Reality Co-Processor

The other major component of the Nintendo 64 is the Reality Co-Processor. The Reality Co-Processor performs the audio and graphical functions of the Nintendo 64. There are many articles that tout the audio and graphics of the Nintendo 64. Also many articles, both printed and those on the web, qualitatively describe the Reality Co-Processor, but few if any give technical specifications of the Reality Co-Processor. Like the MIPS R4300i microprocessor, NEC manufactures the Reality Co-Processor. At least one source reported that the Reality Immersion Co-Processor is a RISC chip.

Articles on the Web

Nintendo and SGI join forces-This is a news clip from 1993 when Nintendo and SGI announced their agreement to build the Nintendo 64. Some of the capabilities of the Reality Co-Processor are mentioned.

SGI reveals Reality Immersion Technology-This press release discusses the functions of the Reality Co-Processor. This press release is dated May 15, 1996.

The System-This article focuses on the Reality Co-Processor, which is referred to in the article as the Reality Immersion Coprocessor. The article mentions a feature of the Reality Co-Processor, the Trilinear Mip Map Interpolation. The article gives a layman's description of the feature, but that is all. For more background, you might want to look at Jim Garlick's 3-Dimensional Technologies webpage. You should also look at Mark Stosberg's Accelerating Architectures for Multimedia webpage to compare SGI's architecture to other architectures.

The Power Behind Nintendo 64-Another general overview that talks about the capabilities of the Nintendo 64. There are some buzz words that may just be a marketing gimmick. You decide.

Nintel Inside-More technical specifications of the Nintendo 64. These specifications go more in depth about the graphical and audio capabilities of the Reality Co-Processor. This technical specifications page reports that the Reality Immersion Co-Processor is a RISC chip.