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Technical Specs

Processors (5 in 3 chips):  

- "Tom"
- 750,000 transistors, 208 pins
- Graphics Processing Unit (processor #1)
- 32-bit RISC architecture (32/64 processor)
- 64 registers of 32 bits wide
- Has access to all 64 bits of the system bus
- Can read 64 bits of data in one instruction
- Rated at 26.591 MIPS (million instructions per second)
- Runs at 26.591 MHz
- 4K bytes of zero wait-state internal SRAM
- Performs a wide range of high-speed graphic effects
- Programmable
- Object processor (processor #2)
- 64-bit RISC architecture
- 64-bit wide registers
- Programmable processor that can act as a variety of different video architectures, such as a sprite engine, a pixel-mapped display, a character-mapped system, and others.
- Blitter (processor #3)
- 64-bit RISC architecture
- 64-bit wide registers
- Performs high-speed logical operations
- Hardware support for Z-buffering and Gouraud shading
- DRAM memory controller
- 64 bits
- Accesses the DRAM directly

- "Jerry" - 600,000 transistors, 144 pins
- Digital Signal Processor (processor #4)
- 32 bits (32-bit registers)
- Rated at 26.6 MIPS (million instructions per second)
- Runs at 26.6 MHz
- Same RISC core as the Graphics Processing Unit
- Not limited to sound generation
- 8K bytes of zero wait-state internal SRAM
- CD-quality sound (16-bit stereo)
- Number of sound channels limited by software
- Two DACs (stereo) convert digital data to analog sound signals
- Full stereo capabilities
- Wavetable synthesis, FM synthesis, FM Sample synthesis, and AM synthesis
- A clock control block, incorporating timers, and a UART
- Joystick control

- Motorola 68000 (processor #5)
- Runs at 13.295MHz
- General purpose control processor

Bus bandwith:  

106.4 Megabyte per second

Display:  

- Programmable screen resolution. Horizontal resolution is dependent on the amount of scanline buffer space given to the "Tom" graphics processor. Maximum vertical resolution varies according to the refresh rate (NTSC or PAL). Reportedly, a stock Jaguar (without additional memory) running NTSC can display up to 576 rows of pixels.
- 24-bit "True Color" display with 16,777,216 colors simultaneously (additional 8 bits of supplimental graphics data support possible).
- Multiple-resolution, multiple-color depth objects (monochrome, 2-bit, 4-bit, 8-bit, 16-bit, 24-bit) can be used simultaneously.

Colors available:  

16.8 million

Sound:  

16-bit

Ports:  

Cartridge slot/expansion port (32 bits)
RF video output
Video edge connector: (video/audio output) (supports NTSC and PAL; provides S-Video, Composite, RGB outputs, accessible by optional add-on connector)
Two controller ports
Digital Signal Processor port (includes high-speed synchronous serial input/output)

Dimensions:  

9.5" x 10" x 2.5"

Controllers:  

Eight-directional joypad
Size 6.25" x 5" x 1.6", cord 7 feet
Three fire buttons (A, B, C)
Pause and Option buttons
12-key keypad (accepts game-specific overlays)

Input/Output:  

Cartridge and expansion port, an edge connector
User port, also an edge connector
2 x Joystick ports for digital Atari-style joysticks
TV output (RF modulator, also transmits audio to the TV)
RGB output, including audio and composite video
Serial port for connecting printers and floppy drives
Tape recorder port, yet another edge connector. This is for Commodore's specialised tape recorder running at 300 bps.

System Notes/History

Other Jaguar features:
  • Support for ComLynx I/O for communications with the Atari Lynx hand-held game system and networked multiconsole games (on DSP port, accessible by optional add-on connector). Networking of up to 32 Jaguar units available.
  • The two controller ports can be expanded to support "dozens" of controllers - Digital and analog interfaces - Keyboards, mice, and light guns are possible
  • Expansion port allows connection to cable TV and other networks
  • Digital Signal Processor port allows connection to modems and digital audio peripherals (such as DAT players)
  • One megabyte per second serial interface
  • 9600 baud, RS-232 serial port (accessible with optional interface)
  • General-purpose I/O bits via the cartridge port
  • Can accomodate future expansions of different processor types, I/O types, video types, and memory types and/or quantities.

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