Guide / Tips to buying a SNES?

Jimmy Bottlehead

Hey all.

Thinking of buying a SNES, as I liked playing then when younger (never had my own though ) so what should I look out for, avoid, and so on? Also a price guide would be great, as I'm a complete noob with this!

Cheers

Retr0gamer

RGB scart cable is a must. You'll either get RF or AV composite with the SNES but it will look absolutely appalling unless you are using RGB for the SNES. I also wouldn't pay more than 20 euros for one. Another recommendation would be to get a 50/60 Hz switch and a NTSC/PAL region switch installed. This will mean you can play unoptimised european PAL games the way they are meant to be played, in other words not slowed down by 20% and without borders.

K.O.Kiki

I once picked a SNES out of a recycling dump.

Found it with Mario World, cables & a joypad.
It still works.

Truly made of Nintendium

J_E

If you're having trouble finding a scart cable for the SNES, I believe the Gamecube ones work fine with it, Wii too possibly. I could be wrong though.

K.O.Kiki

Searched for a SNES RGB SCART cable on Amazon for something like £5, just there.

Retr0gamer

Cydoniac wrote: »

If you're having trouble finding a scart cable for the SNES, I believe the Gamecube ones work fine with it, Wii too possibly. I could be wrong though.

Wii cables won't work and Gamecube cables need to be modified.

J_E

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Wii cables won't work and Gamecube cables need to be modified.

Ah I see, I just thought because the SNES cables worked on the Gamecube for me.

Parawind

In general the snes was a really well put together console so they really last and most work just as well today as they did back in their hayday.

The only thing i can think to be careful of is the discolouration of the console, the grey if left in direct light had a tendency to turn a nasty yellow. It was a problem with the plastics used for the shell of the console, so if your buying one online just make sure you see a clear picture or two before you purchase.

So that you don't end up finding it looks like this when it arrives:

davidd24

Retr0gamer wrote: »

RGB scart cable is a must. You'll either get RF or AV composite with the SNES but it will look absolutely appalling unless you are using RGB for the SNES. I also wouldn't pay more than 20 euros for one. Another recommendation would be to get a 50/60 Hz switch and a NTSC/PAL region switch installed. This will mean you can play unoptimised european PAL games the way they are meant to be played, in other words not slowed down by 20% and without borders.

Who can do the Region switch and the 50/60 switch?

Dr Bob

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Wii cables won't work and Gamecube cables need to be modified.

N64 ones do work though

Jimmy Bottlehead

Thanks for this guys. The yellowing is the only problem I seem to see or hear of which is amazing considering that Xbox 360's and PS3's barely last a year or two!

Would I be right in that the only problem with the yellowing is cosmetic? As in, there's nothing actually wrong with the console apart from the looks?

Steve X2

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

Thanks for this guys. The yellowing is the only problem I seem to see or hear of which is amazing considering that Xbox 360's and PS3's barely last a year or two!

Would I be right in that the only problem with the yellowing is cosmetic? As in, there's nothing actually wrong with the console apart from the looks?

Yes, its just cosmetic.
I use a retr0brite chemical mix to de-yellow old consoles and computers. Not sure how well it works on grey plastic but it does a great job on white. Your better off making sure you get a non yellowed one in the first place, will save you a lot of hassle.

.


.

Optimus Prime

I havent opened the curtains in my game room in months, too worried about fading NES\SNES\N64 Boxes and yellowing consoles!

o1s1n

The annoying thing about Snes yellowing is it's nothing to do with the sun. It's just a chemical reation in the plastic. So keeping blinds down will stop sun damage and box art fading, but your snes will still turn yellow if it came from a batch that had whatever contaminates in the plastic.

On the plus side, at least it means that if your snes isn't yellow now it probably never will be.

Optimus Prime

Looks like im in the clear so!

Steve X2

It's nearly always ABS plastic that has the problem.

http://retr0bright.wikispaces.com/ABS+Plastic


.

Retr0gamer

luas_dublin wrote: »

N64 ones do work though

Yeah but why bother when there's no RGB scart cable for the N64?

Retr0gamer

davidd24 wrote: »

Who can do the Region switch and the 50/60 switch?

Enternow on this forum will.

o1s1n

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Enternow on this forum will.

Speaking of which, where's he gone? And Andrew76? Something sinister is afoot!

Sparks43

o1s1n wrote: »

Speaking of which, where's he gone? And Andrew76? Something sinister is afoot!

I was wondering about Enternow as well

He was looking for an original xbox which i have then he goes and does a Lord Lucan

Strange

o1s1n

Hmm, he's been posting over in console modding. I think it may be time to spam him with pms until he comes back here

Retr0gamer

I think I've finally scared him away.

The truth is I have him chained up in my basement performing my own personal console mods.

Sparks43

Retr0gamer wrote: »

I think I've finally scared him away.

The truth is I have him chained up in my basement performing my own personal needs.

FYP

o1s1n

Retr0gamer wrote: »

The truth is I have him chained up in my basement performing my own personal console mods.

Retr0: 'Overclock this Megadrive to 15mhz!!'

Enternow: 'Never! it's unstable! it won't work!!!!'

Retr0: 'Do it or I'll run Sonic at 50hz right now through rf in front of your very eyes!'

Enternow: 'Ahh!!! no!! sweet jesus, anything but that!'

You're an evil evil man Retr0. I bet you make him wear full cosplay too.

Sparks43

Jeez Retro give the poor lad a break:D

Sparks43

Quite like this one though:D

Jimmy Bottlehead

http://www.adverts.ie/nintendo/snes/566646

Tell me it's a good choice guys!

Optimus Prime

Jimmy Bottlehead wrote: »

http://www.adverts.ie/nintendo/snes/566646

Tell me it's a good choice guys!

Hey, he is selling that exact same snes and games on ebay as an auction, you might get it cheaper bidding on that.

Steve X2

keithgeo wrote: »

Hey, he is selling that exact same snes and games on ebay as an auction, you might get it cheaper bidding on that.

Actually what's the story with that? If you sell something on Adverts I thought you were not allowed to sell it anywhere else, unless you withdraw the ad.

What if someone puts a bid on the item on Ebay and someone else offers asking price on adverts.


.

Optimus Prime

Not sure, just withdraw one or the other, whats the adverts rules on it? are you not allowed do it? Ive seen many things posted on adverts, ebay and donedeal at the same time.

pdbhp

I think Enternow & Andrew76 have some how made a VectrexLive network and are currently playing it online.

amacachi

davidd24 wrote: »

Who can do the Region switch and the 50/60 switch?

If you're feeling brace and can get your hands on bits and pieces it looks simple enough: http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/console/nintendo/snes-switches-1.htm
If anyone's done it before and sees complications with that I'd like them to point them out before I get my mate to take a few bits and pieces from college :P

EDIT: The switchless mod looks nice too. Few videos of them operating on youtube but haven't come across a decent guide.