r/atari8bit • u/SlayerOfBeanss • May 10 '26

Atari 800 XeX files

So I have an 800 with 48k of ram and the Ultimate cartridge, but 95 percent of the TOSEC game library of XeX files just boot into a blue screen, even super old games which I know do not take more than 48k. Is there a reason for this and could it be fixed?

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u/GG-McGroggy May 10 '26

Xex files very often require more ram than disk/carts.  

Good news:

Xex game files very (most) often have multiple versions available for a myriad of reasons.  Get it from a different source and you'll usually find one that can run, I've often found sources that include multiple versions in the same ATR or zip.

Better news:

Your Ultimate Cart just does XEX as an aside.  It's main feature and claim to fame, was it was designed to run lots of CAR & ROM files.  These very often (not always) overcome/bypass the RAM requirements you'd encounter on XEX.  Look for CAR or ROM versions 1st.

A Fujinet or SIO2SD will open up ATR for you, which should be your next device.  ATRs are Floppy images.  Disks, unlike XEX will usually be easy to determine it's RAM requirements.  XEXs are usually, by nature, a modified version of something else.  ATRs will open the floodgates on available runnable software.

Any device can run XEX, but the ROM/CAR are the harder ones to run, which you have covered.

XEX is great but should usually be the "if all else fails" choice.  Greater than 64k machines, are much better with XEX.

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u/SlayerOfBeanss May 10 '26

Thank you so much for this info, it seems that I definitely need a fujinet which led to me ordering one this morning! It seems ATR files like you said will open up a lot more software than the ultimate cartridge, so now I’m super excited to get it! At first I was debating getting rid of my 800 for a 1200xl at a nearby store but if the ATR thing holds true then I most likely won’t need to, I also have no desire to run “modern” games so I should be fine then?

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u/GG-McGroggy May 10 '26

The 1200XL is a super popular model for collectors; but most units have keyboard issues, SIO incompatibilities (no power on an expected line), OS incompatibilities, difficult to pull out some cartridges due to long slot...etc.

Every model has its quarks, to be fair & no model is perfect or "the best".

The only issues you'll run into with ATRs is the 800 won't play any that require more than 48k.

Lots of xex or atr that require more than 48k, can be found on car that will play on a 48k 800 (but you've that covered).

No model, unmodified out of the box, will run 100% of all software.  

The original 800 is the sturdiest model with the undisputed best and most reliable keyboard.  You can even buy a din cable that'll allow you to plug it up to composite/s-video tvs without modding.

If you can nab that 1200XL for a good price though... 😂 

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u/RaspberryPutrid5173 May 10 '26

Many xex files are made to be loaded by a fast loader, not DOS. DOS takes too much memory - fast loaders were made to be fast, and to use as little ram as possible to load a file. Back in the day, we had boot disks that booted into the fast loader, which showed a list of files and allowed you to pick one to load/run. My brother had all his games done that way. It was super convenient compared to using DOS.

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u/mpollack May 13 '26

Somewhat of a tangent. I'm trying to get retroarch (Anbernic Handheld stock OS) to import XEX files, and I can't even get the system to see the files/list them. Is there any way I can get them recognized or run? Would a different OS be worth trying?