Nintendo Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) vs SEGA Saturn

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Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) compared with Saturn

	NintendoSuper Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES)	SEGASaturn
Overview
Released
Released	April 1992	July 1995
Performance
Type
Type	Home console	Home console
CPU
CPU	Ricoh 5A22 (16-bit), 2.68 MHz	2 × Hitachi SH-2, 28.6 MHz
GPU
GPU	Nintendo S-PPU1 and S-PPU2	SEGA VDP1 and VDP2
Memory
Memory	192 KB	4 MB (better)
Disc drive
Disc drive	No	Yes
CPU
CPU	16-bit 65816-based Ricoh 5A22 with a variable clock; Nintendo UK lists 2.68 MHz	Two Hitachi SH-2 at 28.6 MHz (25 MIPS each); Motorola 68EC000 at 11.3 MHz for sound
GPU
GPU	16-bit graphics processor with Mode 7 background effects and up to 256 colours on screen (Nintendo UK)	VDP1 (sprites and polygons) and VDP2 (backgrounds); up to 16.77 million colours; up to 5 scroll planes; flat and Gouraud shading
Memory detail
Memory detail	128 KB work RAM plus 64 KB video RAM (Nintendo UK)	16 Mbit (2 MB) work RAM, 12 Mbit (1.5 MB) video RAM; separately 4 Mbit sound RAM, 4 Mbit CD buffer and 256 Kbit backup RAM
Storage detail
Storage detail	Super NES Game Paks (cartridges); some save on the cartridge	Double-speed CD-ROM drive; saves in internal backup RAM (battery-backed)
Storage expansion
Storage expansion	–	Cartridge slot (backup memory, RAM expansion); communication expansion port
Display and video
Built-in screen
Built-in screen	No built-in screen	No built-in screen
Video output
Video output	Up to 512 × 448 pixels; RF, RGB and S-Video outputs (Nintendo UK)	A/V out; 320 × 224 and others
Audio
Audio	Sony SPC700 sound chip with eight channels (Nintendo UK)	32-channel PCM or FM sound (16-bit, up to 44.1 kHz) with audio DSP
Connections
Ports
Ports	2 × controller ports (Nintendo UK)	2 × control ports, A/V out, cartridge slot, communication expansion port
Controller
Controller	Super NES controller with D-pad, A, B, X, Y, L, R, Start and Select	Control Pad with D-pad, six face buttons, L, R and Start
Design and power
Power use
Power use	–	About 15 W (Japanese model HST-3210, 100 V)