Sega Mega CD
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 Sega Mega CD
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| Image:SystemPicture.jpg | |
| Manufacturer: | Sega |
| Alternate Names: | Sega CD (US) |
| Announced: | June/1991 |
| Release date: | JP: 1/December/1991 NA: date/November/1992 EU: 19/April/1993 AU: 19/April/1993 |
| Initial Price: | JP: ¥49,800 NA: $299 EU: £270 AU: ? |
| Discontinued: | March/1996 |
Contents |
Description of Hardware
The Mega CD was an add-on to the Sega Mega Drive which added a CD drive and better graphical capabilities to the standard Mega Drive.
Hardware Specifications
CPU
The main CPU is a 12.5-MHz 16-bit Motorola 68000 processor. The Mega Drive/Genesis has the same processor, but at a lower clock rate of 7.67 MHz.
Graphics
- Graphics Processor: Custom ASIC
- Number of simultaneous colors on screen: 64 (Using programming tricks, this limit is increased to 128 colors via raster effects)
- Colors available in Cinepak and TruVideo modes: 128 to 256 colors
- Video size from 1/4 to full screen
- Advanced compression scheme
- Software-based upgrade
RAM
- Main RAM: 6 Mbit
- PCM samples: 512 Kbit
- CD-ROM data cache: 128 Kbit
- 64 Kbit Internal Backup RAM
The Sega CD also features sprite enhancement effects such as scaling and rotation, similar to that of the Super Famicom/SNES Mode 7.
Storage
- 500 MB CD-ROM discs (equivalent to 62 min of audio data)
- 1/4 screen B/W footage video: 1.5 to 4 hours
- 1/4 screen color footage: 45 minutes
- CD-ROM drive transfer rate: 150 Kbytes/s (1x)
(Above specs prior to compression)
BIOS
| BIOS Version | Machine |
| 1.00 | Original Mega-CD |
| 1.10 | Original Mega-CD with motorized disk tray |
| 2.00 | Mega-CD 2 (Sega CD 2 in North America) |
| 2.05 | Mega-CD 2 |
| 2.10 | Mega-CD 2 |
| 2.21 | Sega Mega LD (Japan), Sega Multimega (Europe), CDX (North America) |
Audio
The Sega CD adds 10 extra sound channels to the existing Genesis Z80 SPU.
- Sound format: Stereo PCM
- Sound channels: 8
- Maximum sample rate: 32 KHz (44.1 KHz for CD-DA)
- 16 bit DAC
- 8x internal over-sampling digital filter
- Frequency Range: 20 Hz - 20 KHz
- Signal-to-Noise Ratio: > 900 dB @ 1K
- Channel Separation: > 900 dB
- Output: RCA stereo Pin Jack x2 (L/R) / SCART cable
- Mixing Input Port for stereo sound on the original Sega Genesis / Mega Drive Model.
Other
- Dimensions: 301mm x 212.5 x 112.5
- Weight: 1.4 kg (3.1 lbs)
Hardware Revisions
The Mega CD hardware was released in the following revisions:
- Sega Mega-CD I (Sega CD I in North America)
- Sega Mega-CD II (Sega CD II in North America). Designed for the Mega Drive/Genesis II and to reduce manufacturing costs
- JVC Wondermega (Xeye in North American release, never released in Europe), was an all-in-one Genesis/Sega CD unit
- Sega Multi-Mega (called Sega CDX in North America). A portable CD player that plays both Mega Drive and Mega-CD games
- Pioneer LaserActive Sega CD module, an add-on device you could add to a Laseractive Pioneer Laserdisc player
Games
A full list of Sega Mega CD games documented on GamerWiki can be found at the Sega Mega CD category. Please add any further games to the games to be added page.
Peripherals
Emulation
Trivia
External Links
This article uses source material obtained from Wikipedia The original article can be found at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sega_CD
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