Nintendo bought over 49 million Tremendous Nintendo consoles, however not all of them have been created equal. A later {hardware} revision improved the standard of the SNES’s video output, and over three a long time later, one modder has provide you with a solution to carry those self same enhancements to almost each Tremendous Nintendo ever launched.
Zach Henson, a console modder who also goes by the name Voultar, has created a DIY modification equipment for older Tremendous Nintendo consoles referred to as the Edge Enhancer. Anticipated to promote for round $60, the mod equipment upgrades the console’s video output, making graphics seem a lot sharper and colours extra saturated.
Though Nintendo made many revisions to the Tremendous Nintendo’s {hardware} through the console’s manufacturing run, for retro avid gamers, there are primarily two variations of the SNES that matter. The unique, which is now known as the SHVC or two-chip mannequin, and an upgraded model that got here later, referred to as the 1CHIP mannequin primarily based on how Nintendo labeled its motherboard.
The 2-chip SNES featured a video digital to analog converter in its image processing unit (PPU) that avid gamers have since found wasn’t capable of rapidly transition between completely different colours. This resulted in video output that tended to look comfortable or blurred as a result of the graphics appeared to have a halo or shadow round them.
The issue wasn’t as noticeable within the ’90s when everybody performed on CRT TVs, however with a Tremendous Nintendo linked to a contemporary show, the variations are extra distinguished.
For the later 1CHIP model of the Tremendous Nintendo, the corporate merged the unique’s two video chips and CPU right into a single chip. It was a cost-cutting transfer to make it cheaper to fabricate the console, however the brand new elements additionally resulted in video output that was a lot sharper with noticeably improved colours.
For retro avid gamers preferring to play on authentic {hardware}, the 1CHIP Tremendous Nintendo consoles are actually very a lot wanted and might promote for properly over $200. However demand might quickly be waning, due to this new improve equipment.
Putting in Voultar’s Edge Enhancer mod isn’t for rookies, as Tito Perez from YouTube’s Macho Nacho Productions just lately demonstrated in a video. Not solely does the SNES must be fully dismantled, however there’s fairly a little bit of soldering required, and you must take away the unique transistors, capacitors, and resistors from the console’s motherboard.
Lots might go unsuitable when putting in the varied elements wanted for the mod. So whereas Voultar plans to finally promote a DIY Edge Enhancer equipment as soon as the documentation and tutorials are finalized, it’s going to initially solely be accessible as a part of a costlier set up service that may make sure the upgrades are executed appropriately.
Pricing hasn’t been revealed simply but, however provided that 1CHIP Tremendous Nintendo consoles have gotten more and more uncommon, the Edge Enhancer mod might nonetheless be less expensive, even with the price of transport a Tremendous Nintendo’s motherboard off to be upgraded.