Nintendo 64 Model Variations and Revisions

Yes, the Nintendo 64 saw several hardware revisions and special editions during its lifespan.

Standard Retail Revisions

Original Model (1996)

• Charcoal gray shell with three-pronged power connector.
• Minor motherboard revisions occurred during production, but exterior remained consistent.

Revision 1 (1999) – "Dark Gray"

• Slightly darker charcoal shell.
• Some units included a built-in Rumble Pak port (previously an accessory slot).
• Two power connector variants: standard and "power-only" (no video pass-through for multi-tap).

Revision 2 (1999) – "Round Connector"

• Identical appearance to Rev 1 but features a round, black power connector for improved durability.
• Also came in standard and "power-only" connector variants.

Special Editions

• F-Zero X (1999): Translucent blue/green case with game branding.
• GoldenEye 007 (1997): Gold-colored shell (limited, often bundle-only).
• Mario Kart 64 (2000): Translucent red/blue case with Mario Kart branding.
• Pokémon Edition (1999/2000): Blue/Yellow or Orange variants with Pokémon decals.

Identification Tips

Check the power connector shape (rectangular 3-prong vs round), shell color shade, and presence of a Rumble Pak slot on the front.

Note: All N64 consoles are region-locked (NTSC-U, NTSC-J, PAL).