Dimensions
The Wii is Nintendo's smallest home console to date, measuring in at 44 mm (1.73 in) wide, 157 mm (6.18 in) tall and 215.4 mm (8.48 in) deep in its vertical orientation, making it only slightly larger than three DVD cases stacked together. The system weighs 1.2 kg (2.7 lb), which makes it the lightest of the three major seventh-generation consoles.
Design
The front of the console features an illuminated slot-loading optical media drive which accepts only 12 cm Wii Optical Discs and 8 cm Nintendo GameCube Game Discs. The blue light in the disc slot illuminates briefly when the console is turned on, and pulses when new data is received through WiiConnect24. After the update, the disc-slot light activates whenever a Wii disc is inserted or ejected.
Two USB ports are located at its rear. An SD-card slot is located behind the cover on the front of the console.
Although Nintendo showed the console and the Wii Remote in white, black, silver, lime-green and red before it was released, it was only available in white for its first couple of years on sale.
Black consoles were available in Japan in August 2009, in Europe in November 2009 and in North America on May 9, 2010. A red Wii system bundle was available in Japan on November 11, 2010, commemorating the 25th anniversary of Super Mario Bros. The UK version of the limited-edition red Wii was released October 29, 2010, preloaded with the original Donkey Kong game. It also featured the Wii Remote Plus, a new version of the controller with integrated Wii Motion Plus technology. The red Wii bundle was released in North America on November 7, 2010 with New Super Mario Bros. Wii and the Wii Remote Plus.
Wii Package
The Wii launch package includes the console, a stand to allow the console to be placed vertically, a round, clear stabilizer for the main stand, a Wii Remote, a Nunchuk attachment, a Sensor Bar, a removable stand for the bar, an external power adapter, two AA batteries, a composite AV cable with RCA connectors, a SCART adapter in European countries, user manual, and - in Europe and the Americas - a copy of the game Wii Sports.
Processors
- CPU: IBM PowerPC-based "Broadway" processor, made with a 90 nm SOI CMOS process, clocked at 729 MHz
- GPU: ATI "Hollywood" GPU, made with a 90 nm CMOS process, clocked at 243 MHz
Memory
- 88 MB main memory (24 MB internal 1T-SRAM integrated into graphics package, 64 MB external GDDR3 SDRAM)
- 3 MB embedded GPU texture memory and framebuffer
Video
The disc reader of the Wii does not play DVD-Video, DVD-Audio or Compact Discs. A 2006 announcement stated that a new version of the Wii (capable of DVD-Video playback) would be released in 2007. However, Nintendo delayed its release to focus on meeting demand for the original console. Nintendo's initial announcement stated that it "requires more than a firmware upgrade" to implement, and the capability could not be made available as an upgrade option for the existing Wii.
Despite this assertion, third parties have used Wii homebrew to add DVD playback to unmodified Wii units. The Wii can also be hacked to enable an owner to use the console for activities unintended by the manufacturer.
Storage
The Wii console contains 512 megabytes of internal flash memory, and features an SD card slot for external storage.
An SD card can be used for uploading photos and backing up saved game data and downloaded Virtual Console and WiiWare games. To use the SD slot for transferring game saves, however, an update must be installed. Installation may be initiated from the Wii options menu through an Internet connection, or by inserting a game disc containing the update. Virtual Console data cannot be restored to any system except the unit of origin.
An SD card can also be used to create customized in-game music from stored MP3 files and music for the slide-show feature of the Photo Channel. Version 1.1 of the Photo Channel, however, removed MP3 playback in favor of AAC support.
As of 2009 pllayers can load Virtual Console and WiiWare games directly onto and off of an SD card. The update also llows the use of SDHC cards, increasing the limit on SD card size from 2 GB to 32 GB.
Misc
- Four possible Wii Remote controllers, connected via Bluetooth
- Four Nintendo GameCube controller ports (Not on the "Slim" model)
- Two Nintendo GameCube Memory Card slots (Not on the "Slim" model)
- SD memory card slot
- Two USB 2.0 slots
- Sensor Bar port
- Accessory port on Wii Remote (used to connect Nunchuk and other peripherals)
- USB keyboard input, compatible with Wii Shop Channel and Internet Channel (versions 3.0 and 3.1)
- Mitsumi DWM-W004 WiFi 802.11b/g wireless module
- Compatible with USB 2.0 to Ethernet LAN adaptor
- MultiAV output for component, composite, and S-Video
- Stereo: Dolby Pro Logic II
- Wii Remote built-in speaker
