This file describes types of cartridge images supported by the Atari800
emulator.
There are:
- raw images - files that contain only dump of cartridge memory
- CART files - images with additional 16-byte header, which contains type
of the cartridge
For raw images you usually have to select the cartridge type each time
you insert an image. To make it easier, you only select from types of same
image size. If there's only one supported type that matches file's length
(like there's for 4 KB cartridges), that type is selected automatically.
The advantage of using CART files is that you don't have to select
the cartridge type, because it is stored inside the file.
The CART format has been introduced in Atari800 0.8.0, when there were
only 4 supported cartridge types. The format has not changed, only new types
have been added.
The format is:
first 4 bytes containing 'C' 'A' 'R' 'T'.
next 4 bytes containing cartridge type in MSB format (see the table below).
next 4 bytes containing cartridge checksum in MSB format (ROM only).
next 4 bytes are currently unused (zero).
followed immediately with the ROM data: 4, 8, 16, 32, 40, 64, 128, 256, 512
or 1024 kilobytes.
The recommended file name extension for CART files is CAR.
Currently supported cartridge types:
+----+-----------+------+---------------------------------------------------+
| Id | Machine | Size | Name |
|----+-----------+------+---------------------------------------------------+
| 1 | 800/XL/XE | 8 | Standard 8 KB cartridge |
| 2 | 800/XL/XE | 16 | Standard 16 KB cartridge |
| 3 | 800/XL/XE | 16 | OSS '034M' 16 KB cartridge |
| 4 | 5200 | 32 | Standard 32 KB 5200 cartridge |
| 5 | 800/XL/XE | 32 | DB 32 KB cartridge |
| 6 | 5200 | 16 | Two chip 16 KB 5200 cartridge |
| 7 | 5200 | 40 | Bounty Bob Strikes Back 40 KB 5200 cartridge |
| 8 | 800/XL/XE | 64 | 64 KB Williams cartridge |
| 9 | 800/XL/XE | 64 | Express 64 KB cartridge |
| 10 | 800/XL/XE | 64 | Diamond 64 KB cartridge |
| 11 | 800/XL/XE | 64 | SpartaDos X 64 KB cartridge |
| 12 | 800/XL/XE | 32 | XEGS 32 KB cartridge |
| 13 | 800/XL/XE | 64 | XEGS 64 KB cartridge |
| 14 | 800/XL/XE | 128 | XEGS 128 KB cartridge |
| 15 | 800/XL/XE | 16 | OSS 'M091' 16 KB cartridge |
| 16 | 5200 | 16 | One chip 16 KB 5200 cartridge |
| 17 | 800/XL/XE | 128 | Atrax 128 KB cartridge |
| 18 | 800/XL/XE | 40 | Bounty Bob Strikes Back 40 KB cartridge |
| 19 | 5200 | 8 | Standard 8 KB 5200 cartridge |
| 20 | 5200 | 4 | Standard 4 KB 5200 cartridge |
| 21 | 800 | 8 | Right slot 8 KB cartridge |
| 22 | 800/XL/XE | 32 | 32 KB Williams cartridge |
| 23 | 800/XL/XE | 256 | XEGS 256 KB cartridge |
| 24 | 800/XL/XE | 512 | XEGS 512 KB cartridge |
| 25 | 800/XL/XE | 1024 | XEGS 1 MB cartridge |
| 26 | 800/XL/XE | 16 | MegaCart 16 KB cartridge |
| 27 | 800/XL/XE | 32 | MegaCart 32 KB cartridge |
| 28 | 800/XL/XE | 64 | MegaCart 64 KB cartridge |
| 29 | 800/XL/XE | 128 | MegaCart 128 KB cartridge |
| 30 | 800/XL/XE | 256 | MegaCart 256 KB cartridge |
| 31 | 800/XL/XE | 512 | MegaCart 512 KB cartridge |
| 32 | 800/XL/XE | 1024 | MegaCart 1 MB cartridge |
| 33 | 800/XL/XE | 32 | Switchable XEGS 32 KB cartridge |
| 34 | 800/XL/XE | 64 | Switchable XEGS 64 KB cartridge |
| 35 | 800/XL/XE | 128 | Switchable XEGS 128 KB cartridge |
| 36 | 800/XL/XE | 256 | Switchable XEGS 256 KB cartridge |
| 37 | 800/XL/XE | 512 | Switchable XEGS 512 KB cartridge |
| 38 | 800/XL/XE | 1024 | Switchable XEGS 1 MB cartridge |
| 39 | 800/XL/XE | 8 | Phoenix 8 KB cartridge |
| 40 | 800/XL/XE | 16 | Blizzard 16 KB cartridge |
| 41 | 800/XL/XE | 128 | Atarimax 128 KB Flash cartridge |
| 42 | 800/XL/XE | 1024 | Atarimax 1 MB Flash cartridge |
| 43 | 800/XL/XE | 128 | SpartaDos X 128 KB cartridge |
+----+-----------+------+---------------------------------------------------+
Id is the cartridge type code stored in the CART file.
Machine indicates if the cartridge is for Atari 8-bit Home Computers
(400/800 and XL/XE) or the Atari 5200 Game System.
Size is length of image in kilobytes.
Below are descriptions of all types. For bank-switched cartridges banks
are numbered in the order they appear in the image file, starting with 0.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 1: Standard 8 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Standard 8 KB cartridge, that occupies 8 KB of address space between $A000
and $BFFF.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 2: Standard 16 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Standard 16 KB cartridge, that occupies 16 KB of address space between
$8000 and $BFFF.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 3: OSS '034M' 16 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
There are two types of OSS cartridges. Both are 16 KB and occupy 8 KB
of address space between $A000 and $BFFF. The cartridge memory is divided
into 4 banks, 4 KB each. One bank ('main') is always mapped to $B000-$BFFF.
The other 3 banks are mapped to $A000-$AFFF. The current bank is selected
by accessing a byte in $D500-$D5FF. Only 4 lowest bits of address are
significant.
The '034M' scheme is the more complicated one.
The main bank is 3. An access to:
$D5x0 or $D5x1 selects bank 0.
$D5x3 or $D5x7 selects bank 1.
$D5x4 or $D5x5 selects bank 2.
$D5x2 or $D5x6 is not useful. It disables ROM (there are $FF bytes
in $A000-$AFFF).
$D5x8-$D5xF disables whole cartridge (enables computer's memory in address
space between $A000 and $BFFF).
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 4: Standard 32 KB 5200 cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Standard 32 KB cartridge for Atari 5200, that occupies 32 KB of address
space between $4000 and $BFFF.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 5: DB 32 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
A 32 KB bank-switched cartridge. There are 4 banks. Bank 3 is mapped to
$A000-$BFFF. Bank in $8000-$9FFF is selected by an access to $D500-$D5FF.
Two lowest bits of address select bank 0, 1, 2 or 3.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 6: Two chip 16 KB 5200 cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
In Atari 5200 there's 32 KB of address space reserved for the cartridge
($4000-$BFFF). A two chip 16 KB cartridge is mapped that way:
- First 8 KB are mapped into lower 16 KB. Since an address line is not
connected, $4000-$5FFF and $6000-$7FFF contain same data, which is first
half of the cartridge image.
- Similarly, second 8 KB are mapped into upper 16 KB.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 7: Bounty Bob Strikes Back 40 KB 5200 cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
The cartridge with "Bounty Bob Strikes Back" game uses very strange
bank switching method:
- Four 4 KB banks (0,1,2,3) are mapped into $4000-$4FFF. An access to $4FF6
selects bank 0, $4FF7 - bank 1, $4FF8 - bank 2, $4FF9 - bank 3.
- Four 4 KB banks (4,5,6,7) are mapped into $5000-$5FFF. An access to $5FF6
selects bank 4, $5FF7 - bank 5, $5FF8 - bank 6, $5FF9 - bank 7.
- The remaining 8 KB is mapped to upper 16 KB of cartridge address space
in Atari 5200. That is, $8000-$9FFF and $A000-$BFFF contain same data.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 8: 64 KB Williams cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
The cartridge has 8 banks mapped to $A000-$BFFF. An access to $D500 selects
bank 0, $D501 - bank 1, etc. An access to $D508-$D50F disables
the cartridge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 9: Express 64 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
The cartridge has 8 banks mapped to $A000-$BFFF. An access to $D577 selects
bank 0, $D576 - bank 1, etc. An access to $D578-$D57F disables
the cartridge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 10: Diamond 64 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
The cartridge has 8 banks mapped to $A000-$BFFF. An access to $D5D7 selects
bank 0, $D5D6 - bank 1, etc. An access to $D5D8-$D5DF disables
the cartridge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 11: SpartaDOS X 64 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
The cartridge has 8 banks mapped to $A000-$BFFF. An access to $D5E7 selects
bank 0, $D5E6 - bank 1, etc. An access to $D5E8-$D5EF disables
the cartridge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 12: XEGS 32 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
This bank-switched cartridge occupies 16 KB of address space between $8000
and $BFFF. The cartridge memory is divided into 4 banks, 8 KB each.
Bank 3 (the last one) is always mapped to $A000-$BFFF. Two lowest bits of
a byte written to $D500-$D5FF select the bank mapped to $8000-$BFFF.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 13: XEGS 64 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
This bank-switched cartridge occupies 16 KB of address space between $8000
and $BFFF. The cartridge memory is divided into 8 banks, 8 KB each.
Bank 7 (the last one) is always mapped to $A000-$BFFF. Three lowest bits of
a byte written to $D500-$D5FF select the bank mapped to $8000-$BFFF.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 14: XEGS 128 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
This bank-switched cartridge occupies 16 KB of address space between $8000
and $BFFF. The cartridge memory is divided into 16 banks, 8 KB each.
Bank 15 (the last one) is always mapped to $A000-$BFFF. Four lowest bits of
a byte written to $D500-$D5FF select the bank mapped to $8000-$BFFF.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 15: OSS 'M091' 16 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
This is the simpler one of OSS schemes. It uses only A0 and A3 address
lines:
A3=0, A0=0 - $A000-$AFFF: bank 1, $B000-$BFFF: bank 0
A3=0, A0=1 - $A000-$AFFF: bank 3, $B000-$BFFF: bank 0
A3=1, A0=0 - disable cartridge
A3=1, A0=1 - $A000-$AFFF: bank 2, $B000-$BFFF: bank 0
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 16: One chip 16 KB 5200 cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
16 KB cartridge for Atari 5200, that occupies 16 KB of address space
between $8000 and $BFFF.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 17: Atrax 128 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
This bank-switched cartridge occupies 8 KB of address space between $A000
and $BFFF. The cartridge memory is divided into 16 banks, 8 KB each.
If a byte written to $D500-$D5FF has highest bit set, the cartridge is
disabled. Otherwise four lowest bits select the bank mapped to $A000-$BFFF.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 18: Bounty Bob Strikes Back 40 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
The cartridge with "Bounty Bob Strikes Back" game uses very strange
bank switching method:
- Four 4 KB banks (0,1,2,3) are mapped into $8000-$8FFF. An access to $8FF6
selects bank 0, $8FF7 - bank 1, $8FF8 - bank 2, $8FF9 - bank 3.
- Four 4 KB banks (4,5,6,7) are mapped into $9000-$9FFF. An access to $9FF6
selects bank 4, $9FF7 - bank 5, $9FF8 - bank 6, $9FF9 - bank 7.
- The remaining 8 KB is mapped to $A000-$BFFF.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 19: Standard 8 KB 5200 cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Standard 8 KB cartridge for Atari 5200, mapped into $8000-$9FFF
and $A000-$BFFF.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 20: Standard 4 KB 5200 cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
Standard 4 KB cartridge for Atari 5200, mapped into $8000-$8FFF,
$9000-$9FFF, $A000-$AFFF and $B000-$BFFF.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 21: Right slot 8 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
8 KB cartridge for Atari 800, mapped into $8000-$9FFF. Atari 800 was
the only 8-bit Atari with a Right Cartridge slot, in addition
to the Left Cartridge slot as present on all 8-bit Ataris.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 22: 32 KB Williams cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
The cartridge has 4 banks mapped to $A000-$BFFF. An access to $D500 selects
bank 0, $D501 - bank 1, etc. An access to $D508-$D50F disables
the cartridge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 23: XEGS 256 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
This bank-switched cartridge occupies 16 KB of address space between $8000
and $BFFF. The cartridge memory is divided into 32 banks, 8 KB each.
The last bank is always mapped to $A000-BFFF. Five lowest bits of
a byte written to $D500-$D5FF select the bank mapped to $8000-$BFFF.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 24: XEGS 512 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
This bank-switched cartridge occupies 16 KB of address space between $8000
and $BFFF. The cartridge memory is divided into 64 banks, 8 KB each.
The last bank is always mapped to $A000-$BFFF. Six lowest bits of
a byte written to $D500-$D5FF select the bank mapped to $8000-$BFFF.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 25: XEGS 1 MB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
This bank-switched cartridge occupies 16 KB of address space between $8000
and $BFFF. The cartridge memory is divided into 128 banks, 8 KB each.
The last bank is always mapped to $A000-$BFFF. Seven lowest bits of
a byte written to $D500-$D5FF select the bank mapped to $8000-$BFFF.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 26: MegaCart 16 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
A 16 KB cartridge, that occupies 16 KB of address space between $8000
and $BFFF, and can be disabled by writing a byte with bit 7 set to
$D500-$D5FF.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 27: MegaCart 32 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
A bank-switched cartridge that occupies 16 KB of address space between
$8000 and $BFFF. It is controlled by a byte written to $D500-$D5FF. Bit 0
selects one of two available banks, bit 7 disables the cartridge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 28: MegaCart 64 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
A bank-switched cartridge that occupies 16 KB of address space between
$8000 and $BFFF. It is controlled by a byte written to $D500-$D5FF. Bits 0
and 1 select one of four available banks, bit 7 disables the cartridge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 29: MegaCart 128 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
A bank-switched cartridge that occupies 16 KB of address space between
$8000 and $BFFF. It is controlled by a byte written to $D500-$D5FF.
Bits 0,1,2 select one of 8 available banks, bit 7 disables the cartridge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 30: MegaCart 256 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
A bank-switched cartridge that occupies 16 KB of address space between
$8000 and $BFFF. It is controlled by a byte written to $D500-$D5FF. Four
lowest bits select one of 16 available banks, bit 7 disables the cartridge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 31: MegaCart 512 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
A bank-switched cartridge that occupies 16 KB of address space between
$8000 and $BFFF. It is controlled by a byte written to $D500-$D5FF. Five
lowest bits select one of 32 available banks, bit 7 disables the cartridge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 32: MegaCart 1 MB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
A bank-switched cartridge that occupies 16 KB of address space between
$8000 and $BFFF. It is controlled by a byte written to $D500-$D5FF. Six
lowest bits select one of 64 available banks, bit 7 disables the cartridge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 33: Switchable XEGS 32 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
This bank-switched cartridge occupies 16 KB of address space between $8000
and $BFFF. The cartridge memory is divided into 4 banks, 8 KB each.
Bank 3 (the last one) is always mapped to $A000-$BFFF. Two lowest bits of
a byte written to $D500-$D5FF select the bank mapped to $8000-$BFFF,
bit 7 disables the cartridge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 34: Switchable XEGS 64 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
This bank-switched cartridge occupies 16 KB of address space between $8000
and $BFFF. The cartridge memory is divided into 8 banks, 8 KB each.
Bank 7 (the last one) is always mapped to $A000-$BFFF. Three lowest bits of
a byte written to $D500-$D5FF select the bank mapped to $8000-$BFFF,
bit 7 disables the cartridge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 35: Switchable XEGS 128 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
This bank-switched cartridge occupies 16 KB of address space between $8000
and $BFFF. The cartridge memory is divided into 16 banks, 8 KB each.
Bank 15 (the last one) is always mapped to $A000-$BFFF. Four lowest bits of
a byte written to $D500-$D5FF select the bank mapped to $8000-$BFFF,
bit 7 disables the cartridge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 36: Switchable XEGS 256 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
This bank-switched cartridge occupies 16 KB of address space between $8000
and $BFFF. The cartridge memory is divided into 32 banks, 8 KB each.
The last bank is always mapped to $A000-$BFFF. Five lowest bits of
a byte written to $D500-$D5FF select the bank mapped to $8000-$BFFF,
bit 7 disables the cartridge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 37: Switchable XEGS 512 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
This bank-switched cartridge occupies 16 KB of address space between $8000
and $BFFF. The cartridge memory is divided into 64 banks, 8 KB each.
The last bank is always mapped to $A000-$BFFF. Six lowest bits of
a byte written to $D500-$D5FF select the bank mapped to $8000-$BFFF,
bit 7 disables the cartridge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 38: Switchable XEGS 1 MB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
This bank-switched cartridge occupies 16 KB of address space between $8000
and $BFFF. The cartridge memory is divided into 128 banks, 8 KB each.
The last bank is always mapped to $A000-$BFFF. Seven lowest bits of
a byte written to $D500-$D5FF select the bank mapped to $8000-$BFFF,
bit 7 disables the cartridge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 39: Phoenix 8 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
An 8 KB cartridge, that occupies 8 KB of address space between $A000
and $BFFF, and can be disabled by an access to $D500-$D5FF.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 40: Blizzard 16 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
A 16 KB cartridge, that occupies 16 KB of address space between $8000
and $BFFF, and can be disabled by an access to $D500-$D5FF.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 41: Atarimax 128 KB Flash cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
This bank-switched cartridge occupies 8 KB of address space between $A000
and $BFFF. The cartridge memory is divided into 16 banks, 8 KB each.
The 4 lowest bits of the address written to $D500-$D50F select the bank
mapped to $A000-$BFFF. Writing to $D510-$D51F disables the cartridge
and any write to $D520-$D5FF is ignored.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 42: Atarimax 1 MB Flash cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
This bank-switched cartridge occupies 8 KB of address space between $A000
and $BFFF. The cartridge memory is divided into 128 banks, 8 KB each.
The seven lowest bits of the address written to $D500-$D57F select the bank
mapped to $A000-$BFFF, bit 7 disables the cartridge.
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Type 43: SpartaDOS X 128 KB cartridge |
+---------------------------------------------------------------------------+
The cartridge has 16 banks mapped to $A000-$BFFF. First 8 banks are selected
by an access to $D5F7-$D5F0, the other 8 banks by an access to $D5E7-$D5E0.
An access to $D5E8-$D5EF or $D5F8-$D5FF disables the cartridge.
