PPU memory map

PPU memory map

The PPU addresses a 16k space, $0000-3FFF, completely separate from the CPU's data bus. It is either directly accessed by the PPU itself, or via the CPU with memory mapped registers at $2006 and $2007.

The NES has 2k of RAM dedicated to the PPU, normally mapped to the nametable address space from $2000-2FFF, but this can be rerouted through custom cartridge wiring.

Address range	Size	Description
$0000-$0FFF	$1000	Pattern Table 0 [lower CHR bank]
$1000-$1FFF	$1000	Pattern Table 1 [upper CHR bank]
$2000-$23FF	$0400	Name Table #0
$2400-$27FF	$0400	Name Table #1
$2800-$2BFF	$0400	Name Table #2
$2C00-$2FFF	$0400	Name Table #3
$3000-$3EFF	$0F00	Mirrors of $2000-$2EFF
$3F00-$3F1F	$0020	Palette RAM indexes [not RGB values]
$3F20-$3FFF	$00E0	Mirrors of $3F00-$3F1F

In addition, the PPU contains 256 bytes of memory known as Object Attribute Memory in a separate address space, which determines how sprites are rendered. The CPU also manipulates this memory through special memory mapped registers at $2003, $2004, and $4014.

Address range	Size	Description
$00-$0C (0 of 4)	$40	Sprite Y
$01-$0D (1 of 4)	$40	Sprite Tile
$02-$0E (2 of 4)	$40	Sprite Attribute
$03-$0F (3 of 4)	$40	Sprite Address

Hardware mapping

The mappings above are the fixed addresses from which the PPU uses to fetch data during rendering. The actual device that the PPU fetches data from, however, may be configured by the cartridge.

• $0000-1FFF is normally mapped by the cartridge to a CHR-ROM or CHR-RAM, often with a bank switching mechanism.

• $2000-2FFF is normally mapped to the 2k NES internal VRAM, providing 2 nametables with a mirroring configuration controlled by the cartridge, but it can be partly or fully remapped to RAM on the cartridge, allowing up to 4 simultaneous nametables.

• $3000-3EFF is usually a mirror of 2k VRAM from $2000-2EFF. The PPU does not render from this address range, so this space has negligible utility.

• $3F00-3FFF is not configurable, always mapped to the internal palette control.