SEGA Mega Drive vs SEGA Saturn

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Mega Drive compared with Saturn

	SEGAMega Drive	SEGASaturn
Overview
Released
Released	September 1990	July 1995
Performance
Type
Type	Home console	Home console
CPU
CPU	Motorola 68000, 7.6 MHz, plus Zilog Z80	2 × Hitachi SH-2, 28.6 MHz
GPU
GPU	SEGA VDP (custom LSI)	SEGA VDP1 and VDP2
Memory
Memory	128 KB	4 MB (better)
Disc drive
Disc drive	No	Yes
CPU
CPU	Motorola 68000 at 7.60 MHz on PAL consoles and Zilog Z80A for sound (SEGA technical overview)	Two Hitachi SH-2 at 28.6 MHz (25 MIPS each); Motorola 68EC000 at 11.3 MHz for sound
GPU
GPU	64 of 512 colours at once; 80 sprites and 2 scroll planes	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	64 KB RAM for the 68000 plus 64 KB VRAM; 8 KB for the Z80	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	Cartridges; some save on the cartridge	Double-speed CD-ROM drive; saves in internal backup RAM (battery-backed)
Storage expansion
Storage expansion	Expansion slot (Mega-CD); extension control port	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	A/V out; 320 × 224 or 256 × 224, with 240-line PAL and interlaced modes (SEGA technical overview)	A/V out; 320 × 224 and others
Audio
Audio	6 FM channels (one usable for PCM) plus 3 PSG channels and 1 noise; stereo headphone jack	32-channel PCM or FM sound (16-bit, up to 44.1 kHz) with audio DSP
Connections
Ports
Ports	2 × control ports, headphone jack with volume, A/V out, AC adaptor input, cartridge slot, expansion slot	2 × control ports, A/V out, cartridge slot, communication expansion port
Controller
Controller	Control Pad with D-pad, three action buttons and Start	Control Pad with D-pad, six face buttons, L, R and Start
Backward compatibility
Backward compatibility	Master System games with the separately sold Master System Converter; some titles do not work (SEGA)	–
Design and power
Power use
Power use	–	About 15 W (Japanese model HST-3210, 100 V)