Nintendo 64
Nintendo's 1996 cartridge-based home console, the first with an analogue stick as standard and four controller ports, for collectors and anyone comparing it with the PlayStation or GameCube.
- Type
- Home console
- Output
- 576i
- Memory
- 4 MB
- Storage
- –
- Weight
- 1,100 g
Specifications
Report a wrong or missing specPerformance
- Type
- Home console
- CPU
- NEC VR4300 (64-bit), 93.75 MHz
- GPU
- SGI Reality Coprocessor (RCP), 62.5 MHz
- Memory
- 4 MB
- Disc drive
- No
- CPU
- NEC VR4300 (MIPS R4300 family, 64-bit) at 93.75 MHz
- GPU
- Reality Coprocessor at 62.5 MHz, with signal and display processors for graphics and audio
- Memory detail
- 4 MB Rambus RDRAM, shared; 8 MB with the Expansion Pak
- Storage detail
- Nintendo 64 Game Paks (cartridges); some games save on the cartridge, others on a Controller Pak
- Storage expansion
- Memory expansion slot (Expansion Pak); Controller Pak slot in each controller
Display and video
- Maximum output
- 576i
- Built-in screen
- No built-in screen
- Video output
- Multi AV out with composite video; some PAL revisions also support S-Video with the correct cable, but stock consoles do not output RGB; up to 576i on PAL consoles
- Audio
- Stereo audio mixed by the Reality Signal Processor
Design and power
- Weight
- 1,100 g
- Power use
- Power supply provides 12 V and 3.3 V DC
Connections
- Ports
- 4 × controller ports, Multi AV out, memory expansion slot, extension port underneath
- Controller
- Nintendo 64 controller with analogue Control Stick, Z trigger and Controller Pak slot
Pros and cons
Pros
- Analogue stick on the standard controller, and four controller ports
- 64-bit NEC VR4300 CPU with a Silicon Graphics-designed graphics chip
- Cartridges load almost instantly
Cons
- 4 MB of RAM (8 MB with the Expansion Pak)
- Cartridges hold far less than a CD
- Saves on many games need a separate Controller Pak
Closest rivals
Model | Type | Output | Memory | Storage | Weight | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home console | – | 4 MB | – | – | Jul 1995 | |
| Home console | – | 3 MB | – | – | Sept 1995 | |
| Home console | – | 3 MB | – | 560 g | Sept 2000 |
Newer model: GameCube.
Sources
- nintendo.com/en-gb/Hardware/Nintendo-History/Nintendo-64/Technical-Details/Tech…
- nintendo.com/en-gb/Hardware/Nintendo-History/Nintendo-64/Accessories/Accessorie…
- nintendo.com/en-gb/Hardware/Nintendo-History/Nintendo-History-625945.html
- ultra64.ca/files/documentation/nintendo/Nintendo_64_Programming_Manual_NU6-06-0…
- classic.copetti.org/writings/consoles/nintendo-64
- consoleartisan.com/reference/n64
Photo: Evan-Amos, Wikimedia Commons
