Super Nintendo Capacitor Replacement Guide: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 19:55, 23 September 2026

Capacitor lists for the Super Nintendo Entertainment System, by board revision. This page covers the North American SNS- boards, the European and Australian SNSP- boards and the SNES Jr / SNES mini SNN-CPU-01. The Japanese SHVC-CPU-01 list, including the two radials on the SHVC-SOUND daughtercard, is on Super Famicom Capacitor Replacement Guide.

Most of the electrolytics on these boards are surface-mount parts, and the revisions differ enough that a list for the wrong board will have you hunting for capacitors that are not there. Read the revision off the PCB silkscreen before you order anything.

The Super Nintendo is not a machine with a reputation for leaking capacitors — unlike the Game Gear or the PC Engine Duo, where recapping is effectively mandatory. The usual advice is to open the console and look rather than to recap on principle. The catch with surface-mount electrolytics is that early leakage hides underneath the can, so a board can look clean and still be quietly corroding.^[1]

Discharge the reservoir before you start

Nintendo's own first step in the console disassembly procedure is not about screws:

Before disassembling, switch the console's power supply ON with the AC adapter disconnected, in order to discharge capacitor C67. This capacitor is known to discharge during maintenance, causing damage to components.^[2]

The reservoir sits on the supply input and holds its charge after the adapter is out. Flicking the power switch on with nothing plugged in empties it through the console's own load. It costs nothing, and it is the difference between a clean recap and a damaged board.

Its designator moves between revisions, which is why the manual's wording does not always match the board in front of you:

**Where the reservoir is**
Board	Designator
SNS-CPU-GPM-01 / -02	C67, not fitted on North American units^[3]
SNS-CPU-RGB / -APU / -1CHIP	C58, not fitted on North American units^[3]
SNN-CPU-01	C52, not fitted on North American units^[3]
SNSP-CPU-01 / -02	C67
SNSP-CPU-1CHIP-01 / -02	C72

North American consoles take DC from the adapter, so they need no large rectifier reservoir on the board and Nintendo left the position unpopulated on many of them. PAL consoles take 9 V AC and rectify it internally, which is why the PAL reservoir is not only fitted but twice the size.^[4]

GPM is not 1CHIP

The two get conflated constantly and they matter differently here.

GPM is the Ground Plane Method, a PCB manufacturing process Nintendo documents in its own manual: a base layer between the track layout and the solder mask, which let Nintendo delete the lower RF shield. The same redesign shortened the PCB, deleted C67 and the 4 MHz oscillator, built the sound module circuit onto the mainboard instead of a daughtercard, and made TC1 a through-hole part.^[2] For a recap that means: on a GPM board there is no C67 to discharge and no SHVC-SOUND module carrying C50 and C51.

1CHIP is a later silicon change — the CPU and both picture processors merged into one package — and has nothing to do with the PCB process.^[4] A 1CHIP board carries the short renumbered capacitor list below, not the GPM list.

How solid are these numbers

Three sources agree where they overlap, including a Nintendo document.

Nintendo's own parts list, in the Playtronic Manual Técnico do Super NES, gives the chip electrolytics as 10 µF/16 V ×3, 33 µF/25 V ×2 and 2.2 µF/25 V ×1 — exactly the complement and quantities of C61/C65/C66, C63/C64 and C62 on the boards below.^[2]
The SNES schematic hosted on this wiki, drawn for SHVC-SOUND, SNS-CPU-GPM-01/02 and SNS-CPU-RGB-01/02.^[5]
Console5's TechWiki, a secondary source whose lists are compiled from physical boards.^[3] Altomare's list, compiled from boards its author repaired personally, adds can diameters, lead pitch and heights.^[6]

The one designator Console5 lists that the schematic does not show is C67, which Console5 records as not present on North American units — and the schematic is a North American drawing. The two sources are consistent even in what they omit, and Nintendo's own description of the GPM redesign says C67 was one of the parts removed.^[2]

One disagreement, and it is in the safe direction. Nintendo's parts list specifies the 2.2 µF chip electrolytic at 25 V; Console5 and Altomare both record the part fitted at that position as 50 V. It sits in the same circuit either way, and a higher voltage rating is never a hazard, so fit 50 V and the question does not arise.

A voltage-rating warning that applies to every board here. The reservoir sits on the unregulated side of the supply, and Nintendo's own power-circuit diagram labels that arm 13–14 V.^[7] It is a 25 V part and it must stay one. A 16 V capacitor in that position is under-specified against the rail it sits on, whatever a kit listing says.

North American boards

**SNS-CPU-GPM-01 / -02**
Designator	Value	Voltage	Package	Note
C57	220 µF	6.3 V	Radial, 6.6 mm can, 2.5 mm pitch
C59	220 µF	6.3 V	Radial, 6.6 mm can, 2.5 mm pitch
C61	10 µF	16 V	SMD, 4.0 mm
C62	2.2 µF	50 V	SMD, 4.0 mm
C63	33 µF	25 V	SMD, 6.3 mm
C64	33 µF	25 V	SMD, 6.3 mm
C65	10 µF	16 V	SMD, 4.0 mm
C66	10 µF	16 V	SMD, 4.0 mm
C67	1000 µF	25 V	Radial, 13 mm can, 5 mm pitch, 25 mm tall	Not fitted on North American units
C73	47 µF	16 V	SMD, 6.3 mm

^[3]^[5]^[6]

The designators are renumbered entirely on this generation — nothing in the C57–C67 range carries over. If you are working from a GPM list on an RGB board you will be looking for capacitors that do not exist.

**SNS-CPU-RGB-01 / -02 and SNS-CPU-APU-01**
Designator	Value	Voltage	Note
C9	2.2 µF	50 V
C12	10 µF	16 V
C13	10 µF	16 V
C14	33 µF	25 V
C15	47 µF	16 V
C16	33 µF	25 V
C17	33 µF	25 V
C18	220 µF	6.3 V
C19	220 µF	6.3 V
C58	1000 µF	25 V	Reservoir. Not fitted on North American units

^[3]

Identical to the RGB/APU list above, including C58.^[3]

SNN-CPU-01 (SNES Jr / SNES mini)

**SNN-CPU-01**
Designator	Value	Voltage	Note
C9	2.2 µF	50 V
C14	33 µF	25 V	See note below
C15	47 µF	16 V
C16	33 µF	25 V	See note below
C17	33 µF	25 V	See note below
C52	1000 µF	25 V	Reservoir. Not fitted on North American units
C58	10 µF	16 V
C59	10 µF	16 V
C60	220 µF	6.3 V

Some SNES Jr units left the factory with 33 µF/50 V parts at C14, C16 and C17 — most likely a part shortage during assembly rather than a design change. The highest voltage anywhere in the machine is the supply coming in from the external transformer, so a 25 V part is correct and the 50 V parts were simply what was to hand.^[3]

Note that the SNN board's regulator is at U9, not U12.^[4] If you are checking the rail while the board is open, that is the part to probe.

PAL boards

SNSP-CPU-01 and SNSP-CPU-02

**SNSP-CPU-01 and SNSP-CPU-02**
Designator	Value	Voltage	Package	Note
C59	10 µF	25 V	SMD, 6.3 mm	Fit a bipolar part here. Original on -01; already bipolar on -02
C60	10 µF	50 V	SMD, 6.3 mm
C61	10 µF	50 V	SMD, 6.3 mm
C62	2.2 µF	50 V	SMD, 4.0 mm
C63	33 µF	25 V	SMD, 6.3 mm
C64	33 µF	25 V	SMD, 6.3 mm
C65	10 µF	50 V	SMD, 6.3 mm
C66	10 µF	50 V	SMD, 6.3 mm
C67	2200 µF	25 V	Radial, 13–16 mm can, 25 mm tall	Reservoir. The -01 is 16 mm / 7.5 mm pitch; the -02 board has multiple hole positions
C73	47 µF	16 V	SMD, 6.3 mm

C59 is a design fault, not an ageing problem. The original polarised part sits in a position where the polarity reverses. Nintendo addressed it in the SNSP-CPU-02 revision, and some consoles were retrofitted by Nintendo with a bipolar part — those carry a small round "C59" sticker on the underside. If you are recapping an SNSP-CPU-01, fit a bipolar capacitor at C59 whatever was there before.^[6]^[3]

The PAL reservoir is 2200 µF against the North American 1000 µF because the PAL console takes 9 V AC and has to rectify it on board, where the North American console is fed DC that has already been rectified.^[4]

SNSP-CPU-1CHIP-01 and SNSP-CPU-1CHIP-02

**SNSP-CPU-1CHIP-01 / -02**
Designator	Value	Voltage	Note
C9	2.2 µF	50 V
C12	10 µF	16 V
C13	10 µF	16 V
C14	33 µF	25 V
C15	47 µF	16 V
C16	33 µF	25 V
C17	33 µF	25 V
C18	220 µF	6.3 V
C19	220 µF	6.3 V
C59	10 µF	25 V	Bipolar
C71	10 µF	50 V
C72	2200 µF	25 V	Reservoir

^[3]

Revisions with no published list

No per-position list has been published for the Japanese SHVC-CPU boards later than SHVC-CPU-01, or for the SHVC-1CHIP boards as distinct from their SNS- and SNSP- equivalents. If your board carries one of those numbers, read your own board: the designators are silkscreened, and the value and voltage are printed on every can. Nothing has been invented here to fill that gap.

Replacement procedure

Discharge the reservoir as described above.
Open the console. Six security screws in the lower case, taking a 4.5 mm Gamebit driver.^[2]
Remove the RF shield and lift the mainboard out of the lower shell, taking care with the cartridge connector.
Photograph the board before you remove anything. Polarity on surface-mount electrolytics is marked by a stripe or a bevel on the can, and it is not consistent between positions.
Remove the surface-mount capacitors by heating both ends. Hot air at a moderate setting, or a fine iron with fresh solder and flux added to both terminations, then rock the can gently. Do not lever a capacitor off — that takes the pad with it.
Clean the pads. Old electrolyte is corrosive and will keep working on the traces if it is left. Isopropyl alcohol and a nylon brush, then inspect under magnification for pads that have gone dull or traces that have thinned.
Fit the new parts to the correct value, voltage and polarity, tacking one end before soldering the other. Fit a bipolar part at C59 on an SNSP-CPU-01.
Inspect for bridges under magnification and check for continuity between adjacent pads before powering up.

Through-hole positions come out with braid or a pump in the normal way.

Recommended parts

105 °C rated capacitors from a reputable manufacturer.
Match or exceed the original voltage rating. The 25 V positions sit on the unregulated input side, which Nintendo's own diagram puts at 13–14 V, and genuinely need 25 V.^[7]
Fit a bipolar part at C59 on PAL SNSP-CPU-01 boards.
Surface-mount positions can be rebuilt with leaded radial parts if you prefer, provided the height and clearance work out. Kits are sold in both forms.

Related pages

References

↑ Bob, "Restoring A Super Nintendo", RetroRGB, 31 May 2020 — https://www.retrorgb.com/restoring-a-super-nintendo.html . Used for the assessment that the SNES is not known for leaky capacitors, and that surface-mount leakage is concealed under the capacitor body until the can is removed.
↑ ^2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 Nintendo / Playtronic, Manual Técnico do Super NES, Rev. 01/94, hosted at Nintendo Super NES Technical Manual (Playtronic, Rev. 01-94). Console theory of operation (pp. 2-1 to 2-2): the AC adapter supplies 10 V DC unregulated; the on-board supply section comprises a noise filter, reverse-current protection, the power switch, a spike suppressor, a ripple filter and the regulator, and produces a regulated Vcc of 5 V and an unregulated Vs of 7 V used by the audio amplifier; the system timing section feeds a 21 MHz master clock to the CPU, PPU1, PPU2 and connector P1, and the CPU divides it by 6, 8 and 12 to give 3.58, 2.68 and 1.79 MHz, with DMA always at 2.68 MHz; the RESET section uses a 4 MHz oscillator, a 74HCU04 hex inverter, the CIC and the reset switch, and applies CIC reset to PPU2 first, then PPU1, then the CPU. Parts list: F1 a 1.5 A SSTR axial fuse, U12 a 7805, X1 a 21.453666 MHz (PAL-M) crystal, X2 a 4 MHz ceramic oscillator, TC1 a 20 pF trimmer, and the chip electrolytics 10 µF/16 V ×3, 33 µF/25 V ×2 and 2.2 µF/25 V ×1. Adjustment and fault-finding: TC1 set to 21.453666 MHz; the 4 MHz CIC clock acceptable between 3.8 and 4.2 MHz. Game Pak test procedure: where the cartridge carries a save battery, the reading must be between 2.7 and 3.2 V DC. Disassembly: switch the console on with the AC adapter disconnected to discharge C67 before opening it; six security screws in the lower case; the sound module comes off with two screws. Console diagnostic table, pp. 2-28 to 2-29, and the instruction not to clean 62-pin connectors but to replace them. GPM section (pp. 3-1 ff.): GPM is the Ground Plane Method, a PCB process putting a base layer between the track layout and the solder mask; the redesign removed the lower RF shield, shortened the PCB, deleted C67 and the 4 MHz oscillator, built the sound module circuit onto the mainboard, made TC1 a through-hole part, and removed the cartridge lock bar from the upper housing in favour of a warning label. IC handling notes (p. 8-2): do not measure ICs with a multimeter or signal tracer.
↑ ^3.00 ^3.01 ^3.02 ^3.03 ^3.04 ^3.05 ^3.06 ^3.07 ^3.08 ^3.09 Console5 TechWiki, SNES — https://wiki.console5.com/wiki/SNES . Secondary source: a community wiki whose capacitor lists are compiled from physical boards rather than from manufacturer documentation. Used here for the per-revision capacitor lists and voltage ratings of the SNS-, SNSP- and SNN- boards, and for the note that the reservoir position is unfitted on North American units.
↑ ^4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 Martin Korth, fullsnes — SNES hardware specifications — https://problemkaputt.de/fullsnes.htm . Sections "SNES Power Supply", "SNES Timing Oscillators", "SNES Chipset" and "SNES Cartridge Slot Pinouts". NTSC and Japanese consoles take 10 V DC at 850 mA through a series diode; PAL consoles take 9 V AC and rectify it on board at DB1. A 7805 produces the only logic rail, +5 V, and the CPU, PPU and APU run solely from it; the unregulated rail feeds only the audio amplifier, and the console runs without it but silently. Timing: NTSC crystal 21.4772700 MHz (X1 type D214K1), NTSC master clock 21.4772700 MHz; PAL crystal 17.7344750 MHz (X1 type D177F2), PAL master clock 21.2813700 MHz synthesised by the S-CLK as 17.7344750 × 6/5; APU oscillator 24.576 MHz. Chipset list for board SNSP-CPU-01 (U1 S-CPU, U2 S-PPU1, U3 S-PPU2, U4/U5 32K×8 video SRAM, U6 W-WRAM, U7 S-ENC, U8 CIC, U9 74HCU04 fitted on NTSC boards only, U10 AN1324S quad amplifier, U11 T529D reset IC, U12 7805, U13 S-SMP, U14 S-DSP, U15/U16 sound SRAM, U17 µPD6376 DAC, U18 S-CLK on PAL only, TC1 red trimmer, F1 1.5 A fuse, T1 TDK dual-loop filter, DB1 bridge on the AC version only, VR1 ZNR surge absorber) and for the cost-reduced single-chip board (U1 S-CPUN, U2 S-APU, U3 S-WRAM B, U7 S-RGB A, U8 F411B CIC, U9 7805, U10 S-MIX A). Cartridge slot: 62 pins on a non-standard 2.5 mm pitch, CIC clock 3.072 MHz on later consoles or 4.00 MHz on older ones. Also the source for the anti-eject lever fitted to the power switch of earlier consoles.
↑ ^5.0 ^5.1 SNES Schematic (multi-revision NTSC drawing), hosted at SNES Schematic. Covers SHVC-SOUND, SNS-CPU-GPM-01/02 and SNS-CPU-RGB-01/02. Read directly from the drawing: the regulator is U12, a 7805; the input node is annotated "+10V (Nominal) for NTSC"; VCC = 5 V; C57 220 µF, C59 220 µF, C61 10 µF, C62 2.2 µF, C63 33 µF, C64 33 µF, C65 10 µF, C66 10 µF, C73 47 µF, with every remaining position 0.1 µF or smaller.
↑ ^6.0 ^6.1 ^6.2 Altomare, snes-capacitors — https://github.com/Altomare/snes-capacitors . Secondary source: a list compiled by one repairer from boards handled personally. Used for capacitor package types, can diameters, lead pitch and height, and for the C59 bipolar history on PAL boards.
↑ ^7.0 ^7.1 Nintendo, ファミコン・スーパーファミコン・ゲームボーイサービスマニュアル (Famicom / Super Famicom / Game Boy Service Manual), issued 7 August 1992, hosted at Nintendo Famicom Service Manual. HVC section, pp. 2–10: AC adapter rated DC 10 V with a normal no-load output of DC 13.5 ± 1.5 V; power-circuit block diagram showing a 7805 with 13–14 V in and 5 V out; the three solder points that need reinforcing around the DC jack; "before you decide it is a fault" table, p. 3; controller fault symptoms, p. 4; exploded parts diagrams, pp. 7–9. SHVC section, pp. 11–15: power-switch harness polarity, red lead to +, black to −; SHVC power circuit, 7805 with 13–14 V in and 5 V out; Super Famicom repair price list (1.5 A SSTR axial fuse, 7805, 62-pin card connector supplied as an upper and a lower half, sound module).

[retrorgb-1] Bob, "Restoring A Super Nintendo", RetroRGB, 31 May 2020 — https://www.retrorgb.com/restoring-a-super-nintendo.html . Used for the assessment that the SNES is not known for leaky capacitors, and that surface-mount leakage is concealed under the capacitor body until the can is removed.

[playtronic-2] 2.0 ^2.1 ^2.2 ^2.3 ^2.4 Nintendo / Playtronic, Manual Técnico do Super NES, Rev. 01/94, hosted at Nintendo Super NES Technical Manual (Playtronic, Rev. 01-94). Console theory of operation (pp. 2-1 to 2-2): the AC adapter supplies 10 V DC unregulated; the on-board supply section comprises a noise filter, reverse-current protection, the power switch, a spike suppressor, a ripple filter and the regulator, and produces a regulated Vcc of 5 V and an unregulated Vs of 7 V used by the audio amplifier; the system timing section feeds a 21 MHz master clock to the CPU, PPU1, PPU2 and connector P1, and the CPU divides it by 6, 8 and 12 to give 3.58, 2.68 and 1.79 MHz, with DMA always at 2.68 MHz; the RESET section uses a 4 MHz oscillator, a 74HCU04 hex inverter, the CIC and the reset switch, and applies CIC reset to PPU2 first, then PPU1, then the CPU. Parts list: F1 a 1.5 A SSTR axial fuse, U12 a 7805, X1 a 21.453666 MHz (PAL-M) crystal, X2 a 4 MHz ceramic oscillator, TC1 a 20 pF trimmer, and the chip electrolytics 10 µF/16 V ×3, 33 µF/25 V ×2 and 2.2 µF/25 V ×1. Adjustment and fault-finding: TC1 set to 21.453666 MHz; the 4 MHz CIC clock acceptable between 3.8 and 4.2 MHz. Game Pak test procedure: where the cartridge carries a save battery, the reading must be between 2.7 and 3.2 V DC. Disassembly: switch the console on with the AC adapter disconnected to discharge C67 before opening it; six security screws in the lower case; the sound module comes off with two screws. Console diagnostic table, pp. 2-28 to 2-29, and the instruction not to clean 62-pin connectors but to replace them. GPM section (pp. 3-1 ff.): GPM is the Ground Plane Method, a PCB process putting a base layer between the track layout and the solder mask; the redesign removed the lower RF shield, shortened the PCB, deleted C67 and the 4 MHz oscillator, built the sound module circuit onto the mainboard, made TC1 a through-hole part, and removed the cartridge lock bar from the upper housing in favour of a warning label. IC handling notes (p. 8-2): do not measure ICs with a multimeter or signal tracer.

[c5snes-3] 3.00 ^3.01 ^3.02 ^3.03 ^3.04 ^3.05 ^3.06 ^3.07 ^3.08 ^3.09 Console5 TechWiki, SNES — https://wiki.console5.com/wiki/SNES . Secondary source: a community wiki whose capacitor lists are compiled from physical boards rather than from manufacturer documentation. Used here for the per-revision capacitor lists and voltage ratings of the SNS-, SNSP- and SNN- boards, and for the note that the reservoir position is unfitted on North American units.

[fullsnes-4] 4.0 ^4.1 ^4.2 ^4.3 Martin Korth, fullsnes — SNES hardware specifications — https://problemkaputt.de/fullsnes.htm . Sections "SNES Power Supply", "SNES Timing Oscillators", "SNES Chipset" and "SNES Cartridge Slot Pinouts". NTSC and Japanese consoles take 10 V DC at 850 mA through a series diode; PAL consoles take 9 V AC and rectify it on board at DB1. A 7805 produces the only logic rail, +5 V, and the CPU, PPU and APU run solely from it; the unregulated rail feeds only the audio amplifier, and the console runs without it but silently. Timing: NTSC crystal 21.4772700 MHz (X1 type D214K1), NTSC master clock 21.4772700 MHz; PAL crystal 17.7344750 MHz (X1 type D177F2), PAL master clock 21.2813700 MHz synthesised by the S-CLK as 17.7344750 × 6/5; APU oscillator 24.576 MHz. Chipset list for board SNSP-CPU-01 (U1 S-CPU, U2 S-PPU1, U3 S-PPU2, U4/U5 32K×8 video SRAM, U6 W-WRAM, U7 S-ENC, U8 CIC, U9 74HCU04 fitted on NTSC boards only, U10 AN1324S quad amplifier, U11 T529D reset IC, U12 7805, U13 S-SMP, U14 S-DSP, U15/U16 sound SRAM, U17 µPD6376 DAC, U18 S-CLK on PAL only, TC1 red trimmer, F1 1.5 A fuse, T1 TDK dual-loop filter, DB1 bridge on the AC version only, VR1 ZNR surge absorber) and for the cost-reduced single-chip board (U1 S-CPUN, U2 S-APU, U3 S-WRAM B, U7 S-RGB A, U8 F411B CIC, U9 7805, U10 S-MIX A). Cartridge slot: 62 pins on a non-standard 2.5 mm pitch, CIC clock 3.072 MHz on later consoles or 4.00 MHz on older ones. Also the source for the anti-eject lever fitted to the power switch of earlier consoles.

[snessch-5] 5.0 ^5.1 SNES Schematic (multi-revision NTSC drawing), hosted at SNES Schematic. Covers SHVC-SOUND, SNS-CPU-GPM-01/02 and SNS-CPU-RGB-01/02. Read directly from the drawing: the regulator is U12, a 7805; the input node is annotated "+10V (Nominal) for NTSC"; VCC = 5 V; C57 220 µF, C59 220 µF, C61 10 µF, C62 2.2 µF, C63 33 µF, C64 33 µF, C65 10 µF, C66 10 µF, C73 47 µF, with every remaining position 0.1 µF or smaller.

[altomare-6] 6.0 ^6.1 ^6.2 Altomare, snes-capacitors — https://github.com/Altomare/snes-capacitors . Secondary source: a list compiled by one repairer from boards handled personally. Used for capacitor package types, can diameters, lead pitch and height, and for the C59 bipolar history on PAL boards.

[famsm-7] 7.0 ^7.1 Nintendo, ファミコン・スーパーファミコン・ゲームボーイサービスマニュアル (Famicom / Super Famicom / Game Boy Service Manual), issued 7 August 1992, hosted at Nintendo Famicom Service Manual. HVC section, pp. 2–10: AC adapter rated DC 10 V with a normal no-load output of DC 13.5 ± 1.5 V; power-circuit block diagram showing a 7805 with 13–14 V in and 5 V out; the three solder points that need reinforcing around the DC jack; "before you decide it is a fault" table, p. 3; controller fault symptoms, p. 4; exploded parts diagrams, pp. 7–9. SHVC section, pp. 11–15: power-switch harness polarity, red lead to +, black to −; SHVC power circuit, 7805 with 13–14 V in and 5 V out; Super Famicom repair price list (1.5 A SSTR axial fuse, 7805, 62-pin card connector supplied as an upper and a lower half, sound module).

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