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Dec 30, 2020 · CPU & GPU are sharing the same Memory, so you have ~ 6GB RAM available for your CPU and ~2GB for the GPU on the standard VCS. By upgrading the RAM, the CPU has more RAM for itself available so you can play Games with requires min. 8GM RAM or more, smoother.
The Atari VCS PC USB Bundle is a simple “plug-and-play” way to operate your Atari VCS as a PC. The premium 128GB Kingston USB 3.2 drive is preloaded with a custom Debian operating system, provides additional storage, and includes the Office 365-compatible LibreOffice suite.
While I hate that Atari have made attempts to lock up the BIOS, and I find the default OS unnecessary and the controllers tacky, this system is criminally underrated and loaded with potential. I hope that Atari doesn't abandon this concept, and makes a successor system with a focus on being a plug and play PC, with a lower retail price point, support for upgrading the GPU and no attempts to ...
- Important Note on Operating Systems
- The CPU: AMD Ryzen 1606G
- The GPU (Graphics Adapter): AMD Radeon Vega 3
- Internal Storage: 32 GB of Flash Memory
- Ernal Storage: USB 3.1
- Memory
- Network and Wireless
- Keyboard and Mouse
- Game Controllers
- What else?
Before moving onto the actual hardware, it is important to note that in addition to the built-in Atari World OS, the VCS is capable of booting other operating systems using PC Mode, including Linux, Windows, Chrome OS, Steam OS and quite probably many others. The Atari World OS is a customized Linux system. This is not unusual in the video game ind...
Cannot Upgrade
At 2.6 GHz, with two hyperthreaded CPU cores, this chip was designed by AMD as a modern, power efficient performance CPU for embedded applications, such as the VCS or even laptops. What this means for most VCS owners is that this CPU is more than capable of running all but the most CPU bound games, which are few and only in certain circumstances (large worlds in Civilization 5, enormous battles in MMOs, etc).
Cannot Upgrade
The Radeon Vega 3 graphics adapter is actually part of the Ryzen 1606G package. While this is not a particularly powerful GPU, it will be capable of playing almost any game, although the more graphically intensive games may have to be run with some graphics settings turned off or turned down. If your primary focus with the VCS will be playing retro and indie games, you don’t have anything to worry about. The coolest thing about this GPU, however, is that on the 800 model, it can output 4K vid...
Upgradeable!
The VCS will come with 32 GB of internal eMMC flash memory. This will be used for storing games, apps and other content that is acquired or accessed in the Atari World OS. Think of this as Atari World’s storage. While the flash memory storage itself cannot be upgraded, there is an internal M.2 slot where users can install an M.2 SATA drive to upgrade the storage accessible by Atari World by up to 2 TB (terabytes). Note: at this time it is not possible to use the M.2 drive to install and boot...
How Much Storage Should You Get?
The first thing to remember is that Atari has explicitly said that the M.2 drive is only for expanding the storage available to Atari World. At this point it is unknown how much content will be available in Atari World and how much of that content you will be interested in. We simply don’t know how many games, apps and which types of media will be stored. It’s quite possible that 2 TB of storage is overkill. But right now that’s just speculation. Right now, a 500 GB M.2 drive can be had for a...
Upgradeable
Technically this isn’t an upgrade (more like a peripheral), but since we were talking storage I thought it fitting to discuss it here. External USB 3.1 hard drives can be used to install your other operating systems for PC Mode. Since the VCS is completely open hardware in PC Mode, you could use multiple external drives if you wanted to. I’m not certain, but I also think external storage is available to the Atari World OS, but it occurs to me that I haven’t seen this confirmed. External USB 3...
How Much External Storage Do You Need?
If you don’t plan on using PC Mode, you may not need any at all, especially if you are using the M.2 slot to expand the storage for Atari World. Otherwise, it is up to you and your usage needs, or what you plan to do with the VCS. If you intend to use multiple different operating systems using PC Mode, it is best to install each OS onto its own separate drive. Here are a few use cases that I can think of and how much storage you may need. 1. Windows Gaming System – If you have a large library...
Upgradeable!
The VCS comes either 4 GB (the 400 model) or 8 GB (the 800 model) of DDR4 memory. This is expandable, but at the time of this writing it isn’t certain what the maximum is. It is either 32 GB or 64 GB. Online sources for the technical specifications of the AMD R1606G CPU indicate that the maximum supported memory for the processor (and thus the entire system) is 32 GB. This is also reflected in the specs for micro-pcs for sale using the same CPU. However, a post made on the Atari VCS Indiegogo...
How Much Memory Do You Need?
This all depends on what you plan to do with it. For users who intend to stick with retro and retro-style indie games, the 4 or 8 GB of memory that comes with the system will likely be just fine. But if you want to run Windows in PC Mode, you will definitely want to have at least 8 GB. In fact, any OS in PC Mode will be more comfortable in 8 GB. If you plan on some more serious gaming, 16 GB will ensure you have plenty of memory to devote to your higher performance games. I have two different...
The Bottom Line for Memory Upgrades
If you’re not sure about what to do regarding the memory upgrade, here are my personal suggestions: 1. If you’re not sure about whether to do the memory upgrade at all, just use what it comes with and see if you have any problems. If you don’t experience any slowdown in apps or games, you may not need it at all. 2. If you do want to upgrade, purchase the following: 2.1. DDR4 SO-DIMM memory modules 2.2. Preferably 2400Mhz, but it doesn’t have to be 2.3. Matched pairs are best 2.4. Use your bes...
Cannot Upgrade
The VCS comes with an onboard Gigabit Ethernet wired connector and 802.11ac WiFi adapter. These cannot be replaced or upgraded, however this is about as good as one could hope for in a system like this. It is far more likely that your internet connection will be a more significant factor in the network speeds you achieve on the VCS. It also has a built-in Bluetooth 2.0 controller. The reason I say “kinda” is that you can’t upgrade the onboard hardware, but you could technically add new WiFI,...
Two things the VCS does not come with are a keyboard and mouse. The good thing here is that just about anything you can think of will work. But here are some options. You could always go old school with wired USB keyboards and mice. Compatibility is practically guaranteed, although those fancy extra keyboard keys and many-button mice may not work i...
The VCS already comes with what should be two great controllers: the Atari Modern controller, which is a modern gamepad very similar to an XBox One controller, and of course the unique and intriguing Atari Classic Joystick, the modernized joystick controller based on the original CX40. But the good news is, you will be able to use just about any ga...
Technically if you’re in PC Mode, you can use any peripheral supported by your OS that you can plug into the VCS. That includes printers, microphones, webcams, speakers, scanners.. the whole gamut. If your OS supports it, you can use it in PC Mode.
Mainly just to see if it works & what the game benchmarks might be. Atari is opening a casino/hotel in Vegas with a CryptoCoin. These existing VCS 800 configs might be fine for gambling in the hotel rooms. I wonder if a form-fitting eGPU dock might emerge in a later iteration of the VCS. -maybe for the local Vegas eSports scene.
Creators can customize the Atari VCS. Creators of all ages can upgrade and customize the Atari VCS hardware. The VCS is powered by an AMD Raven Ridge 2 APU and AMD Ryzen processor GPU with 8GB DDR4 RAM, and 32GB eMMC fixed internal storage. Boost performance by adding an internal M.2 SATA hard drive or upgrading the RAM.
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Mar 19, 2019 · When the Atari VCS Kickstarter was started back in 2018, the APU inside of was speculated to be an A10, APU using old AMD CPU cores and R7 Graphics. I recently received an update on the project which states that it’s going to get an upgrade! The blog post says that it’s now going to be using “a 14nm AMD processor featuring high-performance Radeon Vega graphics architecture and two “Zen ...
