SNES RGB Mod Board (Buttersoft/Torapu Design) for 2-Chip Super Nintendo

Get razor-sharp RGB out of your 2-chip Super Nintendo

Nintendo built the SNES (and its Japanese twin, the Super Famicom) in two broad flavors: the prized 1CHIP consoles, and the far more common 2-chip models. They can all output RGB, but the early 2-chip boards have a weak spot in their video amplifier circuit that leaves the picture noticeably soft and blurry next to the crisp output of a 1CHIP. This little board fixes that.

It’s a modern video amplifier that bypasses the console’s flawed onboard amp entirely, using a high-speed op-amp (the TLV3544A, a drop-in for the harder to find LMH6683MAX) to clean up the raw R/G/B signals straight from the video processor. The result is a dramatic jump in sharpness and clarity, bringing a 2-chip console up to, and in some cases past, the level of a 1CHIP. Some folks even prefer a modded 2-chip, since certain games can glitch on the cost-reduced 1CHIP design. Either way, you get the whole SNES library looking the way it should.

This is the well-regarded open-source design originally created by Torapu, with the excellent PCB layout by Buttersoft. I print the boards, source the parts, and hand-assemble every unit myself.

Choose your kit

Standard Kit (assembled & tested), the ready-to-install board plus the extras that make for the cleanest result:

• One (1) fully assembled and bench-tested RGB mod board.
• 6x 10uF 10V X7R 0805 ceramic capacitors for the motherboard (optional but recommended for the best output; a couple of spares included).
• A length of 22/24 AWG wire with some extra, for the eight runs the install needs (VCC, GND, and Red/Green/Blue in and out).

Bare Board (PCB only): just the unpopulated PCB, for those who’d rather source the components and assemble it themselves.

Every assembled board is bench-tested

I don’t ship an assembled board until it’s proven. Each one is tested per channel (Red, Green, and Blue) on the bench, and I check the amplified output on a scope to confirm a clean, noise-free signal (see the oscilloscope photo). You get a unit that’s verified working, not just built.

Compatibility

Designed for these 2-chip SNES/SFC motherboard revisions:

• SHVC-CPU-01
• SNS-CPU-GPM-01 / SNS-CPU-GPM-02
• SNS-CPU-RGB-01 / SNS-CPU-RGB-02

Not compatible with 1CHIP consoles or the SNES Jr.: they already have excellent RGB output and don’t need this. Before installing, confirm your console works and already outputs an RGB signal (even a blurry one). This mod sharpens an existing RGB signal; it won’t repair a console that isn’t working.

A DIY mod: please read

This is a do-it-yourself modification that calls for intermediate SMD soldering skills: you’ll be working with small surface-mount pads and, in places, lifting an IC pin. If that’s not in your comfort zone, this isn’t the project to learn on. It’s a rewarding install, but it is an install: I’m not responsible for any damage to your console during the process. Proceed at your own risk.

The guide is free online, and not in the box

To save weight and paper, I don’t ship a printed manual. Instead, the full, illustrated step-by-step install guide is free online and always up to date. Read through it any time, even before you buy.

Design credit

This mod is open source: the circuit is Torapu’s design and the PCB layout is Buttersoft’s. I’m grateful to both. I just build, test, and ship the boards. Questions about the mod or the install are always welcome.

About the maker

I’m an electrical engineer and long-time hobbyist with a passion for vintage electronics, especially classic video games. The items I sell are projects from my personal workshop. Everything is guaranteed working on arrival and in the state described. Thanks for looking.