View source for Atari MEGA STE

{{short description|Personal computer by Atari}}
{{Multiple issues|{{More citations needed|date=May 2023}}
{{Primary sources|date=May 2023}}}}
{{Infobox information appliance
| name = Atari Mega STE
| title = 
| aka = 
| logo = 
| image = Atari-mega-ste.jpg
| caption = 
| developer = 
| manufacturer = 
| family = 
| type = 
| generation = 
| release date = {{Start date and age|1991}}<ref>[https://books.google.com/books?id=AGIJAQAAMAAJ&q=atari+%22MEGA+STE%22 The Music & Computer Educator] - Volume 2, Issues 1-6, 1991, Page 27, By Lorenz Rychner, ''...True to their slogans, "power without the price" and "the computer for the rest of us," Atari has made it ... The MEGA STE (retail prices starting at $1,799.00)...''</ref><ref>[http://www.atarimagazines.com/startv5n6/znet.html Z*Net Newswire: Atari at Comdex 1990, Mega STE a Reality], By John Nagy, START VOL. 5 NO. 6 / FEBRUARY/MARCH 1991, ''...The Mega STE is real (this report was written on one). The configuration is as predicted months ago: A casing identical to the TT, although in grey rather than off-white, with 4MB RAM, an internal 40MB hard disk, LAN and VME ports, a 16MHz clock speed, and the new TT-style Desktop. The Mega STE is not in production yet but may see distribution in early 1991 with a retail base price of around $1,200. At least five Mega STEs were set up in the Atari booth along with several TTs...''</ref>
| lifespan = 
| price = {{USD|1799|1991|round=-1}}
| discontinued = 
| units sold = 
| unitsshipped = 
| media = 
| os = [[Atari TOS]]
| power = 
| soc = 
| cpu = [[Motorola 68000]] @ 8&nbsp;MHz  or 16&nbsp;MHz
| memory = 1, 2 or 4 [[megabyte|MB]]
| storage = 
| memory card = 
| display = 320×200 (16 of 4096 colors)<br>640×200 (4 of 4096 colors)<br>640×400 (mono)
| graphics = BLiTTER
| sound = [[General Instruments AY-3-8912|Yamaha YM2149]]
| input = 
| controllers = 
| camera = 
| touchpad = 
| connectivity = 
| platform = 
| service = 
| dimensions = 
| weight = 
| topgame = 
| compatibility = 
| predecessor = 
| successor = 
| related = 
| website = <!--{{URL|example.org}}-->
}}
The '''Atari Mega STE''' is [[Atari Corporation]]'s final [[Motorola 68000]]-based [[personal computer]] in the [[Atari ST]] series and the second to last model overall. Released in 1991, the Mega STE is a late-model STE mounted in the case of an [[Atari TT]] computer. It was followed by the higher end [[Atari Falcon]] in 1992.

==Description==
The MEGA STE is based on STE hardware. The 2 MB and 4 MB models shipped with a high-resolution mono monitor, and an internal [[Atari|SCSI]] hard disk<ref>[http://www.verycomputer.com/10_587e9c5649cc406d_1.htm Subject: Seagate ST-157N Hard Drive], by WOJCIE, 06 Aug 1993, Atari Board, ''...So far I found out that the hard drive that I have inside of my Mega STe 4 is a Seagate ST-157N...''</ref> (the 1 MB model includes neither a monitor, hard disk nor hard disk controller).  While offering better ST compatibility than the TT, it also includes a number of TT features, from the ST-grey version of the TT case with a separate keyboard and system unit, optional [[floating point unit|FPU]], a [[VMEbus]] slot, two extra RS232 ports (all 9-pin rather than 25-pin as previous models had), a [[LocalTalk]]/[[RS-422]] port (no [[AppleTalk]] software was ever produced) and a 1.44 MB HD floppy support.  Support for a third/middle mouse button is also included.

A unique feature of the MEGA STE in relation to previous Atari systems is the software-switchable [[CPU]] speed, which allows the CPU to operate at 16&nbsp; MHz for faster processing or 8&nbsp; MHz for better compatibility with old software. An upgrade to the operating system was also produced after the first units were shipped that upgraded the onboard ROMs to [[Atari TOS|TOS]] 2.05 and later to 2.6/2.06.

The VME bus provides expansion capability using cards that enhance the computer's capabilities such as enhanced graphics processing capability and Ethernet network connectivity.

==Technical specifications==
* CPU: [[Motorola 68000]] @ 8 or 16 [[megahertz|MHz]] with 16&nbsp;KB [[CPU cache|cache]]
* FPU: [[Motorola 68881]] or [[Motorola 68882]]
* [[Blitter|BLiTTER]] - graphics co-processor chip
* RAM: 1, 2 or 4 [[megabyte|MB]] ST RAM expandable to 4 MB using 30-pin [[SIMM]]s
* Sound: [[General Instruments AY-3-8912|Yamaha YM2149]] + enhanced sound chip same as in [[Atari ST#STE models|Atari STe]]
* Drive: 720 KB (first MEGA STE version) or 1.44 MB (later version) 3½" [[floppy disk]] drive
* Ports: [[MIDI]] In/Out, 3 x [[RS-232]], "Serial LAN" [[LocalTalk]]/[[RS-422]], printer, monitor ([[RGB]] and [[monochrome|Mono]]), RF modulator, extra disk drive port, [[Atari Computer System Interface|ACSI]], [[SCSI]] (ACSI/SCSI daughterboard), port, [[VMEbus]] inside case,<ref>[http://dev-docs.atariforge.org/files/VME_Spec_7-19-1991.pdf Atari VME Expansion for TT030 and Mega STE Products], Jul 19, 1991,  ''...TT030 and Mega STE Products. The TT030 and Mega STE each support one single height (3U) VME slot...''</ref> detachable keyboard, joystick and mouse ports on keyboard
* [[Operating system]]: [[Atari TOS|TOS]] ('''''T'''he '''O'''perating '''S'''ystem'') with the [[Graphics Environment Manager]] (GEM) [[graphical user interface]] (GUI)
**TOS versions: 2.05 or 2.06 in ROM
* Display modes: 320×200 (16 out of 4096 colors), 640×200 (4 out of 4096 colors), 640×400 (mono)
* Character set: [[Atari ST character set]] (based on [[code page 437]])
* Case: Two-piece slim desktop-style.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*{{in lang|en}} [http://gtello.free.fr/ste_e.htm Web page of Guillaume Tello] What to do with a Mega STE?
*{{in lang|en|fr}} [http://gtello.free.fr/downld_e.htm Programs for the ST/TT family and technical articles (in french)]
*{{in lang|en}} [https://archive.today/20130222093049/http://www.gnagnaki.net/wiki/guide/atari/megaste/cache Atari MegaSTe Memory Cache]
*{{in lang|en}} [http://st-news.com/issues/st-news-volume-7-issue-1/reviews/the-mega-ste/ The MEGA STe review, 1992]
{{Atari hardware}}

[[Category:68000-based home computers]]
[[Category:Atari ST]]
[[Category:Computer-related introductions in 1991]]