Nintendo Entertainment System
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The Nintendo Entertainment System (NES), released in Japan as the Family Computer (Famicom), is an 8-bit third-generation home video game console developed and manufactured by Nintendo. Launched in 1983 (Japan) and 1985 (North America), it revitalised the video game industry after the crash of 1983 and became one of the most influential consoles of all time, selling over 61 million units worldwide.[1]
🧠 Architecture and Processor
The NES is powered by the Ricoh 2A03 (NTSC) or Ricoh 2A07 (PAL) microprocessor, both based on the MOS Technology 6502 core. The CPU runs at 1.79 MHz (NTSC) or 1.66 MHz (PAL), and integrates audio generation hardware. The Famicom and NES share the same core architecture, with minor regional differences (notably in the lockout chip and video output).
The system architecture is simple and highly efficient, with direct memory access between the CPU and the Picture Processing Unit (PPU), and a cartridge interface that allows for hardware expansion via "mappers" (memory management controllers).
💾 Memory and Storage
The NES contains:
- 2 KB internal RAM (work RAM, or WRAM)
- 2 KB video RAM (VRAM, within the PPU)
- Additional RAM and hardware could be added via cartridges (e.g., battery-backed save RAM, extra VRAM, custom chips)
- Games are stored on ROM cartridges, typically 8–512 KB, with some later titles reaching up to 1 MB using advanced mappers.
🖥️ Display and Graphics
The NES uses a custom Picture Processing Unit (PPU), the Ricoh 2C02 (NTSC) or 2C07 (PAL), supporting:
- Resolution: 256 × 240 pixels (NTSC), 256 × 240/256 (PAL)
- Colour palette: 54 colours (48 usable), 25 on-screen at once (including background)
- Sprites: Up to 64 per frame, 8 per scanline
- Hardware scrolling, tile-based backgrounds, and palette swapping
- Advanced cartridges enabled effects such as split-screen scrolling and expanded colour use
🔊 Sound Capabilities
The NES audio subsystem provides five channels:
- 2 × pulse wave (square) channels
- 1 × triangle wave channel
- 1 × noise channel