PAL-M N64 on JVC NTSC TV

Hello there, yesterday i got an brazilian N64 from my friend, and the system displays in PAL-M.
I have an LED and CRT TV, the N64 works normal on the LED TV, but on the CRT, the image is black and white.
I don't want to mod it and i'm searching for an PAL-M to NTSC converter, but they are kind of expensive here.
I need some recommendations of what other options i could do for playing the system in full color.
Thanks.

 

A typical PAL->NTSC converter will not work, you specifically need a PAL-M converter. I'm not sure how easy this will be to find.

If you did decide to mod the N64, it would be straight-forward and low-risk; it's likely that the only difference between a PAL-M and a NTSC console will be the 14 MHz crystal. PAL-M should have a 14.302 MHz crystal, and to turn it into NTSC it needs to be replaced with a 14.318 MHz crystal. Technically the crystal should be selected for the same characteristics as the original for an accurate frequency, but in practice probably any common 14.318 will work acceptably.

 

How does the price of a converter compare to a PAL-M CRT? Guessing the bulk of that purchase would be in shipping.

 

Shouldn't a RGB mod solve the color problem? If the N64 has the right video dac then the RGB mod just consists of 3 wires inside the console and an amplifier inside the RGB cable.

 

About $75 to $100. The shipping is not included on the price.

I'm not very good at modding, but maybe that could be an good solution.

 

Any more ideas? :/

 

Swapping the crystal is without a doubt the easiest solution...

 

I'm trying it, but sadly i don't have all the tools for swapping it...
I've already using it on another TV that have PAL-M compatibility, so probably this will be a minor problem.

 

RGB out from the console will be colour, if your TV has RGB input then you just need a cable. Japan used to have a similar standard to SCART (same connector but different pin out). If your TV has that, then getting a PlayStation RGB cable wired up for Japanese TV's would work.

Here is a picture of the differences.
http://img826.imageshack.us/img826/7954/picture2vq.jpg

Otherwise getting an upscaler that can take RGB input would work too.

 

Brazilian N64 have a special PIF chip with different firmware. PIF-NUS-M.

Changing it to NTSC is not an option even if you wanted to mod it.

Protip: Use it with the multinorm LED TV.

 

It's what i'm currently using, in my living room :/
Thanks for the info on the PIF chip. I wanted to keep it on my bedroom, but not without an new TV with PAL-M...