20 years ago this month, Nintendo launched its first 64-bit console, the Nintendo 64, in Japan. This powerful follow-up to the Super NES represented a quantum leap in polygonal 3D graphics technology. While the N64 suffered competitively due to its reliance on cartridge media, the system played host to many groundbreaking games such as Super Mario 64 and The Legend of Zelda: The Ocarina of Time.

With this anniversary in mind, I thought it would be fun to open one of these dark-gray beauties on my workbench to see what makes it tick. Out of all the consoles I’ve disassembled, I’ve never taken apart an N64 until now. It’s time to rectify that.