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Texas Instruments TI-99/4A (No "Solid State Software" Label)

Blue Arrow Company:  Texas Instruments
Blue Arrow Model Number:  PHCOO4A
Blue Arrow Manufacture Date/Year:  1981


Blue Camera Camera Used:  Nikon D5100
Blue Info Images Copyright:  Click Here
Texas Instruments TI-99/4A front Texas Instruments TI-99/4A back Texas Instruments TI-99/4A side1 Texas Instruments TI-99/4A side2
Texas Instruments TI-99/4A herol Texas Instruments TI-99/4A heror Texas Instruments TI-99/4A top1 Texas Instruments TI-99/4A top2


Blue Arrow Specifications

Core Unit:

  • Processor:  3 MHz TI TMS9900
  • Memory:
    • 16K VDP RAM (Video Display Processor RAM)
    • 256 bytes CPU fast "scratchpad RAM" intended for the processor to maintain register workspaces
    • 26K ROM
  • Graphics:
    • TI TMS9918A VDP
    • 32 single-color sprites (8 x 8 pixels or 16 x 16 pixels)
    • 16 fixed colors (15 visible, one color reserved for background color)
    • Text Mode:
      • 40 × 24 characters (40 characters wide, up to 24 lines of text)
      • 256 6 × 8 user-definable characters, no sprites, foreground and background color only, not accessible in BASIC
    • Graphics Mode:
      • 32 × 24 characters
      • 256 8 × 8 user-definable characters, full 15 color palette plus background (available in groups of 8 through the character table)
      • 32 sprites (only mode available in BASIC, Extended BASIC is required for sprites and can access only 28 sprites)
    • Bitmap Mode:
      • 192 x 256 pixels
      • No more than 2 colors in an 8 pixel row, full 15 color palette plus background
      • All 32 sprites available but interrupt-based motion through the ROM routine is not due to the memory layout, not available to BASIC
    • Multicolor Mode:
      • 64 × 48 pixels
      • Each pixel may be any color
      • All 32 sprites are available
  • Sound:
    • TI TMS9918A VDP
    • 3 voices, 1 noise (white or periodic)
    • Voices generate square waves from 110 Hz to approximately 115 kHz
    • Console ROM includes interrupt-driven music list playback
  • Ports and Expansion Slots:
    • Controller
    • Audio/video output
    • Data storage cassette
    • ROM cartridge slot
    • CPU bus expansion



Texas Instruments TI-99/4A Comparison
Model with "Solid State Software" label, compared to this later model with no label

Keyboard:
  • Built-in 48 key, QWERTY, full-stroke keyboard with 2 shift keys, a control key, a function key, and an alpha-lock key
Standard Controller:
  • TI DE-9 one-button joystick (one port connects two joysticks)
  • Atari DE-9 one-button joystick (must use an adapter)



Texas Instruments TI-99/4A Controller
TI-99/4A joystick controllers



Texas Instruments TI-99/4A Controller Adapter
Atari compatible controller with TI-99/4A adapter

Game Format:
  • ROM cartridge (one built-in ROM cartridge slot)
  • Cassette tape (external compatible cassette tape recorder needed)
  • 5.25-inch floppy disk (external compatible floppy disk drive needed)
Operating System:
  • Built-in TI BASIC (TI Extended BASIC ROM Catridge available)
  • Disk Operating System
    • TI Disk Manager or Disk Manager II ROM Cartridge
Physical Dimensions:
  • Size (Inches):  2.25 H x 14.75 W x 10 D
  • Weight (Pounds):  4.75


Blue Camera Camera Used:  Nikon D5100
Blue Info Images Copyright:  Click Here
Texas Instruments TI-99/4A n1 Texas Instruments TI-99/4A n2 Texas Instruments TI-99/4A n3 Texas Instruments TI-99/4A n4
Texas Instruments TI-99/4A n5 Texas Instruments TI-99/4A n6 Texas Instruments TI-99/4A n7 Texas Instruments TI-99/4A n8
Texas Instruments TI-99/4A n9


Blue Camera Camera Used:  Nikon D5100
Blue Info Images Copyright:  Click Here
Texas Instruments TI-99/4A o1 Texas Instruments TI-99/4A o2 Texas Instruments TI-99/4A o3 Texas Instruments TI-99/4A o4
Texas Instruments TI-99/4A o5 Texas Instruments TI-99/4A o6 Texas Instruments TI-99/4A o7 Texas Instruments TI-99/4A o8


Blue Camera Camera Used:  Nikon D5100
Blue Info Images Copyright:  Click Here
Texas Instruments TI-99/4A o1 Texas Instruments TI-99/4A o2 Texas Instruments TI-99/4A o3 Texas Instruments TI-99/4A o4
Texas Instruments TI-99/4A o5





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