SNES Vertical Line Discussion

[Jamisonia]

I wanted to make this thread to have some discussion about the light vertical line that is present in many Super Nintendos. This issue hasn't be discussed as much as many Genesis issues, so I wanted to start some talk about it. I'm not looking for a how to, on how to fix it, just whether others have noticed, and if anybody has any ideas of how it might be fixed, or whether its inherent to the video chip.

This thread at digitpress made me decide to post this:

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=144910

For those too lazy to click, here is the issue:

img2327vg0.jpg (247.19 KiB) Viewed 6771 times

My experience with Super Nintendos is that they all produce this vertical line, in composite and s-video. My original SNES produces it, as well as the 5 or so Minis and 3 or so model 1 SNESes I have come into contact with.

I did recently test all the capacitors in my Mini, to find that one 220uF was reading a little high, around 250uF, so I replaced it, but that made no difference.

How about RGBers and SFC, along with PAL SNES users, do you get this line?

[D.D.D.]

I've never ever had that happen with my SNES (NTSC) or SFC - connected via RF, composite, or S-video on at least 5 different TVs of mine since Super Metroid came out. A stab in the dark for your TV being messed up.

[CFFJR]

Yeah, I've never seen that either, on any Snes I've played, much less mine.

Like D.D.D. said, I've run mine on rf, composite, and s-video (and soon to be rgb if all goes well) and this line has never shown itself.

[Redifer]

I have never seen this on my 3 Super Nintendos. One is a launch unit, the other about 4 months older than launch and another late in the life after the motherboard was consolidated substantially, but before the SNES 2 or whatever it is called. Since the Street Fighter 2 was released, I have been using the SNES in s-video. A few years ago, I stepped up to RGB to component. I think I would have noticed an issue like this because I am extremely anal about such things and would get extremely pissy if my unit had an issue like this.

Is this issue able to be seen on multiple TVs?

[benderx]

They have noticed it but kept it a secret. Lies!

[AppleQueso]

I actually went and turned on my SNES real fast to check if I had it.

No faint vertical bar thingy here. Used S-Video btw.

[Croooow!]

I was wondering when someone else on here would have this issue. I have that problems too and have had it on two seperate SNESs and two seperate TVs. I especially noticed it on Super Metroid and on FFVI I can see it all the time. I even upgraded to S-Video cables and the problem still persists. You can minimize its visibility by adjusting the picture settings on your TV (my TV saves a custom setting) but it's still visible if you notice it. So, I have no idea how to fix it, but at least you're not alone. It's part of the reason I'm starting to prefer using the Virtual Console for my SNES gaming.

[Ziggy]

I have never had this issue before either. I have, and have had, many different revisions of the SNES. I've never even heard of this until now.

[D.D.D.]

I've never ever had that happen with my SNES (NTSC) or SFC - connected via RF, composite, or S-video on at least 5 different TVs of mine since Super Metroid came out. A stab in the dark for your TV being messed up.

Sounds like my stab in the dark was dead-on if everyone so far hasn't heard of this. Perhaps its time to try it on a new TV or get a new TV.

[Croooow!]

I've never ever had that happen with my SNES (NTSC) or SFC - connected via RF, composite, or S-video on at least 5 different TVs of mine since Super Metroid came out. A stab in the dark for your TV being messed up.

Sounds like my stab in the dark was dead-on if everyone so far hasn't heard of this. Perhaps its time to try it on a new TV or get a new TV.

I've tried it on different TVs and even switched cables, no luck.