More Than One Version of The SNES Model 1?

[wingzrow]

So I got a spare super nintendo today from the salvation army and immediately tested it out to see if it worked. Sure enough, it boots up just fine, but something was definitely off. Switching back my original snes It hit me. The other one's picture was noticeably more blurry.

I opened both up and the actual insides seem to be different on each. Mainly, one motherboard is labeled 1991, and the other is labeled 1995. The later, being the one that has worse picture. Both were run on the exact same tv with the same S-video cord & power supply.

Can anyone explain this?

Do certain models of the original SNES just not run well in S-video or is there another issue completely here?

[izarate]

There are five revisions of the original SNES SNS-001:

SHVC-CPU-01
SNS-GPM-CPU-01
SNS-GPM-CPU-02
SNS-RGB-CPU-01
SNS-1CHIP-CPU-01

The weird part concerning your post is that video was actually improved. Earlier SNES revs (SHVCs and GPMs) use the old ROHM BA6592F encoder(S-ENC). The RGBs and 1CHIPs use the BA6595F (S-RGB) and SNES Jr. use the BA6596F (S-RGB A).

Maybe the unit you tested is picking up interference? The older SNESes had a bulkier RF shield. Also, a capacitor or some other component on the video circuit might be going out.

[wingzrow]

Interference is unlikely, as I removed the shielding completely under the assumption that that would fix the issue. I guess it's just a dieing system. It's barely noticeable unless you play them side by side but the difference is there.

[BetaWolf47]

Oh great, another system with a bunch of variants in video quality. Please tell me it's not as crazy as the sheer amount of Genesis variants!

[izarate]

It really isn't that different. The most noticeable improvement comes with the BA6596F ("S-RBG A") which doesn't produce the faint vertical lines at the center of the screen:


Apart from that, picture sharpness and quality is almost the same except for a marginal improvement in color separation (most noticeable with S-Video):

Left: BA6592, Right: BA6595/96

[theclaw]

Oh great, another system with a bunch of variants in video quality. Please tell me it's not as crazy as the sheer amount of Genesis variants!

Ugh. The thought of how horrible the video quality of some Genesis units is... My plan is to sell what I've got left and start over with a proper condition one down the road.

[izarate]

At least it's not as crazy as the Genesis since the BA6592 and the BA6595/96 use different support circuitry and their pinouts are different also so they aren't drop in replacements (unlike the CXA1145, MB3514 and KA2195) meaning that you won't find a BA6592 on a newer SNES.

[Retromangia]

Hey Izrate...

thanks for providing this great info! I've always thought some of my SNES have better image quality than others... but could never find any info on this.

My question for you is... which model is best? and where can i find this model # on the system itself? The newer models are so much lighter than the old ones as far as weight goes too I've noticed.

lastly, I've noticed while using S-video on SNES.. there seems to be a fairly thick faint Purple vertical line on the screen... is this due to the model # I'm using? I'm using Monster S-video cables which were brand new in package.

thanks for all your help!

[izarate]

which model is best? and where can i find this model # on the system itself?

I'd say the best is the SNES 2 for the BA6596F encoder; for the SNES 1 I'd say the best are the SNS-CPU-RGB-01 and SNS-CPU-1CHIP-01.

The revision is printed on the PCB:

lastly, I've noticed while using S-video on SNES.. there seems to be a fairly thick faint Purple vertical line on the screen...

I assume you mean this:




Refer to my previous post: http://www.digitpress.com/forum/show...95&postcount=5