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[mocoworm]

The same processor, storage and RAM sit on an almost identical mainboard.

They sold us the same thing again, but with different games?

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/d...ini-teardown-confirmed-recycled-nes-mini-tech

Our suspicions that Nintendo had retained the same hardware platform came from several factors: the controller interface is the same, the HDMI and USB placements are identical, the UI is similar, and general system behaviour is also very reminiscent of last year's hardware. On top of that, the SNES Mini's HDMI output tops out at 720p, another match with the older unit. Our theory was confirmed by this tweet from Chiimaero, and today we broke open both pieces of hardware to get a closer look for ourselves.

Confirming that the internal mainboard is the same, the corners - carved out to fit within the NES mini shell - remain the same on the SNES model, even though there is no real need for them to be touched at all. As a result, the new piece of hardware looks slightly less elegant internally. Hardware-wise, we're looking at the same off-the-shelf Allwinner R16 SoC (system on chip), featuring four ARM Cortex A7s paired with an ARM Mali 400 MP2 GPU. Hynix provides the single memory chip - a 256MB DDR3 module - and there's a generous 512MB of NAND storage.

The magic comes from the bespoke Super NES emulation software layer, likely built from the ground up by Nintendo's Paris-based European Research and Development (NERD) team, running on open source OS, Linux. As Digital Foundry recently discussed, the software not only emulates the Super NES itself, but a range of add-on processors specific to select titles, including the Super FX and Super FX2 chips used for Star Fox, its sequel and Yoshi's Island, along with the SA1 CPU upgrade utilised by Super Mario RPG and Kirby Super Star. Even Super Mario Kart used additional hardware - NEC's DSP-1 was present in every cart, faithfully replicated for the mini consoles.

The fact that the SNES mini runs on the same hardware as its predecessor has a number of implications. Among them, we can expect hackers to be looking to exploit the system in short order to add new games - exactly what happened with the NES mini. And secondly, the use of what is essentially the same technology makes it much easier for Nintendo to resume NES mini production. Previously, Nintendo confirmed that a new run of consoles will arrive next summer, while SNES mini console stock will continue to roll out up to Christmas and into 2018. Settling on a common internal hardware design opens up economies of scale for the platform holder.

 

[Aurongel]

Good. It never needed to be anything more than that.

This actually bodes well for their return to NES mini production. If there is demand for these specific components then I see no reason why the production of them won't grow over time.

 

[Hesemonni]

The same processor, storage and RAM sit on an almost identical mainboard.

They sold us the same thing again, but with different games?

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/d...ini-teardown-confirmed-recycled-nes-mini-tech

Lolooooooool.

Then again it works so who am I to complain. But also puts some of the production issues falk in to a perspective.

 

[Bony Manifesto]

Well that explains why they stopped selling the NES Mini...

(And why they'll start selling again in the future)

 

[vern]

Lol.. is that a problem?

 

[TLZ]

Was hoping for more storage.

 

[LordOcidax]

As expected. That thing has more power than the Wii, expecting the same for the N64 mini.

 

[Doctor_Thomas]

In theory, does that mean the software on the SNES mini could be ripped and booted to the NES mini?

 

[Iriscomeback]

So that's why they stopped making the NES mini lol

 

[EvilKatarn]

They sold us the same thing again, but with different games?

What more did you want?

 

[ggx2ac]

Probably explains why they stopped producing NES Classics.

Had to make room to produce SNES Classics.

 

[Juke Joint Jezebel]

So this means the finished Starfox 2 ROM should be easily rippable from it right?

 

[kulapik]

They sold us the same thing again, but with different games?

That's like arguing that you don't have to buy more than one cartridge because they're all the same except the software.

 

[LordOcidax]

So that's why they stopped making the NES mini lol

They are going to sell the Nes mini again.

 

[PsihoPerihelion]

In theory, does that mean the software on the SNES mini could be ripped and booted to the NES mini?

Hopefully. The SNES emulators available on the NES Mini are really crappy.

 

[Jonneh3003]

What's the problem? NES Mini's components are quite capable, it only makes sense to use them for an N64 mini too.

 

[cw_sasuke]

That's like arguing that you don't have to buy more than one cartridge because they're all the same except the software.

Fifa 18 uses the same type of discs as Fifa 17 ? WTF...

Pretty much. They wont reinvent the wheel every year for there mini consoles.

 

[Moose84]

That's like arguing that you don't have to buy more than one cartridge because they're all the same except the software.

Well put

 

[Ashby]

As expected. That thing has more power than the Wii, expecting the same for the N64 mini.

If this is true how come I haven't seen anyone put any Roms besides nes and SNES ones on the nes mini? Why not GameCube if it's so powerful?

 

[Kenzodielocke]

A guy hacked the nes mini to play snes games.

 

[Dwayne]

Hackers have the SNES Mini firmware running on the NES Mini apparently. Pretty wild.

 

[Bazry]

Should have been twice the bits of the NES Mini

 

[ScaryShark]

They sold us the same thing again, but with different games?

TIL the SNES Classic looks identical to the NES Classic and includes only one controller.

It's not the same thing. You're paying for an officially licensed product and the visual reproduction of the hardware. I don't know why anyone would expect or need the internals to be different if they wanted this product.

 

[oti]

They sold us the same thing again, but with different games?

Welcome to modern tech?

 

[Vic]

"Recycled".

 

[Atolm]

So this means the finished Starfox 2 ROM should be easily rippable from it right?

It has been dumped already, I think

 

[Anoregon]

In theory, does that mean the software on the SNES mini could be ripped and booted to the NES mini?

This has actually already happened.

 

[Oblivion]

sooo....this means that the SNES games will have NES graphics?

oh nintendo

 

[The ๖ۜBronx]

It's not the same thing. You're paying for an officially licensed product and the visual reproduction of the hardware. I don't know why anyone would expect or need the internals to be different if they wanted this product.

This.. why would you change the internals if you didn't need to?

 

[ggx2ac]

sooo....this means that the SNES games will have NES graphics?

Yes.

 

[InfiniteCombo]

Lol.. is that a problem?

What's the problem?

No problem, let's just focus on the facts.

Besides, we should know by now to ignore the OP's opinion on everything ever.

Spoiler

Poking light fun at their tag

.

 

[mocoworm]

What more did you want?

Why not release a NES 'cartridge' with bundles of NES games, then you could keep putting more and more out as time goes on for the NES mini.

Then do the same for SNES.

 

[entremet]

They're SNES Roms. I'm sure graphing calculators can run them by now lol. No issue.

 

[Broken Joystick]

They must be making BANK off these things.

 

[LordRaptor]

The value of the device is the IP of the games it contains, not the hardware that serves as a delivery mechanism.

You might as well complain the latest film you bought is recycling old bluray tech for its distribution medium.

 

[hodgy100]

If this is true how come I haven't seen anyone put any Roms besides nes and SNES ones on the nes mini? Why not GameCube if it's so powerful?

more powerful than a wii doesn't mean it can emulate gamecube games. N64 maaaybe dreamcast is probably as far as you are going to get

 

[Cosmonaut X]

They are going to sell the Nes mini again.

Yes, but if they were planning to produce the SNES Mini based on the same basic tech as the NES Mini, it makes some sense that they would cease production of the NES Mini - or rather that the hardware being assembled for the NES Mini would end up in the SNES Mini instead.

Assuming they have limited capacity to build XXX Mini consoles, their choices would be:

-- Expand production capacity for what is, essentially, a novelty device;
-- Continue production of components for both, meaning they could produce a number of extra NES Mini units, but limiting availability of the SNES Mini, or;
-- Stop producing NES Mini and dedicate their full production capacity to the SNES Mini for this year.

 

[ScaryShark]

Why not release a NES 'cartridge' with bundles of NES games, then you could keep putting more and more out as time goes on.

Then do the same for SNES.

...because a helluva lot less people would be interested in that.

 

[jett]

It's funny how it's $20 more expensive anyway. At least it comes with an extra controller.

 

[Iriscomeback]

So when they release the N64 mini, you could turn it into a NES/SNES/N64 mini

 

[Diablohead]

The same processor, storage and RAM sit on an almost identical mainboard.

They sold us the same thing again, but with different games?

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/d...ini-teardown-confirmed-recycled-nes-mini-tech

Exactly as I expected, they had everything required already designed from the NES mini so why pay tons of money to re-invent the wheel?

 

[Ashby]

It's funny how it's $30 more expensive. At least it comes with an extra controller.

It's 20 dollars more expensive.

 

[mocoworm]

...because a helluva lot less people would be interested in that.

I would be more interested in playing a load more NES and SNES games on mine than they release with.

 

[giancarlo123x]

I don't know much h about it but I assumed this would be the case.

 

[Supervlieg]

So you're saying the NES mini was overpowered?

 

[Oblivion]

They're SNES Roms. I'm sure graphing calculators can run them by now lol. No issue.

The power issue doesn't seem like a concern. What I'm more curious about is how they would run both NES and SNES games on the same type of hardware. I remember reading and interview from Eurogamer (I think?) where they spoke with a guy who made one of the most popular SNES emulators, and said that's it's very hard to do so, even with powerful PCs.

 

[Plum]

I would be interested in playing a load more NES and SNES games on mine than they release with.

Why not start a physical cartridge collection, dump the roms then transfer those to the NES/SNES Mini?

 

[Diprosalic]

why does it matter if it's the same thing. it does what it's advertised to do.
would you be happier if they switched out some components?

the novelty is the case and the controllers.

 

[Atolm]

If they ever make a N64 mini, they'll probably need beefier hardware and a custom-made emulator. Not sure if it would be worth the cost.

I think I'd rather get a GBA with 20 games pre-installed and a huge battery life.

 

[jett]

It's 20 dollars more expensive.

Oh all right, my mistake.