Atari 520STF

The Atari 520STF reorganised the 512KB ST into a deeper all-in-one keyboard case containing both the power supply and a 3.5-inch floppy drive. This removed much of the cable clutter associated with the original 520ST while retaining its 8 MHz 68000 architecture and software compatibility.

Unlike the STFM, the STF did not include an RF television modulator and was intended for use with a dedicated RGB or monochrome monitor. The integrated design established the familiar form used by many later mainstream ST models.

Notable Features

• Integrated the power supply and 3.5-inch floppy drive into the keyboard enclosure.
• Omitted the RF television modulator fitted to the STFM.
• Retained full compatibility with the established ST architecture.

Historical Significance

• Introduced the larger integrated case that became strongly associated with the mainstream ST range.
• The F suffix identifies the internal floppy-drive configuration.

Collector’s Notes

• Floppy-drive capacity can vary with production date and market.
• Check the monitor requirements carefully: an STF lacks the STFM’s RF television output.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Atari 520STF
Manufacturer	Atari
Launched	Tuesday, April 1, 1986
Discontinued	Late 1980s
Country	United States
CPU	Motorola MC68000 at 8 MHz
Units Sold
Operating System	Atari TOS with GEM desktop
I/O	MIDI In/Out, RS-232 serial, Centronics parallel, ACSI hard-disk, cartridge, floppy, monitor and two joystick/mouse ports
Keyboard	Integrated 95-key keyboard with numeric keypad and function keys
Storage	Internal 3.5-inch floppy drive; ACSI hard-disk support
Sound	Yamaha YM2149 three-channel programmable sound generator
Colour Palette	512 colours
Display	320x200 in 16 colours, 640x200 in 4 colours, or 640x400 monochrome
ROM	192KB TOS ROM
RAM	512KB
CPU Speed	8 MHz