NTSC SNES or Super Famicom for use in UK

2013-01-17 04:50:07 am

$15 per rant/allegory

After discovering that my PC monitor is super laggy and that I can't do shit on reaction in any SNES game, I've decided to take the plunge and buy an NTSC SNES.

Because I'm too lazy to go searching myself, does anyone either have one or know of any places that sell SNESes set up for UK use?

Thanks in advance.

Thread title:

HiipFire

Edit history:

HiipFire: 2013-01-17 12:26:23 pm

HiipFire: 2013-01-17 12:26:19 pm

2013-01-17 08:45:35 am

just so you know, the AC adapter for a PAL snes works on a ntsc snes
the only thing you need is ntsc video cables and a tv capable of showing ntsc in colour.

DJS

2013-01-17 10:42:07 am

torch slug since 2006

Quote from HiipFire:

just so you know, the AC adapter for a PAL snes n64 and gc works on a ntsc snes

what?

dballin

Edit history:

dballin: 2013-01-17 11:45:05 am

2013-01-17 11:40:55 am

Balls jerky

The problem lies when you try to use something rated for 110 VAC (US) using 220 VAC (Euro) outlets. SNES runs off of DC voltage so if your euro AC adapter is outputting 10 VDC 350mA, I don't see any reason why it wouldn't work.

Edit: Actually that whole 50 Hz vs 60 Hz coming out of the wall might be something? Hell if I know. I'm only a 2nd quarter student. Tongue

HiipFire

2013-01-17 12:26:50 pm

Only meant SNES DJS

oasiz

Edit history:

oasiz: 2013-01-17 09:51:24 pm

2013-01-17 09:48:20 pm

Iha paska

Once you go DC, the Hz doesn't matter since the current direction doesn't alternate at all.
SFC was +10VDC from what I remember and 850mA.

Any standard DC adapter that has those specs should work (1A adapter should be plenty).
Just be sure to check the polarity before plugging a "multi adapter" in as having that wrong can fry your system.
It's usually just a matter of flipping the plug in the adapter.
From a quick google search, the center pin is negative, so in the adapter it looks something like this: pos -- (o-- neg
And seems that +9VDC will also work just fine as the voltage gets crunched to +5VDC internally anyway.

What you want is basically like this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/White-Label-Universal-Stabilized-Switching/dp/B002E4YQHS/ref=sr_1_1?s=computers&ie=UTF8&qid=1358484544&sr=1-1 except that almost has twice the amps that you'd really need (higher price).

Greenalink

2013-01-20 07:03:04 am

DS Dictator

The Super Famicom in the UK is easy when it comes to find the right power supply as you can use a Megadrive 1 UK adapter to the Super Famicom without problems.

The NTSC US SNES is easy when it comes to play all kinds of NTSC versions as it includes the ability to play Japanese carts after removing the 2 tabs inside the SNES cart slots.
Finding the compatible 3-pin UK power supply is not as easy as the Super Famicom because it uses a different adapter slot on the back of the console. Pootrain who has a US SNES jnr uses a transformer to down covert the voltage.

From where I live there's absolute F-all for retro stuff.

TheThrillness

2013-01-30 02:33:57 pm

thethrillness.blogspot.com

So you don't need a transformer for an NTSC SNES in the UK?

"Thankfully, getting an imported SNES console to work in the UK is somewhat easier. A neat bonus is that no step down voltage converter is required to operate either the Super Famicom or American SNES in the UK; the machine will happily accept a standard UK SNES power supply, or - rather ironically - a Sega Mega Drive Mk1 PSU."

http://www.eurogamer.net/articles/df-hardware-the-ultimate-console-collectors-guide

Tranquilite

2013-01-30 04:18:21 pm

If your adapter outputs 9-10V DC, is rated for ~850mA of current or more, is center pin negative, and the plug fits, it will work with your SNES.

F-Bomb

2013-02-01 08:20:33 pm

Here in Aus (which I assume is similar to UK), I couldn't find a generic power supply to fit my NTSC SNES. So i bought a generic power supply that was big enough (1A). I then opened up the US SNES power supply as well as the generic power supply, then took the cable from the US SNES power supply and soldered it to the generic power supply. Piece of cake and worked beautifully.

Alko

2013-02-02 05:15:53 pm

Caution: This user contains Kana ^_^

My SNES is a UK-PAL one, and all of its cables worked on Edenal's SFC like a charm.

Quote from TheThrillness:

So you don't need a transformer for an NTSC SNES in the UK?

Just so no one misunderstands: If you're planning on shipping something from Japan/US and using the original (US/JP) cable, then you need a transformer to step down your voltage so your system doesn't get fried. But the case of the SFC is that it's identical in build to European SNESes, so the European cables (which already supply the correct voltage to the system) will work. I have no clue if a European SNES power cord will fit an American SNES, though.

Greenalink

2013-02-02 05:29:39 pm

DS Dictator

Quote:

I have no clue if a European SNES power cord will fit an American SNES, though.

You can't it's not possible.
I used to have a switch modded PAL SNES but I took it back because it had problems with Contra Spirits. So I got an NTSC model instead and the EU power supply used on the PAL SNES does not fit into a US SNES.

Ketran

2013-02-05 12:59:19 pm

I have a question somewhat similar to this one and I didn't want to make a whole new thread for it : Should you use this tutorial : http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/nintendo/snes-switches-1.htm to use NTSC games on your PAL SNES, would they run at the correct speed or is it just a way to start them ?

Greenalink

2013-02-05 01:43:27 pm

DS Dictator

The NTSC games are region locked on PAL.
- You can use those converters to play NTSC games (US carts especially) on a unmodded PAL system but it will only run in 50hz, some games may freeze when running NTSC games in 50hz
- The US NTSC carts are much wider so you will need either a converter or widen the cart slot.
- The framerate of a modded PAL in 60hz is different than an unmodded NTSC

- Playing NTSC games on PAL via switch mods does not give full compatibility on every NTSC SNES game. Some have graphic problems (see video) or some used a special chip like some copies of Mario RPG and SNES Kirby Games that a simple switch mod alone isn't enough to play imports.
Switchless mod version is slightly better but again PAL 60hz has a different frames per second count than the NTSC SNES so it's going to be awkward to compare runs.

Ketran

2013-02-05 01:53:21 pm

Thank you very much for these informations. Would you happen to know the different framerates for a "normal" NTSC SNES and a modded PAL SNES ? Also, would a run done on the modded one be accepted on SDA ?

Greenalink

Edit history:

Greenalink: 2013-02-05 02:00:03 pm

2013-02-05 01:59:47 pm

DS Dictator

http://forum.speeddemosarchive.com/post/important_analog_capture_frame_rates_and_mysterious_gained_seconds.html

Quote:

The problem with this is that the NTSC Super Nintendo doesn't output 59.94 progressive/29.97 interlaced, it outputs 60.0988 progressive/30.0494 interlaced.

This might not be relevant for most, but I found out that 60Hz modded PAL consoles run at a different speed than the original NTSC consoles.

Quote:

Super Famicom: 60.10 fps
60Hz modded PAL SNES: 59.56 fps

I'm not the guy to answer about runs on PAL modded 60hz because there are a few Super Game Boy (model 1) runs on the site that runs at a framerate much faster than intended.
Luckily there is a forumula that we use to convert it to the correct timing
http://speeddemosarchive.com/kb/index.php/Super_Game_Boy_timing

Ketran

2013-02-05 02:47:24 pm

Thank you very much, I'll look into it. Wink

TheThrillness

2013-02-26 02:12:15 pm

thethrillness.blogspot.com

I actually wanna revive this and see if anyone has an NTSC Snes or Super Famicom for sale or knows any websites located in the UK/Europe who sell them?