Atari 5200
Atari's follow-up to the 2600
- 1982Released
- 2ndGeneration
- AtariDeveloper
Atari 5200 Specifications
- Processor
- Custom MOS Technology 6502C
- Processor Speed
- 1.79 MHz
- RAM
- 16 KB
- GPU
- Alphanumeric Television Interface Controller(ANTIC) and Graphic Television Interface Adapter (GTIA)
- Resolution
- 384 x 240 (Overscan)
- Maximum Colors
- 256
Overview
The Atari 5200 SuperSystem is a console that Atari released in 1982. It was based on Atari’s existing 400/800 home computers, with software adapted for the console.
The 5200 sold poorly compared with its predecessor, the Atari 2600. Several factors contributed to this, including the fact that it could not play 2600 games at launch. Atari discontinued the console after only two years, with around 1 million units sold.
The 5200 did introduce some new ideas. Its controller had an analogue joystick, and it came with an automatic TV switchbox that switched between normal TV viewing and the console’s signal. Early models also had four controller ports, when most consoles of the time had two.
Key Features
Analogue Joystick
Its controller introduced an analogue joystick.
Four Controller Ports
Early models had four ports when most consoles had two.
Automatic Switchbox
Switched itself between normal TV and the console's signal.
Computer Heritage
Based on Atari's 400/800 home computers and their software.
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Atari 5200 Emulators
Which one to pick
Known forCycle-accurate emulation of the 5200 and Atari's 8-bit computers, down to undocumented hardware behaviour. Written by Avery Lee, the creator of VirtualDub.
Known forA portable open source emulator with cartridge, disk and cassette support. Replacement ROMs from Altirra let many games run without Atari ROM files.
Known forAims for cycle accuracy, reproducing the original chips' bugs that some programs rely on, and configures itself so most games run without changes.
Known forA widely ported 5200-only emulator with excellent sound, held back by unreliable collision detection.
Known forAn open source emulator with a graphical interface and NTSC and PAL support. It needs the original Atari 5200 BIOS.
Known forA closed source emulator that ran the vast majority of official 5200 software, with trace tools for chip states and 6502 execution. The first 5200 emulator on the Mac.
In short
On Windows, Altirra is the one to try first: it is cycle-accurate and widely considered the most accurate emulator for the 5200 and Atari’s 8-bit computers. On macOS, Linux, Raspberry Pi and other systems, Atari800 is the portable choice, and its built-in replacement ROMs run many games without Atari ROM files. Atari++ also aims for cycle accuracy and configures itself. Jum52 has excellent sound but unreliable collision detection. Kat5200 and Rainbow are no longer developed and are kept here as an archive.