SNES/N64 S-Video Cable

maximumzero

So I've got two TVs: An old tube television and a smaller HDTV. I'd like to hook my SNES up to the tuber with S-Video for the best possible image quality, and the same goes with my N64 and the HDTV.

Nintendo obviously doesn't sell these cables anymore, and all the Cube/N64/SNES S-Video cables I'm finding online are third-party/off-brand and to be frank they're all kind of scaring me because I don't know how crummy one is compared to the other.

Any suggestions out there?

Esh

I'm actually kinda wondering what the best way to hook up an SNES to my Sony Bravia LCD is if anyone can answer that.

Sorry to threadjack.

Synaesthesiac

If you are using the newer model SNES, you cannot use S-video. Way to cut cost there Nintendo.

Just gonna have to bite the bullet on the 3rd party cables. There are a couple monster cable (shudder) Gamecube S-video cables on Amazon cheap. it should do you for both systems.

Some N64 games do not deserve better image quality though. Prepare for eye bleeding.

Bartholamue

I have the Mad Catz S-Video cable, and it gets the job done as far as I know.

maximumzero

Awfully tempted to take the hit and get the monster cable for $10 + shipping.

Sipex

The gamecube video cables work as well if you can get them.

Really though, they just transfer data, the only worry you'd have is if they easily break/come loose.

bowen

http://www.racketboy.com/store/super-nintendo-snes/nintendo-svideo-cables.html

Shadowfire

maximumzero wrote: »

Awfully tempted to take the hit and get the monster cable for $10 + shipping.

Particularly considering it's monster, that is surprisingly inexpensive. I think I paid that much for my Nyko s-video cables that I use on my SNES, N64, and Gamecube.

Edit: Not saying Monster is good... just that they are expensive.

maximumzero

Sipex wrote: »

The gamecube video cables work as well if you can get them.

Really though, they just transfer data, the only worry you'd have is if they easily break/come loose.

Ironically Nintendo had the "S-VHS" cables on their online store for the longest time, but as soon as I managed to get around to ordering, they were gone.

Story of my life it seems.

TheEDMan

maximumzero wrote: »

Sipex wrote: »

The gamecube video cables work as well if you can get them.

Really though, they just transfer data, the only worry you'd have is if they easily break/come loose.

Ironically Nintendo had the "S-VHS" cables on their online store for the longest time, but as soon as I managed to get around to ordering, they were gone.

Story of my life it seems.

Huh...I too am looking for a good S-Video cable. I own one from Intec, the ones with S-Video and Composite together. I advise to never get ones like that; they make your SNES output strange diagonal lines while playing, and the N64 looks AWFUL. The GC, however, is okay.

I found 2 particular cables that may work. I found an Innovation Gamecube S-Video cable that supposedly works great, and there's also that Monster cable. Still, I've heard a few stories claiming that the SNES is incompatible with the Monster cable, but I've also heard of it working just fine.

I suggest you check out the Innovations one. I found it on eBay. Here's a link to it:
http://cgi.ebay.com/S-Video-SVHS-Cable-Nintendo-N64-SNES-Gamecube-Game-Cube-/170465172258?pt=Video_Games_Accessories&hash=item27b0841b22#ht_500wt_1154

I also managed to find another one that is a little more pricey, but may be worth it:
http://cgi.ebay.com/S-Video-SVHS-cable-SUPER-NINTENDO-SNES-GAMECUBE-N64-64-/310245949699?pt=Video_Games_Accessories&hash=item483c198103#ht_2126wt_913

Both items got mostly positive feedback, so it's up to you what you. By the way, if anyone has tried any of these cables, please let me know if they work. If they don't, please let us know what cables do work without any of those diagonal lines I get with mine. I'm hunting one down too, and need a high quality cable for my HDTV. Thanks!

shutz

TheEDMan wrote: »

Huh...I too am looking for a good S-Video cable. I own one from Intec, the ones with S-Video and Composite together. I advise to never get ones like that; they make your SNES output strange diagonal lines while playing, and the N64 looks AWFUL. The GC, however, is okay.

Diagonal lines? Sounds like you might have a ground loop problem between the console and the TV. Try the following:

- Try plugging the SNES or N64 in the same surge-suppressor as your TV (you *are* using a surge suppressor, right?)

- see if the outlet you're plugging into is really grounded. It might have a third pin for ground, but if that part of the outlet doesn't go anywhere, that could be related to your problem. If it's an option, run a wire from a screw inside the outlet (should be connected to the ground pin) to the copper pipe that brings in cold water into your place.

Years ago, when I got my first PC with a DVD drive, I started buying DVDs, but I could only watch them on my PC, so I made an AV cable from a cat-5 cable and some connectors: 4 wires for s-video, and 2 pairs for L+R audio. The cable was about 50 feet long, and went from my PC in my room, to the family TV in the living room. I'd only roll out the cable as needed, but I'd always see these thin, slowly-scrolling diagonal bands going across the screen.

When I figured out it was a ground loop problem, my dad helped me to ground the outlet in my room, and the diagonal stripes faded quite a bit. They didn't go away because the outlet the TV was plugged in wasn't grounded either. I guess what we did to my outlet basically brought the two outlets closer to the same ground level, but not to the exact same level. It did help, though.

TheEDMan

shutz wrote: »

TheEDMan wrote: »

Huh...I too am looking for a good S-Video cable. I own one from Intec, the ones with S-Video and Composite together. I advise to never get ones like that; they make your SNES output strange diagonal lines while playing, and the N64 looks AWFUL. The GC, however, is okay.

Diagonal lines? Sounds like you might have a ground loop problem between the console and the TV. Try the following:

- Try plugging the SNES or N64 in the same surge-suppressor as your TV (you *are* using a surge suppressor, right?)

- see if the outlet you're plugging into is really grounded. It might have a third pin for ground, but if that part of the outlet doesn't go anywhere, that could be related to your problem. If it's an option, run a wire from a screw inside the outlet (should be connected to the ground pin) to the copper pipe that brings in cold water into your place.

Years ago, when I got my first PC with a DVD drive, I started buying DVDs, but I could only watch them on my PC, so I made an AV cable from a cat-5 cable and some connectors: 4 wires for s-video, and 2 pairs for L+R audio. The cable was about 50 feet long, and went from my PC in my room, to the family TV in the living room. I'd only roll out the cable as needed, but I'd always see these thin, slowly-scrolling diagonal bands going across the screen.

When I figured out it was a ground loop problem, my dad helped me to ground the outlet in my room, and the diagonal stripes faded quite a bit. They didn't go away because the outlet the TV was plugged in wasn't grounded either. I guess what we did to my outlet basically brought the two outlets closer to the same ground level, but not to the exact same level. It did help, though.

I have plugged the S-Video cable into several TVs, and all produce the same lines...I'm not quite sure what you're talking about though...

MegaMan001

I am sure this is going to sound stupid.

But, if you are using a S-VIDEO cable on a SNES...arn't you only transferring 32 bytes of data?

I mean, wouldn't any cable work as long as it connected well from the console to the TV?

By whatever the cheapest cables are you could find.