WTB: SNES (and possibly an education for a beginner SNES player)

Edit history:

NaimK: 2014-02-24 04:41:45 am

NaimK: 2014-02-24 04:40:38 am

2014-02-24 04:39:50 am

Basically I started gaming with the original Xbox and after watching AGDQ and SGDQ, I feel quite left out of the earlier era.

I'm looking for an SNES, but also some information. I don't really know what to buy. I guess I'm looking for a SNES, and I've seen some on ebay that come with composite cables, which would be ideal.

I also (warning: the following information comes from Wikipedia) read that there are adapter carts out there that will allow me to play japanese famicom and other region games on a western SNES? That would be even better!

Does someone feel like giving me a quick education or a link to somewhere with more specific info than Wikipedia?

Thread title:

Beezy

Edit history:

Beezy: 2014-02-25 01:25:32 pm

Beezy: 2014-02-25 01:25:31 pm

2014-02-25 12:40:12 pm

Gold Standard

Just to point out you don't even need to get an adapter cart to play Japanese games, you could just mod a US SNES pretty easily if you wanted to (Nintendo has pretty poor region lock). But yeah there are Adapter carts that do the same thing if you just want to buy one instead.

NaimK

2014-02-25 09:24:37 pm

So the slightly differently shaped carts won't be a problem? I'm from Australia, so I could just buy a PAL console and use it to play Japanese, US and Australian carts?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:SNES-SFAM-Cartridges.jpg

ConHuevos

Edit history:

ConHuevos: 2014-02-25 09:55:41 pm

ConHuevos: 2014-02-25 09:55:22 pm

2014-02-25 09:54:59 pm

Ciento Dos Huevos

No, you want a NTSC console if you want to play NTSC games (JPN/USA). If you buy a PAL console the CIC would prevent it from playing USA/JPN games and there are clock differences which would make the timing of the game abnormal.

It's easier to play US and JPN games buying a North American console. If you buy a Japanese SNES, US carts physically won't fit in the slot without an adapter. Buying a USA console, Japanese carts will fit if you simply cut the 2 small plastic tabs in the throat of the cartridge insert. There is no region lock on USA <--> JPN other than the plastic tabs.

Alko

2014-02-26 07:14:58 am

Caution: This user contains Kana ^_^

You can also use Edenal's method of widening the opening of a Japanese SNES (referred to as SFC for easier distinguishing) so that the US carts will physically fit without using an adapter. Not recommended if you ever want to resell your SNES Wink

Another 'problem' you might run into is the PSU. Both Japanese and US PSUs assume 110 V coming out of the wall, while you in Australia have 230-240. I don't know which voltage and AC/DC the US-SNES takes, but an SFC wants 9 V DC (centre pin negative), which you should not supply with a simple PAL-SNES PSU (that outputs 9V AC!) (apparatly, some SFC models can take AC while others will get fried). Easiest solution would be the PSU of a Sega Mega Drive 1 which gives the same voltage DC negative centre. Alternatively, you can look for a third party step-down converter that outputs the correct voltage (I did that, I can prolly help you find one) or just use a 230 → 110 → 9 V chain (least suggested).

NaimK

2014-02-27 02:01:26 am

Well, I just bought a US SNES and a couple of US and Japanese NTSC games (to be delivered in the next couple of weeks), and I *completely* spaced on remembering about the 110V in the US. *facepalm*

It would be easiest just to get a converter I guess. Should it be SNES specific, or easiest to just get a 240v -> 110v generic power converter?

Alko

2014-02-27 10:11:26 am

Caution: This user contains Kana ^_^

A 240 -> 110V adapter will work.
It has the disadvantage of two step-downs following each other, which isn't bad in itself, but people like me might just not want it for their homes Wink

Someone who knows the US-SNES' PSU pin design will have to quote on which kind of universal PSUs work.
For my SFC (which has something like 2.1mm inner and 5.5mm outer diameter - a.k.a. generic type - I decided to buy myself a universal DC converter, set that to 9V, and use it (remember the SNES will draw quite a lot, so you need 1A). I have this one I connect that to the power socket in the wall (230 V in Germany, but close enough) and the correct pin with centre negative into the SFC.

presjpolk

2014-02-27 10:15:31 am

HELLO!

Yeah especially if you use something like a flash cart or a game saver, or even some games with added chips like I think SuperFX, if you try to get away with something like 850mA you might have problems.

ConHuevos

Edit history:

ConHuevos: 2014-02-27 02:27:05 pm

ConHuevos: 2014-02-27 02:26:42 pm

2014-02-27 02:26:12 pm

Ciento Dos Huevos

850mA is sufficient. The power supply just needs to actually meet its specified mA rating, I.E. dont buy a cheap Chinese 3-in-1 AC adapter.

Any good brand 9V 800mA+ will do.

I recently tested power draw on the SNES a few days ago. It never went above 500mA and I tested all add-on chips except SDD-1 because I don't own a game with it. I also tested using flashcarts, the powerpak never peaked above 495mA and the SD2SNES never peaked above 479mA. Real carts never went above 450mA (Yoshi's island having the high current draw).

All tests were done with the meter measuring at the fuse block.

American SNES's have a positive center. Just buy a converter and a legitimate USA SNES ac adapter.

presjpolk

Edit history:

presjpolk: 2014-02-27 02:50:03 pm

2014-02-27 02:49:37 pm

HELLO!

Fair point. A Zelda 2 runner was having trouble with an underrated cheap chinese AC adapter with his Powerpak...

Melodia

2014-02-27 03:35:30 pm

If you can find a Game Genie for SNES, that works perfectly fine as an adaptor. FWIW.

NaimK

2014-03-03 04:33:06 am

How about this: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Brand-New-SUPER-NINTENDO-Power-Supply-9V-AC-Adaptor-Plug-Pack-for-SNES-Console-/181046764871?pt=AU_Video_Game_Accessories&hash=item2a273a6547&_uhb=1

It says input 240V AC and 9V DC output. That's right, isn't it? The SNES itself just needs 9V DC input, regardless of what voltage and whether it starts off as AC or DC?

ConHuevos

Edit history:

ConHuevos: 2014-03-03 11:29:14 am

2014-03-03 11:27:46 am

Ciento Dos Huevos

That's a 9V DC supply for a Japanese snes. That won't fit a USA SNES. The NA SNES has a non-standard plug and has a positive center. Not only will that pin not fit, it most likely has a negative center.

It also looks like cheap Chinese poo and doesn't even give you the mA rating.

Don't skimp out on the power supply, buying a crappy one will possibly blow your SNES fuse and result in picture distortation.

Just buy an official US power supply.

Alko

2014-03-03 03:36:55 pm

Caution: This user contains Kana ^_^

It says DC, but it does not say 'centre positive' or 'centre negative'. It does not give you an amperage or a power (as in Watts) information. If you see stuff like that, stay well clear.

NaimK

2014-03-03 06:30:47 pm

How about this: http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Voltage-Converter-100W-240V-110V-Step-Down-Up-AU-US-Power-Converter-Transformer/171186871355?_trksid=p2045573.c100033.m2042&_trkparms=aid%3D111000%26algo%3DREC.RVI%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D20131017132637%26meid%3D5234616463765379127%26pid%3D100033%26prg%3D20131017132637%26rk%3D1%26rkt%3D4%26sd%3D190766333615

The SNES I bought comes with a power supply, presumably a US one, since it's a US SNES, so if I get this to convert the 240v to 110v for the SNES power pack?

Alko

2014-03-04 10:31:55 am

Caution: This user contains Kana ^_^

That should work ^^

NaimK

2014-03-04 02:11:33 pm

Excellent! Purchased!!

Thanks for all your help guys!

Now we play ... the waiting game ...

Arrrggghhhh I'm terrible at waiting! Cheesy