Just picked up Atari 65xe

[NML32]

I was given an Atari 65xe all it came with was the PS and box. I was able to get video using the coax adapter. It fought me with not booting up and when it did I got memory errors but after about an hour it now seems to be working well. Guess it just needed some burn-in time.

 

I was wonder where I should go from here. I plan on ordering a game cartridge but not sure what the next step shoud be.

 

So I thought I would drop the question here to get some helpful advice.

 

This is my first Atari computer ever. I grew up with Vic-20 and C-64.

 

Thanks,

Mark

[Fletch]

You can either buy carts or buy a floppy drive or get a sio2pc cable. Carts are available on eBay or from www.myatari.com. Floppy drives (Atari 810 or 1050) can often be found cheaply on eBay (but probably need much cleaning) or new old stock from www.myatari.com. Sio2pc adapters (which allow you to use your PC or Mac as virtual peripherals) can be bought at www.atarimax.com.

 

Good luck!

 

Fletch

 

I was given an Atari 65xe all it came with was the PS and box. I was able to get video using the coax adapter. It fought me with not booting up and when it did I got memory errors but after about an hour it now seems to be working well. Guess it just needed some burn-in time.

 

I was wonder where I should go from here. I plan on ordering a game cartridge but not sure what the next step shoud be.

 

So I thought I would drop the question here to get some helpful advice.

 

This is my first Atari computer ever. I grew up with Vic-20 and C-64.

 

Thanks,

Mark

[+therealbountybob]

I was given an Atari 65xe all it came with was the PS and box. I was able to get video using the coax adapter. It fought me with not booting up and when it did I got memory errors but after about an hour it now seems to be working well. Guess it just needed some burn-in time.

 

I was wonder where I should go from here. I plan on ordering a game cartridge but not sure what the next step shoud be.

 

So I thought I would drop the question here to get some helpful advice.

 

This is my first Atari computer ever. I grew up with Vic-20 and C-64.

 

Thanks,

Mark

Be sure to check out the Atari 8-bit FAQ

[hitchcock4]

I would vote for the SIO2pc cable - instead of buying individual games and floppy disks. You can buy one currently at http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewI...em=330333729265 (although this is the serial port version, not the USB version that I prefer).

You can access (download) a good number of games or other programs from the Holmes list. Also people may be willing to trade games with you.

 

Going with the SIO2PC cable means that you need to have a PC connected to the computer, but you shouldn't have to buy a 1050 or 850 drive - unless you also buy things on floppy disk.

 

For me, I have some old things on floppy that I want to archive onto my PC, so I do have a 1050 drive.

 

Good luck!

[c0nsumer]

If you're interested, there's also the SDrive NUXX option. It'll allow you to run programs from an SD card. I've still got a few assembled units and PCB/end panel kits available.

[NML32]

Lots of good advice and options.

 

 

Thanks,

Mark

[LoTonah]

Wow, I haven't seen that particular project before. Looks extremely well done!

 

How close are we to Christmas again?

 

If you're interested, there's also the SDrive NUXX option. It'll allow you to run programs from an SD card. I've still got a few assembled units and PCB/end panel kits available.

[c0nsumer]

Wow, I haven't seen that particular project before. Looks extremely well done!

 

How close are we to Christmas again?

 

Thank you.

 

It had been discussed over at this thread, if you want some more information, or this page to order parts to make them.

[carmel_andrews]

And get some good games NML32

[saehn]

Floppy drives (Atari 810 or 1050) can often be found cheaply on eBay (but probably need much cleaning) or new old stock from www.myatari.com.

 

Is www.myatari.com currently down, or is that address incorrect?

[Fletch]

http://www.myatari.com/ seems to be working fine for me. Maybe they were doing site work when you tried it.

[saehn]

http://www.myatari.com/ seems to be working fine for me. Maybe they were doing site work when you tried it.

 

Weird, fine now. Thanks!

[+Philsan]

So,

if you have and want a PC near to your Atari you can buy SIO2PC (I prefer USB version, AtariAge user classics $60):

http://www.atarimax.com/sio2pc/documentation/

Otherwise you can buy independent self-powered devices like SIO2SD:

http://marcinprusisz.pl/ (AtariAge user Pigula, $50)

http://www.mmj.pl/~lotharek/atari/(AtariAge user lotharek, €90)

http://mega-hz.no-ip.com/Angebote/SIO2SD/SIO2SD%20rev.2.html (€80)

or Sdrive:

http://nuxx.net/wiki/SDrive_NUXX (AtariAge user c0nsumer, $150)

http://morethangames.a8maestro.com/proda8/adv-ek0130.htm

 

Of course if you are able you can build yourself these devices.

Edited May 29, 2009 by Philsan