Best model/year N64 for mods?

[paulmer]

Hey there! New here, looking to do some modding on my N64. Brought it out earlier, reliving some old times, just great.

So anyway, I have a black N64, on the back the model number is NUS-001(USA). From what I've read, certain years are better for different mods (apparently the earlier ones are better for overclocking, etc)..I'd like to get one of the later coloured ones (for asthetics)..plus, being newer, wouldn't they have better hardware than the older ones?

In terms of modding...I'd like to overclock it, improve cooling (maybe drill in some holes for air, put in some fans, heatsink+thermal paste), RGB mod, put in some LEDs for the lulz, etc.

Which model would be the best for the stuff I want to do?

Thanks in advance.

[Kyo]

the newer ones have cheaper hardware, and fry easier. Get black ones.

[Ben Cebhrem]

I agree, the black models are slightly less fragile to work with. If you're heckbent on it being colored, switch the cases, but use a black casings' electronics for the RGB mod.

[bacteria]

Black ones are best; typically 1996 was the year. Some of the N64's, NTSC and PAL (not UK though) can be RGB modded if they serial number is high enough.

[Kyo]

Actually, I believe all PAL N64 can NOT be RGB modded.

France is the exception, due to secam

[Mario]

RGB is a PAIN to get working on N64s. First, you need to make sure you have one from a certain year. It needs to have a certain chip in it, can't remember what it's called right now. Check out these links:
http://www.gamesx.com/rgbadd/rgbn64.htm
http://nfggames.com/forum2/index.php?topic=3231.0

[jjhammerstein]

RGB is a PAIN to get working on N64s. First, you need to make sure you have one from a certain year. It needs to have a certain chip in it, can't remember what it's called right now. Check out these links:
http://www.gamesx.com/rgbadd/rgbn64.htm
http://nfggames.com/forum2/index.php?topic=3231.0

That doesn't look like a pain.
Is the chip smaller than it looks?

[Mario]

RGB is a PAIN to get working on N64s. First, you need to make sure you have one from a certain year. It needs to have a certain chip in it, can't remember what it's called right now. Check out these links:
http://www.gamesx.com/rgbadd/rgbn64.htm
http://nfggames.com/forum2/index.php?topic=3231.0

That doesn't look like a pain.
Is the chip smaller than it looks?

Well, the first link makes it look easy. Check the second and see all the troubles they're having. If you don't have the right N64, you'll get a dark picture, interference lines, or it may not support RGB at all. But if you have the right N64, yes, it's pretty easy.

[jjhammerstein]

RGB is a PAIN to get working on N64s. First, you need to make sure you have one from a certain year. It needs to have a certain chip in it, can't remember what it's called right now. Check out these links:
http://www.gamesx.com/rgbadd/rgbn64.htm
http://nfggames.com/forum2/index.php?topic=3231.0

That doesn't look like a pain.
Is the chip smaller than it looks?

Well, the first link makes it look easy. Check the second and see all the troubles they're having. If you don't have the right N64, you'll get a dark picture, interference lines, of it may not support RGB at all. But if you have the right N64, yes, it's pretty easy.

Oh.
Well, that makes sense.
I don't think I'd ever bother.

[Mario]

I didn't see that you also wanted to overclock it. Here is that link. I overclocked my N64 to 2.0x, and it totally eliminated the lag that happens when you use the FireFlower in SSB.