Technical specifications

1. Main processor : NEC VR4300 (93.75 MHz), based on RISC processor, MIPS R4300i-series.
   • L1 Cache: 24 KB, splitted in 16KB for instructions and 8KB for data.
   • No L2 cache.
   • Manufactured by NEC, 35 µm precision.
   • 32bit busses (addresses and data).
   • Instruction set : MIPS R4000 64-bit.
   • Adressable memory : 4GB (up to virtual 1TB).
   • 4.6 million transistors.
   • 5-stage scalar pipeline with integrated FPU.
   • Capacity to execute 93 million opérations per second.
   • Bandwith : 250MB/s (not DMA).
   • Microprocessor can't access directly the RAM.
2. Graphic processors : SGI 62.5 MHz 64-bit RCP ("Reality" co-processor), with 2 sub-processors.
   • RSP (Reality Signal Processor), which controls 3D graphics and audio functionalities.
     • 8-bit vector processeur based on MIPS R4000.
     • Programmable using microcode (µcode). Possibilities to add or modify existing functions.
     • Transformation, clipping, lighting, triangle setup, and audio decoding (audio can also be done using main CPU).
     • Displayable polygons : initially about 100000 polygons per second, without quality loss. Some more recent games could display more thanks to graphic processor microcode optimization.
   • RDP (Reality Drawing Processor), rasterizer handles all pixel drawing operations in hardware.
     • Z-buffering : spatial relationship between 3D objects (is the hero in front of the house or behind?)
     • Anti-aliasing : smoothes jagged lines and edges (reduces "stair-effetc").
     • Texture mapping : places textures and images over shapes.
     • Bilinear filtering : prevents texture blockiness by blurring when resizing.
     • Mip-mapping : creates distance textures of varying degress of fidelity.
     • Trilinear mip-map interpolation : filters mip-maps and textures smoothly without blockiness. Nintendo 64's filtering is not entirely accurate, its precision was reduced to lower mathematical demands.
     • Perspective-correct texture mapping : keeps textures from "warping" when viewed at different angles.
     • Environment mapping.
     • Gouraud shading, fillrate of about 30 millions pixels per second when Z-buffering is enabled.
   • 128-bit internal data bus between RSP and RDP. Bandwith of about 1Gb/sec.
   • Resolution : from 256 x 224 to 640 x 480 pixels.
   • Color depth : 16.7 million colors, 32768 simultaneous on screen.
3. RAM : 4 MB RDRAM (upgradable to 8 MB while using Expansion Pak).
   • Data path : 9-bit width at 500 MHz
   • Potential Memory Bandwidth : 562.5 MB/s.
   • RAM latency about 640ns.
4. Sound :
   • 16-bit Stereo. ADPCM-support. Some games used MP3 audio (software-driven).
   • Channels: 100 PCM (max, 16-24 avg.). Each channel consumes about 1% CPU time.
   • Sampling: 48.0 kHz (max, 44.1 kHz is CD quality)
5. Media : cartridges from 32Mb (4MB) to 512Mb (64MB).
6. Dimensions :
   • Length : 160mm
   • Width (depth) : 190mm
   • Height : 73mm
7. Weight : 1.1 kg
8. Controller connectors : 4
9. Controller : 1 analog stick, 2 lateral triggers, 1 digital cross, 6 action buttons, 1 start button, and 1 digital trigger.