Atari Falcon030 MicroBox

The Atari Falcon030 MicroBox was a desktop-cased development of the Falcon030 intended to separate the keyboard from the system unit and improve internal expansion. It retained the production Falcon’s 16 MHz 68030, 56001 DSP, VIDEL graphics and digital audio capabilities.

Atari withdrew from the computer market before the MicroBox version could enter production. The angular black enclosure later became particularly notable because its industrial design was acquired and adapted for Sony’s PlayStation 2.

Notable Features

• Repackaged Falcon030 hardware in a separate low-profile desktop enclosure.
• Retained the Falcon’s 68030 CPU, 56001 DSP, VIDEL graphics and digital audio.

Historical Significance

• Cancelled when Atari left the computer market in 1993.
• Its distinctive enclosure design was later adapted for Sony’s PlayStation 2.

Collector’s Notes

• Surviving hardware and cases are prototype material rather than retail systems.
• The MicroBox name can also appear in discussion of the related Falcon040 development.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Atari Falcon030 MicroBox
Manufacturer	Atari
Launched	Friday, January 1, 1993
Discontinued	Cancelled in 1993
Country	United States
CPU	Motorola MC68030 at 16 MHz
Units Sold
Status	Prototype; never commercially released
Expansion	Improved internal expansion over the keyboard-case Falcon
Keyboard	Detached keyboard planned
Case	Separate low-profile desktop system unit
Storage	Internal floppy and hard-disk accommodation planned
Sound	Falcon 16-bit digital audio subsystem
Graphics	Atari VIDEL programmable video
DSP	Motorola 56001 at 32 MHz
RAM	Falcon-compatible memory configurations planned
CPU Speed	Motorola 68030 at 16 MHz