Atari Mega STE

"A Faster and Professional-Looking Atari STE"

Released in late 1991, the Atari MEGA STE is a multimedia-enhanced MEGA ST offering a 4,096-color palette, a Blitter, a faster CPU, PCM stereo sound, and a new TOS operating system. MEGA STE features speed-switching (8/16 MHZ) and VMEbus flexibility and acted as a link between the earlier STE models and the high-end TT and Falcon series.

• Priced at $1,799 at launch (around $4,245 in 2025 money)
• It’s estimated that 120,000 MEGA STE units were sold worldwide
• Used the same case as the Atari TT and a compatible keyboard with the Mega ST and TT.

ATARI MEGA STE AT A GLANCE

The Mega STE blended the STE's affordability with TT-like expandability:

• Compatible with STE and the older ST models
• 68000 CPU @ 16 MHZ (8/16 MHZ software-switchable for compatibility)
• 1/2 MB RAM, easily expandable to 4 MB via 4 x 30-pin SIMMs
• 256 KB ROM
• Built-in 3.5” double-sided floppy drive, 720 KB (early models) or 1.44 MB HD (later models)
• TOS 2.05/2.06 (graphical OS)
• 4,096-color palette
• Blitter chip for fast graphics and hardware scrolling
• 2-channel 8-bit PCM stereo sound (2x2 mono)
• VMEbus slot supported add-ons like Ethernet cards
• Genlock support
• External Keyboard (compatible with Atari TT and Mega ST)

Colors & Graphic Modes

The STE/MEGA STE brought a major visual upgrade over earlier ST models. With hardware scrolling, a Blitter co-processor, and a deep color palette, it was designed with multimedia and games in mind.

• Up to 16 on-screen colors from a 4096-color palette (vs. 512 on the ST)
• Display modes:
  • 320×200
  • 640×200
  • 640×400
• Blitter chip: Moves data at up to 4 MB/s
• Hardware scrolling: Smooth horizontal & vertical panning
• Capable of displaying more than 16 colors on-screen using software tricks
• Genlock support for video overlay and production

Sound Capabilities

The MEGA STE featured PCM audio, delivering far superior sound to any earlier ST models.

• 2-channel 8-bit stereo PCM audio
• Plays samples at up to 50 kHz
• Mixes with the 3-channel YM2149 FM synth from the original ST
• Greatly improved audio for music and games

I/O Ports

Internally:

• SCSI Port: Limited to 1 GB drives by default but could be modded for up to 2 TB support
• VMEbus slot supported add-ons like Ethernet cards, graphics accelerators, or memory upgrades (up to 8 MB)

Externally:

• 2 x DB25 RS-232c serial port (9-pin)
• DB25 Centronics printer port
• LocalTalk/RS-422 port
• ACSI (similar to SCSI) port for external hard-disk
• External Floppy Drive Port (14-pin DIN)
• Monitor RGB port (13-pin DIN)
• RF modulator
• RCA stereo audio-out jacks
• Cardridge
• Midi (in, out)

Expansions & Upgrades

The Mega STE STE offers a wide range of upgrade possibilities, especially for retro enthusiasts today.

• RAM: Upgradable to 8 MB
• Internal HD (standard in some models)
• Other Storage:
  • SD-card-based hard drives (UltraSatan, ACSI2STM)
  • Internal/External Gotek floppy emulator
• VMEbus slot supported add-ons like Ethernet cards, graphics accelerators, and memory upgrades
• CPU Boosters
• 1.44 MB floppy upgrade (requires a controller chip -standard in later MEGA STE models)
• Dual TOS switchers
• Optional Motorola 68881/68882 FPU (math coprocessor)
• The Eiffel interface allows you to connect a standard PS/2 keyboard and mouse to Atari Mega STE

Monitors

The MEGA STE works with a wide variety of display types:

• Atari RGB monitors (color and monochrome)
• TVs via SCART (RGB to SCART cable)
• 15 kHz VGA monitors (with adapter)
• Modern HDMI/VGA monitors (via upscaler hardware)

MEGA STE Gaming Titles

While not heavily supported at launch, the STE series later gained a dedicated fanbase and enhanced versions of classic titles. These took full advantage of the DMA sound, Blitter, and hardware scrolling.

Notably STE enhanced or exclusive games:

• Lotus Esprit Turbo Challenge STE (Blitter boosted)
• R-Type Deluxe
• Obsession (very good pinball)
• Stardust
• Whitewater Madness (Exclusive)
• Xenon II (DMA streamed music)
• Cannon Fodder (DMA streamed music)
• Prince Of Persia (DMA music and sounds)
• Dungeon Master (DMA streamed music)
• Chaos Strikes Back (DMA streamed music)
• Jinks (smoother STE scrolling)
• Uridium (Blitter boosted and DMA streamed music)
• Giana Sisters (optional DMA music)
• Hard 'n' Heavy
• Outrun (playable demo)
• Metal Slug (playable demo)
• Ghouls 'N Ghosts (playable demo)
• Escape 2042
• Alien Blast
• Death Chase
• Ultimate Arena
• Pole Position
• Top Banana
• Roger
• Jinks
• Heartland 2000
• Zero-5
• PacMania STE

Here you can also find some nice enhanced games for the MEGA STE (16 MHZ): http://www.klapauzius.net/Old_Games.html

■ Atari MEGA STE

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Sources:

• Wikipedia
• Ataricrypt.blogspot.com