# Atari Falcon

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{{short description|1992 personal computer}}
{{Infobox personal computer
| name = Atari Falcon030
| aka = 
| logo = 
| image = Atari Falcon 030 (white bg).jpg
| caption = 
| developer = 
| manufacturer = [Atari Corporation](/source/Atari_Corporation)
| family = 
| type = [Personal computer](/source/Personal_computer)
| generation = 
| release_date = {{Start date and age|1992}}
| lifespan = 
| price = 
| discontinued = {{End date|1993}}
| units_sold = 
| units_shipped = 
| media = 
| os = [TOS](/source/Atari_TOS)/[MultiTOS](/source/MiNT)
| power = 
| system_on_chip = 
| cpu = {{ubl|[Motorola 68030](/source/Motorola_68030) @ 16 MHz|[Motorola 56001](/source/Motorola_56001) @ 32 MHz}}
| memory = 1, 4, or 14 [megabyte](/source/megabyte)s of RAM
| storage = 
| memory_card = 
| display = 
| graphics = VIDEL video controller
| sound = SDMA sound/DMA co-processor (16-bit, 50 kHz; 8 stereo channels); 
Yamaha Y3439-F (3 channel PSG)
| input = 
| controllers = 
| camera = 
| touchpad = 
| connectivity = 
| platform = 
| online_services = 
| dimensions = 
| weight = 
| top_game = 
| compatibility = 
| predecessor = [Atari TT030](/source/Atari_TT030)<br>[Atari MEGA STE](/source/Atari_MEGA_STE)
| successor = 
| related = 
| website = <!--{{URL|example.org}}-->
}}

The '''Atari Falcon030''' (usually shortened to '''Atari Falcon'''), released in 1992, is the final [personal computer](/source/personal_computer) from [Atari Corporation](/source/Atari_Corporation).<ref>
{{cite magazine 
  | magazine=ST Format 
  | volume=39 
  | page=24
  | last=Hutchinson
  | first=Andy 
  | date=October 1992 
  | title=Falcon Launched to the world
  | url=https://archive.org/details/ST_Format_Issue_039_1992-10_Future_Publishing_GB
}}{{dead link|date=September 2021}}
</ref> A high-end model of the [Atari ST](/source/Atari_ST) line, the machine is based on a [Motorola 68030](/source/Motorola_68030) CPU and a [Motorola 56001](/source/Motorola_56000) [digital signal processor](/source/digital_signal_processor), which distinguishes it from most other microcomputers of the era. It includes a new VIDEL programmable graphics system which greatly improves graphics capabilities.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Atari ST TT Falcon |url=https://www.atarimania.com/atari-st-tt-falcon.html |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=www.atarimania.com}}</ref>

Shortly after release, Atari bundled the [MultiTOS](/source/MiNT) operating system in addition to [TOS](/source/Atari_TOS). TOS remained in ROM, and MultiTOS was supplied on floppy disk and could be installed to boot from hard disk.<ref>
{{cite magazine 
  | magazine=ST Format 
  | volume=48 
  | page=7
  | last=Richards
  | first=Paula 
  | date=July 1993 
  | title=Multitasking for all Atari Machines 
}}
</ref>

The Falcon was discontinued in late 1993–a year after its introduction–as Atari restructured itself to focus completely on the release and support of the [Jaguar](/source/Atari_Jaguar) [video game console](/source/video_game_console). The Falcon sold in relatively small numbers, mainly to hobbyists.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=Atari: From Boom to Bust and Back Again |magazine=[Next Generation](/source/Next_Generation_(magazine))|issue=4|publisher=[Imagine Media](/source/Imagine_Media)|date=April 1995|page=39}}</ref>

==Hardware==
thumb|right|Front-right view of the Falcon030

The heart of the system is the [32-bit](/source/32-bit_computing) [Motorola 68030](/source/Motorola_68030) clocked at 16&nbsp;MHz.  It runs at about 4&nbsp;[MIPS](/source/instructions_per_second)<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2014-10-01 |title=Atari Falcon 030 - Classic Computer Brochures |language=en-GB |work=Classic Computer Brochures |url=https://classic.technology/atari-falcon-030/ |access-date=2023-10-19}}</ref> while displaying video modes with the fewest colors. Despite its 32-bit CPU, the Falcon does not have 32-bit architecture throughout its design, as it has a 16-bit data bus and a 24-bit address bus.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Atari Falcon - Computer - Computing History |url=https://www.computinghistory.org.uk/det/33711/Atari-Falcon/ |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=www.computinghistory.org.uk}}</ref> This reduces the 68030's performance when not operating inside its small (2x256 bytes) [cache](/source/CPU_cache) and limits the maximum system memory to ≈14 MB.

The microprocessor is optionally supported by a [Motorola 56001](/source/Motorola_56001) [DSP](/source/Digital_signal_processor) clocked at 32&nbsp;MHz and performing 16 million [instructions per second](/source/instructions_per_second).<ref>{{Cite web |last=alldatasheet.com |title=DSP56001 Datasheet(PDF) - Motorola, Inc |url=https://www.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/pdf/3030/MOTOROLA/DSP56001.html |access-date=2023-10-19 |website=www.alldatasheet.com |language=en}}</ref> Although it is oriented to sound processing (it is directly connected to the [RAM](/source/RAM) and [codec](/source/codec) via an interconnection matrix), it is also capable of graphics processing (for example, calculation of [fractal](/source/fractal)s, deformations, 3D projections, and [JPEG](/source/JPEG) decompression). It can even, jointly with the [68030](/source/Motorola_68030), play [MP3](/source/MP3) files in [real time](/source/Real-time_computing).

Another innovation (for its time) is the VIDEL video controller. The possibilities offered by the graphics processor are limited only by its frequency (25/32&nbsp;MHz core, adjustable to 50&nbsp;MHz with a hardware accelerator) and the slowness of the [RAM](/source/Random-access_memory), as the graphics memory is shared with system memory which can degrade performance significantly when using high resolutions or video modes requiring many [bit plane](/source/bit_plane)s. The parameters are numerous; each timing of a video line (start, end, number of pixels, etc.) is adjustable, the image may be interlaced or not, and the vertical frequency can go down to 50&nbsp;Hz interlaced to display on a television. The number of colors is also adjustable when VIDEL operates in [bit plane](/source/Planar_(computer_graphics)) mode. This mode is available for compatibility with the previous generation, but is quite complex to manage. There is also a ''high color'' (16-bit) mode in which bits defining each pixel are grouped together to display 65,536 colors simultaneously,<ref name=":0" /> though CPU performance is degraded while displaying this mode.

In addition, Atari adopted the [IDE](/source/Integrated_Drive_Electronics) bus in addition to the [SCSI](/source/SCSI) bus for connecting hard drives and [CD-ROM](/source/CD-ROM) drives.<ref name=":1" /> This allows for less expensive disk and CD-ROM devices, as [SCSI](/source/SCSI) interfaced devices remained relatively expensive. However, the [IDE](/source/Integrated_Drive_Electronics) connector is internal and requires case modification to connect two hard disks or a single CD-ROM. The other drawback is that this early IDE port uses only [programmed I/O](/source/programmed_input%2Foutput) unlike a SCSI drive that can directly access the [RAM](/source/RAM) ([DMA](/source/Direct_memory_access)).

== Specifications ==
Source:<ref name=":1" />

* Processor: [Motorola 68030](/source/Motorola_68030) at {{nowrap|16 MHz}} with [MMU](/source/Memory_management_unit) and 256-byte instruction and data caches
* FPU: optional [Motorola 68881](/source/Motorola_68881) or [68882](/source/Motorola_68882), [PLCC](/source/Plastic_leaded_chip_carrier) socket
* DSP: [Motorola 56001](/source/Motorola_56000) [DSP](/source/Digital_signal_processor) chip at {{nowrap|32 MHz}} (16 [MIPS](/source/Instructions_per_second))
* Graphics: "VIDEL" fully programmable video controller<ref name=":0" />
** Palette of 262,144 possible [colors](/source/Color_depth) (18-bit), 256 new color registers
** Bit-plane modes of 2, 4, 16 or 256 colors (1-, 2-, 4- or 8-bit)
** [Chunky](/source/Packed_pixel) 16-bit [high-color](/source/Color_depth) mode
** RGB output can feed either {{nowrap|15 kHz}} RGB monitor or TV, old Atari SM124 monitor or a [VGA monitor](/source/Video_Graphics_Array)
** Despite the capabilities of the Videl, the plain TOS allows the user the choice of only a few resolutions up to 640×480 (or even less in the case of 16-bit mode and VGA). In order to achieve the full potential of the Videl, one has to use one of the numerous existing alternative utilities, such as "Videlity", "Videl Inside", "Blow UP", etc.
** [BLiTTER](/source/BLiTTER) graphics co-processor at {{nowrap|16 MHz}} (mainly for backward compatibility with STE)
** Backwards compatible with all ST resolutions
* Character set: [Atari ST character set](/source/Atari_ST_character_set), based on [code page 437](/source/code_page_437)
* Audio:
** 16-bit audio input and output up to {{nowrap|50 kHz}} – 8 stereo channels
** SDMA sound/[DMA](/source/Direct_memory_access) co-processor
** [Yamaha Y3439-F](/source/General_Instrument_AY-3-8910) 3-channel [PSG](/source/Programmable_sound_generator) (for backward compatibility with ST)
* Memory: 1, 4, or 14 [MB](/source/Megabyte) of RAM with 512 KB ROM
* Bus speed: {{nowrap|16 MHz}}, bus width: 16 bits
* Drives and I/O:
** {{nowrap|2.5 inch}} IDE hard disk – internal
** 1.44 MB {{nowrap|3.5 inch}} PC-compatible floppy disk – internal
** External [SCSI](/source/SCSI)-II connector
** [MIDI](/source/MIDI) IN and OUT
** 2× [serial port](/source/serial_port)s
** Bidirectional [LPT port](/source/Parallel_port)
** DSP port with [I²S](/source/I%C2%B2S) buses for external expansions as [ADC](/source/Analog-to-digital_converter)s/[DAC](/source/Digital-to-analog_converter)s, [S/PDIF](/source/S%2FPDIF) or [ADAT](/source/ADAT) interfaces
** 2× 9-pin mouse/joystick ports
** 2× analog joystick (compatible with STE and Jaguar)
** ROM/Cartridge port used mainly by dongles and some expansion cards
** [LocalTalk](/source/LocalTalk)-compatible [LAN](/source/Local_area_network) port

==Legacy==
Atari created a number of prototypes of the Falcon040 (based on the more capable fully [pipelined](/source/instruction_pipeline), integrated-[FPU](/source/Floating_Point_Unit), [Motorola 68040](/source/Motorola_68040), and using a "microbox" case), but canceled it. The microbox case resembled the later Sony [PlayStation 2](/source/PlayStation_2), right down to the ability to run it vertically or horizontally.<ref>Smith, Tony. [https://www.theregister.co.uk/1999/11/17/playstation_2_apes_ancient_atari/ "PlayStation 2 apes ancient Atari?"], ''[The Register](/source/The_Register)'', 1999-11-17. Retrieved on 2008-07-28.</ref> It is even referenced in the PS2 patent applications.<ref>{{US patent reference
 | number = D452688
 | y = 1999
 | m = 12
 | d = 21
 | inventor = Teiyu Goto
 | title = Arithmetic and control unit
}}
</ref>

In 1995, the music company [C-Lab](/source/Emagic) bought the rights to the Falcon hardware design and began producing their own versions. The Falcon Mk I was a direct continuation of Atari's Falcon030 with TOS 4.04. The Falcon Mk II addressed a number of shortcomings in the original design, making it more suitable to use in a recording studio (these were unofficially termed 'Cubase modifications') such as accepting Line-level audio in without the need for a pre-amp or mixer.<ref>
{{cite magazine 
  | magazine=ST Format 
  | volume=68 
  | page=11
  | last=Peers 
  | first=Nick 
  | date=March 1995 
  | title=Battle of the birds 
  | url=https://archive.org/details/ST_Format_Issue_068_1995-03_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n18
}}{{dead link|date=September 2021}}
</ref> The Falcon Mk X was mounted in a 19-inch 1U rack case, with external keyboard and space for internal [SCSI](/source/SCSI) hard disk drives.<ref>{{cite book|last=Lendino|first=Jamie|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KkaoDwAAQBAJ&pg=PA243|title=Faster Than Light: The Atari ST and the 16-Bit Revolution|date=2019|publisher=Steel Gear Press|isbn=9781732355217|page=243}}</ref>

Due to its expansion capabilities, several accelerators have been produced. Some of them overclock the CPU and/or the bus, while others upgrade the CPU to a [Motorola 68060](/source/Motorola_68060).

==See also==
*[Bitstream Speedo Fonts](/source/Bitstream_Speedo_Fonts)
*[Hatari](/source/Hatari_(emulator)) is able to emulate a Falcon on a variety of different systems.

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
*[https://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/16bits/falcon030.html Atari Museum] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061125013345/http://www.atarimuseum.com/computers/16bits/falcon030.html |date=2006-11-25 }}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100502112126/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?st=1&c=125 Atari Falcon 030 at Old-Computers.com]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20110101091128/http://www.powerphenix.com/ Power Phenix] (for Czuba Tech upgrades CT60/CT63 [68060@100] and CTPCI [4-slot PCI-board via CT60/CT63])
*[http://gtello.free.fr/falcon_e.htm WEB page of a Falcon CT60 user] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240725080447/http://gtello.free.fr/falcon_e.htm |date=2024-07-25 }} – photos, installation, software patches
*[https://st-news.com/issues/st-news-volume-9-issue-1/features/falcon-experiences/ Falcon review, 1994]

{{Atari hardware}}

Category:68k-based home computers
Category:Atari ST
Category:Computer-related introductions in 1992

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Atari Falcon](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_Falcon) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atari_Falcon?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.