Table of Contents
Nintendo Classic Editions (NES/SNES)
Nintendo's way of making bank off of nostalgia. With the NES Classic releasing on November 11th, 2016 for NA/EU (re-released on June 29th, 2018), and the SNES Classic releasing on September 29th, 2017, it comes as no surprise that the systems specifications are not particularly extreme. With both devices packing an Allwinner R16 SoC, 512 MB of RAM (256 on the first NES Classic release), and Mali-400 MP graphics outputting up to 1080p, the systems do well at emulating their target systems - although they can handle more than you think! Combined, the two devices have sold around 8.8 million units, which was enough to make “Classic” systems a new trend in the industry for every company to try.
Operating Systems (Allwinner R16)
Console emulation (potential)
Whether these emulators support operating systems for these consoles is unknown; it must be looked into further. Consoles without meaningful OSes are not included.
https://github.com/TeamShinkansen/Hakchi2-CE
https://www.reddit.com/r/miniSNESmods/wiki/index
https://modmyclassic.com/category/snesc/snesc_mod_repo/snesc_ra_core/
Nintendo 64 - retroarch
Nintendo Entertainment System – retroarch/stock
Super Nintendo Entertainment System - retroarch/stock
Nintendo Game Boy (Color) – retroarch
Nintendo Game Boy Advance – retroarch
Sega Genesis - retroarch
PC emulation (potential)
Whether these emulators support operating systems for these computers is unknown; it must be looked into further. PCs without meaningful OSes are not included.
https://modmyclassic.com/category/snesc/snesc_mod_repo/snesc_ra_core/
Commodore 64 – retroarch
Commodore 128 - retroarch
Windows 3.1 (and more, thru DOSBox)
Please note you must have a your SNES hacked with Hakchi using the latest version of the kernel to enable OTG support
Unsurprisingly, this is thru Hakchi which presumably enables some sort of RetroArch DOSBox. Windows 3.1 is the OS demonstrated in the video tutorial, although, like with other systems, I imagine it also supports 95 and 98.
Version & Revision Guide
For general information, see the Game Console Revisions Overview.
Versions
There are three versions of this console, arranged chronologically.
“NES Classic Edition (original)” (2016-2017)
The original Classic Edition released by the Nintendo, and the only one to feature merely 256 MB of RAM, while containing the same storage chip as the latter two versions.
“SNES Classic Edition” (2017-2018)
RECOMMENDED OVERALL
Here, the 512 MB RAM chip was introduced, while also obviously changing the design and content included. A recommendation is only given because, it is very hard to determine if a NES Classic will have the 512 MB RAM chip, while the chances of getting such a chip are 100% if one simply buys a SNES Classic.
“NES Classic Edition (relaunch)” (2018)
As one may assume from the SNES Classic entry, the relaunch of the NES Classic upgraded the RAM chip to 512MB, apparently due to changing the motherboard to the same one used in the SNES classic. However, there are no external, visual, or packaging differences to easily distinguish the relaunched NES Classic to the original. For this reason alone, anyone that aims to get a 512 MB RAM chip without the gamble should simply get the SNES Classic.
There are no revisions within any version. LOWEST PRICE and BEST RELIABILITY couldn’t be assigned.