N64 PAL/NTSC Possible ?

I noticed in this post here:
http://assemblergames.com/forums/showpost.php?p=234453&postcount=61
That the N64 has a PAL/NTSC switch. Is this possible without soldering on another bootrom or similar chip?

 

I think pal and ntsc in this context refert to the CIC region lock. (Edit: you probably allready know that)

It's probably a 6 way switch to switch between the ntsc and pal n64 internal CIC. Probably something similar to the d4s mod.

 

Yep just saw that's how it's done (on another forum). Time to find a bundle of spare NTSC N64's to mess with then!

 

Btw if other people interrested in this, here the two files you need:

 

Yeah ^^! Really neat ! Thanks Darth Cloud!

 

Wait, wouldn't switching the VCC do the job? Is a 7 SW IC really needed?

 

This one´s a bit more clear :



I think there are a couple of other methods to mod a N64 to play PAL and NTSC, but as far as I know this is the only way to make it play EVERY game. All other mods have an amount of games that won´t run.

 

Nice! Finally the original pic

 

I'm guessing swc is a switch? Keen on trying this on one of the 7 N64s I have laying around.

 

Yep, it is.

 

Would anyone happen to have a way to make this into a single switch? (I'm a electronics n00b when it comes to things like that)

 

You need a 6PDT (6 pole double throw) switch for that. I looked over digikey and they have that in stock for ~1$ for slide type

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=EG1925-ND


In push button type they have for ~2$:

http://search.digikey.com/scripts/DkSearch/dksus.dll?Detail?name=401-1194-ND


I don't know from which country you come from but look for a "On-On 6PDT Switch"

Also many type of switch exist like the two I have sugested are slide & push button type. However the one used in the picture you posted in your first post is a "rocker" type switch.

Hope this help you a bit.

 

Cool, thanks, got it sorted, now I'm just waiting for my NTSC PIF to arrive

 

I have done the modification and it works, unfortunately, the unit that I had that I modified just broke one day due to me not shielding the wires on the modification enough.

This mod is not for the lighthearted, it took me a wekk to get it right, and there is a tonne of soldering involved, as well as desoldering and I would stress the shielding part, once the mod is done, it's tricky to get it to fit into the Nintendo 64 with all the extra bits and pieces, and I done mines on a little daughterboard, anyway, over time, my mod ,because it wasn't screwed in place as it should have been got closer to the main board, before damaging it(the main board.).

Also I used multiple switches for the modification, to ensure that everything swiched correctly, and didn't put too much stress on one switch, and also to give myself more room, as you will see how difficult this is once you start it, desoldering the chip off the board is hard enough, then you have to make a multitude of wires connect to different point's, and give yourself some room or you'l fuck it up, trust me.

If I done it again, I would probably actually make a little external box for the board the mod is done on to give the n64 and me some room, and make sure it didn't break again.

But the mod works 100 percent, as I said though, give yourself pleanty of room, and plenty of time, as it is a very long and frustrating modification, and is not for a beginner, or even intermediate modder, the soldering skils required for this are definetly expert. Also as I said you can use multiple switches, like a couple of DPDT switches and another switch for the voltage.

I have to stress again, though, this is for experts only!!! I actually managed to sell the n64 on that I modded, and someone took the time to repair it, and get the mod working again, at the time, I just couldn't be arsed, and I got such a great offer on the console due to the mod being essentially done. Trust me, this adds serious value to any N64 as the time involved is serious labour.

EDIT: Also I came across a guy in Germany once who actually made the n64 a little chunkier to accomodate the modification , and that was the tidiest version of the mod I have seen, he made the n64 chunkier by cutting plastic and what not, and putting it inbetwqeen the split on the unit, not too much though, about an inch, so cartridges wouldn't be affected, though this seems like a pain in the ass to me, and I would just add a litttle external bit the next time if I can be arsed going through it again.

 

THIS IS THE ONLY WAY TO MAKE THIS WORK!! Not shouting, just stressing, there is no shortcut round any of the mod. Though I am sure you could use less switches than i used the first time like darthcloud says., that would be neater, and save space, but you would have to be very skilled. Also absolutely essential to this mod, and the protection of your n64 it's in, is the grounding of pins 14, 12, and 10 on the PIF chips, this is absolutely essential, as this is where many people have screwed up the mod.

 

you may be interested in reading this here, if only the last post.
http://nfggames.com/forum2/index.php?topic=2531.0

Apparently, that mod doesn't completely isolate one chip from the other, and they may interfere in some cases and cause problems. They suggest it may be wise to switch other pins too.

 

What's the advantage of doing that instead of using an adaptater ?

 

1 - All game work

2 - Don't need to save on another cartridge for game who use eeprom for saving.

3 - No ugly adapter

 

Adapters DIE. Mine died... no more Conker's Bad Fur Day for me
They do that quite easily. a few codes put in a wrong way, and voila, "firmware" overwritten, adapter dead... thrilling huh? xD

 

If PAL/JP/US N64 cartridges all had a different cartridge tab layout, maybe it might be possible to utilize pressure switches (with this mod)? The N64 would then know which mode to use for each cartridge type without needing to switch over manually.
I think the Jp and PAL tabs are the same so it's probably not possible unfortunately. Also, I don't know if there's enough space under the cartridge slot to fit said switches. Interesting idea though.