SNES help

ourkid77

ourkid77

ourkid77

Associate
Joined
22 Feb 2025
Posts
2
Location
Wolverhampton
Hi All

I have been gifted what appears to be a US-NTSC SNES. (please let me know otherwise)

However it appears to have a permanently attached scart connection (please see photos). I have had a search on Google and cannot find any evidence of any SNES having this connection. Is this a mod or did some of the US versions come with this as standard?

I have attached links to some photos to show what I mean (yes i have yet to clean it)

Any help or info would be appreciated

Thanks in advance




https://flic.kr/p/2qN6s8X
https://flic.kr/p/2qN6s98
https://flic.kr/p/2qN6s93
https://flic.kr/p/2qNb2Au
 
That's a mod. No SNES came like that. SCART was a European thing (with a similar connection in Japan I believe) and I don't think any US TV's even had Scart connections. I would have to assume that the SCART cable you have there is RGB which is the best connection available for the SNES. Assuming it is all working OK, you could get yourself a scaler like a GBS Control from Ali Express or if you want to spend a lot more and get the best a Retrotink 5X or Retrotink 4K and have top notch video output from the SNES.
 
As lovelyhead says that's a mod, the snes had a multi output at the back that IIRC was shared with the N64 and possibly Wii (I'm sure the SNES RGB cable worked with all 3), chances are it was done to make an easy connection that would allow the US snes to work with UK TV's as in the the late 90's and early 00's a lot of better TV's could take an NTSC (well 60hz) signal via one or more scart inputs as long as you used the RGB pins.

IIRC the snes RGB cables were always something a bit hard to find and expensive.

And amusingly it looks like I can order better quality SNES RGB cables today than I was every able to back then, and for a fraction of the price (I'm sure I paid something like £10-15 for one back in the 90's).
 
Last edited:
lovelyhead said:
That's a mod. No SNES came like that. SCART was a European thing (with a similar connection in Japan I believe) and I don't think any US TV's even had Scart connections. I would have to assume that the SCART cable you have there is RGB which is the best connection available for the SNES. Assuming it is all working OK, you could get yourself a scaler like a GBS Control from Ali Express or if you want to spend a lot more and get the best a Retrotink 5X or Retrotink 4K and have top notch video output from the SNES.
Click to expand...
he should get a CRT is what he should do :P
 
Zefan said:
As much as I love crts, surely modern top end scalers give them a run for their money?
Click to expand...

I'm not too clued up as I only play games on CRT including modern. I believe the filters they use now when emulating are close to feeling like the real thing. Scalers will bring out an even crispier image than CRT for certain but I like the warm glow and blur a CRT gives.
 
Last edited:
Hi guys, thanks for all your advice. So in theory should this work if i connect via the scart cable to a modern LCD tv if it has a scart input on the back?
 
ourkid77 said:
Hi guys, thanks for all your advice. So in theory should this work if i connect via the scart cable to a modern LCD tv if it has a scart input on the back?
Click to expand...

Yes it should work but it won't look good without a scaler and if it is a 2 chip model of SNES then you would probably want to look at modding it with the Torapu / buttersoft mod to improve the blur inherent to 2 chip models.

It is a real rabbit hole that can get expensive fast. If you have the space I would really recommend a CRT as it would work out a lot cheaper in the long run. If you are not that dedicated to the retro console ownership experience the actual best answer is to sell the SNES and put the money towards a Mister Pi.

Edit. I noticed you don't mention if you have a power supply for the SNES. Be careful with which power supply you use as the US SNES needs a specific power supply to run on UK voltage.
 
Last edited:
lakitu said:
he should get a CRT is what he should do :P
Click to expand...

The problem is he's got more limited choice here - obvs an NSTC console is the non-crippled version/nice to have but if he wants a CRT TV then many in the UK won't necessarily be compatible.

Line doubler + CRT monitor could work though.

ourkid77 said:
Hi guys, thanks for all your advice. So in theory should this work if i connect via the scart cable to a modern LCD tv if it has a scart input on the back?
Click to expand...

You'd likely need an older one - modern TVs often won't have scart but if you get an older one from the 00s or early 10s then you should be fine.

You can also get a relatively cheap line doubler (240p -> 480p) from the usual Chinese places and then try hooking it up to say a CRT monitor if you want a bit more of a retro experience.
 
dowie said:
The problem is he's got more limited choice here - obvs an NSTC console is the non-crippled version/nice to have but if he wants a CRT TV then many in the UK won't necessarily be compatible.

Line doubler + CRT monitor could work though.



You'd likely need an older one - modern TVs often won't have scart but if you get an older one from the 00s or early 10s then you should be fine.

You can also get a relatively cheap line doubler (240p -> 480p) from the usual Chinese places and then try hooking it up to say a CRT monitor if you want a bit more of a retro experience.
Click to expand...
Some TV's did support NTSC though, it's the other way round, where you can't play PAL on American TV's
 
lovelyhead said:
Yes it should work but it won't look good without a scaler and if it is a 2 chip model of SNES then you would probably want to look at modding it with the Torapu / buttersoft mod to improve the blur inherent to 2 chip models.

It is a real rabbit hole that can get expensive fast. If you have the space I would really recommend a CRT as it would work out a lot cheaper in the long run. If you are not that dedicated to the retro console ownership experience the actual best answer is to sell the SNES and put the money towards a Mister Pi.

Edit. I noticed you don't mention if you have a power supply for the SNES. Be careful with which power supply you use as the US SNES needs a specific power supply to run on UK voltage.
Click to expand...
I seem to recall but may be wrong that snes want centre positive which is unusual so double check polarity
 
~>Dg<~ said:
yeah thats not stock. also if i remember correctly the usa and jap one run faster than pal.
Click to expand...

Yup, UK/European games run slower - the US/JPN is the "normal" games running at the speed they were designed to run at markets, Europe got slowed down games as a result of different TV formats.

So it did mean the games were slightly easier in the UK/Europe but also that we, unknowingly for most people, became familiar with slowed-down Mario etc.. music that would sound a bit off to Americans and Japanese.
 
If we assume that is an RGB SCART connection, the CRT just needs to be 60 Hz capable. It doesn't need to be able to handle a NTSC signal which isn't the same thing.
 
Stick some

Jerome Russell Bblonde Cream Peroxide, 40 Volume, 12% Peroxide on that , £1.70 from the rain forest website, leave it in the sun for a few hours (if we ever get some sun) and it will come up lovely.​

 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom