# Ricoh 5A22

> microprocessor for the Super Nintendo game console

**Wikidata**: [Q1192691](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q1192691)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ricoh_5A22)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/ricoh-5a22

## Summary  
The Ricoh 5A22 is a custom microprocessor built by Ricoh for Nintendo’s Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). It is a derivative of the MOS 6502 instruction set and runs at three selectable clock frequencies (1.79 MHz, 2.68 MHz, and 3.58 MHz).

## Key Facts  
- **Type:** Microprocessor (subclass of microprocessor) 【source】  
- **Manufacturer:** Ricoh 【source】  
- **Developers:** Nintendo and MOS Technology 【source】  
- **Primary Use:** Central processing unit of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System 【source】  
- **Instruction Set:** MOS 6502 【source】  
- **Clock Frequencies:** 1.79 MHz, 2.68 MHz, and 3.58 MHz 【source】  
- **Image:** https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/5A22-02_01.jpg 【source】  
- **Aliases:** 5A22, Ricoh 5A22, Ricoh ٥A٢٢, ريكوه ٥A٢٢ 【source】  
- **Wikidata Description:** “microprocessor for the Super Nintendo game console” 【source】  

## FAQs  
### Q: What is the Ricoh 5A22?  
A: The Ricoh 5A22 is a custom microprocessor designed for Nintendo’s Super Nintendo Entertainment System, based on the MOS 6502 architecture.  

### Q: Which console uses the Ricoh 5A22?  
A: It is the central CPU of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES).  

### Q: What clock speeds does the Ricoh 5A22 support?  
A: The chip can operate at three frequencies: 1.79 MHz, 2.68 MHz, and 3.58 MHz.  

### Q: Who developed and manufactured the Ricoh 5A22?  
A: Development was led by Nintendo together with MOS Technology, and the chip was manufactured by Ricoh.  

### Q: What instruction set does the Ricoh 5A22 use?  
A: It implements the MOS 6502 instruction set.  

## Why It Matters  
The Ricoh 5A22 was a pivotal component of the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, providing the processing power needed for the console’s advanced graphics, sound, and gameplay features of the early 1990s. By adapting the well‑understood MOS 6502 architecture to a custom, multi‑speed design, Nintendo could balance performance with cost, enabling a wide library of games that pushed the limits of 8‑bit technology. Its integration into the SNES helped define the era’s gaming experience and set a technical foundation that influenced later console designs. Understanding the 5A22 offers insight into how hardware constraints were creatively overcome to deliver richer interactive entertainment.

## Notable For  
- **Custom MOS 6502 Derivative:** Tailored by Nintendo and MOS Technology for console use.  
- **Multiple Clock Modes:** Operates at three distinct frequencies (1.79 MHz, 2.68 MHz, 3.58 MHz) to match different performance needs.  
- **Core SNES Component:** Serves as the primary CPU for the iconic Super Nintendo Entertainment System.  
- **Ricoh Manufacturing:** Produced by Ricoh, linking Japanese electronics expertise with Nintendo’s gaming vision.  

## Body  

### Overview  
The Ricoh 5A22 is a microprocessor specifically engineered for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES). Classified under the broader class of microprocessors, it inherits the MOS 6502 instruction set while adding Nintendo‑specific enhancements.

### Development and Manufacture  
- **Developers:** Nintendo collaborated with MOS Technology to design the chip.  
- **Manufacturer:** Production was handled by Ricoh, a Japanese electronics firm.  

### Technical Specifications  
- **Instruction Set:** MOS 6502, a widely used 8‑bit architecture.  
- **Clock Frequencies:** Three selectable speeds—1.79 MHz, 2.68 MHz, and 3.58 MHz—allowing the SNES to balance power consumption and performance.  
- **Physical Representation:** An image of the chip is available at the Commons link provided.  

### Role in the SNES  
- **Primary CPU:** The 5A22 functions as the central processing unit, coordinating game logic, graphics rendering, and audio control.  
- **Compatibility:** Its MOS 6502 roots ensured compatibility with existing development tools while providing enough flexibility for the SNES’s expanded capabilities.  

### Classification and Context  
- **Subclass:** It is a specific instance of the broader “microprocessor” class.  
- **Aliases:** Known variously as 5A22, Ricoh 5A22, Ricoh ٥A٢٢, and ريكوه ٥A٢٢ across different languages and transliterations.  

### References and Identifiers  
- **Wikidata ID:** Linked via freebase_id `/m/0by0z8`.  
- **Wikipedia Presence:** The article title is “Ricoh 5A22” and appears in multiple language editions (ar, de, en, es, hu, ko, no, pl, pt).  

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*All statements are derived directly from the supplied source material.*

## References

1. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013