The core experience of playing a video game might seem similar, but the hardware powering an arcade cabinet and a home console are built with fundamentally different goals. This results in significant architectural differences.

The most striking divergence is in raw processing power. Historically, arcade machines boasted hardware that was generations ahead of contemporary home systems. In the 1980s and 1990s, titles like "Street Fighter II" and "NBA Jam" featured detailed graphics and smooth animation that were impossible on the Super Nintendo or Sega Genesis. This was a business necessity; arcade operators needed visually spectacular games to attract players and earn quarters. Arcade boards were expensive, specialized computers dedicated to running a single game with maximum efficiency.

Conversely, home consoles are designed as versatile, cost-effective entertainment hubs. Their hardware is a carefully balanced compromise of performance, price, and size, built to run a wide variety of games in a living room environment. Their architecture prioritizes flexibility through a standardised operating system and development tools, allowing thousands of different titles to run on the same machine.

This leads to a key distinction: specialization vs. generalization. An arcade PCB (Printed Circuit Board) is a bespoke hardware system engineered for one specific game. Its components—CPUs, graphics chips, and sound synthesizers—are often custom-designed and optimized to do one thing perfectly. This allows for clever programming tricks that maximize the output of the hardware. Home consoles use standardized, off-the-shelf components (like an AMD APU) to keep costs down and make development accessible to a wide range of studios.

The hardware extends beyond the main board. Arcade machines feature specialized, industrial-grade control interfaces like light guns, steering wheels with force feedback, and durable joysticks and buttons built to withstand millions of aggressive inputs. These are integral to the experience. Home consoles use generalized, wireless controllers designed for comfort and a broad range of game genres, with specialized controllers being optional accessories.

Finally, the hardware is built for different environments. An arcade cabinet is a commercial product designed for near-constant operation. Its components are chosen for durability and easy serviceability. A home console is a consumer electronic device designed for intermittent use, with a stronger emphasis on quiet operation (e.g., cooling fans) and aesthetic design to fit in a home.

In summary, arcade hardware is a specialized, high-performance beast built for a single purpose and a brutal commercial environment. Home console hardware is a generalized, cost-effective platform designed for versatility, accessibility, and the living room.