Modding a PAL French N64 for RGB. Also, what cable do I need?

I'm looking to get a PAL Nintendo 64 that can display an RGB signal, so to that end, I'm going to track down a NUS-001(FRA) N64 and do the RGB mod described over at mmmonkey's site. Is there anything I should be aware of when doing this mod?

The next question I have is what cable will I need? There's SCART cables for PAL N64s, but since PAL N64s don't output an RGB signal, I'm guessing that 99% of them are outputting a composite signal, something I'd like to avoid. So how am I suppose to get a N64 RGB-capable SCART cable? Does the PAL GameCube SCART cable work?

 

I have a French N64 modded:

here is where you get the RGB signal (orange is +5v)




and here is where you solder the RGB lines after you pass them through the amp:




as for the cable I am not really sure what you need, I use a custom one... it really depends on the amp used, mine works with an original SNES rgb cable but I have a different amp (will soon install a 7314 too)

 

The way you've done it looks a little different from the way it's done in mmmonkey's guide, do French N64s need to be modded differently, or have you done the same thing in a slightly different way?

I've been reading around, and it seems like image problems (image too dark/bright, cross-hatching etc) are common after doing this mod. Is the mmmonkey guide I linked to the current best way to do the mod, or is there extra information I should be aware of?

 

French n64's do not need a amp, there is one already in them.

You just connect the wires and a resistor on each colour if I remember right. The amp is the S-RGB chip in the above pictures. Just follow the snes Jnr mod for rgb, as that uses the same S-RGB chip too

 

really? so whoever did my n64 had no clue? I got it from eBay several years back... will give it a shot with what you say...
mine has this amp that works but is a little on the blurry side...




@fireaza : mmmonkey's machines are NTSC ones , they do have some differences from French ones AFAIK

 

Just someone following a Guide and not putting 2 and 2 together probably.

 

Oooh! That's handy! So performing this RGB mod is similar to mmonkey's N64 RGB mod, only instead of running the three wires from the cable connector to the amp, and then from the amp to... Er, whatever it is that it's connected to, (the R10, R9 and R18 points), you substitute the amp for the one the N64 already has? SORTA LIKE THIS?

Or would the mod look more like the photos keropi posted, only with the wires running to the S-RGB A chip instead of the amp?

 

maybe he thought the image was too dark? mmmonkey does mention it and they had as a solution the "internal amp-mod" that damages the console (now an image with a red X on it) ... so instead he built a crude amp...?

 

I'm curious about that too, the RGB mods that sound similar to what Bad_Ad mentioned are listed under "old" on mmonkey's site...

 

Its not the same as the "internal amp mod" on those pages. The image is fine, I have a pal n64 modded this way. Its exactly the same as the Snes jnr rgb mod.

The lines used in that pic (from the VDC-ENC) are un ampified raw signal (which is why in keropis pic, they are then ran to an amp). This signal is than ran to ENC-NUS that takes that raw signal and converts to composite and svideo. The S-RGB chip does this, but also outputs "ready to use" RGB.

 

do you still need caps/resistors between the lines or you just connect them and away you go?

 

Dont remember, will look into it later. I think it needs 75ohm on each.

Edit:

read this - http://gamesx.com/wiki/doku.php?id=av:snes2rgb


But ignore pin 7 they say to use for csync. use pin 18 (7 is the csync INPUT into the S-RGB chip and isnt "ready for use")

 

it seems there is a pretty perfect MOD for NUS-001(FRA) N64

sorry only in german
http://free-for-all.ath.cx/daten/n64rgbmod.html#fra-pal

or in french
http://pakupakustory.blogspot.fr/2011/12/docteur-switch-en-direct-de-latelier-le.html

 

Here is S-RGB chip pinout

 

allright thanks for all the info!!!

I see on the pinout that c-sync exists.... I will try and use this instead of composite as RGB is the only connection really use...

edit: is it me or the French model does need an rgb amp? from what I gather you are supposed to solder extra components on the mobo?

 

Ah, thanks for clarifying that!

So basically, you run three wires, from "BOUT", GOUT and "ROUT" to the matching R, G, and B points on the video cable connector, and stick a 75ohm resistor on each wire somewhere? Do the legs on the S RGB A need to be lifted? Do any traces need to be cut? What about the video cable? They tend to also have resistors in them, you'd want to be sure you get the right kind so it doesn't make the image darker or brighter than it should be.

 

Those components are not amplification

 

You don't need an RGB amp, all you need is :

3x Transistor SMD NPN SOT-23 25V 1A 0,25W
1x SMD ZF 12 Chip-Zener-Diode 0,5W 12V
3x SMD 1/4W 75 SMDChip Resistor, package 1206, 75 Ohm
3x SMD-0805 39,0 SMDChip Resistor, package 0805, 39 Ohm
1x SMD-0805 10,0K SMDChip Resistor, package 0805, 10 K-Ohm
3x NPO-G0603 47P SMD-Multilayer ceramic capacitor 47P, 5%

and official PAL snes video cable

and of course, good skill

 

You don't need that either. Wire, 3x 75ohm resistors and much less skill. Done

 

sure, but with the other mod you have better quality.
it's the "official" missing composent list. (true or false, i'm not sure)