A full Atari 8-bit computer has been recreated on a stamp-sized FPGA module

In a nutshell: Atari's 8-bit computers first launched in 1979, selling for between $549 and $999 and taking up the space of a full desktop machine. Now, more than four decades later, a Polish engineer has recreated that same system on a module smaller than a postage stamp. Called Atarino, the device measures just 2 × 1.5 centimeters and includes all the essential components of the original hardware, such as a 6502C processor, graphics and sound chips, and memory controllers. The engineer behind the project is Piotr "Osa" Ostapowicz, who began working on Atarino more than 10 years ago. What started as a simple compatibility test gradually evolved into a complete and enhanced reimplementation of the Atari XL/XE architecture. Unlike many retro mini consoles that rely on software emulation, Atarino uses FPGA technology to replicate Atari's original components at the hardware level. This allows it to run vintage software directly on recreated circuitry. It also supports original periphera ... Read full article.