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Why exactly did retro consoles use expensive 8-bit SRAM chips instead of the cheaper 1-bit and 4-bit DRAM chips like microcomputers did?
Well I'm not knowledgeable in computing and circuit design and architectures, but there's one thing I noticed while looking at the components of old consoles and computers.
Looking at JDR Microdevices catalogues from the 1985, it looks like 1-bit DRAM modules were so much cheaper. $6.95 for a pack of eight 250ns 16Kbit DRAMs, or $10.95 for the 150ns ones most micros back in the day used. Meanwhile the 8KB 150ns SRAM module that Sega Master System would use was $25 each. Sure 1-bit DRAM would need multiplexers, but these things weren't expensive either. The ones C64 used were about 50-60 cents each, must've been even cheaper in bulks, and C64 used 5 of them. That would still make it significantly cheaper than Master System's 8KB SRAM modules.
So the question is why did console makers choose to go with the more expensive, lower capacity option? To make the system compact? But ZX Spectrum managed to be so tiny even while containing 16 DRAM chips. Or to simplify board design I assume? Perhaps motherboards and circuits were very expensive back in the day?
#technology #hardware
Well I'm not knowledgeable in computing and circuit design and architectures, but there's one thing I noticed while looking at the components of old consoles and computers.
Looking at JDR Microdevices catalogues from the 1985, it looks like 1-bit DRAM modules were so much cheaper. $6.95 for a pack of eight 250ns 16Kbit DRAMs, or $10.95 for the 150ns ones most micros back in the day used. Meanwhile the 8KB 150ns SRAM module that Sega Master System would use was $25 each. Sure 1-bit DRAM would need multiplexers, but these things weren't expensive either. The ones C64 used were about 50-60 cents each, must've been even cheaper in bulks, and C64 used 5 of them. That would still make it significantly cheaper than Master System's 8KB SRAM modules.
So the question is why did console makers choose to go with the more expensive, lower capacity option? To make the system compact? But ZX Spectrum managed to be so tiny even while containing 16 DRAM chips. Or to simplify board design I assume? Perhaps motherboards and circuits were very expensive back in the day?
#technology #hardware
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