Mod: Add RGB output to your NTSC N64!

[8bitbubsy]

I want to say that this method is old, dumb and damaging to the console. Enabling the built-in RGB amplifier through the bridge hack is a really bad idea, don't follow this video!

A better solution is to buy an RGB amplifier board and run wires directly to the video encoder.

[JAntonioGK]

@8bitbubsy Bro, do you know (or have) a video tutorial using this new method? I don't know anything about soldering but I can show a tutorial to someone who does. I really want to play my N64 on a HDTV looking good. Thanks!

[8bitbubsy]

@JAntonioGK

No I don't, sorry... Check out the video response by doujindance though (the one that is linked to this video). You'll need an RGB amplifier board as well.

[NeCacaluXuxultic]

You're one of the few people in youtube with good taste of music instead of that Emo/scene gay shit

[spiritro06]

rofl, stranded wire, ewww :p

[zedrein18]

@TehUberCyberBeast Well 15kHz RGB also exists in America, it's just harder to obtain. You have to first get ahold of a display that will even accept that video mode but also make your own interconnect cable from your console of choice to the display's input, which may be anything from a DIN connector to 4x BNC (R, G, B, and Sync) it's not an easy proposition, I should know, I've already bought an old Commodore 1084 monitor that doesn't work anymore. Cost a little too much $ for me right now.

[8bitbubsy]

@haloalldaylo

It's an JPN board. I don't have the console here atm, so I can't check the model number.

[NeCacaluXuxultic]

@8bitbubsy, ooh only a Japan one?? Heheh I bought my Japanese console for 15 USD :D

[furballbear]

My N64 looks much better than that using S-Video and I didn't have to mod anything.

[8bitbubsy]

@furballbear

No it doesn't. Chroma/Luma (S-Video) isn't better than clean RGB. It's just my bad camera, you'd notice if you saw it in real life.

[furballbear]

@8bitbubsy The mod seems like a lot of trouble for marginally better picture quality. In today's world it makes more sense to download Virtual Console versions of N64 games to your Wii as those are in true progressive scan.

[zedrein18]

@furballbear WTF are you talking about? S-video simply takes the luminance (Y) channel and blends it with the Chroma (C/colour) channel. True RGBS is all the constitute colours of an image separated along with their own luma and sycn channels, allowing for the best conceivable image! Pull your head out of your butt right this instant!

[Paperclown]

@furballbear: this link has screen shot comparisons of the different modes. it is night and day difference.

atariage *DOT* com/forums/blog/364/entry-7064­-comparing-atari-xe-composite-­video-lumachroma-and-vbxe-rgb

[Paperclown]

^^ youtube added % codes in ... just google the "comparing-blah blah blah-rgb" .. It has excellent screen shots of the modes

[logos2600]

@Paperclown yeah youtube added an ascii "null" character in your link. maybe this will work atariage *DOT* com/forums/blog/364/entry-7064­-comparing-atari-xe-composite-­video-lumachroma-and-vbxe-rgb/

[natedavis82]

I've done the mod without the short and my picture is dark. How exactly did you short the two points? It's been a while since I've soldered anything and I'm not sure how to short stuff. I'm surprised that I got as far as I did without any issues. I just need a brighter picture. Thanks.

[IcarusMoonsight]

@natedavis82

Simple solder bridge.

[doujindance]

N64 Japanese console of serial number possible to RGB modify are NUJ10******, NUJ11****** and NUJ12******. NUJ13****** and NUJ14****** are impossible.

[Ladomendigo]

Is this supposed to improve the graphics on the N64? It looks the same in the video, I don't know if it is any different

[Jompe94]

look, there is a better rgb out there, u simply lift the legs, connect them to the AV Out, and remove the capacitors in the rgb cable. you will get no interference whatsoever with this mod. only downside is that the picture is like 20 % darker (compared to like 80% when the caps are not removed)

[8bitbubsy]

Jompe94: It's not better if the picture gets darker, and I see no interference at all the way I did it... I tried the lift pins-way too, but I found the picture a bit dark as you stated. It's better to run it through the builtin amplifier in the video circuit.

[8BitCanadian]

@1985productions

You use a 4.5mm gamebit. :)

[teamdoa]

Hmm, after some testing I am getting some interference..a band across the screen on some occasions. The picture looks miles better though.

[MarcoEagleEye]

false, PAL (Fra) Console have RGB Output !

[8bitbubsy]

Then the French N64 use a different RGB-encoder chip. Presumably those similiar to the NTSC ones.

[MarcoEagleEye]

yes the PAL fra version has a S-RGB encoder chip

[teamdoa]

I just did this mod on my N64...it looks amazing now.

Thanks for the video, it was a great help!

Happy gaming.

[athanazio1234]

so colocar o cabo av do game cube, serve ate no super nes

[zedrein18]

How good is RGB realistically? I mean, isn't S-video good enough?

[Deathwish874]

This is really great. I wonder if you can add a RGB output for good old Sega Genesis too.

Oh, and Iron Maiden FTW!

[DagobertDrug]

The Sega Genesis supports RGB output from the get-go. Just buy or solder an RGB-Cable for it and hook it to your RGB-compatible Scart-port on TV.

Cheers & up the irons, mate! ;)

[Deathwish874]

Thank you! ^^

[keithLD50]

I have planned on trying this but I dont understand what RGB cable then goes from your N64 to the component hookups on your tv.

Is there a RGB cable that you can then get that plugs into the multi out on the N64 and connects to US component inputs on HDTV's?

[8bitbubsy]

Hey.. First of, you're not alone being confused about this, I was being a bit unclear. :)

You need a special RGB cable (with the standard SNES-N64-GC plug) with a SCART or RGB plug(s) in the end. Have in mind that here in Europe we use SCART, so the solution for us is easy... Not sure about in the states :/ Try googling "Nintendo 64 RGB cable" or somethnig.

[keithLD50]

Oh, thats perfect, I was already familiar with the Scart cable, so thats good.

Is your mod for the PAL version or north american / jap version?

[8bitbubsy]

This mod only works on the US/JP version (NTSC) of the N64, sorry. It's because of the video decoder chip, it's different on the PAL ones. If you plug an RGB SCART cable into an unmodded N64, you most presumably only get a composite signal, which means no quality change.

[keithLD50]

Ok, sounds good, I am in north america so I have the NTSC model.

Thanks!

[8bitbubsy]

Awesome :)

Just remember to spend the time you need, and don't be in a hurry. It's easy if you have a very thin wire (like kynar wire)... If you can't do it yourself, I bet you might know someone who might. :)

[nuke451]

The N64 has no Tri-Wing screws, but External Torx screws as they are from the SNES to Game Cube was

since the wii and all Gameboys were Tri-Wing screws used ;-)

But there is also a French PAL version of the already made on homemade RGB Interpreted ;-) it was missing only after the remote SMD components ;-)

[8bitbubsy]

Ah, thanks for telling :) I thought tri-wing was these screws, and that the GB screws were something else.

[SilentSlayers]

I want to hear your sexy voice!

[FanofZelda450]

Loved it =D But just like henno1029, it's too risky for me. I love my N64, I don't wanna break it :P

[Danny1337]

Awesome tutorial mate! :)

[henno1029]

too risky for me and i dont really see the change

[8bitbubsy]

Yes, it's a bit risky if you don't know what you're doing :-)

Well, I capped it with a pocket camera.. You can't really see the difference, your eyes need to see it "IRL" - it really is a great difference in sharpness.

[henno1029]

when i saw the emulator version of sm64, it was so better quality! so maybe you changed it into emulator like xD

[8bitbubsy]

... No.