SEGA Master System vs SEGA Mega Drive

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Master System compared with Mega Drive

	SEGAMaster System	SEGAMega Drive
Overview
Released
Released	August 1987	September 1990
Performance
Type
Type	Home console	Home console
CPU
CPU	Zilog Z80A, 3.58 MHz	Motorola 68000, 7.6 MHz, plus Zilog Z80
GPU
GPU	SEGA video display processor (VDP)	SEGA VDP (custom LSI)
Memory
Memory	24 KB	128 KB (better)
Disc drive
Disc drive	No	No
CPU
CPU	Zilog Z80A at 3.58 MHz (SEGA service manual for the overseas Master System)	Motorola 68000 at 7.60 MHz on PAL consoles and Zilog Z80A for sound (SEGA technical overview)
GPU
GPU	–	64 of 512 colours at once; 80 sprites and 2 scroll planes
Memory detail
Memory detail	8 KB RAM plus 16 KB VRAM (SEGA)	64 KB RAM for the 68000 plus 64 KB VRAM; 8 KB for the Z80
Storage detail
Storage detail	Cartridges and Sega Cards (SEGA)	Cartridges; some save on the cartridge
Storage expansion
Storage expansion	–	Expansion slot (Mega-CD); extension control port
Display and video
Built-in screen
Built-in screen	No built-in screen	No built-in screen
Video output
Video output	256 × 192, up to 32 colours on screen from a 64-colour palette (SEGA developer and service manuals)	A/V out; 320 × 224 or 256 × 224, with 240-line PAL and interlaced modes (SEGA technical overview)
Audio
Audio	Programmable sound generator with three tone channels and one noise channel; the overseas model lacks the Japanese model's FM sound (SEGA)	6 FM channels (one usable for PCM) plus 3 PSG channels and 1 noise; stereo headphone jack
Connections
Ports
Ports	–	2 × control ports, headphone jack with volume, A/V out, AC adaptor input, cartridge slot, expansion slot
Controller
Controller	Control Pad with D-pad and two buttons	Control Pad with D-pad, three action buttons and Start
Backward compatibility
Backward compatibility	–	Master System games with the separately sold Master System Converter; some titles do not work (SEGA)