The Atari Falcon030 Computer System was Atari Corporation’s final computer product. Codenamed Sparrow, the machine was based on a Motorola 68030 main CPU, and had a Motorola 56000 digital signal processor, a feature which distinguished it from most other microcomputers of the era.
The Falcon was released in late 1992 and subsequently cancelled in late 1993 as Atari Corp restructured itself to focus completely on the release and support of its newest product, the Atari Jaguar video game console.
Atari Corp. created a number of prototypes of the Falcon040 (based on the more capable fully pipelined, integrated-FPU, Motorola 68040, and using a “microbox” case), but canceled it. The microbox case resembled the later Sony PlayStation 2, right down to the ability to run it vertically or horizontally. It is even referenced in the PS2 patent applications.
Shortly after release Atari Corp. bundled the MultiTOS Operating system in addition to TOS. TOS remained in ROM, and MultiTOS was supplied on floppy disk and could be installed to boot from hard disk.
In 1995, the music company C-Lab bought the rights to the Falcon hardware design and began producing their own versions. The Falcon Mk I was a direct continuation of Atari Corp.’s Falcon030 with TOS 4.04. The Falcon Mk II addressed a number of shortcomings in the original design, making it more suitable to use in a recording studio (these were unofficially termed ‘Cubase modifications’) such as accepting Line-level audio in without the need for a pre-amp or mixer.
Today, the Falcon is one of Atari Corp.’s most popular machines for hardware modding. Due to its expansion capabilities, several accelerators have been produced. Some of them overclock the CPU and/or the bus, while others upgrade the CPU to a Motorola 68060.
This is the collection of original hardware and software. None of this collection is for sale. If you have an item which is not on the list, please contact me and maybe we can trade. Donations are welcome too 🙂
A big Thank You! to Serge van Keulen for giving me the opportunity to add a lot of 16-bit items to the collection, including this Falcon!
Hardware:
Item | Manufacturer | boxed/loose |
---|---|---|
Atari Falcon 030 | Atari | loose |
Falcon Analog 8 | Soundpool | loose |
Spdif Interface | Soundpool | loose |
Above hardware is specific for the Falcon. For compatible ST/TT hardware please read the ST/TT pages.
Software:
Item | Publisher | Box size | Boxed/loose |
---|---|---|---|
Eclipse pci adapter driver | Istari | loose | |
Extra Programs | Atari | loose | |
Falcon Blowup 040 | Digital Data Deicke | loose | |
Falcon Speed v4.2 | Sack Electronic | loose | |
Ishar | Silmarils | loose | |
Language disk (UK) | Atari | loose |
Above software is specific for the Falcon. For compatible ST/TT software please read the ST/TT pages.
Books:
Title | Publisher | Language |
---|---|---|
Das Buch zum Atari Falcon 030 | Data Becker | German |
Above litterature is specific for the Falcon. For compatible ST/TT litterature please read the ST/TT pages.