RGB mod any N64 console ..maybe?

[lucidPerspective]

I have contacted him about buying some programmed CPLDs and also asked if he would be okay with me manufacturing PCBs using surface mount resisters as the R2R ladders, and selling them on. So keep your heads up if your interested in this, I think I'll be able to get these done before tsukasa's no-R2R version will be done

[tsukasa]

I have contacted him about buying some programmed CPLDs and also asked if he would be okay with me manufacturing PCBs using surface mount resisters as the R2R ladders, and selling them on. So keep your heads up if your interested in this, I think I'll be able to get these done before tsukasa's no-R2R version will be done

Probably, since my parts are backordered, but since when did this become a race, and also, soldering that many smt resistors will suck beyond belief, trust me.

[lucidPerspective]

Sorry, I didn't mean for it to come out as a challenge or anything, I was just merely saying. When you get your version done, I'll be very interested in it!

and yea it will suck soldering that many tiny components, I might think it through a bit harder and just figure out a way to use normal resisters but keep it all small. I'll be doing a N64 project making a cut down and shrunken N64 with RGB out so I can plug it into my DVI monitor, it'll be tiny and out of the way and use a standard 12v AC adapter. hole thing will be no larger than 2 game cartridges stacked on top of each other, should be fun

[tsukasa]

You've got a monitor that'll take 15khz RGB? Do tell. Afaik, most monitors only accept vga frequencies, (31khz).

If you wanted to connect a 15khz source like the n64 to a monitor that does not support such a frequency, you'd need to buy a scan doubler (expensive).

[lucidPerspective]

I just found out that my plan might not be as easy as I thought, was talking to the guy selling the preprogrammed CPLDs, and now you said that.. I just saw some RGB to DVI adapters on ebay and assumed I could just connect it straight up.. Is it truely impossible?

[tsukasa]

You'd have to check the specs of your monitor to be sure, look at the horizontal refresh rate.

EDIT:
Depends on the kind of adaptor you've got.
If it's a big box like this, http://www.ihseusa.com/products/videodv ... erter.html, it should work.
If it's just a little cable, it won't unless your monitor supports it.

EDIT2:
A quick ebay search turns up lots of little cable dongles, those look like they're for sync on green rgb, unless your monitor explicitly supports it, it probably won't work. You might be able to find a crt that works, but it would need to say multisync on it.

[lucidPerspective]

VGA is effectively RGB (separate Red Green and Blue signals along with luminence (brightness) and sync signals)

my monitor has VGA input too, would that work? I'm having trouble founding the horizontal refresh rate. my monitor is an Acer AL2324W if that helps


EDIT: Newegg says it can.. http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.a ... 6824009089

Input Video Compatibility --- Analog RGB, Digital

[tsukasa]

I can't seem to find any info on your monitor, I had tried hooking my genesis RGB up to my LCD monitor via VGA a while back and had no luck.

When someone says RGB they typically mean one of three different standards:
RGBHV (5 wires + gnd) Red, Green, Blue, Horizontal sync, Vertical sync
RGBS (4 wires + gnd) Red, Green, Blue, Composite sync (what the rgb mod for n64s outputs)
RGsB (3 wires + gnd) Red, Sync-on-Green, Blue (the synchronization signal is combined with the green line)

All of these operate at a horizontal refresh rate of 15.734Khz (for ntsc) and 15.625Khz (for pal).
In most cases these will be interlaced as well (shows all the odd lines one frame, then all the even lines the next frame, and so on).

VGA is similar to RGBHV, in that it has all of the needed signals on separate wires, however, VGA (originally 640 x 480, as the resolution goes up, so does the horizontal refresh rate) operates at 31Khz horizontal refresh rate, non-interlaced, (aka progressive scan, 480p if you will).

Without either built-in support from your monitor, (possible if your monitor has a TV in port, but unlikely) or an expensive scan converter/line doubler box, it's rather unlikely that you'd be able to display RGBS on a regular PC monitor.

However, if you live in a country where SCART(peritel) is the norm, you could build a simple RGBS to scart cable at little cost.

EDIT:
Newegg likely means VGA when they say analog rgb, since VGA specifically refers to the resolution 640 x 480.

I have a spare DVI cable lying around, I'll chop it up this evening and let ya know my results, though I'm seriously doubtful.

[lucidPerspective]

this is lame there goes my big plan, I do have a converter box for composite video to vga, but it's just not the same, and that converter box is in my grandmas garage somewhere so I can't get it. did only cost $30 though, worked really well, hardly any lag. could even play DDR through it ..I just wanted more excuses to mod the N64 lol.. I have too many things planned though lol so maybe it's a good thing.. an epic undertaking I'm starting soon is a PS2 iBook (and I know I can't use the LCD in there, I'm just going to replace it with an LCD that accepts composite video) should keep me entertained

[tsukasa]

Something like this is guaranteed to work.
http://www.converters.tv/signals/rgb_to_vga.html

Ps2 iBook would be pretty cool, I hear ya there tho, I need something else to mod, and I've run out of ideas, I'm about ready to go and OC all my 64's lol.

[lucidPerspective]

hella yea my PS2book will be awesome, it'll have a built in hard drive, Free MC Boot, and it'll run linux too, so I can actually just use it as a laptop, it just happens to be able to play PS2 games without emulation

if you want and idea of something to mod, how about cutting an N64 in half and then getting it going again, I DARE ya!

EDIT: ouch! those converters are way expensive! I'll just stick with N64p's, or make an N64 iBook too if I want a big screen

[tsukasa]

Don't think I could ever get a chopped in half N64 to work again, the latency and signal timing issues would destroy me, not to mention the zillions of wires.

Just got off the phone with Jameco, turns out the were holding my order until the backordered part arrived. I've asked them to send the DAC they have, and that will ship today. Hopefully I'll have that soon and I can finally get to work on it!

[lucidPerspective]

Yay, something to do! ..I really should focus more on my studies, I got straight A's last semester at Uni, but we've been back for 2 weeks now and I've done almost nothing apart from mod stuff and watch Dragon Ball Z ..I'll be gutted if I don't get good grades, but I'll also be gutted if I don't have a PS2 iBook