Stupid question about 5200 VS 7800

[Ferret75]

Just out of interest, how do the graphics compare on the 5200 and 7800? Don't they both have the same screen resolution?

 

Uh-oh.

Graphics wise, the 7800 is better.

Just compare Dig Dug on the 5200 to the 7800.

Plus it could show an unlimited amount of sprites.

 

Sound wise though, I think the 5200 is slightly better.

The 7800 used a sound chip almost exactly identical to the 2600 (barely noticable difference).

[DracIsBack]

Just out of interest, how do the graphics compare on the 5200 and 7800? Don't they both have the same screen resolution?

 

 

They go about generating what's on the screen in pretty different ways. The 7800 is capable of putting more colors on screen at higher resolutions. It's real strength over the 5200 (and other 8-bit systems) is moving around more moving objects at once. However, it's important to remember that it's also a newer system than the 5200. Both the 5200 and 7800 have substantially more detailed graphics than the 2600, though the distance between the 5200 and 2600 is greater than the 7800 and 5200.

 

Gotta say though ... because the 5200 shares its graphics architecture with the Atari 8-bits, I think it was pushed far further than the 7800 ever was by programmers trying to set new limits. It's also better documented and generally easier to use than the 7800.