Showing my Atari 520ST some Terriblefire love

In this video I review the modifications needed to add a Terriblefire TF536 accelerator board into an original Atari 520ST (the no floppy ST) and get the board installed, fitted and working.
Upgrades can be found here:
TF536 - standard version found at many sources such as amigastore.eu (you will need the firmware flashed with an Atari ST compatible one)
ST536 - Exxos specific Atari ST version found at www.exxosforum.co.uk/atari/store2/
520ST 4mb RAM upgrade - (also found in Exxos store)
Atari ST upgraded DAC board - (also found in Exxos store)
ROM switcher / Decoder / RTC - www.van-radecke.de/STUFF/tfhh...
#retrocomputing
#vintagecomputing
#atari
#atarist
#Terriblefire

[@Miesiu]

ATARI ST FOREVER !!!

[@ode4473]

Atari STfm 520 was my first computer erver! 👍 My first ”love” for computers!! GFA Basic was my top most program I used to program my own softwares and games!

[@powerofvintage9442]

I'm with you there!

[@T313COmun1s7]

That 520ST was not my first computer, but it was my favorite. I had a VIC-20, a C64, and a C64G prior. I loved the 520ST the most though. Even with its warts. My first one was purchased on preorder, and was one of the first off the line. It must not have been very well shielded though, as often when I would touch the keyboard there was a static discharge and it would reboot. I ended up sending it back to Atari and getting it replaced 3 times to fix the issue. The final time they had stamped a blue "M" on the box after the ST, and I had the model with the built in floppy. So the bonus of dealing with all that was I ended up with both an internal and an external floppy. I get all nostalgic just looking at this. I joined the Air Force right before Desert Shield became Desert Storm, and when I finally got my stuff at my duty station, the Atari was not there. I still miss it.

[@paulcarboneNY]

Dude you are dropping so many knowledge bombs - I'm absolutely loving this, thanks!!

[@powerofvintage9442]

Glad you're enjoy it!

[@jrherita]

Yay! A 520STm upgrade. The floppyless STm is the best looking of the original STs imo.

[@powerofvintage9442]

I do like this form factor too especially the slimness.

[@crumplezone1]

Terriblefire for the win !, great time to be alive for retro buffs !

[@powerofvintage9442]

More and more options are available.

[@lorensims4846]

I got a used Atari 520ST when I was ready to upgrade from my old Atari 800. I did do a RAM upgrade, but I didn't notice whether the CPU was socketed or not. Sorry. I originally wanted an Amiga because it was designed by the guys who designed my Atari 800. "The next generation Atari" is how the Atari magazines first described the Amiga. After Jack Tramiel was ousted from Commodore and bought Atari Computer, he designed his low-cost 16-bit "Jackintosh." In response, Commodore bought the Amiga. The Amiga was more expensive than the ST. Also, I noticed that if I wanted to do the same things I knew I could do on the ST, it would require that I buy an accessory to plug into the Amiga. Again and again, I found this was the case. I began to think of the Amiga as a "Christmas tree" that I had to keep buying "decorations" for. Also, all the Atari magazines were telling everything about the ST. So I went for the ST, even though I considered it to be a "Commodore" with only three audio channels and somewhat inferior graphics, the same things I used to complain about my brother's Commodore 64 for. But I really wanted to get my hands on that 68000 CPU one way or another. What I really wanted was a Macintosh, but a "Jackintosh" was close enough.

[@powerofvintage9442]

I never did upgrade my original 520ST, but had a tremendous time using it from 1986 - 1993.

[@mmille10]

Interesting you heard the Amiga described as a "next-generation Atari." I didn't really find out about that until the late 1990s. I had read Amiga brought over "some former Atari engineers" before it was bought by Commodore, but I didn't know that the *same* engineers for the Atari 2600 and 400/800 designed it.

[@tiemanowo]

29:13 From a slide-show to smooth gameplay? That is impressive.

[@powerofvintage9442]

Works awesome for CPU bottlenecked games especially.

[@sublimemauser5904]

Another great video, kudos and thanks.

[@powerofvintage9442]

Glad you enjoyed it

[@atari1040]

Lots of accelerators for ST finally but what we are missing is some video board. At least that 32k colors that BW showed some time ago. This speed of x17 of integer operations needs to be put to some use :-)

[@powerofvintage9442]

True true, but besides the video board, most importantly software is also needed to take advantage of it.

[@soviet9922]

Fixed the stability issues from the Hakke relocator adding aluminium foil over the cable also changed the psu to one better that fixed all interference problems.

[@powerofvintage9442]

Awesome! What PSU did you use? Also, never knew about an aluminum foil trick to reduce noise.

[@shamon351]

Great video !

[@powerofvintage9442]

Thanks!

[@AtariLegend]

An absolute hardware genious. Great educational stuff for NOOBS like me. Greg, forgive me if I may have missed this in one of the other builds, but have you tested the new Doom clones with this card? Now that I like to see as well.... Great video. Silky Smooth Elite 2 ❤

[@AtariLegend]

Oh and also...you asked for an 800xl but got a 520? I would have been really happy, were you? ;)

[@powerofvintage9442]

I was just 11 and didn't realize how much more advanced it was for a couple of months. I was happy, but kind of disappointed because, I didn't have the network of friends using the ST (no "sharing" of software could happen).

[@powerofvintage9442]

I can confirm that Dread executable from a while back works so long as I don't run in "fastram". I will try out a more recently updated Grind from a couple months back later today.

[@Meebzorp5200]

@@AtariLegend My family got me a 520ST in 1985 for my birthday. I was excited but a bit reserved about it because the C64/128 were the big deal at that point and had a massive library and Atari seemed to be going down the tubes at the time in USA (videogame crash, selling off of Atari to Tramiel, etc). The ST on launch mostly had very little software or places to go to shop for it. Mostly 8-bit ports of existing games so at the time it just seemed like an overpowered 8-bit with shovelware to choose from. All of that changed quickly enough for me and it became my favorite computer of all time. It helped me segue into an IT career.

[@worldofretrogameplay6963]

I love my 1040ST. I should upgrade it from stock, though. I might start by buying a hard drive.

[@powerofvintage9442]

There are quite a few hard drive options out there. The Ultrasatan is a fantastic one that has been around for a while. One the other hand there are a number of options to build yourself as well. ASCI2SD or ASCI2ST both seem great. I've built an ASCI2SD myself (I do have a video of the build and setup) and it works well. You do need Atari ST software to set it up (ICD Pro is the best abandonware version).

[@stephenwhite506]

I love the look of the original ST, the one with the external power supply and disk drive. Also, the joystick ports are in a reasonable location, contrary to subsequent models that positioned them in the ridiculous location of under the machine! With my 520 I have upgraded the RAM to 1MB. One question I have, is it necessary to upgrade the motherboard RAM if you are going to add an accelerator that has TT RAM? I assume the TT RAM will always be used first and the only use of the motherboard RAM would be the screen memory due to the shifter needing to access it. But then perhaps you still need it as some software does not detect or use the TT RAM?

[@powerofvintage9442]

You hit the nail on the head with your last question. Some software works great with TT RAM and much does not. That said, really 1mb is enough for most software.

[@brandonwallach2821]

I started with a Atari 400 but hated the keyboard. Yep, I really hated that keyboard so I got a Atari 520st and fell in love with it. I played games, got a couple of floppy disks, a U.S. Robotics 9600 baud modem for it. There was a LOT of Atari BBS sites to get free software and I had a LOT of free software. Those were the days. So many games that were actually fun to play that rivaled or even beat out modern games. I got a 1meg ram upgrade for it which I didn't really know what to do with the extra ram but there you are, I had a 1meg 520st. Wish I still had that computer but when the Intel 386's started showing up the writing was on the wall and I went that route... Oh well... I wish I could get another 520st now but good luck finding one that actually works as well as a monitor or upgrade to get it working on modern TV's and god forbid working joysticks then I'd buy one in a heart beat..... Oh yeah, has to come with LOTs of games as well....

[@powerofvintage9442]

So good news for you. Most of the Atari STs I’ve worked on are not that bad off and are very repairable if not functional. Also, there are pretty inexpensive modern solutions for monitors or video output and regarding games, a gotek or now the Sidecart both emulate floppy drives and allow you to download disk images and run them from there. It isn’t cheap but you can find decent deals on STs here and there. It is a fun hobby 😁

[@Meebzorp5200]

What I always wondered about accelerators is do certain games not run right or crash because the CPU is running so fast? I remember the "Turbo" button on my 486 computer to have it play older titles. I'm assuming you can set the clock multiplier or something to that effect and then it's fine?

[@powerofvintage9442]

Some software doesn't do well with running in "fast RAM". In the case of the TF536 most of the titles I'm interested in Games and productivity work just fine so long as fast ram isn't being used. A more limited subset of software works with fast ram as well and will benefit most significantly from speed improvements.

[@user-Atamigaputer]

Does Exxos sell the ST536 assembled ready to install, or at least as a kit of parts? Hard to tell from his shop as it looks like only the bare board? Do we have to buy a board and source other parts from his store or elsewhere. Is there parts inventory and build instructions somewhere?

[@powerofvintage9442]

Ch ck out the forum there. If you are confident in your soldering skills you can build one yourself or you could reach out in the "want to buy" area and ask there. A user on the forum there built two and flashed them for me.

[@user-Atamigaputer]

@@powerofvintage9442 Thanks, ill do the forum thing. I have Ataris and Amigas . Just seems odd to me that ive bought ready to go Amiga accelerators but there is nothing like that for the Atari

[@powerofvintage9442]

@@user-Atamigaputer In my opinion two reasons. 1 - the Amiga community is a bit larger it seems and 2 - the Amiga computers lend themselves more to expandibility...the CPU's in the older systems come socketed, the systems also have upgrade slots / sockets ready to populate. There a little more barrier to entry for most ST's (not a lot of "plug and play")

[@Storm_.]

Is there any chance you have that emutos rom saved? I'm doing the same thing as you, but would like to burn emutos also.

[@powerofvintage9442]

You can find the emutos ROMs at the following: emutos.sourceforge.io/ I'm running a slightly older version 1.1.1 because it works fine and I'm lazy and haven't updated the eprom to 1.2.1.

[@95Comics]

Couldn’t you use spacers on the case to raise they keyboard keys up an inch or whatever you need? The could even 3d print a spacer trim that goes between top and bottom of case

[@powerofvintage9442]

That would definitely would have been a possibility to go that route. I hadn't thought of trying it that way.

[@95Comics]

@@powerofvintage9442 i love to build and modify old electronics! I had a bunch of vintage stuff including Atari 800’s and pretty much every Atari pc and a bunch of apple ibm all lost along with everything i owned in a house fire, so little by little im trying to replace things, and id like to do an atAri now. Whats the fastest/best atari pc i can get? One that has available modifications like you uses in this video would be great too what are the top stats one could achieve on an Atari pc? Thanks so much i love your channel!

[@powerofvintage9442]

@@95Comics So sorry to hear about the house fire. Regarding Atari computers, the fastest / best would be either the Atari TT / Atari Falcon. However, they are pretty uncommon and pricey. If you can find a 520/1040 STe it is a good place to start. They are a bit harder to find in the US, but have some fine upgrade options and are the best of the "normal" Atari's with improved graphics and sound versus the original ST's.

[@95Comics]

@@powerofvintage9442 thank you very much! I have my next project! Are there any ataris that could run a light linux like puppy linux and actually function in the modern world? Whats the operating system that ill be using so i can figure out my requirements? Sorry for all the questions, i really appreciate it, im new to your channel so this is all new for me

[@powerofvintage9442]

@@95Comics I don't know, but I doubt it. You can get connected to the internet and get email set up. Also, I do write most of my Atari video scripts on my Atari's (Amiga scripts on Amiga's). So if that's what you're looking to do, then yes....but watching KZbin or surfing the internet in any significant way, then no.

[@vinlemarechal8296]

your machine is a very early version,can tell by the 6 rom sockets, in later revisions chips were moved around a blitter added and even after the ste was released there was a cost reduced 1.4 tos stfm fewer ram sockets etc,machines were capable of more than 16 colours various software and hardware hacks the shifter could change pallet every 16 lines,spectrum 512 gave a sort of ham mode,and pcs was a enhanced 4096 colours on standard stfm and 19200 colours on ste only useful for still images, procesor and blitter could be hacked to run at 16mhz by feeding relevant signals across to raised pins on procesor and blitter..tos 1.4 for stfm and 206 for stes is best choice for hard drive support very early mcs even had tos on disc early tos versions were 192k rom later are 256k so very early games dont like tos 1.4 and up earliest date ive seen for rom on disk is 1984 tos 1 was nov 1985 tos 1.2 supports blitter tos 1.4 better hard disc support tos 2.06 support for alt ram

[@powerofvintage9442]

TOS 1.02 (blitter TOS) released with the Mega ST is around the time when you first started seeing the 2 chip ROM's. This was in the 1987'ish time frame. Most of the US Atari ST/STM/STFM's I've worked on are of the earlier vintage with 6 ROM sockets, and without the empty pads where a blitter socket could go.

[@johnyk.4738]

Why not move motherboard to tower case? Then you got alot of space :) Its very easy :)

[@powerofvintage9442]

lol!

[@johneygd]

I don’t get it why on earth people do moddifie old computers just to accelerate it’s speed,am mean why not just buy a new computer??? If you love retro systems (whether computers or game consoles) just keep those freaking damn systems original as how they were intended,why would you otherwise go retro if you upgrade those systems with modern stuff??? I just don’t get that, Now if you upgrade those old systems with new old stock retro expansion kots as was intended by those companies,then i would give it a pass,but otherwise just get yourself an emulator for on a modern computer and speed it up the way you want,but otherwise i just don’t get it, Am mean arguments like ‘combining the authentic nostalgic feel of retro stuff while upgrading it with convienient stuff just doesn’t count in my opinion.

[@powerofvintage9442]

Good question and there are obviously a number of thoughts and opinions on this. I can share "why do I do this?" 1 - It's a fun project to see about getting it to work. While I play games on the old hardware, I actually enjoy the fixing and tinkering aspect much more. 2 - I personally use accelerators that are similar in their design and function to the "old stock" (notice the magazine adverts from the early 90's) that don't really exist anymore...this is my own thing, and imo folks should retro how they like and draw whatever arbitrary lines they'd like. -No hard drive or floppy emulators? -No non-original floppy disks / carts / CDs? -No self-burned OS ROM's (only new old stock)? -No period correct RAM upgrades (because they aren't old)? -No period correct accelerators (because they aren't old)? -No FPGA? -No Raspberry Pi? 3 - I mean if it was just about playing retro games, you're 100% correct that the easiest path is just to emulate on a modern desktop

[@Meebzorp5200]

Many games did not run well back in the day on stock STs. Some of the games were very ambitious and maybe downgraded ports from Amiga. These games were super choppy and sometimes impossible to play. It's cool to go back and run a hardware-taxing game with an accelerator where it now runs smooth and playable. Totally different experience and more in line with what the designers envisioned. So, "just buy a new computer" here wouldn't work because a "new computer" back then would have been a 386 or 486 which of course couldn't run Atari or Amiga software. So the hardware was at a bit of a dead end as is because when the STe came out, programmers didn't take advantage of as they sold to the least common denominator ST - 512k with a single-sided, single-density disk drive.

[@Meebzorp5200]

I think what I am trying to say here is that an accelerator is the best retro experience you can get without using an emulator on a modern PC or even FPGA.