View source for Super FX

{{Short description|3D graphics chip used in Super Nintendo games}}

[[File:SuperFX GSU-2-SP1 chip.jpg|upright=1|thumb|Super FX 2 chip on ''[[Yoshi's Island|Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'']]
[[File:SNES Star Fox.png|upright=1|thumb|Super FX-rendered 3D polygon graphics in the SNES game ''[[Star Fox (1993 video game)|Star Fox]]'']]
[[File:MARIO CHIP 1 Starwing.jpg|upright=1|thumb|MARIO CHIP 1 (Super FX) chip on [[UK]] [[PAL]] ''Starwing'' cartridge]]

The '''Super FX''' is a [[coprocessor]] on the Graphics Support Unit (GSU) added to select [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System]] (SNES) [[video game]] [[ROM cartridge|cartridge]]s, primarily to facilitate advanced 2D and 3D graphics. The Super FX chip was designed by [[Argonaut Games]], who also co-developed the [[3-D computer graphics|3D]] space [[rail shooter]] [[video game]] ''[[Star Fox (1993 video game)|Star Fox]]'' with [[Nintendo]] to demonstrate the additional [[polygon]] rendering capabilities that the chip had introduced to the SNES.<ref>{{cite web |title=Of argonauts, vectors, and flying foxes: The rise of 3D on Nintendo consoles |url=http://blamethecontrolpad.com/argonaut/argonaut2.htm |website=BlameTheControlPad.com |access-date=January 4, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080613053018/http://blamethecontrolpad.com/argonaut/argonaut2.htm |archive-date=June 13, 2008 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

==History==
The Super FX chip design team included engineers [[Ben Cheese]], Rob Macaulay, and James Hakewill.<ref name="ASIC Engineers">{{cite web |author1=Retrobates |title=Blood |url=https://www.retrogamer.net/retro_games90/blood-2/ |website=[[Retro Gamer]] |date=April 3, 2014 |quote=We did most of the technology back in England with a relatively large engineering/tech team, which {{sic|comprised |hide=y|of}} Carl Graham and Pete Warnes on the software-based 3D technology and Ben Cheese, Rob Macaulay and James Hakewill working on the hardware side of things}}</ref> While in development, the Super FX chip was codenamed "Super Mario FX"<ref name="Dylan Cuthbert Super Mario FX">{{cite tweet |first1=Dylan |last1=Cuthbert |user=dylancuthbert |number=165596909413728256 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140525211908/https://twitter.com/dylancuthbert/statuses/165596909413728256 |archive-date=May 25, 2014 |website=Twitter |date=February 3, 2012 |access-date=May 25, 2014 |title=@snescentral no, that was the internal code name for the FX chip}}</ref> and "[[Mario|MARIO]]". "MARIO", a [[backronym]] for "Mathematical, Argonaut, Rotation, & Input/Output", is printed on the face of the final production chip.<ref name="bornslippy">{{cite web|url=http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/2013-07-04-born-slippy-the-making-of-star-fox|title=Born slippy: the making of Star Fox|last=McFerran|first=Damien|date=July 4, 2013|work=[[Eurogamer]]|publisher=Gamer Network|access-date=July 4, 2013}}</ref> The chip's name would lead to an [[urban legend]] that "Super Mario FX" was a video game in development for the SNES.<ref>{{cite web |author1=Matthew Byrd |title=Super Mario's Biggest Urban Legends and Unsolved Mysteries |url=https://www.denofgeek.com/games/super-mario-urban-legends-unsolved-mysteries/ |website=Den of Geek |access-date=7 February 2024 |date=7 April 2023}}</ref>

Because of high manufacturing costs and increased development time, few Super FX based games were made compared to the rest of the SNES library. Due to these increased costs, Super FX games often retailed at a higher [[Suggested retail price|MSRP]] compared to other SNES games.<ref>{{cite magazine|url=https://retrocdn.net/images/b/bf/GamePro_US_059.pdf|title=Cart Queries|date=June 1994|magazine=[[GamePro]]|publisher=[[International Data Group|IDG]]|issue=59|page=12}}</ref>

According to [[Argonaut Games]] founder [[Jez San]], Argonaut had initially intended to develop the Super FX chip for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System]]. The team programmed an NES version of the first-person combat flight simulator ''[[Starglider]]'', which Argonaut had developed for the [[Atari ST]] and other home computers a few years earlier, and showed it to Nintendo in 1990. The prototype impressed the company, but they suggested that they develop games for the then-unreleased Super Famicom due to the NES's hardware becoming outdated in light of newer systems such as the [[Sega Genesis|Sega Genesis/Mega Drive]] and the [[TurboGrafx-16|TurboGrafx-16/PC Engine]]. Shortly after the 1990 [[Consumer Electronics Show]] held in [[Chicago, Illinois]], Argonaut ported the NES version of ''Starglider'' to the Super Famicom, a process which took roughly one week according to San.<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Brookes|first1=Jason|last2=Bielby|first2=Matt|date=May 1993|title=Superplay interview: Jez San, Argonaut|url=https://archive.org/details/Superplay_Issue_07_1993-05_Future_Publishing_GB/page/n25/mode/2up|magazine=[[Super Play]]|location=United Kingdom|publisher=[[Future Publishing]]|issue=7|page=26}}</ref>

Nintendo later considered integrating Argonaut's Super FX chip into certain Super Famicom and SNES hardware revisions and add-on plans. Jez San said the chip was completed too late for the Japanese Super Famicom launch but was discussed for inclusion in a subsequent SNES hardware revision for the North American market to lower the cost of producing 3D-capable games. He also recalled that during early talks between Nintendo and Sony about a planned [[Super NES CD-ROM|SNES CD-ROM peripheral]], the companies initially intended for the CD add-on to incorporate the Super FX chip to provide 3D acceleration.<ref>{{cite web |last=McFerran |first=Damien |title=The SNES PlayStation Was Going To Have A Super FX Chip Built-In |url=https://www.nintendolife.com/news/2019/11/the_snes_playstation_was_going_to_have_a_super_fx_chip_built-in |website=Nintendo Life |date={{date|2019-11-30}} |access-date={{date|2025-10-10}}}}</ref>

==Function==
The Super FX chip is used to render 3D [[Polygon (computer graphics)|polygons]] and to assist the [[Super Nintendo Entertainment System|SNES]] in rendering advanced 2D effects. This custom-made [[RISC]] processor is typically programmed to act like a [[Graphics processing unit|graphics accelerator chip]] that draws polygons to a [[frame buffer]] in the [[RAM]] that sits adjacent to it. The data in this frame buffer is periodically transferred to the main video memory inside of the console using [[Direct memory access|DMA]] in order to show up on the television display.

The first version of the chip, commonly referred to as simply "Super FX", is clocked with a 21.4&nbsp;[[MHz]] signal, but an internal clock speed divider halves it to 10.7&nbsp;MHz. Later on, the design was revised to become the Super FX GSU (Graphics Support Unit); this, unlike the first Super FX chip revision, is able to reach 21&nbsp;MHz.

All versions of the Super FX chip are functionally compatible in terms of their instruction set. The differences arise in how they are [[Semiconductor package|packaged]], their [[pinout]], and their internal clock speed. As a result of changing the package from 100 to 112 pins when creating the GSU-2, more external pins were available and assigned for addressing. As a result, a larger amount of external ROM or RAM can be accessed.

==Usage==
''Star Fox'' uses the chip for the rendering of hundreds of simultaneous 3D polygons. It uses scaled 2D bitmaps for lasers, asteroids, and other obstacles, but other objects such as ships are rendered with 3D polygons. ''[[Yoshi's Island|Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]'' uses the chip for 2D graphics effects like [[sprite (computer science)|sprite]] scaling and stretching.

Game cartridges that contain a Super FX chip have additional contacts at the bottom of the cartridge that connect to the extra slots in the cartridge port that are not otherwise typically used. Therefore, Super FX games cannot be plugged into cartridge adapters which predate the release of Super FX games. This includes cheat devices, such as the [[Game Genie]].

== List of games ==
{| class="wikitable"
!Title
!Release date
!SuperFX version
!Frequency
!ROM size
!Work RAM size
!Save RAM size
|-
|''[[Star Fox (1993 video game)|Star Fox]]'' ([[PAL#PAL region|PAL]]: ''Starwing'')<ref>{{cite magazine|last1=Strauss|first1=Bob|date=April 2, 1993|title=Star Fox|url=https://ew.com/article/1993/04/02/star-fox/|access-date=January 1, 2019|magazine=Entertainment Weekly}}</ref>
|February 1993
|Mario Chip<ref>{{Cite web|title=Super NES Programming/Super FX tutorial - Wikibooks, open books for an open world|url=https://en.wikibooks.org/wiki/Super_NES_Programming/Super_FX_tutorial|access-date=2021-09-12|website=en.wikibooks.org|language=en}}</ref>
|10.5 MHz<br />(21&nbsp;MHz / 2)<ref name="Giant Bomb">{{Cite web|title=Super FX Chip (Concept)|url=https://www.giantbomb.com/super-fx-chip/3015-7544/|access-date=2021-09-13|website=Giant Bomb|language=en}}</ref>
|{{0}}8 MBit
|256 KBit
|None
|-
|''[[Dirt Racer]]''<ref name="Dirt Racer, SNES Central">{{cite web|title=Dirt Racer|url=https://snescentral.com/article.php?id=0988|access-date=July 20, 2014|publisher=SNES Central}}</ref>
|May 1995
|rowspan="4" |GSU-1
|rowspan="7" |21 MHz<ref name="Giant Bomb" />
|{{0}}4 MBit
|256 KBit
|None
|-
|''[[Dirt Trax FX]]''<ref name="Dirt Trax FX, SNES Central">{{cite web|title=Dirt Trax FX|url=https://snescentral.com/article.php?id=0310|access-date=July 20, 2014|publisher=SNES Central}}</ref>
|June 1995
|{{0}}4 MBit
|512 KBit
|None
|-
|''[[Stunt Race FX]]'' ([[Japan|JP]]: ''Wild Trax'')<ref name="Stunt Race FX, SNES Central">{{cite web|title=Stunt Race FX|url=https://snescentral.com/article.php?id=0059|access-date=July 20, 2014|publisher=SNES Central}}</ref>
|May 1994
|{{0}}8 MBit
|512 KBit
|64 KBit
|-
|''[[Vortex (video game)|Vortex]]''<ref name="Vortex, SNES Central">{{cite web|title=Vortex|url=https://snescentral.com/article.php?id=0085|access-date=July 20, 2014|publisher=SNES Central}}</ref>
|September 1994
|{{0}}4 MBit
|256 KBit
|None
|-
|''[[List of Doom ports#Super Nintendo|Doom]]''<ref name="Doom, SNES Central">{{cite web|title=Doom|url=https://snescentral.com/article.php?id=0314|access-date=July 20, 2014|publisher=SNES Central}}</ref>
|September 1995
|GSU-2
|16 MBit
|512 KBit
|None
|-
|''[[Yoshi's Island|Super Mario World 2: Yoshi's Island]]''<ref>{{cite web|last=Harris|first=Craig|date=May 24, 2002|title=E3 2002: Hands-on Impressions: Yoshi's Island|url=http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/24/e3-2002-hands-on-impressions-yoshis-island|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160820155003/http://www.ign.com/articles/2002/05/24/e3-2002-hands-on-impressions-yoshis-island|archive-date=August 20, 2016|access-date=January 1, 2019|work=[[IGN]]|publisher=[[Ziff Davis]]|df=mdy-all}}</ref>
|August 1995
|GSU-2-SP1
|16 MBit
|256 KBit
|64 KBit
|-
|''[[Winter Gold]]''<ref>{{cite web|author1=F.J. McCloud|title=A Super FX FAQ|url=http://www.anthrofox.org/starfox/superfx.html|access-date=13 September 2019|website=anthrofox.org}}</ref>
|November 1996
|GSU-2
|16 MBit
|512 KBit
|64 KBit
|}

===Unreleased games===
* ''[[Comanche (video game series)|Comanche]]'' (gameplay looks the same to ''Super FX voxel demo'', but there is no direct connection between both)<ref name="screwattack">{{Cite news |title=Super FX Series: Cancelled Super FX Games |url=http://www.screwattack.com/news/super-fx-series-cancelled-super-fx-games |date=2013-07-04 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130830040358/http://www.screwattack.com/news/super-fx-series-cancelled-super-fx-games |archive-date=2013-08-30 |access-date=2015-04-13 |url-status=dead |work=ScrewAttack.com}}</ref>
* ''[[FX Fighter]]'' (originally titled ''Fighting Polygon'')<ref name="screwattack"/>
* ''{{Interlanguage link|Power Slide|en|Power Slide|lt=Power Slide|qid=Q129063216}}'' (developed at the same time as ''Dirt Racer'')<ref>{{cite web |author1=Lee |title=Powerslide FX [SNES / 3DO - Unreleased] - Unseen64 |url=https://www.unseen64.net/2008/04/14/powerslide-fx-snes-unreleased/#comment-4652 |website=Unseen64 |date=October 28, 2009}}</ref>
* ''[[Star Fox 2]]'' (eventually released with the [[Super NES Classic Edition]] in 2017)<ref>{{cite web |last1=Sao |first1=Akinori |title=Developer Interview: Star Fox & Star Fox 2 - Super Nintendo Entertainment System: Super NES Classic Edition - Official Site |url=https://www.nintendo.com/super-nes-classic/interview-star-fox-2 |website=Nintendo of America |access-date=January 18, 2018}}</ref>
* ''[[Transformers: Generation 2]]'' (abandoned during development)<ref>{{cite magazine|date=October 2015|title=The Making of: Vortex|url=https://issuu.com/michelfranca/docs/retro_gamer____147/4?ff|journal=[[Retro Gamer]]|issue=147|pages=38–41|location=United Kingdom |publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]]}}</ref>
* ''{{Interlanguage link|Yoshi Racing (video game prototype)|en|Yoshi Racing (video game prototype)|lt=Yoshi Racing|qid=Q129110990}}'' (prototype that later evolved into ''[[Croc: Legend of the Gobbos]]'')<ref>{{cite magazine|date=April 2016 |title=''Croc: Legend of the Gobbos'' |journal=[[Retro Gamer]]|issue=154|pages=88–91 |location=United Kingdom |publisher=[[Imagine Publishing]]}}</ref>

==Gallery==
<gallery caption="Variants of the Super FX chip, sorted chronologically" perrow="5">
MARIO CHIP 1.jpg|MARIO CHIP 1
MARIO CHIP 1 COB.jpg|MARIO CHIP 1 ([[Chip on board|COB]])
GSU-1.jpg|GSU-1
GSU-2.jpg|GSU-2
GSU-2-SP1.jpg|GSU-2-SP1
</gallery>

== See also ==
* [[List of Super NES enhancement chips]]
* [[ARC (processor)]]
* [[Sega Genesis#Sega Virtua Processor|Sega Genesis § Sega Virtua Processor]]
* [[Synopsys#ARC International|Synopsys § ARC International]] - continued development Super FX technology

==References==
{{Reflist|}}

== External links ==
{{Wikibooks|Super NES Programming/Super FX tutorial}}
* {{Cite web |url=http://www.nintendoland.com/home2.htm?snes%2Ftech.htm |title=Nintendo Land Tech Page |access-date=May 9, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090411190127/http://www.nintendoland.com/home2.htm?snes%2Ftech.htm |archive-date=April 11, 2009 |url-status=dead |df=mdy-all}}

{{Super Nintendo Entertainment System}}
{{Nintendo hardware|SNES}}

[[Category:Coprocessors]]
[[Category:Graphics chips]]
[[Category:Nintendo chips]]
[[Category:Nintendo hardware]]
[[Category:Super FX games| ]]
[[Category:Super Nintendo Entertainment System]]