NES-on-a-chip

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An example of an NOAC circuit
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An example of an NOAC circuit

An NES-on-a-chip (NOAC) is a single CMOS integrated circuit which duplicates the functionality of the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES, known in Asia as the Famicom) video game console. However, NOACs tend to poorly recreate the NES system's circuitry, which causes inaccurate colors, inaccurate audio, missing sounds, additional glitches, and the inability to run certain NES and Famicom games. Most NOACs were manufactured in grey market factories in China; their original inventor is unknown.

The NOAC consists of 82 pins, and because of its small size and power consumption, is frequently used in unlicensed hardware clones of the NES, especially those touting handheld portability or in game controllers which connect directly to a user's television set. NOACs were also utilized in the Super 8 (also known as the Tri-star) and Tristar 64 accessories, which allowed NES cartridges to be played on the Super Nintendo Entertainment System and Nintendo 64 consoles, respectively.

NOAC chips have also become popular among the DIY and modding communities, who utilize the chips into portable devices and other hand-made gadgets, similar to Ben Heck's NES Micro portable project

[edit] References

  • Kevin Horton. NES On a Chip. Accessed on 12 April 2005. Link broken as of 28 November 2006.
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