Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) vs SEGA Master System

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Entertainment System (NES) compared with Master System

	NintendoEntertainment System (NES)	SEGAMaster System
Overview
Released
Released	1986	August 1987
Performance
Type
Type	Home console	Home console
CPU
CPU	Ricoh RP2A07 (6502-based), 1.66 MHz	Zilog Z80A, 3.58 MHz
GPU
GPU	Ricoh RP2C07 PPU	SEGA video display processor (VDP)
Memory
Memory	4 KB	24 KB (better)
Disc drive
Disc drive	No	No
CPU
CPU	Ricoh RP2A07, a 6502-derived 8-bit CPU at 1.66 MHz on PAL consoles	Zilog Z80A at 3.58 MHz (SEGA service manual for the overseas Master System)
GPU
GPU	Ricoh RP2C07 picture processing unit on PAL consoles	–
Memory detail
Memory detail	2 KB work RAM, 2 KB video RAM and 256 bytes of sprite attribute memory	8 KB RAM plus 16 KB VRAM (SEGA)
Storage detail
Storage detail	NES Game Paks (cartridges); some save on the cartridge	Cartridges and Sega Cards (SEGA)
Display and video
Built-in screen
Built-in screen	No built-in screen	No built-in screen
Video output
Video output	256 × 240 picture; RF and composite outputs	256 × 192, up to 32 colours on screen from a 64-colour palette (SEGA developer and service manuals)
Audio
Audio	5 channels (2 pulse wave, triangle wave, noise, DPCM sample)	Programmable sound generator with three tone channels and one noise channel; the overseas model lacks the Japanese model's FM sound (SEGA)
Connections
Ports
Ports	2 × controller ports	–
Controller
Controller	NES controller with D-pad, A, B, Start and Select	Control Pad with D-pad and two buttons