AV troubleshooting
AV troubleshooting
Video and audio problems on a modified Super Nintendo usually trace back to a cable, a connection, or a step in the mod. Work through the common causes below before assuming a chip has failed.
Common symptoms and causes
- No picture at all: wrong cable for your TV's input, a multi-out not fully seated, or a mod wired incorrectly.
- Dim or dark RGB: an older board missing its required bypass amp, or an amp with low output.
- Vertical lines or banding: common on stock boards; an RGB bypass typically cleans these up.
- Wrong colors or a missing channel: a cold solder joint or swapped wire on one of the red, green, or blue lines.
- Picture but no sound: audio lines not connected, or a damaged joint near the sound output.
Isolate the variable
Swap one thing at a time. Try a known good cable, a different display, and an unmodified console if you have one. This quickly tells you whether the fault is the cable, the TV, or the console itself. diagnostics cables
After a mod
If problems appear right after a modification, recheck every joint under magnification. Look for bridges between adjacent pins, lifted pads, and wires that may have pulled loose during reassembly. Reflow any joint that looks dull or cracked. Most post mod video faults are wiring errors rather than failed components, so careful inspection usually finds the culprit.