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Play PAL & SFC Carts on a US NTSC Snes

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  • 04-10-2012 3:57pm
    #1
    Myrddin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 33,733 ✭✭✭✭


    A quick & simple guide this one. Basically, the shape of PAL & SFC Snes carts allow them to fit into the US Snes with a small modification. It doesn't work the other way around, as NTSC Snes carts are bigger than the cart slot on a PAL/SFC Snes so you either need to use an import adapter or cut the opening which leaves a horrible hole cut into your Snes.

    Thankfully, all this modification requires is to open the Snes & remove two small bits of plastic that are designed to block all carts except US ones which have grooves cut into the cart casing to fit around them.

    The US NTSC Snes

    2aa0dxk.jpg

    Using a gamebit, remove the cover. Strangely, the work on this mod isn't inside the console but on the back of the top cover :p

    juwcy9.jpg

    The offending plastic tabs. American snes carts have grooves in the back of the cart cover allowing them to pass down past the tabs.

    2wgrrpf.jpg

    Cart housing removed, held in by six screws & a spring for the reset button. Once removed, access to the tabs is much easier & you don't risk marking the all important looks of the console. You can see here, I've removed the tab.

    346oolv.jpg

    Reassemble, don't forget the spring for the rest button!

    2uii5c8.jpg

    d9ls2.jpg

    And voila, PAL/SFC carts plug seamlessly into the console now & no external case modding/cutting is required

    l8rqe.jpg

    2zzq6a8.jpg

    Region locking as it should be, crippled & broken

    fdrmm8.jpg


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  • Options
    #2
    Myrddin
    Closed Accounts Posts: 33,733 ✭✭✭✭Myrddin


    Just to note, PAL carts still need the console to be modded with either the 50/60Hz & Region Switch, or the Super CIC mod. This mod only allows you to boot US & Jap carts:
    Another interesting thing about the insides of a cartridge is that every cartridge has a lockout chip. Well, that's kind of obvious, but what's interesting is that every cartridge has the same lockout chip a SNES has, only as DIP instead of SMD (at least I believe that there are no SMD cartridges, I may be wrong on this one)

    The lockout chip is either a key or a lock, which is determined by the fourth pin. (it should get either ground or 5V, ground making it the key, 5V making it the lock)
    Now, if both chips are the same (lock or key), the lockout chips just won't do anything at all, enabling you to play games of other regions. Oddly enough, you don't even need to connect it to ground for it to be a key, just disconnect it from 5V

    Source


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