[HN Gopher] Speeding up the Super Game Boy
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       Speeding up the Super Game Boy
        
       Author : zdw
       Score  : 73 points
       Date   : 2023-07-16 13:19 UTC (9 hours ago)
        
 (HTM) web link (nicole.express)
 (TXT) w3m dump (nicole.express)
        
       | opan wrote:
       | >I'm using a US-market Super Game Boy. This is well-known to run
       | fast as-is.
       | 
       | Sounds like the author knows, but for those unaware, the first
       | SGB ran at the wrong speed and has no link cable port. Japan got
       | a Super Game Boy 2 that runs at the proper speed and _does_ have
       | a link cable port. You can pick one up on eBay and use it with
       | your SNES if you modify the plastic around the inside of the
       | cartridge slot to fit SFC games. You can also just take the top
       | off and it 'll fit.
       | 
       | I recommend picking up a fiberglass pen if you get a Super Game
       | Boy 2 or other SNES/SFC games. Often the pins are pretty dirty
       | and the games will only work one out of every few inserts, if at
       | all. Give them a good rubbing with the pen, quick clean with
       | isopropyl alcohol to get rid of the dust, and you can get them
       | working totally reliably. Works on GB/GBC/GBA games as well.
        
         | morelisp wrote:
         | You could also read the article.
         | 
         | ETA: No, really guys, this is literally the article.
        
           | blowski wrote:
           | HN guidelines:
           | 
           | > Please don't comment on whether someone read an article.
           | "Did you even read the article? It mentions that" can be
           | shortened to "The article mentions that".
        
           | p1mrx wrote:
           | The article mentions the Super Game Boy 2, but only in an
           | "Aside" box.
           | 
           | The main point is that the original Game Boy runs at 4.19
           | MHz, while the Super Game Boy 1 runs at 4.30 MHz, or 5.12 MHz
           | if the game calls an undocumented API. (At least I think
           | that's the main point of the article; it's only stated
           | implicitly in the numbers.)
        
         | floydnoel wrote:
         | i have my original NES and dozens of games from my childhood,
         | and i have found that it is difficult to get them to run.
         | thanks for the advice, i will give this a try!
        
           | jodaco wrote:
           | You can also replace the socket on the NES itself for
           | relatively little, it took me about 20 minutes a couple of
           | years ago and it made it much more reliable.
        
             | mackal wrote:
             | You can also put the 72 pin connector in boiling water for
             | like 30 mins, take it out and let it cool. That should
             | reset the pins back to "factory condition"
        
             | AndrewDavis wrote:
             | I did that this weekend. New connector cost me ~ $15 AUD
             | off an ebay store.
             | 
             | Took me a bit longer than you but I was being super
             | cautious having never opened a console before.
             | 
             | Highly recommend for anyone else with a broken NES lying
             | around. Good chance the 72pin connector is at fault.
        
           | mackal wrote:
           | I would recommend trying to clean them with some rubbing
           | alcohol first, using abrasives will only work so many times
        
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