| Atari released the 1040STE in late 1989 as part of its enhanced “STE” line, improving on the 1040ST model. The STE kept the same 8 MHz Motorola 68000 CPU but added significant multimedia upgrades and ease-of-use enhancements. It introduced a blitter graphics co-processor for faster screen operations, a 4,096-color palette (up from 512) with Genlock support, and 8-bit stereo PCM sound via DMA at sample rates up to 50 kHz alongside the existing Yamaha YM2149 chip. Memory became simple to expand with SIMM slots, letting users upgrade up to 4 MB RAM. The CPU was socketed in a PLCC package, and DIP switches were added for basic configuration. Hardware scrolling—both horizontal and vertical—was supported in all display modes. The 1040STE also included two enhanced joystick ports supporting paddles, light pens, or mice, plus stereo audio output via RCA jacks. Unlike the original 1040ST, the STE’s case and keyboard layout remained largely the same, but the side-mounted ports and added features clearly differentiated it inside. Despite these enhancements, some older ST software and games experienced compatibility issues due to direct hardware access. A few titles were made specifically for STE enhancements, but many did not make use of the new features. The 1040STE continued production into the early 1990s and became a popular choice for those seeking better graphics and sound while remaining compatible with the broader ST software library. |
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