Family Computer Disk System


Family Computer Disk System
Designer	Nintendo Research & Development 2
Manufacturer	Nintendo
CPU	Ricoh 2A03 coprocessor
Graphics	relies on Family Computer
Memory	32 kB disk cache 8 kB game RAM
Media	112 KB 2⅘-inch Quick Disk
Released	JP: July 1, 1986
Added to Museum	Not yet

The Family Computer Disk System, Famicom Disk System, Disk System, FCDS, FDS, or FCD, is an addon by Nintendo.

The Family Computer Disk System added a 3" floppy disk to the Family Computer, as well as improved sound hardware with simple wavetable support. It was released on February 21, 1986, and although it was a success, it was never released outside of Japan. Some of the games that were originally Famicom Disk games were released as cartridge games, sometimes with altered audio from the original due to the lack of wavetable support in the original console.

Variations

Sharp, one of the companies that had previously released consoles in Nintendo's Color TV-Game line, developed the Twin Famicom. This was a Famicom and Famicom Disk System combined in one unit. A switch on the unit enabled switching between cartridge and disk modes. It was released on July 1, 1986, and was only available in Japan.