Does my top-loader NES need a new pin connector?

[Nintendork666]

So recently, a nasty line of background color has appeared on the left-hand side of the screen whenever I play any NES game.








I'm sure this is pretty common, I've seen it quite a few times with SMB 3 (for some reason) online, but I have no clue what to search to get results on how to fix it. Neither on Google, or this forum.

Does this mean I need a new pin connector?
Possibly a cleaning issue?
Will I need to look for anything specific, given that this is a top-loader model?

Any help would be much appreciated, this little guy was the first console I ever owned ('93 represent), and I just wanna nurse it back to health. Thank you.

[theclaw]

It's rare to find new stock of 100% accurate top-loader pin connectors. Few users ever replace them.

You pretty much have to settle for less than perfect equivalents, or salvage from dead items.

However this effect is normal in some NES games! Parts of Mega Man 3 thru 6 cut off the left side (in the overscan area most older TVs don't show anyway). Unlike 1 and 2.

[Nintendork666]

I strongly regret trading off my spare NES 101 now. It never had this problem, and probably still doesn't.

[Gunstar Green]

I don't think it's the NES, rather the TV and there's nothing actually wrong with it. Try playing those games on an emulator, you'll still see it. It's part of the game.

As theclaw says you wouldn't see it on some older TVs. If you didn't see it on your old top-loader it's most likely because you were playing it on a TV that cut it off. Your console is working properly.

[BoneSnapDeez]

Yup, I have TVs that do that very thing.

[ninjainspandex]

also get an AV mod on your toploader, the RF on it is famously bad perhaps that will fix up your problem.

[theclaw]

I strongly regret trading off my spare NES 101 now. It never had this problem, and probably still doesn't.

Depends on the game and TV you're using also. In certain NES games this is an intentional feature, a TV who shows the whole image will reveal it.

[Nintendork666]

Are you guys sure?

I'm aware that the screen bleeds off the bottom a bit, due to the TV.

But I tried it on another CRT TV, and experienced the same results. Even with Megaman 2 - which was just stated as a game that definitely didn't have this issue intentionally coded in (?). Neither television is widescreen. If it were a ratio problem, wouldn't the lines be visible on both sides anyhow?

What would be the specifics for a TV that didn't display a wonky image? Like I said, I did acquire (and eventually traded off) a 2nd 101 console since I last played this, and I don't recall experiencing any problems with the same setup on that one.

Tried both Championship Bowling, and SMB 3 on an emulator and here were the results:





Needless to say, I'm confused.

also get an AV mod on your toploader, the RF on it is famously bad perhaps that will fix up your problem.

This might be something I should look into.

[theclaw]

Widescreen TVs have gigantic black bars on both sides, if set to not stretch out. That'd be unmistakable. Not the same color as a game's background.

Look at SMB 3. Your issue is worse on it, since the game already cuts off its left side.

[Nintendork666]

Understood, but what common quality do both of my TV's share, that is making this happen?

I appreciate the help so far, I'm just trying to figure this out.