Are there different internals to different model 1 SNES's?

[Ninjamohawk]

I got two model 1 SNES's yesterday for $1 and while they both work, one has a weird box inside and is significantly heavier than the other.

The heavier one is all oxidized and two-tone like the early ones got, and has 4 rubber feet on the bottom of the case. I assume the weight is from this metal enclosure on the inside opposite the power supply/AV connections. Also on the inside of it's cover there's a little bar that slides into the slot on the carts to lock them in place. The other one is not oxidized, much lighter, and doesn't have the enclosure or the locking bar.

Can anyone explain this?

[cynicalhat]

There are two different models. The earlier model has the sound chip in a separate enclose that plugs into the motherboard. The later model has the sound chip soldered to the board. As you mentioned the rubber feet and locking mechanisms are other small differences.

[cynicalhat]

Other differences include video encoder chips. There is a helpful thread on this board if you search withmore details.

[theclaw]

Edit: beat me to it.

[Satoshi_Matrix]

later SNESes and Super Famicoms produce a weird darker than black vertical line directly in the middle of the screen that's present in all games. Some CRTs can mask it extremely well, but its there nonthelesss. I tried playing one of my SNESes on an LCD tv and thought something was wrong with the tv!

[Ninjamohawk]

I want to find cheap AC adapters, one AV cable (I already have one) and controllers. that way I can keep one and sell the other. I'll probably keep the older one and sell the nicer looking one.

I just don't know the best place to get hookups.

[cynicalhat]

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144910

this is a good thread for your initial question. this initial question and thread consequently brought me to these boards.

[Ninjamohawk]

Here are internal shots of both units:

First the oxidized one, SHVC-CPU-01

http://i53.tinypic.com/2crp0ds.jpg

http://i53.tinypic.com/a2rsk2.jpg

and the newer, cleaner looking one, SNS-CPU-GPM-02

http://i51.tinypic.com/21v95k.jpg

Not bad for $0.50 a piece :E

[cynicalhat]

Not bad for $0.50 a piece :E


id have to agree with ya. i like the picture quality better on the newer model myself.

[NayusDante]

So if I were to look for a better SNES, is there a way to tell without opening one?

[Greg2600]

The earlier models are quite heavier than the later ones. They have two big metal shields in side that cover almost the whole board. Also tend to be yellowed.

[Ninjamohawk]

Another easy way to tell is that the older models have a white font painted "EJECT" on the eject lever and the newer ones have the word "EJECT" embossed on the lever.

And I guess the newer ones have two front rubber feet whereas the older ones have all four feet made of rubber.

Older ones have a big silver sticker on the bottom, the newer ones have that text embossed into the plastic.

[Greg2600]

Yes you're correct on all accounts.

[Oldskool]

OK, I am looking at mine right now. It's not yellowed at all and looks quite nice, but anyways...

It has the Eject text painted, and not embossed on the lever.

It has two rubber feet on the bottom. And the only silver sticker on the bottom is the one that says SNES CONTROL DECK. Model No. SNS-001. Embossed on that sticker is the numbers 9323.

So, new or old. Based on the painted lever switch, it's old.

Based on it having two rubber feet it's new.


Another easy way to tell is that the older models have a white font painted "EJECT" on the eject lever and the newer ones have the word "EJECT" embossed on the lever.

And I guess the newer ones have two front rubber feet whereas the older ones have all four feet made of rubber.

Older ones have a big silver sticker on the bottom, the newer ones have that text embossed into the plastic.

[Ninjamohawk]

I'm gonna guess it's an GPM-01. Sometime between the two models I'm looking at.

[cynicalhat]

it says in his picture of the motherboard what model it is. a GPM 02

[wingzrow]

Also, and keep in mind I don't remember what motherboard revision I have, but certain boards make it damn near impossible to remove the 72 pin replacement for a pin swap.

[theclaw]

Isn't the SNES less than 72 pin?

[wingzrow]

Isn't the SNES less than 72 pin?

Sorry, I was using a generic term there. I should have just said pin connector.

[theclaw]

Oh, well I think I might've heard somewhere a while back the NES top loader pin connecter is difficult to remove. Really don't know...

[cynicalhat]

The gpm 02 you can remove the connector if you are inclined to do so.

[NayusDante]

Alright, I finally got around to ordering a game bit and opened up both of mine. The one I've been using is an SNS-CPU-GPM-02 from 1993. The one I grew up with, and now learned just needs a new fuse, is an SNS-RGB-01 from 94, though I know it was purchased in mid to late 95. Both have the black vertical line. Encoders are S-ENC and S-RGB respectively.

Neither have the audio shielding enclosure. Is there any loss of audio quality as a result of being later revisions?

Has anyone confirmed a Model 1 SNES working on S-Video without the black line?

[NayusDante]

Also, the black bar is noticeably worse on the RGB one. Is that normal???

[cynicalhat]

Neither have the audio shielding enclosure. Is there any loss of audio quality as a result of being later revisions?

Has anyone confirmed a Model 1 SNES working on S-Video without the black line?


AFAIK its the same chips; just soldered to the main board so there shouldn't be any audio difference. i have a gpm 02 with an s-enc-b and it has a very faint line if you are looking for it. i have another SNES that has the audio chip on a daughter board and it also has a vertical line thats a bit less noticeable. I choose to keep the one that is more noticeable due tot he sprites being a bit more sharper, and since the line is so faint anyway.

[Zing]

I posted this in the other thread, but I don't think it ever got a response. Does the "vertical line" appear only when using s-video? Is there anything like that visible with composite?

[NayusDante]

On my ENC SNES
RF: No
Composite: Yes
S-Video:Yes

On my RGB SNES
RF: Yes
Composite: Yes
S-Video:Yes

I'm gonna have to hook up my Retro Duo sometime today. This might be one area where I prefer the clone system...

[Zing]

Interesting that I never noticed it before. I don't currently have a SNES, but back when I had one in the 90s, I was very interested in TV image quality. I had a higher end TV and fiddled with the adjustments quite a bit. Maybe it only shows if your brightness is relatively high?

[genesisguy]

later SNESes and Super Famicoms produce a weird darker than black vertical line directly in the middle of the screen that's present in all games. Some CRTs can mask it extremely well, but its there nonthelesss. I tried playing one of my SNESes on an LCD tv and thought something was wrong with the tv!

Interesting. This is good to know. My SNES has that dark line down the center of the screen and I was thinking the console itself was dying.

[kedawa]

I've never seen this on any of my systems. Is it a design flaw, or some kind of component failure that causes it?

[Zing]

Current hypotheses suggest either, or both!

[NayusDante]

It's not always apparent on mine. Certain scenes show the problem much more than others. I'm testing with Mega Man X2, which shows the effect within seconds of starting, on the dark blue sky in the intro.

There's not that many capacitors on the SNES, any one feel like swapping them out to see if that's the issue?

[cynicalhat]

i doubt this is fatigue. this happened even back in the day on my SNES when it was relatively new. I think its just what the SNES does IMO, just different models and setups make it more or less apparent.

[NayusDante]

If that's the case, then I have a newfound respect for my Retro Duo, which has a perfect picture.

[NayusDante]

Just opened up a friend's SNES after checking the output. The black bar is a lot lighter on his, almost non-existant. Actually, it's more of a light bar. The board is a SNS-CPU-GPM-01 and the encoder is an S-ENC B BA6594AF 238 102.

[Zing]

I just acquired a SNES model 2, and I can't see any sort of black bar or otherwise. I went back through and calibrated my brightness, contrast, color, etc and still nothing. This is a 32" Sony WEGA from 2005.

[Parodius Duh!]

I believe the smaller model 2 snes corrects the black line problem, Ive had my model 2 hooked up to many diifferent types of television (CRT, LCD, Plasma, HD) and no bar is present ever. Although my model 2 is a bit more finicky when trying to get games to boot up, seems like the model 1 all I need to do is stick the cart in and bam, works. The model 2 I gotta pull the carts in and out 4-5 times before they boot up.

[Zing]

Isn't that a common problem with the fake model 2? Are you sure yours is legit?

[Zing]

A small update regarding my SNES model 2. I just noticed the dark line in Yoshi's Island. I don't see it on Super Mario World or when playing my Super Game Boy. The SGB in particular is bright enough that the dark line should show, yet it doesn't. Only in Yoshi's Island with its bright background can I see the dark line.

I wonder if it is some sort of rendering error with certain types of backgrounds or if it is in the video encoder.

I am using composite video, of course.

[Leo_A]

I posted this in the other thread, but I don't think it ever got a response. Does the "vertical line" appear only when using s-video? Is there anything like that visible with composite?

It appears even when using RF. Check out Star Fox, it's readily apparant in that game due to the colors they used. I recall it being very evident anytime the screen is dark black, such as on the title screen or the levels that take place in outer space.


I've never seen this on any of my systems. Is it a design flaw, or some kind of component failure that causes it?


It's how the system normally has operated since day 1. Even my SuperNes model 2 exhibits this (Bought new when Wal-Mart had them for $50 on Black Friday one year, so probably was made in 1998 or 1999). So don't worry about it being a sign your system is failing. You should have no trouble locating past discussion on the vertical line at forums such as this one for further evidence to reassure you. If you've never noticed it, even better. I'm sure plenty of people never did.

Never noticed if it was present on the RetroDuo or not. I'll fire up Star Fox later and see (It's much harder to see in a game such as Super Mario World).

[Zing]

This dark line is very strange. The only time it exists (so far) is in certain areas of a castle level. It doesn't matter how bright or dark the background or screen is, it only appears in that one section. I see absolutely no difference in the image on any other screen that I have seen so far (currently working on world 3).