Wii Console

Description

The Wii Console was defined by motion‑sensing controls and accessible design, broadening the audience for interactive play and popularising sports and party experiences that emphasised physical movement and social connection. At its core is the Broadway CPU, a 729 MHz IBM‑designed 32‑bit PowerPC chip. This is paired with the HollywoodGPU/system‑on‑a‑chip from ATI, running at 243 MHz and integrating graphics, audio, I/O, and security functions. Hollywood contains 24 MB of high‑speed 1T‑SRAM, working alongside 64 MB of GDDR3 system memory for a total of 88 MB RAM, plus 3 MB of embedded GPU texture memory. Storage is provided by 512 MB of internal flash memory, expandable via SD cards, and the system supports 12 cm Wii optical discs as well as 8 cm GameCube discs (on original models).

The Wii outputs video up to 480p (progressive scan) via component cables, with composite, S‑Video, and RGB SCART options in some regions. It features built‑in 802.11b/g Wi‑Fi, Bluetooth for wireless controllers, and two USB 2.0 ports. Four GameCube controller ports and two memory card slots are included on launch‑era units for backward compatibility. Its signature Wii Remote controllers use Bluetooth, an accelerometer, and an infrared sensor (via the Sensor Bar) for motion and pointing controls, with expansion ports for accessories like the Nunchuk. The console’s low‑power, efficient architecture allowed for a compact, quiet design and low heat output, helping Nintendo keep costs down while delivering its unique control experience. This approach ultimately was extremely successful, resulting in widespread appeal to the mass market, becoming one of the highest selling consoles ever.