SPC700

The SPC700 is an 8-bit microprocessor developed through a collaboration between Nintendo and Sony, primarily used as the sound processing unit in the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Officially named the Sony SPC700, this CPU works in conjunction with the Sony S-SMP digital signal processor to handle all audio-related tasks in the console.

Running at a clock speed of approximately 1.79 MHz, the SPC700 utilizes a modified 6502 architecture with several enhancements. It contains 8 general-purpose registers and supports a 16-bit address space, allowing it to access up to 64KB of memory. The processor is capable of executing most 6502 instructions but includes several unique opcodes optimized for audio processing.

The SPC700's most notable feature is its ability to generate high-quality sound through the SNES's 8-channel sound system, which included various waveform types and effects like reverb and echo. This sound processing capability was considered advanced for its time and contributed significantly to the SNES's audio capabilities.

Despite being designed primarily for audio processing, the SPC700 was a versatile processor that could handle general computational tasks, though its role in the SNES was specialized. The collaboration between Nintendo and Sony on this chip marked an early partnership between the two companies, which would later evolve into a more complex relationship in the video game industry.