supergrafx

The SuperGrafx video game console was an upgraded version of NEC's popular PC Engine system. At first it was known as the PC-Engine 2 -- which was purported to be a true 16-Bit system with improved graphics and audio capabilities, not expected to see release until 1990. However the final machine was named SuperGrafx, was released earlier than expected, in late 1989, only provided modestly enhanced graphics over the original PC-Engine, had audio that was the same as the PC-Engine and no 16-bit CPU, just the same one as the PC-Engine. The enhancements SuperGrafx did have: Compared to the PC-Engine, SuperGrafx has four times the amount of work RAM for the main CPU, a second video chip with its own video RAM, and a priority controller chip that allowed the output of both video chips to be combined in various ways. SuperGrafx had support for 2 independantly scrolling background layers, like the Sega Megadrive/Genesis, instead of the PC-Engine's single layer. The SuperGrafx was largely a failure due to a lack of software written to support its enhanced abilities; only 6 titles were ever released. There were no CD, SCD, or ACD games written that took advantage of the SuperGrafx platform. In addition, its single 8-bit CPU had a heavy workload managing the extra video hardware.

Specifications

Custom Chips Based on Hudson Soft's C62 chipset.

HuC6280 (Enhanced 8-bit 65C02 CPU, runs @ 1.79 or 7.16 MHz, switchable by software)
HuC6270 (Video Color Encoder)
HuC6260 (Video Display Processor)
HuC6202 (Video Priority Controller)

Each VDC can display a single 8x8 tiled scrollable background, and generate 64 sprites with sizes of 16x16 to 32x64 with 16 sprites visible per scanline. The VPC divides the display into horizontal windows which can filter through either VDC display, both, or none, and control the priority between both background and sprite layers within the window. Hardly any games except for Ghouls & Ghosts made use of this unique feature. The VPC outputs processed video data to the VCE which means both video chips had to run at the same clock speed (no mixed resolutions) and use the same 512-entry palette across all four display layers. Memory

32K work RAM for HuC6280
64K video RAM for each HuC6260 (128K total)

The expanded work RAM is available even when the SuperGrafx has been switched into PC-Engine compatibility mode, a quirk that doesn't seem to cause any issues with original PC-Engine software. Audio

HuC6280 has built-in 6-channel stereo PSG, each channel can optionally be used as a CPU-driven DAC, two channels can generate noise, and one channel can frequency modulate another.
Cartridge and EXT-BUS connector have single monaural input for mixing in an external audio source.

The addition of the CD-ROM peripheral adds CD-DA sound, and a single ADPCM channel to the existing sound capabilities of the SuperGrafx. Input/Output

HuCard cartridge connector.
EXT-BUS expansion connector. (for CD-ROM, Tennokoe 2, RAU-30, etc.)
Standard mini-DIN gamepad connector.
Enhanced I/O port with 8 output and 4 input pins.
5-pin DIN A/V connector with composite video and stereo audio output only.
Power adapter jack.
Compatibility mode (PC-Engine or SuperGrafx) switch on back of unit.

The enhanced I/O port was designed for a multiple-input perhipheral that was shown in several game magazines but never released commercially. Peripherals

RAU-30 adapter Connects SuperGrafx to IFU-30 CD-ROM interface tray, as the SuperGrafx won't fit due to its unusual shape.

External links

Magic Engine - Commercial TurboGrafx-16/PC-Engine/SuperGrafx emulator.

<< Previous

Word Browser

Next >>

university admissions index
boeing xb 15
leesville township, wake county, north carolina
juan morel campos
house creek township, wake county, north carolina
cedar fork township, wake county, north carolina
white oak township, wake county, north carolina
cary township, wake county, north carolina
buckhorn township, wake county, north carolina
national defense service medal
holly springs township, wake county, north carolina

north umpqua river
paul berg
maidu lake
parlement
augustus saint gaudens
list of chinese martial arts
anisometropia
council of ancients
norra vsterbotten
william moody (wwe)
alberta greens

polyomavirus
red knobbed coot
lead(ii) iodide
roger tayler
papovavirus
mazda mazdago
bumthang
chukha
luk thung
dagana
gasa