N64 rgb mod quesion.

[Pilotwings]

Hi i had my jap/asian N64 rgb modded a while back and it looks good but maybe a little dark - im not sure as i need to test it some more.

I was reading that some methods can leave it looking a little dark.

I was reading the methods to fix this with one fix being done on the console or the other way to fix is through the rgb cable.

I was told my rgb source was tapped directly from the graphics chip to the av port on my N64 , so is this the best method and can it cause a slightlydark screen?

- cheers

[RBelmont]

Hi i had my jap/asian N64 rgb modded a while back and it looks good but maybe a little dark - im not sure as i need to test it some more.

I was reading that some methods can leave it looking a little dark.

I was reading the methods to fix this with one fix being done on the console or the other way to fix is through the rgb cable.

I was told my rgb source was tapped directly from the graphics chip to the av port on my N64 , so is this the best method and can it cause a slightlydark screen?

- cheers

probably lacking some kind of resistance in the colour dept.

usually(from neo geo rgb mods) a resistor on certain points will brighten things up considerably.

[chaoticjelly]

probably lacking some kind of resistance in the colour dept.

usually(from neo geo rgb mods) a resistor on certain points will brighten things up considerably.

Umm.. a resistor does exactly that, it resists I don't see how putting a resistor on would brighten things up, surely darken them further..?

If you take the R, G and B from the chip and route to the AV port, without some kind of amplifier the output is dark.

Theres two ways you can amplify, using a circuit made up with transistors, or on (certain?) models, putting a bridge in between points (referred to as the internal amplifier, or whatever you want to call it) some prefer one, some prefer the other, I say it varies depending on the model of TV as well.

Ask Bort I think he knows quite a bit about this, I don't play N64 myself.

[RBelmont]

Umm.. a resistor does exactly that, it resists I don't see how putting a resistor on would brighten things up, surely darken them further..?

If you take the R, G and B from the chip and route to the AV port, without some kind of amplifier the output is dark.

Theres two ways you can amplify, using a circuit made up with transistors, or on (certain?) models, putting a bridge in between points (referred to as the internal amplifier, or whatever you want to call it) some prefer one, some prefer the other, I say it varies depending on the model of TV as well.

Ask Bort I think he knows quite a bit about this, I don't play N64 myself.

all the same its probably a resistance problem.

[Pilotwings]

I spent the last couple of nights testing all my games on my 64 and to be honest i think the rgb coming from it is perfect actually.

I think its just when you read about some mods causing dark screens you begin to get paranoid thoughts about it if you never actually modded it your self.

I wouldn't say mine looks as dark or as bright as them 2 pictures on mmmonkey, its sits somewhere in between.

Plus the night i was thinking it was to dark i was playing darker coloured games like Golden eye , P Dark etc.

I suppose the only way i would really no is if i got my spare n64 rgb modded the brighter way and compared the 2.

[Bort]

There is a stark difference between a standard RGB mod and one with the added internal amp. On my old CRT you had to turn the colour up to 100% just to try and match the beauty of the internal amp.

The downside of the internal amp is that you get some flickering in some games but it's about as major as scan lines. If you can ignore them then the flickering won't be a problem.

I've tried pretty much all of the different combinations you can have and the best that I've found is an RGB with internal amp using a standard official GC scart cable. A standard RGB mod with a modded cable is okay but lacklustre next to Mr. Internal.

If you were to get the internal amp added you could get it switched so you can get the best of both without having two N64's like me.


As a side note RGB N64 on a hdtv, since I never found a good answer when I was wondering.

It depends on the game on 720p screens and up, should look better on a 480p native screen. Mario Tennis looks truly dreadful and Mario Kart is fine. Once I find an upscaling dvd player that will let be input through RGB scart and have it output through component I'll have my N64's running through my 480p Projector.

[Pilotwings]

I use a really good 28" 4:3 CRT Toshiba for my games. There's totally no problem with the colour and if you turn it up to the max on my tv its too much.

It was more the contrast i had to notch up a bit but only to about 3 quarters and my colour needs only over half way.

The switch you are talking about sounds good but can that be done on the rgb lead or just the console?

[Bort]

A switched internal amp would be on the console. It's just a single wire that connects two points (white wire that is looped in this pic).

I haven't had a modded scart cable that could match the internal amp. I presume you could get close if you had a My Little Jelly sitting with you building the cable with a internal amped N64 as reference.

Some old crappy pics of the two outputs - HK (rgb with internal amp) / JPN (rgb).

mmm, happy bright nintendo land.

[bootmonster]

I have purchased a US N64 from pilotwings and I'm going to add the RGB mod to it. Got a couple of questions though.

Is it better to connect to the chip from the base or to the legs on the top? There seems to be some conflicting opinion.

Also will my Gamecube RGB cable work with it or will I need to get a new one?

Cheers guys

[Bort]

Official GC Scart cable works fine.

Not sure on the base or legs. My two are all bottom and half bottom and half top. One has the internal amp so I can't really compare on that point.

Did the games arrive?

[bootmonster]

Ok, modded this last night but my TV is not picking up the RGB signal. It is a Samsung HD LCD, so I was worried it may be the TV, but I tried it on a CRT and same deal.

I checked all my solder points but they are fine, so I'm a bit confused :S.

The only thing I'm thinking it must be is the cable. The cable is a 3rd party Gamecube one I got from Lik-Sang a couple of years back, works fine on my Gamecube.

Inside there is a resistor between two pins, and a 3 x 220µF Capacitors on the R, G and B wires.

Is this my problem, do I just need a straight wired RGB cable?

Composite video works fine if I use the composite cable BTW.

[Bort]

ChaoticJelly will be more use than me on the electronic side but not all NTSC N64's can be RGB modded.

Unfortunately there isn't a easy way of identifying if a console is compatible without actually opening it up (some people say that the later limited edition coloured consoles are generally not compatible). You have to take your console apart (Gamebit needed), remove all of the heat sinks and shielding etc until you can see the upper side of the motherboard. If your console can be modified then the chip at location U1 will have "VDC-NUS BU9801F" printed on it, if it can't be modified then the chip at location U4 will have "MAV-NUS RS5C282 (or RS5C382)" written on it.

If it isn't that I'll have a poke around.

[bootmonster]

Yeah I checked the chip, I have the right one. Its a NUS-001 US console.

I'm a bit lost TBH.

[Pilotwings]

I use a 3rd party Gamecube rgb i bought from GameTM but i needed it modded before it would show a picture.

[bootmonster]

who did it for you? i could do it myself but i need to know the pin-outs.

mr jelly, help please