website/content/museum/nec-turbografx-16-turbografx.md

---
title: NEC TurboGrafx-16/Turbografx
categories:
- Consoles
origins:
- Japan
years:
- '1989'
cpus:
- 8 bit HuC6280A
params:
  name: TurboGrafx-16/Turbografx
  image: /media/museum/photos/nec_turbografx_1s.jpg
  logo: /media/museum/logos/nec_turbografx_logo.gif
  company: /companies/nec
  company_name: NEC
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: TurboGrafx-16/Turbografx
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: NEC
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Japan
  - label: YEAR
    value: 1989 (U.S.A.), 1990 (Europe)
  - label: END OF PRODUCTION
    value: Unknown
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: None
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: 8-way d-pad, 2 buttons + Run + Select
  - label: CPU
    value: 8 bit HuC6280A
  - label: SPEED
    value: 7.16 MHz (Switchable by software to 1.79 MHz)
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: 16 bit HuC6260 Video Color Encoder, 16 bit HuC6270A Video Display Controller
  - label: RAM
    value: 8 KB
  - label: VRAM
    value: 64 KB
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: usually 256x240, 512x240 max.
  - label: COLORS
    value: 512 palette, 482 on screen (241 background & 241 sprite)
  - label: SOUND
    value: 6 PSG channels
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: TurboChip slot, gamepad port
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: TurboChip
  - label: OS
    value: Unknown
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Unknown
  - label: PERIPHERALS
    value: TurboGrafx-CD
  - label: PRICE
    value: Unknown
  tabs:
  - photos
  - hardware
  - emulators
  - links
  forum_thread: 1207
  photos:
  - title: TURBOGRAFX
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_turbografx_1.jpg
  - title: FRONT
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_turbografx_front.jpg
  - title: REAR
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_turbografx_rear.jpg
  - title: 'REAR #2'
    subtitle: ''
    text: The rear cache is removed, revealing the expansion connector.
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_turbografx_rear_2.jpg
  - title: TOP
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_turbografx_top.jpg
  - title: LABEL
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_turbografx_label.jpg
  - title: TURBO PAD
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/nec_turbografx_turbopad.jpg
  hardware:
  - title: PACHINKO CONTROLLER
    subtitle: ''
    text: This is a pachinko controller for the PC Engine. The angled part which sticks out between the two main sections of the controller is a slider to adjust the angle of the pachinko balls as they come out.
    image: /media/museum/hardware/nec_pce_pachinko-controller.jpg
  - title: TURBO PAD
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/hardware/nec_turbografx_turbopad.jpg
  emulators:
  - title: Ootake
    url: http://www.ouma.jp/ootake/
    platform: Windows
    text: Frequently updated Japanese emulator
  - title: Magic Engine
    url: http://www.magicengine.com/
    platform: Multiplatform
    text: Commercial but excellent NEC PC Engine emulator. A must.
  links:
  - title: Necstasy
    url: http://www.necstasy.net/fr/
    text: PC-Engine & PC-FX TOC database
  - title: pcenginefx.com
    url: http://pcenginefx.com/
    text: The NEC console ressource.. Excellent.
  - title: The PC Engine Software Bible
    url: http://www.pcengine.co.uk/
    text: PC-Engine software archive. Very complete.
  - title: TurboGrafx.net
    url: http://www.turbografx.net/
    text: An English Turbo site with TG info and links!
  - title: TurboGrafx16
    url: http://www.atari7800.com/turbo/
    text: TurboGrafx16 dedicated website
  - title: Universo PCcengine
    url: http://pcengine.cjb.net/
    text: Nice brazilian site
  related:
  - /museum/nec-coregrafx
  - /museum/nec-coregrafx-ii
  - /museum/nec-pc-engine
  - /museum/nec-pc-engine-duo
  - /museum/nec-pc-engine-duo-r
  - /museum/nec-pc-engine-duo-rx
  - /museum/nec-pc-engine-super-grafx
  - /museum/nec-turboduo
  oc_id: 1240
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230130060457/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1240
    date: '2023-01-30'
---

Released in 1989, the TurboGrafx-16 was the American name for the [PC Engine](/museum/nec-pc-engine/).

Originally marketed as a competitor for the [NES](/museum/nintendo-nes/), it sold well initially, but never achieved the same success the PC Engine enjoyed in Japan.

Games for the TG-16 came on credit card sized TurboChips, similar to the cards that could be used on the original [Master System](/museum/sega-master-system/).

TG-16 games have a distinct style, featuring large, colourful sprites, which still hold up well today. The 16 attached to the end of the name referred to the fact it had 16 bit graphics. While the system itself was only 8 bit, the custom chips meant it was still a powerful machine and the graphics were remarkable for the time.

A CD add-on was released two years before the Mega CD, making the PC Engine/TurboGrafx-16 the first console capable of playing CD games. The TurboGrafx-CD received its own upgrade in the Super System Card which increased Ram to 256 KB. The Arcade Card Pro was never released outside of Japan.

The machine received a limited release in Europe, where it was known simply as the Turbografx. Very few details are available about the European version but it has been suggested that no games were ever released, leaving users with just the one game that came with the console.

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>