_5200_masterplay-5200-interface.jpg title subtitle text image BOX /media/museum/hardware/atari_5200_trackball_box_2.jpg title subtitle text image BOX - BOTTOM /media/museum/hardware/atari_5200_trackball_box_1.jpg title subtitle text image BOX & UNIT This adaptor was used to play VCS 2600 games on the 5200. /media/museum/hardware/atari_5200_2600-adaptor.jpg title subtitle text image SOME CARTRIDGES /media/museum/software/atari_5200_carts_1.jpg title url text Atari7800.com > 5200 section http://www.atari7800.com/5200/history.htm Excellent general information title url text AtariAge : 5200 section http://www.atariage.com/software_search.html?SystemID=5200 Very complete info. title url text AtariHQ - 5200 section http://www.atarihq.com/5200/ Everything you wanted to know about the 5200 system title url text FAQ http://www.atarihq.com/5200/5200faq/index.html What's a system without a FAQ ? author date text walmartcartpusher Saturday 18th April 2009 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 date text walmartcartpusher Saturday 18th April 2009 *I mis-spelled Google* author date text walmartcartpusher (Ohio, US) Saturday 18th April 2009 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 date text Alex Martin (Seattle, WA) Saturday 4th February 2006 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 date text HUMANO (Frisco Bay) Wednesday 3rd December 2003 I bought a 5200 in 83\ I reacquire it in 2003\ I need to know more about the power adapter. 901 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230604042713/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=901 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), and predecessor of the Atari 7800 ProSystem. Atari chose to design the 5200 around technology used in their popular Atari 400/800 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 and roughly equivalent to Coleco’s ColecoVision, both of which were the 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 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.

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Text and info by Bill Loguidice