n64 pal ntsc mod.

Does anyone know how otaku_store pulled this mod off? CLick here

From my understanding the only other region mod for the 64 have compatibility problems with certain games.

 

They rebuilt the DAC.

 

What does the video output have to do with playing pal restrictive games like taz express.

 

They might have rebuild the CIC chip (not the DAC) but from the looks of it it might also be that they have some sort of automated selection system between the NTSC/PAL CIC chips. But the easiest way to find out for real is to buy one and pop that sucker open, or find someone owning one and that allows you to do that.

 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN1no0xb4Ew

Seems pretty decent. I'm really tempted to buy one and have a look at what they've done with it.

 

The on-console version of the CIC chip is called a PIF. You can do a region mod by taking both NTSC and PAL PIF chips and soldering several traces on each to a 6PDT switch. This is easy enough, you can desolder those chips pretty easily or just buy them online somewhere.

I'll be making a variant of this project in the near future and will include pictures of my configuration once I do. That being said, you can find some trace diagrams online with the right keywords and a few minutes.

As for the RGB hack, just get an early French PAL unit or an NTSC unit. This one is easy enough, just requires an amplifier board, some double sided tape,and maybe 15 minutes of soldering.

Make no mistake, this system they are selling isn't difficult to make. It's simply time consuming and intimidating for amateurs.

Edit:

It appears they have some sort of LED configuration and automatic switching mechanism. I believe they use a trigger from the region specific CIC to interact with a relay or something else that can digitally switch between the PIF chips. As for the LED, that's easy enough, just use a lead from the active PIF as a power source.

If someone decides to buy this, please don't be a Scrooge. Pop it apart and share the pictures!

 

If you do buy one, use "Bacteria" in the checkout to get a 15% discount. Just sayin'

I arranged a discount with him a while back.

 

I appreciate the offer, but it's not so difficult to make one of these. I'll be drafting a pcb to house both of the PIF chips whenever I have the time. The tricky part will be figuring out how they trigger the region switch based on the CIC.

I would be more interested to buy a premade pcb with the same functionality that I can solder personally. If they aren't selling those, I can just make it myself.

 

Good, if you can make them and cheaper, you're bound to have a market for the product, so keep us posted.

 

I'm in a bit of a legal gray area, actually. Do you know if it would be legal for me to sell the chips with both NTSC and PAL PIFs on them? Ultimately, this would be the best option.

 

Can't wait for more on this!

 

It is illlegal if you reverse engineer a Nintendo system or bypass copy protection, if you aren't doing that and just tapping off a chip using your own circuit, probably ok; after all Nintendo provided the RGB option in early models and only changed to ones without to save a few cents, so was down to cost rather than other factors.

 

One of the pins on the PIF (pin 7?) is connected to the NMI line on the R4300 - it's asserted when the PIF successfully synchronizes with the CIC in the cartridge. That would tell you if you have selected the correct one or not. Probably the easiest way of implementing this would be to use a CPLD - you could use it for both the control logic and the multiplexers.

Select PIF "A"
Assert reset in to PIF (CIC is connected to COLD_RESET/ output on the PIF)
Wait for NMI assertion - if you get it, then this is the correct chip
Select PIF "B"
Assert reset in to PIF
Wait for NMI assertion - if you get it, then the other PIF is correct
If you time out in both modes, you have either no cart or a hardware problem.

 

Thank you for the information I had something like that in my mind using a small microcontroller doin' the switch, but hadn't the time to get a deeper insight to the N64, yet. So - this will help a lot ^^

 

That's lovely, I'll check it out and see what I can do about it.

The plan is to sell PCBs with both PIF chips on-board, then to have a switch between them, while replacing mounting a pinheader to the SMD position where the PIF sits originally on the nintendo. My idea actually involves selling chips with only one region specific PIF on them, and the user can take the PIF out of their own N64 and use it as the secondary, since it must be removed from the board anyhow.

 

As I'm in France at the moment, I decided to take the plunge and ordered the mod from Otaku's store for my N64. Obviously going to open it up as soon as I get it back from them.

 

Keep us informed - really curious about this.

 

I have a feeling what ever they did will be buried under a LOT of epoxy Resin and any IC's will be shaved...

 

Yeah, I did consider that, but as they only offer the mod in France at the moment I thought I may as well get it while I can. It's not really cheap though, especially after paying postage both ways - Bacteria's 15% coupon code doesn't work either. I sent them a NUS-001 (FRA) model, so I can eventually RGB mod it (I don't have anything that'll accept RGB at the moment anyway) and make it the best possible N64 I can.

 

They will definitely shave the info off the ICs. I bought their 3do rgb board and they did it to it.