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The Atari Falcon was Atari's final computer product, more specifically named the Atari Falcon030 Computer System. Codenamed Sparrow, the machine was based on a Motorola 68030 main CPU, and had a Motorola 56000 digital signal processor (the latter distinguishing it from most other microcomputers of the era).
The Falcon was released in late 1992 and subsequently cancelled in 1993 as Atari restructured itself to focus completely on the release and support of its newest product, the Atari Jaguar video game console. The Atari Falcon030 had many powerful features. The use of the 1040ST case was due to haste and low cost, the planned "microbox" case that was more like the Mega STe or TT030 case wasn't ready yet and Atari had decided to exit the computer business.
The Falcon's performance was not as great as it could have been, mostly due to Atari's decision to put the 32-bit 68030 microprocessor on a 16-bit data bus. Apple Computer were widely criticised for making the same kind of decision with their Macintosh LC computer, although this was done to prevent sales of this low-end computer from cutting into the sales of the more expensive macs.
Apparently, Atari created a number of prototypes of the Falcon040 (based on the more capable deep-pipeline, FPU-including, Motorola 68040) but cancelled it in order to focus developers on the Atari Jaguar.
Shortly after release Atari used the MiNT Operating system instead of TOS.
In 1995, the music company C-LAB 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. The Falcon Mk X was mounted in a 19" 1U rack case, with external keyboard and space for internal SCSI hard discs.
Specifications (Falcon030)
- Processor: Motorola 68030 at 16 MHz with 512 byte cache.
- FPU: optional Motorola 68882
- DSP: Motorola 56001 DSP chip at 32 MHz.
- Graphics: "VIDEL" video CPU.
- Audio:
- 8 × 16 bit audio DMA channels at up to 50 kHz
- SDMA sound/DMA Co-processor
- Yamaha 2149 3 Channel Audio
- Memory: 1, 4, or 14 MB of RAM with 512 kb ROM.
- Bus Speed: 32 MHz.
External links
Computer workstations | Personal computers | Atari ST
Atari Falcon | Atari Falcon 030 | Atari Falcon 030 | Atari Falcon030 | Atari Falcon | Atari Falcon
"Atari Falcon"