STRIM 65

STRIM 65 refers to the Stream Transmit Interrupt Mode 65, a legacy video mode associated primarily with certain Atari 8-bit family computers, specifically those equipped with the GTIA chip. This mode allowed for a higher number of colors on screen simultaneously than the standard text or graphics modes, although at the cost of significant memory and processing overhead.

The primary characteristic of STRIM 65 is its reliance on a complex interrupt-driven routine. The interrupt routine manipulates the GTIA's color registers on a scanline basis, enabling the display of a greater range of colors within a single frame. This technique circumvented the limitations inherent in the standard display list.

The name "STRIM" itself is believed to be a shortened form of "Stream," indicating the stream of data required to dynamically alter the color palette. The number "65" isn't directly tied to the number of colors displayed, but is an identifier that distinguishes this particular color mode from others using similar techniques.

STRIM 65 was popular amongst demo coders and game developers seeking to achieve richer visual effects on the Atari 8-bit platform. While visually impressive for its time, the computational demands of STRIM 65 meant that its use was often confined to static screens or elements within games, rather than full-screen animated sequences.