A promising new FPGA-based solution is being developed to resurrect Super Nintendo Entertainment System (SNES) consoles with faulty CPUs. Developer [leonllr] created this project after purchasing a SNES with a defective S-CPU revision A and discovering that replacement chips were both expensive and often salvaged from working consoles.

A SNES CPU Replacement Via FPGAhttps://t.co/FyoDpaynhi

— hackaday (@hackaday) March 31, 2025

The solution uses an ICE40HX8K FPGA (Field-Programmable Gate Array), which costs less than $20 and contains enough logic cells to replicate the SNES CPU’s functionality. Unlike software emulation that runs on general-purpose processors, FPGA technology allows the chip to be programmed to mimic the actual hardware of the original console at the circuit level.

[leonllr] has developed a practical installation method using two flex PCBs to connect the FPGA mainboard to the SNES motherboard. The CPU core implementation is based on the SNESTANG project, which previously recreated the Super Nintendo on Sipeed Tang FPGA boards.

The project is currently in its final stages, with boards already routed and production as the next step. When released, the mod is expected to cost between $45 and $55, and interested parties can register their interest online. This development represents a significant advancement for preserving classic gaming hardware, ensuring that SNES consoles can continue functioning well beyond their intended lifespan.

This approach differs from typical retro gaming solutions like mini-consoles or Raspberry Pi emulation, which rely on software emulation rather than hardware-level recreation. The FPGA-based replacement not only preserves the original console but also maintains compatibility with original game cartridges and controllers.