5200/XL series

[Mister VCS]

What is the technical difference between the 5200 and the XL series

(talking about games only) ? Sometimes I heard the 5200 is a 800 XL/800

without keyboard, other say it is 400. What is the difference to the XE game system (yes, I know other controllers and other cartridge-slot)?

Is the 600XL a better gaming machine than the 5200? I like the 600XL

because of its compact design.

[Goochman]

IIRC the 5200 is a quasi 400/800 - It is the 400 memory map rearranged so its not 100% the same as the 400 with the additional 16K cart slot that the 800OS has combined into a single 32K addessable cart space.

 

Think o fit as a Atari 600 - not 600XL

 

I would look for an 800XL as it has the compact case and 64K for more compatibility with more carts.

 

PLus the XL series has much better joysticks than the 5200/600 series

[Clay Cowgill]

What is the technical difference between the 5200 and the XL series

(talking about games only) ?

 

The 5200 has the RAM footprint of an Atari 400 (or unexpanded 600XL). There is 32K of ROM space for use by the cartridge. There's an abreviated OS missing all the 8-bit PC's SIO stuff, ROM applications (BASIC and self-test on the XL's), etc. The memory map is modified and the keyboard scanning/controls are a little different.

 

The 600XL has a larger software base in cartridge form, but the 5200 is big, black, and mean looking.

 

-Clay

[calamari]

Go here for all the technical details you'd want to know:

 

http://www.azstarnet.com/~jeffryj/5200tech.txt

 

This article is packed with information. Pretty much every sentence is important.

 

Enjoy,

calamari