The 32x hardware is an odd videogaming parasite, requiring the backbone of the 16-bit Genesis/Mega Drive hardware in order to operate. When combined with the Sega CD, the 32x/Genesis/Cd combo sports a whopping FOUR processors (two 32-bit SH2 processors, two 16-bit 68000 processors) plus the 8-bit Z-80 processor (the same chip found in the original Master System) and a variety of co-processors and audio chips. The 32x is not a particularly easy machine to program for, as its hardware is complex and segmented. It's been theorized that Sega of Japan hoped that the 32x would serve as a good "break-in" console for the similarly-designed Saturn and would serve to "ween" developers off the far simpler Genesis hardware. Unfortunately, it's doubtful that any 32x title really pushed the hardware to any degree, particularly the 32x/Sega CD combo, though Virtua Fighter may have come close. Like the Sega Saturn, the 32x sports numerous dedicated graphics processors that can handle a number of processing functions in a variety of ways, though the 32x lacks the powerful polygon and sprite manipulation chips of its more powerful cousin. It would have been interesting to see how the 32x could have handled a Model 2 conversion like Daytona USA or House of the Dead.

MAIN PROCESSORS:
Twin Hitachi (SH2) 32-bit RISC processors
    - Clock speed of 23 MHz per processor
    - 40 MIPS

CO-PROCESSOR:
32X VDP (Video Display Processor)
     - 50,000 texture-mapped polygons per second
     - Texture mapping
     - Hardware scaling and rotation

ADDITIONAL PROCESSORS WITH GENESIS:
Genesis 16-bit Motorola 68000 CPU
     - Clock speed of 7.67 MHz
Genesis 8-bit Z80 (I/O device, sound and Master System CPU)
     - Clock speed of 3.58 MHz

ADDITIONAL PROCESSORS WITH SEGA CD:
Sega CD 16-bit Motorola 68000 CPU
     - Clock speed of 12.5 MHz
Custom ASIC graphics processor
     - Hardware scaling and rotation

VIDEO:
     - 32,768 simultaneous colors on screen
     - 320 x 224 resolution
     - Overlays video over existing Genesis/Sega CD video
     - Cinepak and TruVideo capabilities with Sega CD

MEMORY:
512k (4 MBit) additional RAM to Genesis/Sega CD memory

AUDIO:
Stereo PCM chip
     - Audio mixes with Genesis Yamaha YM2612 and PSG chips
     - Adds an additional 2 sound channels

STORAGE:
CD-Rom with Sega CD
     - 150 kbytes/sec CD Drive Speed
     - Compatible with audio CD, CD&G, SegaCD and JVC X'eye
Cartridge
     - Compatible with Genesis models 1, model 2, JVC X'eye, and Sega CDX
 
 
 

United States	United Kingdom	Japan

The 32x is not compatible with the smaller Genesis 3 console, though it is compatible with the Sega CDX (a semi-portable Genesis/Sega CD unit that was never officially approved for use with the 32x.) Online auction side Ebay has hosted several auctions by individuals claiming that they had a "special" CDX that was made especially for use with the 32x. This is untrue, as all CDX units will work with the 32x, though the risk of electrical shock is increased.

The 32x hardware recognizes the type of cartridge being used; if a 32x cart is inserted, the 32x will boot up as normal. If a Genesis cart is detected, the 32x will shut down and act as a simple pass-through device.

The 32x DOES NOT improve or enhance the the graphics or sound of regular Genesis games in any way.

The 32x is compatible with all known Mega Drive/Genesis convertors.

The only known Genesis cart that will not operate when connected to the 32x is Virtua Racing. The SVP chip found in Virtua Racing is similar in architecture to the SH2 processors in the 32x and seems to cause some sort of internal hardware conflict.

Some foreign market carts (like FIFA Soccer '96 or Gekijoban Sangokushi IV) will operate perfectly on an American 32x, while others (like DarXide) will not function at all.

The Genesis is not compatible with the European Mega Drive 32x, nor is the European Mega Drive console compatible with the American 32x. The American 32x and the Japanese Super 32x appear to be functionally identical, as the Genesis/Super 32x combo we tested worked fine with both American and Japanese releases.