SNES Vertical Line Discussion

[gameaddict4life]

Hey everybody, I've been watching this topic for a while now and I joined this site because of this very discussion! I've been a long time member of GameFaqs but this site seems to be a little more active in the old console department. Anyway, Zing I have the exact same tv as you, a 32" Sony WEGA CRT (standard definition) tv, and the line also shows up on my SNES too. I believe mine is an orginal model SNES and the funny thing is the line shows up clear as day on my Super Mario World game unlike with yours. It also shows up on Secret of Evermore and DKC. It doesn't seem to show up on Top Gear or Ms. Pac Man though. I have my system hooked up via a Monster Brand S-Video cable and the picture is great except for that verticle line down the middle of the screen. I bought the system used and needless to say I was pissed when I discovered this. I never heard of this problem before and didn't notice it until it was too late. I bought it off ebay so it was too much of a hassle/late to return it. I've tried the system via rf and S-Video on just about every tv I have, both hd and standard def but the line still shows up. Its hard to enjoy my SNES with this stupid line so I hope there is a fix. Oh, I also have a Sega Genesis which displays perfect along with my PS2 so I don't think dirty power is to blame but maybe the SNES is really sensitive? Also, I think there is something to the fact that different games show the line better than others. Maybe the games themselves have something to do with it?

[Zing]

I also have Secret of Evermore, so I will test it later. I did play the game when I acquired it for about 10 minutes just to test if the game worked, but I don't recall the line. I will take another look at my Super Mario World, but I don't recall seeing the line. Although, I haven't really played it since discovering the line with Yoshi's Island.

I'll also take a couple photos this evening.

My current setup is a SNES model 2 using composite.

[Ziggy]

So Zing doesn't notice the line with SMW (if it's there, it's not great enough to notice) but gameaddict4life says it's clear as day in SMW. If there's one thing I think it's safe to agree on, it's that there's no clear rules for this vertical line issue. It seems to be effecting different people in different ways. E.g. noticeable in some games, but not in others. Nonexistent or faint at best on some consoles, prominent on others. Et cetera.

[gameaddict4life]

In Secret of Evermore the line is most apparent in the first sandy section of the game, not too far in. In Super Mario World it just seems apparent most of the time while playing the levels, not so much on the world map if I remember correctly. I don't have composite cables to test, I only have RF, which I think is an original RF for NES, but it works with both systems, and S-Video which works with SNES, N64, and Gamecube or so it says, don't have those systems anymore.

[gameaddict4life]

Oh, I should add that I did see the line once very faintly on the title screen of Top Gear when the title for the game was coming onto the screen but once the title screen was up completely I couldn't see the line and during gameplay I couldn't see it either. Great racing game by the way, never heard of it before and I got it for like 4 bucks complete. Its only missing the cart cap!

[Ziggy]

You should check out the sequels if you liked it. I think they progressively got better. The Top Gear games on the N64 were pretty good too.

[Ziggy]

I just tried Super Metroid out and I couldn't get that vertical line no matter what I tried.

[Redifer]

Is anyone who is getting this line using an LCD or Plasma TV? The line definitely is not in the recorded signal of my unit. Maybe just crappy CRTs that don't like the SNES signal for whatever reason? Contrary to popular belief, Sony WEGAs aren't the best tubes on the market. I did a lot of research before I bought my current CRT including taking game systems with me to hook up to the display unit. Sony's would moire a bit on dithered areas (Samsungs would completely destroy them). Sony's don't reproduce the color red tremendously well, very muted. I ended up with a Toshiba CRT.

[Zing]

Blaming the TV doesn't explain why there is absolutely no such image problem with the NES or PS1 via composite. "Moire" seems isn't something you have a problem with on any TV. It would signify that the sharpness level is too high or VM is enabled.

I just spent quite a bit of time testing various games. For the hell of it, I isolated the SNES onto its own plug which is on a different circuit. I also used the inputs that are normally used for the NES. I even completely removed the a/v cable from behind the TV. I forgot how long that thing is! It's at least six feet long.

I tried various brightness/contrast settings. I would often flip through the picture modes (vivid, etc). Nothing made the graphical error significantly more or less evident.

Taking an actual photo of the problem is virtually impossible. Specifically, seeing the problem in a photo would be very difficult. Even looking at a still image on the TV, it is hard to detect. However, the instant you start scrolling horizontally, it becomes very apparent.

I do see it in Super Mario World. At first, I didn't see it. Then I played an underwater level and it was obvious.

I also see it in Donkey Kong Country. Again, I didn't see it as I played a few different levels. Then I played some level where I was on a moving platform through some tunnel ("trick track trek"?) and it was clearly there.

Earthbound, as I mentioned before, makes it apparent when walking about outside during the day. Again, it is almost invisible while standing still. You have to know exactly what to look for. As soon as you move horizontally, it is obvious.

Link to the Past, again, I can see it while running horizontally in the grass field.

I was actually unable to find it in Super Metroid. I wasn't near an area where I could get a decent amount of horizontal scrolling, though. I need the Ice Beam or something to get back near the start.

I'll try my SNES and Earthbound on a Sony LCD TV later this week.

[Jamisonia]

I have seen this on my Samsung Plasma TV using composite. I can clearly see the line fade when movement comes to a stop when I have the brightness and cell light up to their highest values. Motion makes this problem more noticeable.

I have not tried to change one capacitor in the Mini. There is one that juts through the RF shielding. Its a different kind of cap which is why I didn't take it out, and its nowhere near the video chip. Tonight I plan on pulling it out and testing it. I believe we should find it easier to fix this issue on a Mini first since it has less components, then apply that solution to a SNES. Maybe we can start with what components both models share?

Zing, I'm glad somebody from the original thread on digitpress found their way over there. Hey maybe you could help me out. I signed up for a user account a year ago but I could never post anything. It says I don't have access. I would like to post over there time and again, but I can't seem to get a hold of anyone who can help. Could you pm a moderator? The username is the same there as it is here, Jamisonia. Any idea what might have happened to izarate? I tried pming him regarding this issue (the vertical line) but he hasn't responded yet.

Hey everybody, I've been watching this topic for a while now and I joined this site because of this very discussion! I've been a long time member of GameFaqs but this site seems to be a little more active in the old console department.

Welcome, I'm glad our thread and information prompted you to join. Racketboy in my experience is always full of good discussion, and relevant knowledge comes out of that discussion. I hope you like it!