What’s the Big Deal with the 1CHIP SNES? Identifying and Comparisons! (5X Pro w/ Component and RGB)

[@RetroBoost]

One thing I've come to learn and understand since making this video is that you can get an RGB Mod for the 1 Chip that further sharpens the image and reduces the brightness/over saturation of the color. You can read about that here for anyone who is interested: voultar.com. Also: Don’t take this is as the 1-Chip being the be all end all solution. With the 2X and 5X Pro using Component/RGB with my 2-Chip system, I loved the experience I got, and once said that I believed that it was near emulator quality, which I still believe. It’s all subjective.

[@sanpuru1969]

I have a 1-chip and a 2-chip, and honestly I prefer the video output of the 2-chip. While it can apparently be fixed via a mod, the ghosting interference on the 1-chip makes the whole image look dirty. I also think the softness/blur of the older model gives it a more pleasant image imo

[@afriend9428]

*1-chip is brighter & a bit sharper than the old!* 💡

[@pheria]

Do you have a comparison of Star Fox SNES on 1chip vs 2chip? I've read online 1Chip is slightly slower, but that people typically don't notice it and it feels the same. I'm curious how much of a difference there is

[@RetroBoost]

Not Star Fox specifically, but I did make two different comparison videos, one uses the 2X Pro, the other the RAD2X. Comparing the two systems to each other using S-Video and Component gameplay: RetroTINK 2X Pro: 1 Chip SNES S-Video and Component Comparisons kzbin.info/www/bejne/jmqvi6KXjseNaaM

[@troybilko]

My one chip has some unfortunate glitches on certain games.

[@mrbeatlespro]

What about a snes with a 8 digit serial # that starts with 105?

[@ClosestNearUtopia]

What region?

[@ClosestNearUtopia]

Ive found 0 instanstances of the snes being a 1chip with a serial starting with 105 regardless the region found.

[@Choom2077]

You know.. the thing about this is that it's really very hard to tell difference when you run these variant consoles on an actual CRT. So if you happen to have a 2 chip and a proper quality CRT, don't even worry about trying to get a 1 chip console _(nor have your 2 chip modded)_ for "better quality image", because you won't even notice the difference, due to how CRT's generate light + scanlines and shadow-mask. I've been running constant comparison tests with various games on my 27'' Philips CRT (2003 model) and I really cannot tell the difference. Like at all. If one looked slightly blurrier or darker, it would have been easy enough to raise the sharpness by a few points, as well as the brightness/contrast. However, testing these on an LCD/LED/IPS panel, you will notice the difference. There's nothing to hide it then.

[@ChristopherAndersonPirate]

Dang, my guy has been hustling with the video uploads but the poor channel needs some exposure 😢 Good comparison video, though when showing side by sides I would always keep 2 chip on one side, and 1 chip on the other. Swapping sides is like crossing the 180 line in film making and can get confusing fast, especially when on mobile phone and you have to squint to read the text to see what is what.

[@RetroBoost]

Thanks! Good feedback too, I was mixed on my decision to do that, I toyed around with playing the same clip multiples times and flipping the sides (I think first with the 5X HDR Video for the GCN footage). I appreciate the specific feedback on that, as I wasn't sure if it was helpful or not.

[@JonnyFlash80]

Well looks like have have an early UN3 serial # that's the final 3 chip revision (SNS-CPU-APU-01) and it has the worst RGB video quality of any of them. Lucky me.

[@RetroBoost]

Dang. I think mine was a series 1. Not gonna lie, reading your comment's end ("Lucky me") and seeing your current profile image, that was very funny. Provided a visual lol.

[@mitzzzu_tigerjones444]

Them: pulls out a snes like, “What now? Retro gaming bitches”🙀🙀🙀 The one: Pulls out the one chip modded for Jsnes games 🤪😝🥳😵Homies go crazy running around in circles cheering while the one just stares in confidence🗿

[@RetroBoost]

😂🤣 that’s awesome, thanks for the laugh, seriously haha

[@scottlinux]

Man, very noticeable difference. My snes is not a 1chip sadly but now I'm intrigued to seek out a 1chip :)

[@RetroBoost]

It’s really interesting how much of a bump it really is. If you can get a good deal on one, go for it! Even with a “regular” SNES though, you can get amazing picture quality by upgrading the cabling you use and/or a device like RetroTINK, RAD2X, OSSC, etc. The RAD2X Nintendo is excellent for the money, but availability is tough.

[@ClosestNearUtopia]

Have multiple snes in the house and have multiple 1chips. One thing Id notice 1chips renders defferently and sometimes not as intended. All 1chips have blown out colours, and have worse audio quality then every other snes especially when compared to ones where the audio is on a separate audio breakout box. Id say the loss in audio quality is more then the upgrade you get on video signals, then the rendering fault of the ppu makes this imo totally not worth it. Just use rgb on a multi cpu snes if you want a clear video signal and still be able to enjoy the sound and it renders 100% as intended.

[@demonprincess5634]

i don't have a one chip but it was made in 1995 and it looks great.

[@RetroBoost]

Nice! I love my "2-Chip" SNES as well, and said on multiple occasions that it's quality was near-emulation after I first got my hands on Component and RGB cables for it, and I still stand by that statement. Both look amazing when you take advantage of better output, S-Video or otherwise.

[@demonprincess5634]

@@RetroBoost yes i got s video on my 20 inch philips tv. it looks so good don't think you could do better.

[@mrbungle589]

Just got my 1 chip 02 today and you really can notice a good difference right away. My 5X was worthless using smoothing on my 2chip snes, way too many artifacts in the lettering/huds. The 1chip cleaned that up really well, I see things in the background of games that i didn't even know were there on my 2chip. Definitely a must if you love the snes and care about og hardware.

[@RetroBoost]

Very cool! I noticed a lot of the same things when playing around with my 1 Chip. Some of the backgrounds became more distinguished, and HUD elements appeared way sharper. It’s kinda nuts how different it is considering it’s still an “SNES.” If this was released today, It would probably be called the “SNES Pro” haha.

[@waynetemplar2183]

Great video. I have both a 2-chip and 1-chip PAL console. 1-chip consoles really carry a premium and can be up to 2 - 3 times more expensive than the 2-chip variant (unless of course the seller doesn't realise what they have)

[@RetroBoost]

I got a decent deal on the one I got here, definitely don’t get taken for a ride, but it wasn’t cheap either. I get why they are sought after given the performance gain that comes with it. Still will say that when you get stuff like HD Retrovision Cabling withe something like the 2X or 5X Pro, 2 Chip consoles will still look very very good, it’s what I’ve been using for years and never had a complaint about. When comparing, one is definitely better of course, the peak potential of improving the SNES can only happen with a 1 Chip.

[@rescueme1060]

Mine says SNS01 but does not say “1 Chip” so I guess I don’t have a 1 chip?

[@RetroBoost]

I went by the criteria initially posted here: consolemods.org/wiki/SNES:SNES_Model_Differences Per the criteria listed there, yours is most likely the SNS 001 model, the OG Classic SNES. Not one of the 3 different 1 Chip revisions.

[@ClosestNearUtopia]

1chip, well it does offer a bit of better image quality, but the signals of the 1 chip are a bit to bright, blowing out colours, also not 100% graphical correct in how it renders some stuff, and oh the reason I DONT WANT TO PLAY ON A 1chip, is the audio quality, it will harm your audio badly.. its so cold and even renders worse, or even not renders where most models would and has definitely noticeable worse audio quality then the normal snes and way way worse then models with legendary removable spc audio chips on breakout boards.. Legendary? Maybe preferable if you had such model back in the day or dont have rgb available. If you love audio defenitely not, if you dont like blown out signals then also a big no.. if you go rgb, there is defenitely almost no need for a 1chip.

[@RetroBoost]

That’s interesting, never heard anything about the audio being worse (pun not intended). Doing some googling, I’m mainly seeing issues with people trying to repair audio that died altogether, aside from one article that compared audio from all the revisions, that did note that the might be a bug with how it played Pocky and Rocky. I never noticed any issues when I did the capture for this video, and it is worth noting that I did the capture two times and there is more than what was featured here. I’ll have to play around with it some more to see if I notice anything.

[@RetroBoost]

And just like I say in this video, and you say here, you can get an incredible output from a non 1 Chip if you get RGB, whether it be using Scart, a RAD2X, etc. it’s what I’ve been using for years with no complaints. The 1 Chip offers a noticeable bump, but not a bump that is required by any means.

[@ClosestNearUtopia]

Just let the opening of zelda link to the past run, listen to the song and look closely. its sounds way better and deeper with more atmosphere on a 2chip. There are some occasions on more advanced games where a 2chip would mic multiple audio lines where a 1chip would leave one channel away. Graphical not much interesting is there to see other then the moment the knive drops thru the logo, and when Ahganim teleports that character away in the opening scene. i thinkin one of the Demon Crest games one on the bosses heads dont get rendered on the right position and even breaks his moves on the revised 1chip models.

[@RetroBoost]

I listened to the opening from each of the SNES.’ I used my theater system, specifically my DefTech Towers, which I got back when I worked in that industry. Way better than my little computer speakers. I tell you this because I want you to know I take your observations seriously, and pulled out all the stops to compare the audio. I honestly don’t hear a difference. That is not to say there is no validity to your observations, there is, I have seen some additionally articles talking about the subject. Maybe I don’t have the ear for it, which is totally possible, or maybe the 1 Chip I got hasn’t suffered any degradation in its audio yet, as I found some articles of people trying to repair them or upgrade the audio in the SNES. The graphical difference is still very noticeable to me, the silver gradient in the text on the LTTP Title Screen, the sharpness of the text, etc. That’s my opinion though, it’s no more right or wrong than anyone else’s. Something I forgot to mention in the video is the impact a tv can have on the color and brightness, that part of the difference is almost irreverent (you could always brighten the 2 Chip if you like that sort of thing or dim the 1 Chip if you don’t like it - dim or brighten refer to all the different ways TVs can do that stuff: Backlight Settings, Brightness, Color Saturation, Gamma, etc) depending on the tv in question. Anyway, lot of text, if you’ve made it this far (anybody), thanks for reading and sharing your thoughts and observations. I will continue to pay close attention to the audio with games I am familiar with to see if I notice any inconsistencies.

[@Maraxius]

Also, to be fair to Nintendo. On a vast majority of the older CRT TVs, the difference probably wasn't even noticeable. I wonder if the higher end Trinitrons and others would have made it apparent?

[@eduagimenez]

Even with a composite cable, can i notice the difference between 1chip and 2chip? tnx

[@RetroBoost]

I did a video after this one showing gameplay using all the cables types I can, including composite: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fnu3o2SXf72keqMsi=TUUYkZlbuSNAvyd9

[@RetroBoost]

I didn’t do a comparison specifically, but the 1 Chip Gameplay looks better to me. S-Video is way way better, and is a less expensive upgrade, one worth jumping into if you can.

[@Back.too90s]

What game is playing at the start of the video?

[@RetroBoost]

UN Squadron!

[@ryan89554]

sharper video the early one has a horizontal blur

[@devan_danger]

Seems kinda odd that you'd be scared to open up your consoles. Personally i think all retro gamers should be familiar with opening their systems even just to clean them and, in the case of the ps360 gen going forward, being able to replace the thermal paste.

[@RetroBoost]

Good callout regarding the thermal paste, never really thought about that regarding those systems! Opening the snes systems for this video was the first time I’ve ever done so for any of my console. I only got into this world of retro enhancement in late 2020, it’s been fun learning about all this stuff, keyword learning. Every video I make teaches me something new, and this was a big step for me. I can be a bit of klutz with stuff sometimes, made plenty of mistakes when I built my first PC as example. So yeah, I was/am scared that I’ll do something that could break one of my consoles. Until getting the 1 Chip SNES, I haven’t had two of the same working consoles before. Gives me the opportunity to start exploring console modding now that I’ve got something to practice on without consequence.

[@jerryjackman1657]

It's a freaking Super Nintendo. GOOD GOD NERDS!

[@RetroBoost]

It’s a better SNES…..yeeeeeessssss, the precious! Kidding haha. It is important to emphasize that when you pair a regular SNES with something like the 2X Pro using S-Video, you get a great experience, one that impressed me and still does. Seeking out a 1 Chip is not necessary. My regular SNES’s power input was becoming more and more flaky, and the store nearby me happened to still have a 1 Chip in stock, so I was curious to try it out for myself.

[@mitzzzu_tigerjones444]

Hgyah! Bum bum🎶 What is it good for!? Absolutely nothing!🎶 Bun bun!🎶 Wha we talk’n bout🎵🎵👹 But seriously it does improve the experience… It’s a small thing but it’s nice for investors with nostalgia that want to pay moneeeey. I get that you’re obviously rolling in the dough and don’t have to worry about these kinds of things so enjoy your pizza?

[@mitzzzu_tigerjones444]

Also you should consider that in 2020 four, calling someone a nerd for derogatory reasons pretty much makes you a bad actor which is way worse than being a nerd. If anything nerds are winning and getting revenge on Society😂 🗿Thanks to things like pursuing detailed interests that are often times arbitrary outcomes in pursuit of some thing that really makes a difference. Wow that was a moufull🗿

[@marcusbravo1573]

Says the nerd. Go away 🤡

[@dezrtrat702]

It seems like if a person can’t tell a difference by plugging it in and seeing a difference ( having to take it apart to verify), then it may not be that significant