Atari VCS/2600 TIA chips

 

Atari used least 5 different (NTSC) versions of the TIA: 

TIAs that show 2 sprites *
TIAs that show 3 sprites *
TIAs that have an issue with
Wall Ball
TIAS that have an issue with Ebivision's
Pac-Man and Pesco.
TIAs that have an issue with
Kool-Aid Man, and Thunderground (Anteater is still unreleased, but should exhibit same issues as Kool-Aid Man and Thunderground).

* The "2 or 3 sprites" notes refer to a test program written by Bradfort Mott that was posted on Stellalist:
http://www.biglist.com/lists/stella/.../msg00028.html  The program shows either 2 or 3 sprites, depending on what TIA is used. This denotes a slight difference between the 2 most common TIA versions, although neither is a clear indication of any known incompatibility issues with any games. The star field in the homebrew Stay Frosty shows differences with different TIAs as well.


There might also be a
6th variation that has issues with a few NTSC JRs, most PAL JRs, and all PAL 7800s that reveals a problem with PAL Centipede, and the 1987 re-release of Millipede.
Using the Activision work-around method of avoiding the HMOVE lines doesn’t work on some PAL 2600 JR (all-black) models. Also, the TIA chip in PAL versions of the VCS only have mono sound output!  According to Joe Decuir, the PAL version of TIA was called PAULA. There's also all the 3rd-party systems and adapters, which often used bootleg TIAs (a few are listed here). Once the list is more complete, the information could be incorporated into an emulator like Stella, as well as help homebrew programmers to make sure any tricks they use would be compatible across every variation. If you have any information to add, please email us. Below is the current list of known TIA chips:

 

American MicroSystems (AMI)

 

Click HERE to view

C010444-01 7750XG -- Found on a Rev 8 (1977) pcb. Has the AMI logo embossed on chip.

Click HERE to view

C010444-01 7812MS -- Has the AMI logo embossed on chip. Pesco exhibits the extra dots issue with these.

Click HERE to view

C010444D-01 8028MS -- "2 or 3" shows 2.

Click HERE to view

C010444D-01 8105DAC -- Found on a Rev C (1977) pcb. "2 or 3" shows 2.

Click HERE to view

C010444D-01 8111IAJ -- Found on a Rev 8 (1977) pcb.

Click HERE to view

C010444D-01 8116XP -- "2 or 3" shows 2.

Click HERE to view

C010444D-01 8119BCR --

Click HERE to view

C010444D-01 8202MAP -- Found on a Rev 14 pcb. "2 or 3" shows 3.

Click HERE to view

C010444D-01 8211MCP -- Only works in a Rev 12 4-switch pcb if pin 36 is lifted, and even then there's issues. "2 or 3" shows 2.

Click HERE to view

C010444D-01 8712MIT -- Found on a Rev A (1984) 7800 "Action" pcb. "2 or 3" shows 2.

Click HERE to view

C010444D-01 8725MJQ

Click HERE to view

C010444-002 8811TAH -- Found on a 2600 JR, Rev F. "2 or 3" shows 2.

 

Motorola

Click HERE to view

C010444D-05 -- Found on a Rev 12 4-switch pcb with pin 36 lifted up. Not sure what the reason was, as it worked fine with the pin in the socket. "2 or 3" shows 2.

 

OKI Semiconductor (OKI)

Click HERE to view

C010444-22 MSM3980 2551 -- Found on a Rev 16 4-switch "Vader" pcb (these boards have all 3 main chips soldered, not socketed). "2 or 3" shows 2.

Click HERE to view

C010444-22 M3980 4561 -- Found on a Rev 17 4-switch "Vader" pcb (these boards have all 3 main chips soldered, not socketed). "2 or 3" shows 2.

 

Synertek

Click HERE to view

C010444-03 7732D -- "2 or 3" shows 2

Click HERE to view

C010444-03 7742D -- "2 or 3" shows 3

Click HERE to view

C010444-03 7810D -- Found on a Rev B (1977) pcb.

Click HERE to view

C010444-03 7817D

Click HERE to view

C0104440-03 7814S -- Found on a Rev B (1977) pcb.  Wall Ball exhibits issues. "2 or 3" shows 2.

Click HERE to view

C010444D-03 8007D -- Found on a Rev A (1984) 7800 pcb.

Click HERE to view

C010444D-03 8146 -- Found on a Rev 12 (1980) pcb.

Click HERE to view

C010444D-03 8147 -- Found on a Rev C (1977) pcb.

Click HERE to view

C010444D-03 8325

Click HERE to view

C010444D 8404 -- Found in a 7800. Pesco exhibits the extra dots issue with these. "2 or 3" shows 3.

 

United Microelectronics Corp (UMC)

Click HERE to view

UMC UM6526N 8637C -- Found in a 2600 JR, Rev D pcb ("ACTION" not printed on pcb). "2 or 3" shows 2.

Click HERE to view

UMC UM6526N 8639C -- Found in a 2600 JR, Rev C pcb.

 

("unknown")

Click HERE to view

C010444-20 8001 8126-641

Click HERE to view

MA C010444-11D 8020 -- Wall Ball exhibits issues. "2 or 3" shows 3.

 

(VTI)

Click HERE to view

VTI E4002 8253 -- Found in a Colecovision Expansion Module #1.

Click HERE to view

VTI E4002 8403 -- Found in a Coleco Gemini, Rev F. Pesco exhibits the extra dots issue with these. "2 or 3" shows 3.

 

This site exposes a TIA 10444D chip (manufacturer and chip variation unknown): http://www.visual6502.org/images/pages/Atari_10444D_TIA.html

 

These sites lists the logos of the more well-known chip manufacturers:

http://www.advanced-tech.com/ic_logos/ic_logos.htm

http://www.classiccmp.org/rtellason/logos/semiconductorlogos.html

 

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