exxos's Atari, Amiga & retro forum

When I run GEMBench in my new Atari STE, it seems to state: BLiTTER NP

Arent's all STE's supposed to have a Blitter chip, or am I reading this wrong?

Some STEs have the blitter included in the MCU chip, some don't and have a separate blitter chip.

Sounds like you have an STE with the MCU chip without bitter.

Right. Thanks!

Just in case it wasn't obvious from @kodak80's reply: this is highly unusual. Either the chip is physically missing (because somebody pulled it out) or it is broken.

At the desktop can you enable/disable the blitter from the options menu?

rubber_jonnie wrote: 29 Aug 2025 10:29 At the desktop can you enable/disable the blitter from the options menu?

I did that, but it still says NP and then that option becomes greyed out. I'll open up the case to see if it's there. What are possible chip numbers should expect?

Reluctant16bitter wrote: 29 Aug 2025 11:00

rubber_jonnie wrote: 29 Aug 2025 10:29 At the desktop can you enable/disable the blitter from the options menu?

I did that, but it still says NP and then that option becomes greyed out. I'll open up the case to see if it's there. What are possible chip numbers should expect?

I'd suggest you get a photo of the mainboard and the main IC's, as clear as possible so chip numbers can be read. I think the separate Blitter is C101643 but I'm not sure where the Blitter is combined in the MCU.

It's possible the Blitter could have been pulled for another machine.

Here it is:
When comparing with https://info-coach.fr/atari/hardware/STE-HW.php, there's indeed a chip missing where the Blitter should be.

The chip just south west of the duckt tape says per line: "C300589-001", "(c) ATARI 1988", "-19", "J8936". It doesn't look like I could replace it, but where the Blitter should be, it looks like I could just press one into that, right?

Reluctant16bitter wrote: 29 Aug 2025 14:56 Here it is:

20250829-atari-ste-mb.jpg

When comparing with https://info-coach.fr/atari/hardware/STE-HW.php, there's indeed a chip missing where the Blitter should be.

The chip just south west of the duckt tape says per line: "C300589-001", "(c) ATARI 1988", "-19", "J8936". It doesn't look like I could replace it, but where the Blitter should be, it looks like I could just press one into that, right?

As I understand it, C300589-001 does not have an integrated blitter, it would likely be fitted in the empty PLCC socket, U101 I think. There may be something that needs to happen with R111 & R112 as there seems to be jumper wires in place there. I have seen jumpers that are bridged with solder on some boards to enable the blitter, but I can't recall if that was ST or STE.

I have read and I don't know how true it is, but not all STE's came with the Blitter, and looking at yours I'd suggest that might be the case.

I'd have to look at the schematic or another STE to check how they should be configured though, and I can't look at mine because I'm on holiday right now. Perhaps have a look at the mainboard images section of the forum.

What's going on with the duct tape BTW?

rubber_jonnie wrote: 29 Aug 2025 15:15There may be something that needs to happen with R111 & R112 as there seems to be jumper wires in place there. I have seen jumpers that are bridged with solder on some boards to enable the blitter, but I can't recall if that was ST or STE.

I'd have to look at the schematic or another STE to check how they should be configured though, and I can't look at mine because I'm on holiday right now. Perhaps have a look at the mainboard images section of the forum.

What's going on with the duct tape BTW?

This, except for the new PSU and the 4MB worth of SIMMs that I put in yesterday, is how I bought it from someone who didn't have a clue about it (he was emptying the attic of someone who died) so I haven't the foggiest about the duckt tape, any of the wires or the R111 and R112. As far as I know, this is how in 1988 Atari rushed out these devices from the factory and put a big metal shield over it to hide their workmanship.

I'll have a look at the schematics I can find. And enjoy your holiday!