Build an Atari?

Includes Atari 2600, Nintendo 8-bit, Sega Master System, MSX and more!

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Thegamer3000
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Build an Atari?

Post by Thegamer3000 » Mon May 07, 2007 12:27 pm

Since these things are 30 years old or something and they're so simple do you think it would be possible to buy the chips from somewhere and just build your own atari?

That would be so fun! And I know you could just take them out of an Atari but then you mineswell just use that instead.
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bicostp
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Post by bicostp » Mon May 07, 2007 12:31 pm

I think at least one of the chips inside is proprietary, but everything else can probably be bought new and assembled.

A while back Gannon made a new Atari motherboard, but it used through-hole components. I wonder if it could be even smaller with surface-mount parts...

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paul4990
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Post by paul4990 » Mon May 07, 2007 12:31 pm

you can buy everything but the 3 main chips

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gannon
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Post by gannon » Mon May 07, 2007 1:18 pm

Everything except the TIA IC is a standard part. IIRC a user on Atariage made a smt board ~ the size of my through hole one and is selling them.

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atari2600a
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Post by atari2600a » Mon May 07, 2007 5:23 pm

Just buy a clone board like an Atari Flashback 2. Stella's are impossible to come by just by themselves, & 6507's are harder to come buy than 6502's or similar.

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Post by Sparkfist » Mon May 07, 2007 6:14 pm

Just to say this as not one has, there are a few sites out there that do sell the 3 main chips that the Atari 2600 use. These chips are not going to be cheap, all three will run you about $50. I would suggest if you want to buy some "untested", "DEAD", "FOR PARTS" or "SYSTEM ONLY" ebay auctions and use the chips from those systems. There is a way to remove those without frying them, do a forum search or ask.

Good luck.

P.S. There have been may a board member that have made their own PCB layout for a more compact 2600. Gannon is one, Jackfrost22 and one other. I'm unsure as to if they have fully tested, last I heard Gannon was still testing his.
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