An Atari VCS Hardware Lesson: Upgrades and Peripherals [UPDATED]

The information in this article is based on current knowledge about the Atari VCS hardware and specs, not hands-on experience as it has not yet shipped. As such, some of what I’m writing will be speculative and I will mention that when it is.

UPDATE: We now have confirmation of a few things that were originally speculated when I first wrote this article, and it has been amended to reflect this new knowledge.

The Atari VCS is a unique video game console/PC hybrid that will give owners the ability to upgrade some components and make use of a wide variety of PC peripherals. Many VCS backers and pre-order buyers are starting to plan hardware upgrades, but since not everyone is a hardware enthusiast there have been a lot of questions about hardware compatibility, what is supported, what is not, and what owners should purchase. The purpose of this guide is to highlight the hardware of the VCS and what the upgrade options will most likely be, as well as cover a small range of possible peripherals.

The good news is that being basically a small form factor PC, the VCS will support quite a lot of hardware and compatibility will not be a problem. The computer industry is very different now than it was during Atari’s glory days, when hardware compatibility was a very big deal and you had to purchase very specific components.

Nowadays, components are standardized and as long as you follow some very simple guidelines.

Important Note on Operating Systems

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 industry, as the operating systems for the PS3, PS4, PS5 (probably) and the Nintendo Switch are also highly customized systems based on FreeBSD (another OS similar to Linux). But just like those operating systems, it is very likely that Atari World will be closed, meaning you can’t just install any Linux software on it that you please. For that you will need to boot another Linux system, such as Ubuntu, using PC Mode. It also means you may not be able to use just any Linux peripheral that’s supported (like a USB printer).

The important thing about operating systems is that they can be a factor in which peripherals are supported, and I’ll be sure to bring this up when appropriate.

The CPU: AMD Ryzen 1606G

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).

The GPU (Graphics Adapter): AMD Radeon Vega 3

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 video. That’s actually very cool and future proofs the VCS a bit. I don’t even have a display capable of 4K!

Internal Storage: 32 GB of Flash Memory

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 another OS in PC Mode.

UPDATE: It is now confirmed that the internal M.2 slot can be used to install and boot another OS in PC Mode.

So what is an M.2 drive?

M.2 drives are small, internally mounted, solid state storage devices. This makes them ideal for higher capacity storage in laptops and smaller computer systems, although even desktop motherboards often have M.2 connectors too.

It should be noted that there are two common types of M.2 drives: SATA and NVMe. These are not the same connectors and the VCS does NOT support NVMe. Be sure to get a SATA drive with two notches. See the image below.

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 around $50. That’s quite a bit of storage and is capable of storing hundreds to thousands of smaller retro and indie games, which is what Atari seems to be focusing on for the VCS.

I am personally going with a 120 GB drive to start with.

You can buy M.2 drives just about anywhere you can buy computer hardware. Amazon and Newegg.com are a couple of good places to start. Here is a link to a 500 GB M.2 SATA drive on newegg:

https://www.newegg.com/western-digital-blue-500gb/p/N82E16820250091

External Storage: USB 3.1

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 3.1 hard drives are readily available, affordable and offer quite a bit of storage. They can be found even in stores like Walmart or Staples in addition to the usual places. They are often used as backup devices, or simply as a type of convenient removable storage that one can take from one computer to another.

Here are some important notes on external storage options:

• While USB thumb drives (pen drives/flash drives, same thing) will be operational, they are not the best option in terms of performance. While using PC Mode, a thumb drive may be useful for storing data files, but it would not be advisable for installing the OS itself.
• It is not mandatory that you buy a USB 3.1 drive. It could be USB 3.0 or even USB 2, but the data transfer speeds will not be as good.
• External USB drives can be either HDDs (hard disk drives that have spinning platters and other moving parts) or SDDs (solid state drives that are composed of memory chips that have no moving parts). HDDs are cheaper for the amount of storage you get, but SDDs are much faster and more reliable.
• You can also get external USB 3.1 adapters/enclosures for M.2 SATA or NVMe drives.
• For best performance get a USB 3.1 external SDD, either as a self-contained unit or by means of an M.2 adapter and enclosure
• Quite a few USB 3.1 drives are being offered that use USB-C connectors. The VCS does not have a USB-C port, it uses the more traditional USB-A port. So make sure your drive can connect using USB-A, or comes with an adapter (or you can buy an adapter).

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.

• Windows Gaming System – If you have a large library of games, particularly the bigger AAA games, then a 1 TB drive is probably going to fit pretty comfortably
• Media Center – Installing XBian and Kodi can make the VCS a great media center. Since media collections can be quite large, you may need upwards of 2-4 TB or even more.
• Retro Gaming Station – Retroarch and other retro gaming software doesn’t take up quite as much space, so less storage is required. 128 to 500 GB is probably plenty.
• Desktop PC – Some are planning to use the VCS as a desktop, but again this depends on usage. Unless you plan to create a lot of large media files, 240-500 GB is most likely plenty.

I suspect if you are planning anything more exotic, you most likely know how much storage you’ll be needing.

Memory (RAM)

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 comments seemed to indicate that 64 GB was possible with 32 GB modules in each slot. This can’t be true of the CPU only supports 32, and I wonder if someone tried a 32 GB module in one slot and assumed you could double it by adding another one. I’m not ready to take that comment as gospel, so for the time being I’m still assuming 32 GB is the limit.

UPDATE: It has been confirmed that the maximum memory for the VCS is 32 GB.

The VCS has two SO-DIMM memory slots (Small Outline Dual Inline Memory Module) that take DDR4 memory. This basically means the VCS will use the same type of memory that is used in modern laptops and small form factor computers. Desktop computers use full-size DIMMs, which are larger and have more pins than SO-DIMMS (288 versus 260 pins). There is nothing special about this memory, there are no compatibility issues to worry about provided you get DDR4, and that it is a SO-DIMM module and not a full size DIMM.

Some have noted the 2400MHz speed advertised for the VCS memory and wondered if that means you absolutely must buy memory that speed. You do not. You can use faster memory and it will simply operate at 2400MHz. You can also use slower memory and it will operate at the slower speed of that particular module.

I haven’t seen for certain if the VCS supports dual channel memory, but the CPU does, so it’s possible. This means for best performance you should purchase two matching memory modules in terms of size, speed and brand. Many memory manufacturers even sell tested, matched pairs. If the VCS does support dual channeling, this will ensure that it works. That said, it is unlikely that you will notice a major performance decrease if you have unmatched memory modules.

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 systems with 16 GB of memory, including a pretty nice Windows gaming rig. Memory is absolutely never an issue for me.

If you plan on running virtual machines within a PC Mode operating system, you might benefit from going up to 32. But other than that, I can’t think of very many games or applications that would require that much RAM. 32 GB is really quite a bit of memory.

And 64? I just can’t fathom what anyone would do with the VCS that would necessitate 64 GB, especially considering the price you would have to pay for that upgrade.

Personally, I think it’s pretty likely that I will upgrade it to 16 GB and leave it at that.

Unfortunately, we do not yet have an official process for how to upgrade the RAM or install the M.2 drive, but Atari has said they will have official documentation on these processes.

The Bottom Line for Memory Upgrades

If you’re not sure about what to do regarding the memory upgrade, here are my personal suggestions:

• 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.
• If you do want to upgrade, purchase the following:
  • DDR4 SO-DIMM memory modules
  • Preferably 2400Mhz, but it doesn’t have to be
  • Matched pairs are best
  • Use your best judgement with memory size, but 8-18 GB is probably going to do very well

You can purchase memory at many places, including Amazon, Newegg and Crucial.com.

Network and Wireless

Cannot Upgrade (kinda)

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, Ethernet and Bluetooth adapters that plug into the VCS USB port. But there is a possible caveat here.

We don’t know if Atari World will support peripheral network or bluetooth adapters. They would certainly work in PC Mode (as long as they are supported by the OS).

It seems unlikely, however, that any such peripheral would be needed given those that are built-in will likely be perfectly sufficient.

Keyboard and Mouse

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 in Atari World. The only downside here is if you plan to use the VCS in a living room “under the TV” environment, having a wired keyboard and mouse is a bit of a bummer.

To solve that you can go with a wireless keyboard and mouse. Sometimes these come with special dongles that plug into a USB port, while others can use Bluetooth. Bluetooth may be a better option on the VCS since it’s built-in, and it would keep a USB port open.

A rather unique option is a mini-keyboard and trackpad combination. These can also use their own USB dongle or connect over Bluetooth. They are about the size of a large gamepad and would eliminate the need for a surface to use the mouse. Here is an example on Amazon:

However, there is now known to be a very unique solution provided by Atari themselves! It’s called the Atari VCS Companion, a smartphone and tablet app available for Android and iOS. It has a virtual keyboard, trackpad, directional buttons and other elements useful for navigating the VCS menu, web browsing and other uses. Here is a link to its Play Store page:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.atarivcs.companionapp

Game Controllers

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 gamepad, joystick or controller with Linux support. In PC Mode, you can use anything that the OS supports. This means in Windows, even your fancy driving wheels and flight sticks can be used as long as you can plug it in.

There are many controllers available, some wired, some not. The choices on Amazon are incredible. You can find retro styled controllers and look and feel like NES, SNES, Megadrive/Genesis, N64 and Playstation controllers, along with options from established controller and peripheral companies like Logitech.

Overall, your choices for game controllers is immense and most things should work.

What Else?

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.

One More Thing

I’ve mentioned a lot of USB peripherals. It’s the primary method of connecting external storage, keyboards and mice, wireless devices and game controllers. The VCS comes with 4 USB ports. What happens if you don’t have enough?

In that case, you need a USB Hub. This will use one USB port and turn it into 4, 6, 8 or more. I also recommend a powered USB hub, meaning you actually plug it into power separately instead of the hub using power provided over USB. In general this seems to be more reliable, especially for devices like external storage.

Here’s a great example on Amazon, but you can find smaller, cheaper ones too.

Last Comments

This guide was meant mostly for those who aren’t as familiar with hardware, device compatibility and have other reservations about upgrading and expanding the VCS. In some cases I simplified topics for the sake of brevity. If you are more technologically inclined, you likely have even more ideas.

In the future I plan to write more detailed articles and even create videos on how to upgrade VCS hardware and what other cool things can be done. If you have any ideas, contact me!

As of this writing, my shipping address has been locked and the Classic Joysticks have started leaving customs. That means we don’t have long to wait.