Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) vs Nintendo Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)

Every spec side by side, from each maker's published figures.

Better figure, where one is clearly better

Entertainment System (NES) compared with Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)
NintendoEntertainment System (NES)NintendoSuper Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)
Overview
Released1986April 1992
Performance
TypeHome consoleHome console
CPURicoh RP2A07 (6502-based), 1.66 MHzRicoh 5A22 (16-bit), 2.68 MHz
GPURicoh RP2C07 PPUNintendo S-PPU1 and S-PPU2
Memory4 KB192 KB (better)
Disc driveNoNo
CPURicoh RP2A07, a 6502-derived 8-bit CPU at 1.66 MHz on PAL consoles16-bit 65816-based Ricoh 5A22 with a variable clock; Nintendo UK lists 2.68 MHz
GPURicoh RP2C07 picture processing unit on PAL consoles16-bit graphics processor with Mode 7 background effects and up to 256 colours on screen (Nintendo UK)
Memory detail2 KB work RAM, 2 KB video RAM and 256 bytes of sprite attribute memory128 KB work RAM plus 64 KB video RAM (Nintendo UK)
Storage detailNES Game Paks (cartridges); some save on the cartridgeSuper NES Game Paks (cartridges); some save on the cartridge
Display and video
Built-in screenNo built-in screenNo built-in screen
Video output256 × 240 picture; RF and composite outputsUp to 512 × 448 pixels; RF, RGB and S-Video outputs (Nintendo UK)
Audio5 channels (2 pulse wave, triangle wave, noise, DPCM sample)Sony SPC700 sound chip with eight channels (Nintendo UK)
Connections
Ports2 × controller ports2 × controller ports (Nintendo UK)
ControllerNES controller with D-pad, A, B, Start and SelectSuper NES controller with D-pad, A, B, X, Y, L, R, Start and Select

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