German site that does PAL N64 RGB mod... WHERE?/custom home mod using PAL & NTSC bits

[SG]

Apparently RGB modding a PAL N64 is possible via a German company or something... heh, that's about all I know but I've heard it mentioned here!

Given that PAL is superior to NTSC and all my N64 games are the Rare full screen, full speed ones (the rest I plan to get on the US Virtual Console), I'd sooner mod my N64 than look for a 1st generation US one and replace my current copies with ones in identical condition (that is, mint).

Therefore, if someone can provide info, I would be most, MOST grateful.

That said, I don't really want to send the 64 off, and have to factor the postage in too - I've heard you can also do it yourself with an NTSC N64's insides... any info on that also appreciated!

[Pavey]

Given that PAL is superior to NTSC

Eh! Since when?

[SG]

PAL 50. 576 lines vs 480.

[Pavey]

The N64 mate is famous for its bad PAL conversions. Its screen refreshes 50 times a second,as opposed to NTSC's 60,so all your PAL games are running slower than they were programmed to.

[SG]

all my N64 games are the Rare full screen, full speed ones

...Meaning all the ones I have were optimised for PAL, and PAL as a format is better than NTSC - to my understanding. If I'm wrong, please correct me as I don't want to bork this.

In short, conversions are proper ones, and although 60Hz is smoother than 50Hz, 576 lines (that PAL has) has more detail than NTSC's 480.

[Ryo Saeba]

There's a shop called Wolfsoft, which offers an RGB modification, though the price is rather high (50?) and I'm not sure how good the modification is. There are many different ways to RGB mod the system and some of them produce a better picture than others.
Btw I hope you already have your Passport Plus III for your import needs (to play japanese and american only releases on your PAL machine in 60Hz).

[Link83]

I was under the impression that the N64 console was hardwired to the Hertz, so even if you played an NTSC N64 game on a PAL N64 using a Passport Plus III you would still be playing in 50Hz
- or is this not the case?

[EvilBoris]

N64 titles were all low res and ran at half the screen resolution of a standard definition TV approx 320x240 , so the amount of detail that PAL had over NTSC is irrevelant.

The extra 5/10 FPS that 60hz offers makes for a much better retro gaming experience.

[EvilBoris]

I was under the impression that the N64 console was hardwired to the Hertz, so even if you played an NTSC N64 game on a PAL N64 using a Passport Plus III you would still be playing in 50Hz
- or is this not the case?

No, my old gaming converter output at 60hz, half my friends TVs wouldn't work with them.

[Link83]

No, my old gaming converter output at 60hz, half my friends TVs wouldn't work with them.

So if both PAL and NTSC N64s could output in 60hz, was it just the software that made the difference? and if so would it not be possible to make a switch to go between 50/60hz modes much like the SNES/Mega Drive?

[SG]

N64 titles were all low res and ran at half the screen resolution of a standard definition TV approx 320x240 , so the amount of detail that PAL had over NTSC is irrevelant.

The extra 5/10 FPS that 60hz offers makes for a much better retro gaming experience.

Well I wouldn't say irrelevant - there's an extra 48 lines of detail.

N64 Magazine went as far as saying this in their Goldeneye review and these guys here: http://www.eurogamer.net/forum_threa...=74&forum_id=1 seem of the same opinion. Mind you, PAL Banjo Tooie (which I have) was quite choppy - anyone know what the US version's like?

Ryo - thanks, I did find this out earlier today however I've also stumbled upon the information that the NUS-001 (FRA) N64 models also contain this chip needed for RGB like the NTSC versions.

I've got to weigh up the loss I'll make on these games and buying mint sealed US versions on eBay with all this too, you see.

Given it was dropped for the N64 due to 'lack of demand' to skimp on a few measly pennies, it seems a bit rich considering how many topics are on the net about it.