Super Nintendo Capacitor Replacement Guide
Replacing the electrolytic capacitors in a Super Nintendo (SNES) restores power stability, reduces video/audio noise, and prevents long-term board damage from leakage. While SNES capacitors rarely fail as spectacularly as in some earlier consoles, most units are now 30+ years old and original SMD electrolytics are at or beyond their design life—especially in humid climates.
Visual Inspection & Failure Signs
[edit | edit source]- Leaking SMD cans – clear or brown residue, especially under or around surface-mount capacitors.
- Corrosion or green/black pads – capacitor electrolyte is conductive and corrosive, often damaging traces.
- Noisy audio / humming – dried-out audio rail capacitors cause background buzz or distortion.
- Video artifacts – unstable or faded video may be caused by failed decoupling or coupling capacitors.
- Random resets / power loss – main power filter caps with high ESR can cause intermittent operation.
If any capacitor shows signs of failure, it is strongly recommended to replace all electrolytic capacitors on the board.
Super Nintendo Capacitor Lists
[edit | edit source]The SNES was produced in several board revisions. Always verify your board model and cross-check silkscreen references before ordering parts.
SNES “1CHIP” & “SNS-CPU-GPM-02” (Typical Surface-Mount)
[edit | edit source]| Board Ref | Capacitance | Voltage | Purpose / Rail |
|---|---|---|---|
| C59 | 1000 µF | 16 V | Main +5 V input filter (power smoothing) |
| C58 | 470 µF | 16 V | Secondary +5 V filter (regulator output) |
| C60 | 220 µF | 10 V | Audio rail filter (prevents hum) |
| C61 | 10 µF | 16 V | Reset circuit (power-on reset timing) |
| C62 | 10 µF | 16 V | Video encoder decoupling |
| C63 | 10 µF | 16 V | Video encoder decoupling |
| C64 | 10 µF | 16 V | Video encoder decoupling |
| C65 | 10 µF | 16 V | Video encoder decoupling |
| C66 | 1 µF | 50 V | Audio output coupling (DC block) |
| C67 | 1 µF | 50 V | Audio output coupling (DC block) |
Note: Some revisions use through-hole capacitors for C59/C58. Always check your board.
Replacement Tips
[edit | edit source]- Polarity matters! – SMD and through-hole electrolytics are polarized; match the negative stripe to the board marking.
- Clean thoroughly – Remove all old electrolyte with isopropyl alcohol and a soft brush before installing new capacitors.
- Use quality parts – Choose reputable brands (Nichicon, Panasonic, Rubycon) rated for 105°C and equal or higher voltage.
- Consider solid polymer – For SMD locations, solid polymer capacitors are a durable, leak-proof upgrade.