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Atari 400
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The 400 was the first Home Computer made by Atari. Prior to production, the 400 was known inside Atari as code name "Candy." |
| Model | Atari 400 | |
| Processor | MOS Technology 6502 | 1.79MHz (NTSC) 1.77MHz (PAL) |
| Custom LSI Chips | ANTIC | Microprocessor dedicated to the television display. It retieves the diplay list and display data from RAM using direct memory access (DMA). It processes the higher level instructions in the display list and translates these instructions into a real-time stream of simple instructions to GTIA. |
| GTIA (CTIA in very early models) | A television interface chip. Converts the digital commands from ANTIC (or the 6502 directly) into the signal that goes to the television. GTIA also adds color values, player-missle graphics, and collision detection. | |
| POKEY | Digital I/O chip. Handles the serial I/O bus, audio generation, keyboard scan, and random number generation. Also digitizes the resistive paddle inputs and controls maskable interrupt (IRQ) requests from peripherals. | |
| PIA | (not sure) | |
| Memory | 8K / 16K RAM 10K ROM |
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| Operating System | 400/800 OS | (In ROM) |
| Interfaces | Cartridge Slot | 8K address space |
| (4) Joystick (serial) Ports | 9-pin D-Type | |
| Atari Serial I/O (SIO) | ||
| RF Interface | ||
| Sound | 4 channels | 3.5 octaves each channel |
| Keyboard | 61 keys | Membrane |
| Function Keys | Reset, Option, Select, Start | |
| Announced | November, 1978 | |
| Released | 1979 | Exact date unknown |
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