Nintendo 64 Expansion Pak - IGN

Selling for $29.95, the 4MB Expansion plugs into the top expansion port of your N64 (the one under the little hatch inbetween the Reset and the Power switches) and boosts the total system memory to a total of 8MBs. To install the expansion, you first have to pull out the Jumper Pak (an empty placeholder pack that does not contain any memory) with the included plastic tool. You can also use any other pointy object, in case the tool breaks (which it usually does).

So what does it do? A number of things. The additional memory can serve as an important performance boost if developers programmed their games to recognize and make use of it. Don't expect magical improvements to older games, or even ones that are yet to come. How a developer utilizes the extra RAM depends on preference, technical expertise, and what type of game it is.

Nintendo's technical team advises developers to integrate RAM Pak support to create the most cutting-edge product, and offers the following ideas and inspirations:

• Higher resolutions: The increased RAM makes higher resolution modes (such as medium, medium/high and high-res modes) easier to implement. Turok 2 and Rogue Squadron both support high res (640x480) modes when used with the pak, whereas Top Gear Overdrive switches to medium/high (640x240) for sharper visuals.
• More animations: Animation data is typically loaded into RAM before it's needed. Having more RAM for information data will allow a character to have more moves and greater realism.
• Increased color depth: Most games run in 16-bit color, which provides a range of 65,000 colors with 8 levels of transparency (alpha channels). The N64 is capable of 32-bit color but it requires frame buffers that are twice as large.
• More sophisticated AI: More complex Artificial Intelligence (AI) code could perhaps reduce the need for enemies, players or characters to share AI. This will lead to more realistic and diverse behaviors when the characters in a game do not all behave in the same way. Additionally, the computer-controller characters can simply be smarter with better AI. Games such as Turok 2 and Golden Eye have sophisticated AI that contributes to the game significantly.
• Larger levels or worlds: The additional RAM can be used to simply expand the scope of the game by having larger worlds, longer tracks, etc. Each of these things imply more RAM space for polygon data, texture data, etc.
• More characters or vehicles: Each vehicle or character in a game requires a certain amount of code and data that must reside in RAM (AI code, animation data, texture data, polygon data, weapons effects, etc.) The additional RAM could be used to provide a more intense game by having more enemies, racers, or whatever on screen at any given time.
• More textures: One of the key elements to improving the graphic quality of a game is to reduce the re-use of texture data. The additional RAM could buffer a larger number of textures providing a more "rich" look to the game. Note that the additional RAM has no bearing on the N64's inherent texture cache limitations.
• Better framerates: Normally a game will have two frame buffers and one Z buffer ("double buffering"). By increasing to three frame buffers and two Z buffers ("triple buffering") the frame rate of the game can be improved. Rogue Squadron utilizes this technique when using the RAM Expansion.
• Longer replays: Replay data is stored in RAM. Larger RAM will facilitate longer instant replay. Acclaim's Quarterback Club 99 supports extended replays, and it could help a lot with racing game replays as well (which are usually limited to single laps).
• More complex games: Lastly, the game code itself can be larger and therefore offer a more diverse game. Puzzles could be more complex or intricate, levels or tracks more unique, different teams more diverse. Additional RAM for program code may allow developers to explore new technologies such as voice recognition, dynamic terrain modeling, etc.

It should be noted that enhancements such as high-res modes may not be the best solution for every game. The N64's graphics output is ultimately limited by such issues as fill-rate and processor speed -- and even more RAM won't boost its drawing power beyond a certain point. Hence the slowdown in games like Turok 2, despite the RAM Expansion.

Recommended purchase.

Installation:

This is the 4MB extension pak. It's exactly the same size as the Jumper Pak (also known as Terminator Pak) currently in place in your N64's extension slot.

The pak ships with a special plastic tool that enables easy removal of the Jumper Pak. Careful, it breaks easily.

The Jumper Pak is simply a placeholder for the RAM expansion. Note that your N64 will not operate if neither the Jumper Pak nor the Memory Expansion is in the slot (it may be a good way to keep your evil brother from playing with your N64 in your absence).

Tadaa! The Memory Expansion is safe and secured. Close all hatches -- ready to go. You don't need to ever switch the RAM Expansion with the Jumper Pak again, but we recommend keeping the Jumper Pak just in case the RAM Pak should become defective or an older title proves to be incompatible with the expansion.