Sharp X68000
Sharp's arcade-grade Japanese computer
- 1987Released
- Home ComputerType
- SharpDeveloper
Sharp X68000 Specifications
- Processor
- Motorola 68000 (16/32-bit)
- Processor Speed
- 10 MHz (16 MHz on the XVI)
- RAM
- 1 MB (expandable to 12 MB)
- GPU
- Custom chipset with sprite and tile hardware
- Resolution
- Up to 768 x 512 pixels, up to 65,536 colours
- Media
- 5.25-inch floppy disk, SASI/SCSI hard disk
Overview
The X68000 is a home computer made by Sharp and released only in Japan in March 1987. It used a Motorola 68000 processor, the same CPU as many arcade boards of the time, together with custom graphics hardware for sprites, tiles and a large colour range.
Its twin-tower case, with a handle on top and soft-eject floppy drives, was designed to look like a small workstation. It ran Human68k, a DOS-like operating system, with the SX-Window graphical interface available later.
Because its hardware was close to arcade boards, the X68000 received very faithful ports of games such as Street Fighter II, Final Fight, Gradius and Ghouls ’n Ghosts, many made by Capcom, Konami and Taito themselves. Its sound came from a Yamaha YM2151 FM chip and an OKI ADPCM chip.
Sharp released many models, including the X68000 XVI in 1991 with a 16 MHz CPU and the X68030 in 1993 with a Motorola 68EC030, which was the last in the line. Sharp later allowed the X68000’s system ROMs and Human68k to be freely distributed for emulation.
XM6 TypeG is the most complete X68000 emulator on Windows and covers every model up to the X68030.
Key Features
Arcade Hardware
Its 68000 CPU matched many arcade boards of the time.
Faithful Ports
Very faithful arcade ports, many made by Capcom, Konami and Taito.
Twin-Tower Case
A twin-tower case with a handle, styled like a small workstation.
FM Sound
Sound from a Yamaha YM2151 FM chip and an OKI ADPCM chip.
