What is the Atari 800?
Released along with the 400 in 1979, the 800 was the high-end model of the two. The 800 is the only 8-bit Atari with a Right Cartridge slot, in addition to the Left Cartridge slot as present on all 8-bit Ataris. Originally released with just 8K RAM, many were sold with 16K, later on 48K was standard. The 800 is also the only 8-bit Atari with a four-slot modular design, where the first slot holds the CX801 (CX801-P for PAL machines) 10K ROM module, and the other three slots hold combinations of CX852 8K or CX853 16K RAM modules. Jason Harmon writes: (12 Feb 2004) “..the early ones had plastic cases on the ROM and RAM modules, and had two thumb tabs to remove the cover to access the modules. Later model 800s had 48K standard, and to improve cooling Atari installed them without the cases but put a small plastic strip across the tops of the cards to hold them in position. These machines also lost the thumb tabs and have regular screws to secure the cover over the memory slots.” Only the 40
