Nintendo 64: Difference between revisions

The Nintendo 64's [[central processing unit]] (CPU) is the [[NEC]] VR4300.<ref name="NECVR4300">{{cite web|url=http://www.nec.co.jp/press/en/9711/1401-01.html|title=Main specifications of VR4300TM-series|publisher=NEC|accessdate=2006-05-20}}</ref> This processor was the most powerful console CPU of its generation;<ref>{{cite web|title=Gaming consoles|url=http://wayback.archive.org/web/20100327231733/http://www.ssagsg.org/LearningSpace/EntertainmentGaming/GamingConsoles.htm#5th_generation_gaming_consoles|accessdate=2009-01-11}}</ref> ''[[Popular Electronics]]'' said it had power similar to the [[Pentium]] processors found in desktop computers.<ref name="Popular Will" /> Except for its narrower 32-bit system bus, the VR4300 retained the computational abilities of the more powerful 64-bit MIPS R4300i,<ref name="NECVR4300"/> though software rarely took advantage of 64-bit [[Significant figures|data precision]] operations. N64 game-titles generally used faster (and more compact) 32-bit data-operations,<ref name="64 bit">{{cite web|url=http://groups.google.com/group/rec.games.video.nintendo/msg/01765b0b98de9908|title=N64, God of all systems|publisher= Google Groups|date=1997-07-26|accessdate=2006-05-20}}</ref> as these were sufficient to generate 3D-scene data for the console's RSP (Reality Signal Processor; see below) unit. In addition, 32-bit code executed faster and required less storage space (which was at a premium on the N64's cartridges).