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Nintendo 64 u/palette_swap ·

What is the port on the bottom of the Nintendo 64 console used for?

I was looking at my Nintendo 64 today and noticed a large rectangular port on the underside of the console. I've had this thing since I was a kid and never actually plugged anything into it. What was it actually used for?
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2 comments

  • u/joystickjen ·
    That's the Extension port, and it was primarily meant for the 64DD (Disk Drive) add-on. The 64DD was a magnetic disk drive that sat underneath the console, allowing for larger games and writable storage. Unfortunately, it suffered massive delays and only came out in Japan near the end of the console's life, so most people outside of Japan never got to use that port.
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  • u/mode7mike ·
    While the 64DD is the most famous use, that port provides high-speed direct access to the console's internal bus. Because of this, developers and some third-party hardware makers used it for development tools and backup devices, although Nintendo officially only ever released the 64DD for it.
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