Stevie Goodwin Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 This is devastating. I've been looking up SNES PPU, VRAM or CPU failures and it's breaking my heart since i have no solder skills. Since my SNES had glitches, I replaced the board with another good SHVC-CPU-01 board and all is good now. Will my console last as long it's clean. What could cause CPU or PPU failure? Proably removing the game while the power is on. Are SHVC-CPU-01 SNES consoles unreliable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
H454 Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 I'd say the "one chip" SNES are probably the most reliable. Keeping everything clean (cart port) and clean power source is all you can do. I use surge protectors with power filters on everything now. After having a giant Plasma TV crap out, $30 on a surge protector is cheap insurance. Was your bad board a one chip? If so, how much would your want for it? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariLeaf Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 I've never come across a bad snes but I only have 3 - two regular and one mini. Use a clone console like a Retron 5 if you want to help preserve the life of your SNES. I'm curious if I have one of these all in one chip boards. Is there an external way of telling without opening it up? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+wood_jl Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 I have never heard of SNES unreliability, other than a sort-of-fragile power jack which breaks under the strain of abuse. I've had several and still have 2 and they are old and still quite reliable. Maybe I should start hoarding spares? Oh, please no! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bratwurst Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 The first generation SNES consoles with the removable soundboard seem to be the most susceptible to CPU and PPU failure, the subsequent SNS-GPM-CPU-02 also has issues pop up but they're more uncommon. Have yet to hear from anyone on why they might die, my guess is poor voltage supply/regulation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
0078265317 Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 I got one several years ago off ebay. With removable sound board. Still works. No problems. Power jack is fine. Only problem is few small chips in the case and top half is all yellow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keepdreamin Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 This is devastating. I've been looking up SNES PPU, VRAM or CPU failures and it's breaking my heart since i have no solder skills. Since my SNES had glitches, I replaced the board with another good SHVC-CPU-01 board and all is good now. Will my console last as long it's clean. What could cause CPU or PPU failure? Proably removing the game while the power is on. Are SHVC-CPU-01 SNES consoles unreliable? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE146 Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 I remember when the SNES actually launched (in 1990?), my unit died within a few days of buying it, with screen glitches, freezing, etc.. I had to send it back to Nintendo. I laugh about it now but it was pretty disheartening at the time since we all wanted to play the brand new console. I still have a working SNES, but anyway today we have the SuperNT coming out. That'll suffice for me. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Goodwin Posted December 21, 2017 Author Share Posted December 21, 2017 I'd say the "one chip" SNES are probably the most reliable. Keeping everything clean (cart port) and clean power source is all you can do. I use surge protectors with power filters on everything now. After having a giant Plasma TV crap out, $30 on a surge protector is cheap insurance. Was your bad board a one chip? If so, how much would your want for it? My bad board was actually a SHVC CPU 01 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanooki Posted December 21, 2017 Share Posted December 21, 2017 I've seen random cases of dead systems, but come on it came out in 1991 and stopped being made around 1996 or so, it's 20-25+ years beyond. Just be nice to it, treat it as you would like to see anyone treat anything nice, and just go about your business. The only common failure on any SNES at all is that horrid process of the PVC manufacturing causing so many of them in part or almost entirely to turn a nasty shade of nicotine like yellow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Goodwin Posted December 22, 2017 Author Share Posted December 22, 2017 I've seen random cases of dead systems, but come on it came out in 1991 and stopped being made around 1996 or so, it's 20-25+ years beyond. Just be nice to it, treat it as you would like to see anyone treat anything nice, and just go about your business. The only common failure on any SNES at all is that horrid process of the PVC manufacturing causing so many of them in part or almost entirely to turn a nasty shade of nicotine like yellow. I have a first gen SNES with the SHVC sound board and i'm treating it really good. So this means it's less prone to failure? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanooki Posted December 22, 2017 Share Posted December 22, 2017 I don't know if it's more or less, all things fail in time. But Nintendo wasn't like Sega with the Game Gear or NEC with basically anything marked Duo or their handhelds with god awful caps that die if you look at them funny. The point was the fail rate on Nintendo hardware is so low if you respect it you'll get the distance it was meant to last. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Atariboy Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 (edited) Nintendo actually was still selling new Super Nintendo's in North America into the 2001 fiscal year (2004 in Japan, with if I remember right 2003 being when they concluded production of both the Famicom and Super Famicom). I remember picking up a spare SNES Jr. on Black Friday at Wal-Mart for $50 in 2000, which is still in the box to this day other than being pulled out once back then and plugged into my AC adapter to make sure it worked. They and probably every other Wal-Mart in the country had a pallet full of them that morning. The Super NT eases my fears for the long-term longevity of my system that was bought new in 1995 (Or my need to ever hook up my spare). Edited December 23, 2017 by Atariboy 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaperman Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 (edited) I've had 2 SNES units go in the last half decade--the second of those was just a few months ago. The menu overlays in mario kart weren't coming up (and a million other minor graphical glitches). I'm down to my last working snes, but I have the other two for parts. I don't know if I've got power problems, or if it's just time for them to go. I've gotten real paranoid about my power quality, but in my mind I know it's probably not justified. Edited December 23, 2017 by Reaperman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keatah Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 Power quality a concern? Get a sinusoidal ac-dc-ac ups. NOT a pwm approximation. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reaperman Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 (edited) Power quality a concern? Get a sinusoidal ac-dc-ac ups. NOT a pwm approximation. Any recommended models? Consoles like my snes, or the 32x I lost before that, are just on surge protection (this one). I do have my a8 on one of the cheapo pwm ups (it shares it with my main pc), but I'm hoping that I'm somewhat mitigating the risk by keeping its independent power strip flipped off when not in use. Is there any added value in inexpensive power conditioners? Edited December 23, 2017 by Reaperman Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keepdreamin Posted December 23, 2017 Share Posted December 23, 2017 I have a first gen SNES with the SHVC sound board and i'm treating it really good. So this means it's less prone to failure? If you want to ensure its reliability, don't turn it on. Stick the SNES in a tupperware bin and toss in a desiccant pack or two before closing the lid. Store in a cool dry place away from sunlight. Like the bottom of a closet, or basement. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NinjaWarrior Posted December 24, 2017 Share Posted December 24, 2017 So that's why they took it off shelves I remember when at my brothers best friends work, They got it in, But later soon dissapeared Might have been a recall Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stevie Goodwin Posted January 16, 2018 Author Share Posted January 16, 2018 I heard that a power filtering could shorten the life of the chips. Would a power surge help Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
famicommander Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 They sold 50 million of those things, you'll be able to find them for the rest of your life pretty easily. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keepdreamin Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 I heard that a power filtering could shorten the life of the chips. Would a power surge help Print this out and put it up next to your TV. 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Osgeld Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 I think if one is worried about a machine crack it open and run it, see what gets warm if its a 3 pin power regulator swap it, maybe add a heat sink, if its one of the chips, add heat sinks to it (I mean self stick ram heatsinks are cheap on the china express) check caps, look for worn area's, its a old machine, it may need to be looked at once in a while 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NE146 Posted January 16, 2018 Share Posted January 16, 2018 Just keep the SNES right there under your wing, don't make it fly but maybe make it sing. Keep it cozy and warm. Also don't let anything dirty get through, wait up until it gets in, always find out where it's been.. you gotta keep that SNES HEALTHY AND CLEAN! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
AtariLeaf Posted January 17, 2018 Share Posted January 17, 2018 I can understand the concern. There's sometimes a fear that anytime you turn on a machine it might not work or develop some problem. This is the reason I have so many of each machine that I own. Not because I'm a hoarder but so that I have a steady stream of replacements and parts machines available. That's also the reason I've really started getting into learning diagnostics and repair of some of these old machines. It's pretty much a necessity nowadays with these consoles and computers being 20,30 or even 40+ years old. I think the OP has two choices - enjoy the hobby and play your machines and if a problem develops, fix it or replace it. The second choice is to take up a different hobby like knitting or stamp collecting instead. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tanooki Posted January 18, 2018 Share Posted January 18, 2018 ^Or third choice, emulate the sucka on something newer as it's just ROMs anyway. Want it to feel better, buy a USB to your favorite controller adapter. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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