I currently have a Pal N64 with a handfull of games running through the rf unit that came with the console. At the moment the picture isn't the best and certainly not as good as i remember it to be. I bought a componant cable from ebay but the picture becomes far worse when in use.
I was thinking of spending £50 on a JPN NTSC console rgb modded but not sure if I should. Can anybody help sway my decision. I only have a handful of games so I dont mind replacing them but I would like to be able to play USA or Pal games. (I've just started to learn Japanese and would like to say i'm getting pretty damn good but then I'd be a liar )
So is this worth getting, will the video be much better and is there much of a differance between pal and ntsc games?
Last edited by SegaDreamscape on Wed Jan 27, 2010 4:11 am, edited 1 time in total.
I haven't slept for ten days, because that would be too long.
- Mitch Hedberg
First off, you'll need a converter of some kind to play PAL games on any NTSC machine, as well as a television that can handle the signal change. I've got a Passport Plus to help me play the one N64 PAL game I own on my NTSC-U console. I also use it with my NTSC-J N64 games, though a simple hardware mod to the N64 for the NTSC-U model will let you play NTSC-J games.
When I got my NTSC N64, I couldn't believe the difference. The games run faster and they're much much sharper. I noticed a massive improvement even just using the RF modulator. When using composite the picture was even better. Having it RGB modded would be perfection.
The NTSC N64 leagues ahead of the N64 we got in PAL territories. Everything is so responsive and sharp. Definitely, snap up the chance of an RGB modded NTSC-J N64 for £50, that seems like a pretty good deal. I paid £30 for my NTSC-U N64 with expansion pak, but I have yet to mod it for RGB.
Thanks for all the info guys, I've decided to go for it and grab the console.
I do still have a couple of things on my mind though, firstly if Jap games work on US consoles would this work the other way around. If its a case of only modding the cartridge slot slighlty to work a JPN game in a US console would a US game work in a JPN console.
Niode do you use a converter to play Pal games on your system or do you use imports. Would there be a difference in the quality/speed of the game or is all of that handled by the console and not the cartridge. I dont know that much about cartridge based sytsems yet.
I haven't slept for ten days, because that would be too long.
- Mitch Hedberg
No I just buy NTSC games from UK ebay sellers. They're usually cheaper, since most people want PAL games and not NTSC titles. I have a PAL N64 for all my PAL games anyway.
AFAIK getting a converter to play PAL games on an NTSC titles won't make them play faster.
You definitely need a converter to make PAL games work on an NTSC system.
To get NTSC-U carts to play on the JAP N64 you need to open the N64 up and modify the cartridge slot, by filing away the little 'nubs' in the corners of the slot. Otherwise the specific keying of the cartridge and slot will stop you from inserting US carts into a JAP machine. Of course, you can bypass this all together with a JAP actionreplay/gameshark device.
If you don't want to have to worry about modifying your NTSC-J or NTSC-U machine, converters aren't bad. I use an N64 Passport Plus III I bought online so I can play Japanese and European games. All you'll need is a boot cartridge from the same region as the machine, which isn't too hard. Super Mario 64 is probably the best choice for that, so if you buy the converter, make sure you've got it.
O.k. I know this thread is old but I went ahead and bought the RGB modded JPN N64 and so far I'm really pleased I did. I do however have one last questions if anyone can help.
I own two US games Goldeneye & 1080 Snowboarding and approx 10 Pal games which I play through a Passport III Plus I bought with the console. Am I getting what I should from my Pal games through the Passport Plus or will replacing them with their NTSC counterparts be better? I only have a very small collection so I won't mine replacing them too much.
I haven't slept for ten days, because that would be too long.
- Mitch Hedberg
I've replaced nearly all my PAL collection with their NTSC counterparts. Get some trades going on the B/S/T there's always people wanting to get rid of NTSC N64 games here.
Regarding the Passport, I don't know, I don't have one, nor have a use for one. Sorry.
SegaDreamscape wrote:I currently have a Pal N64 with a handfull of games running through the rf unit that came with the console. At the moment the picture isn't the best and certainly not as good as i remember it to be. I bought a componant cable from ebay but the picture becomes far worse when in use.
I think you probably meant Composite. A cheap upgrade would be the S-Video cable. Not sure if RGB mod over S-Video will make a great improvement considering the resolution of N64. Still, RGB is up there in the best possible connection.
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