Atari Forum Falcon FAQ

Here are some answers to question asked by the forum users.
The answers links back to the postings on the Atari Forum.

Video Graphics subsystem

How to get more colour & higher Rez on a Falcon?

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=2850 https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=10267 https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=14325 https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=16559
Nova: https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=12207

With programs like Videlity, Videl Inside, Blow Up, you can get a resolution of 800*592*256 colours easily.
For better resolutions with better colour depths, harware mods are needed.
You can get normally in 16 bit:
- RGB/TV: 640*400 (768*480 in overscan)
- VGA: 320*480 (with tools like "videlity" you get a little bit more)
For Mint/Xaaes:
- 640x480x256 is video=27
- If you set video to 15 you can choose resolutions from the Screenblaster software.
Screen Blaster III drivers here.
Modified Nova drivers for the Falcon

Why does the Falcon slowdown in higher video Modes?

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=13270
Bottleneck is the bus to ST RAM. This bus is more occupied by the video chip. The processor sometimes has to wait to get to the data in ST RAM. Slowdown is high when moving big chunks of data in ST RAM (lot of bus time needed). Slowdown is almost zero when heavy computing is done in tight loops that fit in the 68030's processor cache (not much bus access needed).
Chart on Videl's memory consumption is in the thread above.

Can my Falcon use a LCD panel?

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=8708 https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=10017
LCD works just fine with every resolution, including ST modes, as well as standard Falcy VGA and extended Centscreen modes. The only reservation with an LCD display is with the frequency. You have to treat an LCD/SVGA as if it were an old fixed-frequency 60hz screen, which is fine for the majority of stuff, but some games and demos like to use weird screen-busting 100hz modes, which an LCD cannot display.

Where can I find the VGA adapter pin out for the falcon?

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=17122

19pin DTYPE MALE >>> 15 pin VGA MALE
pin 1 red>>>>>>> pin 1 red
pin 2 green>>>>> pin 2 green
pin 3 blue>>>>>> pin 3 blue
pin 13 >>>>>>>> pin 13 sync
pin 14 >>>>>>>> pin 14 sync
pin 5 >>>gnd>>> pin 6,7,8,10

Photos of the connections can be seen in the post at the thread above.

What Screen grabber are available for the Falcon?

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=7545
The 'Reservoir Ripper' can be use to grab screens. CT60 version available for downloading.

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Hardware

What is a Clock Patch / SCSI patch ?

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=13506 https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=13827 https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=16181
Photos of the what a clock patch is shown in the thread above.

How do I restore the Falcon PSU & TV output fix?

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=8312
Detailed description of repairing are given in the thread above.

What are the keyboard pins on the Falcon motherboard?

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=10414

Pin 1 - gnd 
Pin 2 - n/c 
Pin 3 - ide/floppy led 
pin 4 - vcc 
pin 5 - rxd 
pin 6 - txd 
pin 7 - reset 
pin 8 - gnd 
pin 9 - KTOX (Could be KTDX) 
pin 10 - KROX (Could be KRDX)

These first 8 pins are equivalent to the keyboard connector in any ST/STE.

KTOK = KEYBOARD TRANSMIT OPERATION
this signal is connected U52 pin7 and supplys an irq. High pulse when the keyboard interface chip is requesting service to let the keyboard controller chip know there is an operation in progress and to buffer data instead

KROX = KEYBOARD RECIEVE OPERATION
This is an input pin i think used to say im ready {buffer empty etc} pin 150 TOK combel{maybe transmited ok flag or something}

How to fix dead battery / NVram in falcon?

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=9790
The thread above and the sticky documents various method of fixing the dead battery.

How to reset NVRAM of Falcon??

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=12700 https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=12831
When you change the NV RAM chip, do a HARDWARE RESET of the NV RAM (Alt+Ctrl+right Shift+Undo) during bootup screen (Atari logo) because otherwise the system does not accept new settings, besides date/time.

How to fix "Coprocessor protocol violation" issues?

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=10233
I was getting some problems with booting, that I narrowed down to the FPU. I'm not sure why, but I do have quite a bit of hardware hanging off the motherboard (Nemesis and MightySonic32). On bootup, it was hanging around the point it loads the ext2 filesystem driver. Removed FPU, all was fine.

What is the Revisions of Falcon motherboard?

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=12119
A = Alpha version inhouse developement
B = Beta version sent to the gimps who then bum on about it shows and exibitions
C = Main release version
D = revised to fix major errors
E = revised to fix minor errors left over....
a new revision is made each time the factory/factories plan to make and build another release of machines

How to make the Falcon CTR14 memory board work?

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=15665
It has some short circuits, on top side you have to cut 2 tracks, on the bottom 3 tracks.
Photo in thread above shows where to cut.

Why does the falcon sometime crashes with graphics error?

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=15450
Graphics errors could be related to RAM problems. Removing the Memory card and putting it back into the falcon may solve the issue.

How to revive an Falcon with clicking sound from HDD?

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=14255
This is probably due to a dry battery in the NVram. Replace the NVRam is the solution.

Can I use a ATX PSU on the Falcon?

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=16381#p147218
You basically only need the +5v / +12v and GND for an atari.
On an ATX PSU these will be
RED = +5v
YELLOW = +12v
BLACK = Ground
So, the Blue wire on an ST is +12v so you can substitute the BLUE on the ST with the YELLOW on the PSU. However, the BLUE on a PC PSU is actually -12v so dont mistake them.
Also, in order to force an ATX PSU to ON, you will need to ground the GREEN wire too! When I did this withe the Mega, I used the GREEN-BLACK shorting with a simple PTM-PTB Switch and this worked a treat.

What are CLab customisation ?

https://www.atari-forum.com/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=17979
CLab MK-X customization noticed are

Internal SCSI (this has been done by C-Lab, but I think it has been modified somehow)
Line out (2x 6.3 mm bus)
Line in (2x 6.3 mm bus)
Volume control
SCSI clock mod

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