1040ST - worth getting?

[jetset]

Of course in this particular forum I doubt I'll get many "HELL NO!'s"

BUT...

A coworker is willing to sell me a 1040st with either color or b&W (or maybe it was monochrome) monitor. I know there are a million games for the ST line, much like the 8-bit line...but mainly what I want to know is; is there a way to load game files on to the ST via rom files (.ST files) so I can enjoy the games without having to start ANOTHER collection of cartridges and disks?

And, what are some good sites for game reviews, info on transfering files, etc..?

 

Thanks!

[Inky]

ST, STe, or STFM?

 

If its the FW, you don't need to worry about whether the monitor is color or not, as you could hook it to a TV

[ijor]

but mainly what I want to know is; is there a way to load game files on to the ST via rom files (.ST files) so I can enjoy the games without having to start ANOTHER collection of cartridges and disks?

 

If you mean someting like APE/SIO2PC, then the answer is no. You don't need to actually collect originals, if that's what you mean. But you would need to write those ST images back to physical floppy. If you get a hard disk, then many games can be played from it.

 

And, what are some good sites for game reviews, info on transfering files, etc..?

 

Go to: http://www.atarilegend.com/

[jetset]

ST, STe, or STFM?

 

If its the FW, you don't need to worry about whether the monitor is color or not, as you could hook it to a TV

 

Hmmm...don't know that. I'll have to ask. I'd obviously prefer the FW if it can just be connected to a regular TV.

[Inky]

ST, STe, or STFM?

 

If its the FW, you don't need to worry about whether the monitor is color or not, as you could hook it to a TV

 

Hmmm...don't know that. I'll have to ask. I'd obviously prefer the FW if it can just be connected to a regular TV.

 

Oops. I meant FM. IIRC, the STe can also hook to a TV.

[Womble76]

STMs, STFMs and STEs can all be connected to TVs - the M in the pre-E machines stands for Modulator - ie RF output.

 

That 1040 is going to be either a 1040STF (ie internal floppy but not RF), a 1040STFM (int floppy and a modulator) or a 1040STE - the Enhanced ST - stereo output, larger colour pallete, blitter chip, and a few other bells and whistles - nice to have an STE but very few games every took advantage of its higher powers. Pre F/FM machines had external power supply bricks and external floppies - these were the 520ST and the 520 STM, I dont think they were ever badged as anything other than 520ST / 520STM so it wont be one of those.

 

So a 1040STFM will do you just fine for gaming - it has the 1MB that many games did need and will let you connect to a TV. If its a 1040STF then you will need a monitor - these are somewhat less common tho - its probably an FM as they were the most prolific model from the entire range. An STE would be the ideal machine to score but a 1040STFM is about 99% ideal - you wont have any compatibility issues.

 

You will need a stash of DS DD 720K floppies - you can easily write .st files to them to run on the ST - there is no way to send the .st file to the ST and for it to run it from the file. There are ways to get the ST to write the .st file to floppy disk but these days its far easier to do with a PC. Running hames from a hard disk is very problematic - mainly coz finding a hard drive to work with the hard drive port on the ST is pretty hard / costly. Also games tended to be written based on the assumption they are loading from floppy A - so the code will try to access floppy A at some point - very few games were written at the time to run from HDD as so few people had them. Games that were designed to run from A drive will have had to have been modified to run from a hard disk - again it will be a very few games and not the ones you will find on the menu disks of the day. Ignore the hard drive idea and save your sanity.

Edited July 23, 2006 by Womble76

[tjlazer]

From what I can recall the 1040STf is the more common type in the USA. You might be better off with the color monitor but if you can get the black and white one too. You can download lots of games to disk and run them on the ST easily. If you want I have a collection of single filed games (in Zip format) you can copy to a 720k disk and run them on the ST.

[jetset]

Thanks for the good info Womble76!!

 

 

From what I can recall the 1040STf is the more common type in the USA. You might be better off with the color monitor but if you can get the black and white one too. You can download lots of games to disk and run them on the ST easily. If you want I have a collection of single filed games (in Zip format) you can copy to a 720k disk and run them on the ST.

 

Thanks for the offer! I certainly may take you up on that!

 

(Another) question for you guys. Can I use 1.44 mb disks and format them to 720k and use them? I have a zillion 1.44 disks but not one single 720k (and, out of 3PC's and one laptop, thank goodness ONE of them actually has a floppy drive!)

[VW]

QUOTE: (Another) question for you guys. Can I use 1.44 mb disks and format them to 720k and use them? I have a zillion 1.44 disks but not one single 720k (and, out of 3PC's and one laptop, thank goodness ONE of them actually has a floppy drive!)

 

As I recall and someone on the group I'm sure will correct me if I'm wrong but this cannot be done, you would be OK on the PC side but the ST will not recognize a 1.44MB disk, even if it's formatted to 720K. You can usually find 720K disks for sale in bulk on Ebay and I have found many at thrift stores for almost free.

Edited July 24, 2006 by VW

[Womble76]

I think you have to tape over the HD detect hole (ie the one thats not the write protect tab hole) and then format it at 720K on the ST, then both the PC and the ST will be happy. not 100% sure on this tho as have never done it - can anyone confirm?

[+remowilliams]

I think you have to tape over the HD detect hole (ie the one thats not the write protect tab hole) and then format it at 720K on the ST, then both the PC and the ST will be happy. not 100% sure on this tho as have never done it - can anyone confirm?

You'll get a bunch of different answers on this, as the topic has come up several times.

 

Does it work? Yes in many cases it will, depending on the mechs. And you should tape over the HD detect hole. This of course is only good for 9 sector 80 track floppy images. 10 sector, 80+ track, or custom formatted disks are a problem.

 

The other problem is that it often doesn't work very well. As in the image you write today may not work in a few days on that floppy any more.

 

DS/DD floppies are your best bet, but failing that it can't hurt to fiddle around with HD floppies.

[twbrown]

I think you have to tape over the HD detect hole (ie the one thats not the write protect tab hole) and then format it at 720K on the ST, then both the PC and the ST will be happy. not 100% sure on this tho as have never done it - can anyone confirm?

You'll get a bunch of different answers on this, as the topic has come up several times.

 

Does it work? Yes in many cases it will, depending on the mechs. And you should tape over the HD detect hole. This of course is only good for 9 sector 80 track floppy images. 10 sector, 80+ track, or custom formatted disks are a problem.

 

The other problem is that it often doesn't work very well. As in the image you write today may not work in a few days on that floppy any more.

 

DS/DD floppies are your best bet, but failing that it can't hurt to fiddle around with HD floppies.

 

Goggle it

I did the same and lucked out and got like 40 boxes of the ds/dd disk for a song. shipping and all was under $100.00 (they weigh a bit too ) these were also named brand not the generic ones (Maxell)

[jetset]

Well, he emailed me today that he's 99% sure his units are STf's. S I'll likely have to buy the monitor as well.

[+remowilliams]

Well, he emailed me today that he's 99% sure his units are STf's. S I'll likely have to buy the monitor as well.

I'll tell you that the STs on TV output look like crap compared to the monitors - so that might not be a bad thing if you get one

[jetset]

Well, he emailed me today that he's 99% sure his units are STf's. S I'll likely have to buy the monitor as well.

I'll tell you that the STs on TV output look like crap compared to the monitors - so that might not be a bad thing if you get one

 

Swell.

[Asolac]

If you just want it for games, then go with the color monitor. The STs can read DOS disks so transferring games isn't a problem, and hard drives have been pretty cheap on ebay recently (I got an SH204 for $36 about three months ago).

 

If you're thinking about doing professional (read: Music) applications then a Mono monitor might be a better bet. I can do everything I do with MIDI with my color monitor though, so don't worry if you get the color and want to experiment with some more serious applications later on.

 

I'll tell you that the STs on TV output look like crap compared to the monitors - so that might not be a bad thing if you get one

 

I never had a problem with the RF modulator looking bad

 

In fact, I wish my SC1224 had audio out, because I can hardly hear the speaker. I may just invest in a stereo mod though.

Edited July 26, 2006 by Asolac

[jetset]

Ok, it definetly is the stf, so I need the monitor, which he has with the unit and the mouse.

Any advice on what I should offer him? Yeah I know check ebay...but there's been only one recently, and that went for $$ 55.00 with shipping. That unit had some, but not a lot of software.

Thoughts?

[tjlazer]

$50 for 1040ST and monitor is fair.

[The_Laird]

www.atari.st is a really good site!

[marcfrick2112]

Hi, formatting HD disks as low density (whether 720K on ST, or 880K on Amiga) is indeed problematic. The disks may last a month, a week, or a day....Grr. Best advice is to keep a look out for DD disks at thrift shops, etc. I actually found 2 boxes of 3 1/2" DD disks, AND 5 1/4" disks at my local HARDWARE STORE!??! Weird.

[Retro Rogue]

Hi, formatting HD disks as low density (whether 720K on ST, or 880K on Amiga) is indeed problematic. The disks may last a month, a week, or a day....Grr. Best advice is to keep a look out for DD disks at thrift shops, etc. I actually found 2 boxes of 3 1/2" DD disks, AND 5 1/4" disks at my local HARDWARE STORE!??! Weird.

 

 

What hardware store was that?

[marcfrick2112]

The store was National Hardware on 4th street in Milwaukee, WI. Only found the DD 3 1/2" disks once, but at least twice found boxes of 3M 5 1/4" disks.... Sadly, no website, you have to just walk in, and see what they have in the various 'markdown' bins....the items are almost completly random....Slow Cookers, screwdrivers, clock radios, floppy disks, etc...

 

Duh, I just noticed now the city you are from

 

If you are at the corner of 4th and Wisconsin, the store is about 4 long blocks north.....

Edited August 11, 2006 by marcfrick2112

[Zeptari1]

but mainly what I want to know is; is there a way to load game files on to the ST via rom files (.ST files) so I can enjoy the games without having to start ANOTHER collection of cartridges and disks?

 

If you mean someting like APE/SIO2PC, then the answer is no. You don't need to actually collect originals, if that's what you mean. But you would need to write those ST images back to physical floppy. If you get a hard disk, then many games can be played from it.

 

And, what are some good sites for game reviews, info on transfering files, etc..?

 

Go to: http://www.atarilegend.com/

 

 

 

Is there a site that list which games are hard drive installable?

[+remowilliams]

Is there a site that list which games are hard drive installable?

Sadly, Very few games are hard drive installable

 

And there's no WHDload equivalent for Atari STs, so it's pretty much stuck with the 'old floppies.

[Zeptari1]

Is there a site that list which games are hard drive installable?

Sadly, Very few games are hard drive installable

 

And there's no WHDload equivalent for Atari STs, so it's pretty much stuck with the 'old floppies.

 

 

 

Any idea what games that very few might be?

 

I have a couple that hard drive install but have the old "look it up in the booklet"

copy protection.....

 

I have Empire, and that game does something like that.... Anyone know where i can download the game with the " look it up" removed?

 

It's not a copy either...

 

Thanks

 

-Rick