Where to find a reasonably priced Atari 5200?

Droler

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Sorry if this has been beat to death - this is my first foray over into console land here. I have been acquiring 5200 carts and am now looking for a working console. All I need as a minimum is a console, power supply, video connection and 1 or 2 controllers. I know they are at a premium because I lived the 5200 debacle. I know they cost more because finding a working one is hard due to their failures. I bought an Atari 800 BITD because I knew the 5200 controllers were so bad and the machines died - I went the computer route as a high school kid due to needing to learn the computer primarily but secondarily I knew the 5200 and 800 games were more or less the same and I'd have better luck and return on the computer side as opposed to the console. But now I am adding to the collection and my wife had a 5200 when she was a teen, and I want to bring her some more nostalgia into the house (she already has a UR Centipede I gave her as a wedding present 14 years ago). I find 5200 consoles in working condition are going over $100 on eBay - was wondering if anyone had any luck finding them for less? CL is out of the question due to the fact it would be worth the extra money to avoid the BS.
 
I've bought a bunch off of CL over the years. The story is always the same: The console works but the controllers don't. You can move but you can't use any of the buttons.

Those controllers are a massive piece of shit. Even with new aftermarket internals they are intermittent.

I like buying them like that because they are cheap and a great source of parts - POKEY, CPU, GTIA, ANTIC, 5v only 16k DRAM, etc...

RJ
 
Those controllers are a massive piece of shit. Even with new aftermarket internals they are intermittent.

I like buying them like that because they are cheap and a great source of parts - POKEY, CPU, GTIA, ANTIC, 5v only 16k DRAM, etc...

RJ

True on both counts - didn't even think about the chips. Those controllers - ahhhhh, what were they thinking?
 
Ha! I've got a 5200 with no working controllers. Going to put up the system for sale in the near future with a few games. I'm sticking with NES and up for my collection.
 
I have a 5200, and only Ms. Pac for it. I don't think I've ever even HAD a controller, but it did work the last time I plugged it in and fired it up, like 5 years ago.

I'll see if I can find some time to dig it out and see if it will still fire up. I think the 7200 also will play those games, right?
 
The 5200 is great, I'm only missing Bounty Bob for a complete collection. The controllers are crap, but there are alternatives..
 
I have a 5200, and only Ms. Pac for it. I don't think I've ever even HAD a controller, but it did work the last time I plugged it in and fired it up, like 5 years ago.

I'll see if I can find some time to dig it out and see if it will still fire up. I think the 7200 also will play those games, right?

Unfortunately no.
 
My uncle has a 5200 and a shit pile of games.. but all his controllers are junk. We've bought second hand ones of EBAY, but they only last a while then there junk too. What are the alternatives for this system?
 
Well you can get the Masterplay adapters, or the ones Atari Age made, bot letting you use normal 9 pin joysticks/sega pads.. The rebuilds kits as mentioned earlier.

Maybe also acquire a 5200 Wico stick?
 
I have a 5200, and only Ms. Pac for it. I don't think I've ever even HAD a controller, but it did work the last time I plugged it in and fired it up, like 5 years ago.

I'll see if I can find some time to dig it out and see if it will still fire up. I think the 7200 also will play those games, right?


The 7800 is backward compatible with the 2600 meaning they use similar chipsets and even though the model number of the 7800 is higher than the 5200 it doesn't mean it's a better machine (quite the opposite). The 5200 is on par with the Atari computers of that era in terms of hardware and software which is why the games looked so similar and the emulators for the computers and the 5200 are essentially the same. FWIW I have a 7800 and hate it and all its games (FESTER's QUEST!!!!! YAY!!!!)

Here's the bottom line. When I was a kid I wanted to own a 5200 but with parents who believed every quarter dropped into a gum machine, pinball machine, jukebox, or video game was a wasted quarter and some starving child in a third world country dies every time I played Asteroids, there was no chance I would ever touch a 5200. I got an 800 because I convinced my dad computers were the "cars of 1980" and since he basically earned millions on his salvage yard over 30 years, he bought it. The fact I could play games on the 800 was corollary to them, and in fairness, I work from home doing software support these days and do well enough to be in this hobby and buy groceries.
Long story longer, I would like a 5200 for two reasons. 1) I always wanted one and could never get one and 2) my wife had one when she was 17 and it broke repeatedly and I want to share the experience of playing it with her.
 
I would like a 5200 for two reasons. 1) I always wanted one and could never get one and 2) my wife had one when she was 17 and it broke repeatedly and I want to share the experience of playing it with her.

Good man.
 
Wasn't trying to knock ya, was just a suggestion. :)

I'll see if I can dig it out today and take some pics. Like I said, I NEVER use it. I'm willing to sell it to get it out to someone who will appreciate it. It's just taking up space and collecting dust in my hands. =\
 
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