Here you will find a comparison between the NES from Nintendo and the Atari 7800. We have divided the comparison into three different areas: Basics, Specs and Games. We hope this will help you.
Atari 7800 vs NES: The Basics
| Specification | Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) | Atari 7800 |
|---|---|---|
| Release Year | 1985 | 1986 |
| Production End Year | 2003 (NES ceased production in Japan) | 1992 (officially discontinued) |
| Original Price | Around $199 USD (Basic Set) | Around $140 USD |
| Backward Compatibility | No (Not directly compatible with previous systems) | Yes (Atari 2600) |
| Modular | Yes (Cartridge-based system) | Yes (Cartridge-based system) |
| Supported Players | Up to 2 players | Up to 4 players |
| Available Variants | NES Top Loader (Model 2), Famicom (Japan) | Atari 7800 ProSystem |
| Market Success | Highly successful, revitalized the gaming industry | Moderately successful, faced tough competition |
Atari 7800 vs NES: The Specs
| Specification | Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) | Atari 7800 |
|---|---|---|
| Processor | 8-bit Ricoh 2A03 (MOS Technology 6502 core) | 8-bit Atari SALLY |
| CPU Speed | 1.79 MHz | 1.79 MHz |
| Graphics | Picture Processing Unit (PPU) | MARIA Graphics |
| Video Resolution | 256×240 pixels | 320×200 pixels |
| Colors | 52 (out of 53) | 256 |
| Sound | 5 channels (2 square, 1 triangle, 1 noise, 1 DPCM) | POKEY sound chip |
| Controllers | 2 | ProLine Joystick, Pro-Line Trak-Ball, 2600 Joystick |
| Cartridge Slot | Yes | Yes |
| Backward Compatibility | No | Yes (Atari 2600) |
| Memory | 2 KB RAM, 16 KB ROM (expandable with cartridges) | 4 KB RAM, 48 KB ROM |
| Controllers (Original) | NES Controller | Pro-Line Joystick |
| Expansion Modules | Famicom Disk System (Japan) | Atari 2600 Compatibility Module |
| Storage Medium | Cartridges (Up to 512 KB) | Cartridges (Up to 48 KB) |
| Graphics Modes | Various sprites, background tiles | Bitmap and vector graphics modes |
| Display Palette | 54 colors (64 in PAL version) | 256 colors (out of 4,096) |
| Screen Rotation | No | No |
| Hardware Scaling | No | No |
| Screen Size | 40 inches (diagonal) max | Dependent on TV size |
| Aspect Ratio | 4:3 | 4:3 |
| Sound Channels | 5 | 4 (3 square wave, 1 white noise) |
| Audio Output | Mono | Mono |
| Peripheral Support | Power Glove, Zapper, Power Pad, etc. | Atari 2600-compatible peripherals |
Atari 7800 vs NES: Gaming
| Specification | Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) | Atari 7800 |
|---|---|---|
| Feature | Robust library, iconic franchises | High compatibility, arcade-quality graphics |
| Key Games | Super Mario Bros., The Legend of Zelda, Metroid | Asteroids, Centipede, Ms. Pac-Man |
| Number of Games | Over 700 | Around 60 (officially released) |
| Availability for Collectors Today | Varied, some rare titles, collector’s market exists | Active collector’s market, certain titles sought after |
| Games Sold Worldwide | Over 60 million | Approximately 3 million |
| Modularity | Cartridge-based system | Cartridge-based system |
| Supported Players | Up to 2 players | Up to 4 players |
Is Atari 7800 more powerful than NES?
In terms of technical specifications, the Atari 7800 is generally considered more powerful than the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES). The Atari 7800, released in 1986, was designed to compete with more advanced gaming systems, including the NES.
Here are some key differences that contribute to the Atari 7800’s perceived superiority:
- Graphics: The Atari 7800 features the MARIA graphics chip, providing improved graphics capabilities compared to the NES’s Picture Processing Unit (PPU). The MARIA chip supports advanced features like smooth scrolling and more extensive color palettes.
- Video Resolution: The Atari 7800 has a higher native resolution of 320×200 pixels compared to the NES’s 256×240 pixels. This higher resolution contributes to potentially sharper and more detailed graphics.
- Colors: The Atari 7800 supports a larger color palette, providing a wider range of colors for game developers to use in creating visuals.
- Sound: The Atari 7800 includes the POKEY sound chip, which offers capabilities comparable to the NES’s audio system. Both systems support multiple sound channels, but the specific implementation and quality can vary between games.
While the Atari 7800 is technically more advanced, it’s essential to note that the success and impact of a gaming system are influenced by various factors, including game library, marketing, and overall user experience. Each console has its unique strengths and contributed to the gaming landscape in its own way.