Pretty sure the reason many games don't work for you here is because you need to disable BASIC when turning on the computer. Do this by holding down OPTION when powering the computer on. It's the same with the 800XL or 130XE. This is needed for %99 of games but only when the keyboard is plugged in since the XEGS detects the keyboard. The Atari 8bit FAQ and the XEGS manual covers how the XEGS powers on with OPTION or SELECT keys held etc.. Congrats on your SDMax. Hope you're still enjoying the XEGS. Repairing one here now. They are very nice.
it is - both were made in china/Taiwan the capacitors fail in 30+ year old hardware & just like the bad c64 psu the ataris are frying from over voltage
I have an Atari 800 from my youth. Adding this S-Drive is great, but yes a lot of games that come on the SD don't work. I assumed it was because I had one of the 48K machines; the newer ones would be more compatible. You have the newest so surely that's not the case. Perhaps some of the homebrew software may require up to 1 Meg memory mods.
I think you are correct, a lot of games need more than the original hardware can handle. I have found that there are a lot of the games that do work and are a lot of fun!
I have an idea of making a desk, console, like at NASA Houston. With a couple of built in CRTs. Have a power supply in there that could output the required voltages of a few different retro computers. With resettable fuses and volt meters on each line. I guess a pc PSU would be suitable. As others say. Those little PSUs can be of low quality. Seen big Clive and the crazy Aussie bloke, decrying them
I check all of my power supplies on a regular basis, so for the one I have for the Atari is giving a much more stable 5.1V on the power pins than the brick I have. It tends to fluctuate somewhere from 4.7 - 5.2 (with no load).
Please consider removing the box cutting, plastic unwrapping, screen plastic peeling and twist tie removal from your videos. Your review of "not all programs will run from the drive" is the meat of the info. Ask others their experience. You might end up creating a community. :)
I am not sure why the games that didn't work don't, but there are hundreds of games that do run fine. Plus a few games I added haven't worked, but most have. Possibly bad downloads of the programs? So far it has been well worth it.
@@CanadianRetroThings I just got an 800xl after losing my entire collection when I got divorced and lost my home... I'm trying to rebuild it again little by little and this seems like a reasonably priced solution.
@@sigmiami It's definitely more reasonable than trying to collect all of the disks and cartridges! Not that that I'm not also trying to do that, but now I know which games are worth looking for.
@@CanadianRetroThings I think the same way but it's hard to find and some people want crazy money for them... I'm glad you posted this video and link, it really helped.
Pretty sure the reason many games don't work for you here is because you need to disable BASIC when turning on the computer. Do this by holding down OPTION when powering the computer on. It's the same with the 800XL or 130XE. This is needed for %99 of games but only when the keyboard is plugged in since the XEGS detects the keyboard. The Atari 8bit FAQ and the XEGS manual covers how the XEGS powers on with OPTION or SELECT keys held etc.. Congrats on your SDMax. Hope you're still enjoying the XEGS. Repairing one here now. They are very nice.
Thanks, I do still enjoy the XEGS but mostly I use my 800 that I picked up. It is easier since I don't have to always remember to disabling BASIC.
I am not really sure if the Chinese replacement PSU is more safe then your original one from Atari …:)
it is - both were made in china/Taiwan
the capacitors fail in 30+ year old hardware & just like the bad c64 psu the ataris are frying from over voltage
they make a usb adapter as well
which is nice the xegs only will draw 1amp of current so most newer cellphone chargers work
I have an Atari 800 from my youth. Adding this S-Drive is great, but yes a lot of games that come on the SD don't work. I assumed it was because I had one of the 48K machines; the newer ones would be more compatible. You have the newest so surely that's not the case. Perhaps some of the homebrew software may require up to 1 Meg memory mods.
I think you are correct, a lot of games need more than the original hardware can handle. I have found that there are a lot of the games that do work and are a lot of fun!
I have an idea of making a desk, console, like at NASA Houston. With a couple of built in CRTs. Have a power supply in there that could output the required voltages of a few different retro computers. With resettable fuses and volt meters on each line. I guess a pc PSU would be suitable. As others say. Those little PSUs can be of low quality. Seen big Clive and the crazy Aussie bloke, decrying them
I check all of my power supplies on a regular basis, so for the one I have for the Atari is giving a much more stable 5.1V on the power pins than the brick I have. It tends to fluctuate somewhere from 4.7 - 5.2 (with no load).
Very well done. Makes me nostaglic for a system I didn't even own.
After seeing and playing some of the games that were on this system, I wish I had one years ago!
Cool! I just got mind today. Thanks for sharing!
I love all the modern ways to load stuff on these old systems and still use the real hardware to run things!
Please consider removing the box cutting, plastic unwrapping, screen plastic peeling and twist tie removal from your videos. Your review of "not all programs will run from the drive" is the meat of the info. Ask others their experience. You might end up creating a community. :)
Thanks for the feed back :)
We love the unboxing, please do keep it. People can always skip that part
I was thinking of getting one for my Atari 800xl do you know why some games didn’t work?
I am not sure why the games that didn't work don't, but there are hundreds of games that do run fine. Plus a few games I added haven't worked, but most have. Possibly bad downloads of the programs? So far it has been well worth it.
@@CanadianRetroThings I just got an 800xl after losing my entire collection when I got divorced and lost my home... I'm trying to rebuild it again little by little and this seems like a reasonably priced solution.
@@sigmiami It's definitely more reasonable than trying to collect all of the disks and cartridges! Not that that I'm not also trying to do that, but now I know which games are worth looking for.
@@CanadianRetroThings I think the same way but it's hard to find and some people want crazy money for them... I'm glad you posted this video and link, it really helped.
@@CanadianRetroThings I was looking but didnt see it, does it play rom files