Picture Processing Unit: Difference between revisions

Revision as of 07:45, 19 September 2008

Revision as of 01:41, 18 November 2008

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The '''PPU (Picture Processing Unit)''', more specifically known as [[Ricoh]] RP2C02 ([[NTSC]] version) / RP2C07 ([[PAL]] version), is the [[microprocessor]] in the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]] responsible for generating video signals from graphic data stored in memory.

The chip is known for its effective use of [[Memory (computers)|memory]], using very little memory to store graphical data. It was rather advanced for its time when the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|Famicom]] (Japanese version of the Nintendo Entertainment System) was released, sporting full [[Sprite (computer graphics)|sprite]] support, movable backgrounds, and many colors on screen at the same time. To compete with other video game systems, like the technically superior [[Sega MegaMaster DriveSystem]], [[Nintendo]] also extended the PPU's technical capabilities through the use of [[Multi-Memory Controller|mappers]], which were placed on the game cartridge. The mappers added more memory or could bank switch data into the PPU's [[address space]], making it possible to create more advanced graphics, using more colors and bigger [[tile set]]s.

==Key features==