Hints on installing EasyMint
NOTE: This FAQ is still being converted from the original TEXT version.
Atari ST FAQ
(To whom it may concern: I tried but failed to find a definitive Atari ST FAQ. So I appended together everything I could find that seemed relevant. I welcome any additions, comments or suggestions. Thank you)
Welcome to comp.sys.atari.st! Please read this FAQ before posting a question to comp.sys.atari.st, since a lot of common questions are answered here.
Thanks to David Paschall-Zimbel (davidli@simvax.labmed.umn.edu) for compiling most of this FAQ.
Entries are dated by the last change. ??.??.?? means they were last changed before the dates were added.
The following is an index of the questions answered in this part of the FAQ. For easy access to a particular question, search for the tag surrounded by colons (i. e. :GNU:). Questions marked with '*' are new or changed.
Welcome to comp.sys.atari.st (93.06.11)
This newsgroup is devoted to discussion about 16 and 32 bit Atari micros. At present that includes the Atari 520ST, 1040ST, Mega ST, STe, STacy, Mega STe, TT, and Falcon. There are also emulators for the Apple Macintosh and IBM PC/XT/AT available.
Most of the people who read this newsgroup are technically oriented. The newsgroup serves as a resource for Atari users ... feel free to contribute to the discussions.
Associated newsgroups include:
- comp.binaries.atari.st ! uuencoded binary programs
- comp.sys.atari.st.tech ! technical programming/hardware topics
- comp.sources.atari.st ! uuencoded/shar sources
All the models in the ST line (93.01.30)
This is a pretty complete list of all the ST/TT models and their main features. If you have any additions/correction, of course, send them to me.
| Name | CPU | RAM | TOS | B.I. | Extra | Comment |
| 130 ST | 8 | /1 | 1 | M | Never marketed | |
| 260 ST | 8 | /5 | 1 | M | ||
| 520 ST | 8 | /5 | 1 | M | ||
| 520 ST+ | 8 | 1 | 1 | M | ||
| 520 STm | 8 | /5 | 1.2 | M | ||
| 520 STfm | 8 | /5 | 1.2 | FM | ||
| 1040 ST | 8 | 1 | 1 | FM | ||
| 1040 STf | 8 | 1 | 1.2 | F | ||
| 1040 STm | 8 | 1 | 1.2 | M | ||
| 1040 STfm | 8 | 1 | 1.2 | FM | ||
| Mega 1 | 8 | 1 | 1.2 | F | MB | |
| Mega 2 | 8 | 2 | 1.2 | F | MB | |
| Mega 4 | 8 | 4 | 1.2 | F | MB | |
| STacy | 8 | 1 | ??? | F | Laptop | |
| STBook | 8 | 1 | ??? | F | Notebook | |
| 520 STe | 8 | /5S | 1.62 | FM | AV | |
| 1024 STe | 8 | 1S | 1.62 | FM | AV | |
| Mega STe | 16 | 1S | 2.06 | F | AV,MB,6U | |
| TT | 16/030 | Just for developer | ||||
| TT | 32/030 | S | 3.06 | F | AV,MB,6U | Various mem/HD configs |
| Falcon | 16/030 | 1,4,14 | 4.04 | F | AV,FC | Many enhancements! |
key:
| CPU': | 8 | 8 MHz 68000 | RAM: | /1 | 128KB | Built-in: | F | Floppy | ||
| 16 | 16 MHz 68000 | /5 | 512KB | M | TV Modulator | |||||
| 16/030 | 16 MHz 68030 | 1 | 1MB | |||||||
| 32/030 | 32 MHz 68030 | 2 | 2MB | |||||||
| 4 | 4MB | |||||||||
| S | SIMM slot |
| Extra: | AV | 8 bit digital stereo audio, 4096 colors, hardware scrolling, analog joystick ports |
| MB | MegaBus processor-direct bus slots | |
| 6U | 6U VME bus slots, second serial port | |
| FC | Motorola 56000 DSP, 16 bit stereo audio, much enhanced video |
TOS: Highest built-in TOS
What are the specs on the Falcon?
Here's some stuff I culled from the (reposted) Delphi conference with Sam Tramiel.
Here's the specs on the Atari Falcon 030:
CPU:
Motorola 68030 running at 16 Mhz
32-bit Bus
Optional 68881 or 68882 FPU
RAM: 1,4, or 14 megs
Standard Atari Cartridge Port
Motorola 56001 DSP chip
Expansion Bus:
Internal direct processor slot for 386SX PC emulation, or other coprocessor
Graphics:
Super VGA graphics: 640x480 with 256 colors
True color 16 bit mode allowing a display of up to 65,536 colors
Accepts external video sync signal to allow high quality genlocking
Overlay mode for easy video titling and special effects
Overscan on TV's and ST Color monitors
262,144 possible colors
hardware-assisted horizontal fine scrolling
BLiTTER graphics co-processor
Sound features:
Eight 16 bit audio DMA record and playback channels
Stereo 16 bit digital DMA input
Stereo 16 bit DMA audio output
SDMA sound/DMA Coprocessor
Standard Ports
SCSI II port with DMA
High speed LocalTalk compatible LAN
Connector for analog RGB color (ST or VGA) or composite video
RS232C serial port
Bidirectional parallel port
MIDI IN/MIDI OUT
Stereo microphone input, miniature stereo plug
Stereo audio out, miniature stereo plug
Two joystick connectors
Two enhanced digital/analog controller/light pen connectors
Data Storage
1.44 Mbyte floppy disk drive
Optional internal IDE Hard Disk
System software
Pre-emptive Multitasking with adaptive prioritzation (MultiTOS)
Inter process communication
NewDesk desktop and eXtensible control panel
Multiple window user interface; number of windows limited
only by memory or software in use.
Hardware Accelerators
(Thanks to Shoou-yu Tang sytang@lamar.colostate.edu for this info.)
- 68000 based:
- ICD adspeed ST/STe
- Fast Tech Turbo
- T-16 (16MHz)
- T-20 (20MHz)
- T-25 (25MHz)
- 68030 based:
- Gadget by Small SST (16MHz to 40MHz user changeable, 8 SIMM slot 68882 FPU socket, 1 expansion slot, TOS 2.0x).
- Fast Tech : Tiny Turbo Full size version
Can I use a SCSI tape drive? (093.08.11)
Archive-name: csas-faq/part3
Yes, just about any SCSI tape drive should be useable on the ST line. (Of course, if your computer doesn't already have a SCSI port, you'll need a SCSI host adapter.) There are at least two freeware/shareware programs that can help you back up your HD to SCSI tape: TapeBIOS and GEMAR (a German GEM ARchiver)
Hard Drives
What should I know about hard drives and the ST? (Thanks to Shoou-yu Tang sytang@lamar.colostate.edu for this info.)
To get a hard drive for ST, STe, Mega, Mega STe or TT(using DMA port):
- Host adapter (convert the ST's DMA to SCSI standard):
ICD, Supra, BMS are the three major manufature. ICD has very good software updating support and updates very often. - SCSI hard drive or MFM/RLL drive with SCSI adapter:
- SCSI drive:
Like Quantum Pro80LPS, Seagate ST-xxxN series, they have a 50 pins IDC connector, and usually say SCSI hard drive or Mac drive. (Any Mac except Mac128, Mac512, FatMac has SCSI built in, so a drive that works with Mac usually has SCSI interface).
No other adapter needed, just connect to the host adapter in 1. - MFM/RLL drive:
These types of drive is older and used in older IBM machines. To use them you need an adapter to convert them to SCSI. Adaptec 4000/4000A is for MFM, 4070 for RLL drive, Emulex and OMTI also has similar cards availible. Adaptec has stopped production for quite sometime so look for these in used/liquidation place. (usually goes $40 to $75 each).
- SCSI drive:
Connect the drive to the adapter (said Adaptec 4000) then connect the adapter to the host adapter. (said ICD). It looks like following:
-------------- ----------- ------------ ----------
| MFM drive |------->|ACB 4000 |------>| ICD |------>| ST DMA |
-------------- ----------- ------------ ----------
- Case, power supply and cabels for the drive system:
Unless you have Mega, Mega STe, TT and the drive is 3.5" so you will put the drive internally, you will need a case with power supply to house the adapter and hard drive. IBM case is very easy to get and has a lot of space for expansion.
For older drive you need about 40 watts each drive, for newer 3.5" drive they use about 20 watts or less, Quantum LPS drive use about 10 watts each, make sure your power supply has more than the drives need. Again if you use IBM case, the 150 watts power supply for that type case can drive at least 3 drives without problem.
Cables: DMA cable usually comes with the host adapter.
power cable from power supply to drive usually comes with power supply
SCSI cable from host adapter to SCSI drive or adapter(for MFM/RLL), it's 50pins IDC female connector on each end with 50 conductors cable. Should be availible at place you get the drive.
For MFM/RLL drive you will need the usual MFM/RLL drive cable: a 34 conductors cable and a 20pins connector, again should be available at the place you get the drive).
Now, connect them all together. Before power up, check the connection again. And check the jumper setting on the drive (consult the drive's manual). If you are using more than one drive with the system, make sure only the last drive has the terminator (either a DIP or a signle inline package of resistor, which usually is socketed and close to the SCSI connector on the drive circle board. Remove the terminator from other drives. [only the last drive should have the terminator]
Software usually comes with the host adapter, or you can FTP atari's AHDX5 from ftp sites.