N64 RGB mod, correct aspect ratio on boot.

I have a RGB modded french N64 but when booting it boots in 16:9, which isn't the right ratio I believe for the N64 (Natively 4:3 right?). So I was thinking of cutting the 5 volt line towards the multi-out and bridging the 12 volt line to the 5 volt multi-out location. So instead of getting 5 Volt over the scart connector on pin 8 it would get 12. Or would I run into issues with the RGB blanking on pin 16 (as in, still need to push a button on the remote or TV)? Or would it be easier to look for a N64/Snes/Gamecube PAL Scart?

As I'm not planning on accidentally destroying my N64 or TV so I wan't to make sure beforehand that that wouldn't destroy

 

Open up the cable and have a look - normally the voltage is wired to pin 8 and then through a resistor to pin 16. Make sure that it's at least 270R - if not, then remove it and replace it with a resistor in the range of 270-820R. Personally I use 270, since that will give you 2.6V on the switching pin at 12V, and 1.08V at 5V (the spec is between 1V and 3V).

 

well this is the cable I currently have.
So let me get it right: You are suggesting switching the 180 resistor with with 270 and I assume switching the 5 volt line of the cable to the 12 volt line or doing what I planned in the first post. Right?

 

Yes - the 180 would probably work, but it would put the voltage on pin 16 out of spec - it would be about 3.5V, and the spec calls for 1-3V.

 

From what I understand, the French N64 doesnt really have true RGB and it was merely a marketing gimmick?

 

Incorrect, with a mod you get true rgb from a french n64.

It also couldnt be a marketing gimmick as it actually wasnt RGB out of the box anyway.

Think you are talking about the french nes? which goes composite back to rgb for output IIRC.

 

So what was it from the French N64 that differed from the British one?

 

I think it's just the video format. UK PAL N64s use, well, PAL and that French one uses SECAM.

 

Actually that is partially true. The n64 is PAL in french too, but due to the transition from SECAM to PAL it had incomplete RGB circuitry. Most consoles before the N64 are RGB in france (even though occasionally not better than composite video), my thinking is that it simply was cheaper to make a PAL console with RGB than it would be to make a new SECAM console as RGB skips the decoding of the TV (so it's not really PAL/SECAM/NTSC, but that was the common use). As it was only for 1 region.

At least that is how I understand it.