Getting a PAL Turbografx to output 60Hz

[chaoticjelly]

As per the title.. anyone any idea how to get a PAL Turbografx to output 60Hz?

I changed the PAL crystal for a suitable value NTSC crystal (a la SNES-1-CHIP mod) however this just changes the colour to NTSC, and does not actually put the refresh rate at 60Hz.

I know this since composite now gives a black and white picture, but RGB is fine.

[Yakumo]

A little off topic but in the same area and since this is a post about PC Engines, does anyone know if there is a S-Video cable for it? I have a PC Engine Duo (J-NTSC) running through composite and as we all know it looks ****e. Japanese TVs don't have scart either so the best I can get is S-Video unless Micomsoft made a RGB box for it like they did with the Mega Drive.

Yakumo

[chaoticjelly]

Hey Yakumo,

With the Duo you can only get composite from the AV port, nothing else, I don't think the video chip outputs any kind of S-Video signals (Luma, Chroma), but you can tap RGB from the expansion connector pins (a23, b23 and c23) or the actual video chip legs.

The voltage levels are low or something though = dark picture so you need an amp in there (basically a transistor, some resistors and a couple of capacitors) for each of the R, G and B lines.

Im not really familiar with these Micomsoft RGB boxes though - do they just tap the RGB and turn it into something else? I dont really understand their purpose? I mean with a Megadrive the RGB signals are there, at the AV socket, so why do you need a little box?

[Yakumo]

Hey Yakumo,

With the Duo you can only get composite from the AV port, nothing else, I don't think the video chip outputs any kind of S-Video signals (Luma, Chroma), but you can tap RGB from the expansion connector pins (a23, b23 and c23) or the actual video chip legs.

The voltage levels are low or something though = dark picture so you need an amp in there (basically a transistor, some resistors and a couple of capacitors) for each of the R, G and B lines.

Im not really familiar with these Micomsoft RGB boxes though - do they just tap the RGB and turn it into something else? I dont really understand their purpose? I mean with a Megadrive the RGB signals are there, at the AV socket, so why do you need a little box?

Thanks for the info on the Duo. I think I'll mod from the expansion pins. I domn't want to mess with the video chip.

I wrote a bit about the Micomsoft boxes in the other thread. Basically in Japan you can't buy official RGB cables for the Mega Drive. F*ing stupid I know. So Micomsoft made these boxes to take the RGB singnal and give you a choice out outputs such as S-video, 21 pin RGB (Scart) or 15 poin RGB for monitors. THey also give you direct stereo audio which is great because you don't get none of that nasty feedback buzzing. The strange thing is that someone swore that the MD1 doesn't have stereo on it's AV out yet this box says it can provide direct stereo. I'm going to have to check it out.

Yakumo

[chaoticjelly]

Thanks for the info on the Duo. I think I'll mod from the expansion pins. I domn't want to mess with the video chip.

I wrote a bit about the Micomsoft boxes in the other thread. Basically in Japan you can't buy official RGB cables for the Mega Drive. F*ing stupid I know. So Micomsoft made these boxes to take the RGB singnal and give you a choice out outputs such as S-video, 21 pin RGB (Scart) or 15 poin RGB for monitors. THey also give you direct stereo audio which is great because you don't get none of that nasty feedback buzzing. The strange thing is that someone swore that the MD1 doesn't have stereo on it's AV out yet this box says it can provide direct stereo. I'm going to have to check it out.

Yakumo

Hmm I see..

The MD1 doesnt have stereo on the AV connector, just one pin for mono audio, you see it has a headphone port at the front, which is stereo so you can tap into that, with a 3.5mm headphone jack, and then wire that to whatever you want..

The MD2 outputs stereo from the AV connector, that's why its a 9 pin connector - the extra pin is for the right audio channel.

I found a site that sells RGB cables in Japan, it's called "Tokyo RGB Hospice"

http://dempa.jp/rgb/index1.html

Unfortunately the only stuff I understand on the whole site is "R G B" "PC Engine" etc

I think they also have guides on making your own cables, looks to be a lot of info there, might come in handy for you since I guess you'll be able to read it all

[Yakumo]

Nice one ! that's a great link. I'll be asking them to mod my Duo if possible and maybe a RGB cble for my Japanese Master System as well. Composite is just so piss poor.

Yakumo