---

Specs Data Closet Release Dates Now Available Reviews Snapshots Codes

Hardware specifications for the Sega Dreamcast. For more specific information on components and system peripherals, see the Data Closet.

• CPU: Hitachi SH-4
  • 200MHz clock rate
  • 360 MIPS (millions of instructions per second)
  • 3D calculations (Can transform 5million polygons/second)
  • 800+ MBytes/second bus bandwidth
  • 1.4 billion floating-point operations per second
  • In comparison, the SH4 can calculate nearly 3 times more floating point OPs per second then a 450MHz Intel Pentiom II Processor. Or about 1.4 times more than next years' 500MHz Intel Katmai or 500MHz AMD K7.
• Graphics: NEC PowerVR2 DC
  • 3 million polygons/second peak rendering rate
  • Perspective-Correct Texture Mapping
  • Point, Bilinear, Trilinear and Anisotropic Mip-map filtering
  • Gouraud shading
  • z-buffer
  • Colored light sourcing
  • Full scene anti-aliasing
  • Hardware-based Fog
  • Bump mapping
  • 16.77 million colors
  • Hardware-based texture compression
  • Shadow and Light volumes
  • Super sampling
• Memory:
  • 16 MB main RAM (SDRAM)
  • 8 MB video RAM
  • 2 MB sound RAM
• Sound:
  • 45MHz Yamaha 32-bit RISC CPU @ 40MIPS (more powerful than total power of PSX)
    • Based on ARM7TMDI Processor Core DSP.
  • Real-time effects (Reverb, delay, etc)
  • 64 sound channels
  • Surround Sound support.
  • Full realtime 3D sound support matching abilities of modern home theater systems.
  • Hardware-based audio compression
• Storage:
  • Proprietary 1 GD-Rom disc: Capacity 1.0GB (1024MB)
  • 12x Yamaha (1.8MB/s)
• Data Save: VMS Card
  • Energy-saving 8-bit CPU
  • 128K byte memory
  • 48x32 dot monochrome LCD display
  • 37x26mm display size
  • Button battery x 2, auto off function
  • PWM 1 channel sound source
  • Size: 47mm(W) x 80mm(H) x 16mm(D)/1.9" x 3.15" x 0.63"
  • Weight: 45g/1.59oz
• Input:
  • Four controller ports.
  • Digital and analog directional controls
  • Visual Memory System data save unit
  • Analog Steering wheel, joystick, keyboard, mouse, and more available.
• Communication:
  • 33.6Kbytes/second modem (Original Asia/Japan)
  • 56Kbytes/second modem (USA, Europe, Asia/Japan after Sept. 1999)
  • Software: The Dream Passport CD
    • Access' NetFront and Secure Socket Layer (SSL).
    • NetFront includes support of HTML 3.2, main features of HTML 4.0, and SSL.
    • Dream Passport lets users access the web, e-mail, and chat.
• Operating System:
  • Customized Microsoft Windows CE or Custom Sega OS (loaded at boot)
• Video Output:
  • 640x224 NTSC via composite video or RF (Composite cables included with console)
  • Available: RGB/VGA, S-Video.
• Size: 190mm(W) x 195mm(H) x 78mm(D)/7.48" x 7.68" x 3.07"
• Weight: 2.0kg/4.41lb