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SG-1000

SG-1000 icon SG-1000 logo

Overview

The Sega SG-1000 launched in 1983 as Sega’s first home console. It shares much of the hardware later used in the Master System, and REG-Linux tags it as sg-1000 so your themes can highlight the original artwork.

Technical specifications

  • CPU: Zilog Z80A at 3.58 MHz powering the console and mapper logic.
  • Memory: 1 KB system RAM (2 KB on the SC-3000) and 16 KB of VRAM for tiles/sprites.
  • Display: TMS9918A video chip rendering 256×192 resolution with 16 colors and hardware sprites.
  • Sound: Texas Instruments SN76489A PSG offering three square-wave channels and noise.

Quick reference

  • ROM folder: /userdata/roms/sg1000
  • Accepted formats: .bin, .sg, .zip, .7z
  • Emulator: libretro: genesisplusgx
  • System group: sg-1000, mastersystem

ROMs

Put SG-1000 cartridges, including Sega Card dumps, into /userdata/roms/sg1000. The GenesisPlusGX core accepts .bin and .sg files; zipped archives work as long as they only wrap the ROM data (no nested folders).

Emulators

RetroArch / GenesisPlusGX

RetroArch’s libretro: genesisplusgx core emulates the SG-1000 alongside other Sega 8-bit systems. Open the Quick Menu ([HOTKEY] + south face button) to adjust video modes, shaders, and controller mappings; EmulationStation exposes the usual sg1000.videomode, sg1000.ratio, sg1000.smooth, sg1000.shaders, sg1000.pixel_perfect, sg1000.decoration, sg1000.game_translation options plus sg1000.gfxbackend, sg1000.audio_latency, and sg1000.video_threaded.

GenesisPlusGX also mirrors master system controls such as global.gpgx_no_sprite_limit, so any tweaks you already made for the Master System translate directly here.

Controls

Use the Mega Drive/Master System overlay (../images/controller-overlays/megadrive-1.png) when mapping SG-1000 games. Pad or joystick bindings can be adjusted via /remapping_controls_per_emulator if the Defaults don’t match your hardware.

Troubleshooting

  • Ensure each ROM uses an accepted extension (.sg grows in importance for card-based releases).
  • Try both OpenGL and Vulkan renderers if visual glitches appear.
  • Consult the generic support pages for broader issues.