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. Buying two or more bare boards? Take 40% off each — and they ship together, so you save on shipping too.

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.