N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

The place for all discussion on gaming hardware
Post Reply
Jordino
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2019 12:50 am

N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by Jordino »

I RGB modded my N64 a while ago, and I noticed there are faint horizontal lines that move up and down and are very noticeable on white screens. I noticed them a while ago, but saw a post on it recently and decided to fix it. When I first installed the mod, I swapped a green led for the red one and extended a white led off of it to backlight the N64 logo. They both were rated at 3-3.2v drawing 20ma and I didn't attach any resistors, because I didn't know anything about leds, so could this have hurt anything? The lines persisted after removing the leds, but move up and down now instead of just up. The other culprit could be the PSU. It has always made a buzzing sound and smelled bad, like it's almost burning, but it really smells bad now so I think I need to replace it. Could the problem just be the power supply, and how should I properly wire the leds?
Jordino
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2019 12:50 am

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by Jordino »

Would it also be better to run the lights off of the 12v line and use the proper resistors so it doesn't introduce noise on the 3.3v line, and therefore the picture from the rgb board?

Edit: I opened the PSU, and theres a black burn looking spot in between two capacitors near where the N64 plugs in. They also get fairly warm when plugged into the wall but not connected to the N64, but that seems somewhat normal. It outputs 12.69v and 3.39v, so I'm not sure as to whether or not I should replace it.
Last edited by Jordino on Mon Aug 19, 2019 3:29 pm, edited 1 time in total.
User avatar
Lawfer
Posts: 2283
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:30 am

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by Lawfer »

About the PSU, probably should get rid of this thing and get a new one instead, a N64 PSU replacement shouldn't be hard to find.
User avatar
Arthrimus
Posts: 106
Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2018 5:49 pm
Location: Arkansas

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by Arthrimus »

What kind of RGB mod is it?
plus ça change,
plus c'est la même chose,
The more that things change,
The more they stay the same.- RUSH- Circumstances

I install and sell mods at arthrimus.com | SNES RGB Bypass+Dejitter available now! | Watch me live stream my work on YouTube
Jordino
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2019 12:50 am

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by Jordino »

It's a Tim Worthington board.
User avatar
Lawfer
Posts: 2283
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:30 am

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by Lawfer »

Jordino wrote:It's a Tim Worthington board.
Maybe the scanlines settings are "on"?
User avatar
maxtherabbit
Posts: 1763
Joined: Mon Mar 05, 2018 4:03 pm

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by maxtherabbit »

my N64 also has faint moving horizontal lines, I didn't notice them until I set up a profile for linex5 on the OSSC

they are visible on a black screen more so than a white screen, they move at a speed that seems consistent with it being power supply noise

I'm assuming the PSU needs a recap or something but I haven't gotten around to it
Jordino
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2019 12:50 am

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by Jordino »

Lawfer wrote:
Jordino wrote:It's a Tim Worthington board.
Maybe the scanlines settings are "on"?
How do I turn it off? I can't find a mention of a scanline option being available. These scanlines are also more broad, and change speed for some reason.
Lawfer wrote:About the PSU, probably should get rid of this thing and get a new one instead, a N64 PSU replacement shouldn't be hard to find.
Do you recommend that I buy an oem supply off of ebay or get a 3rd party one?
User avatar
Link83
Posts: 342
Joined: Tue May 21, 2013 2:39 am

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by Link83 »

Isn't this the noise that the additional power regulator board was designed for?:-
https://github.com/borti4938/n64rgb/tre ... c/PowerReg
User avatar
Lawfer
Posts: 2283
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:30 am

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by Lawfer »

Jordino wrote:How do I turn it off? I can't find a mention of a scanline option being available.
Not sure, I know borti's board does it (the N64 Advanced one), but I dunno if Tim's board does it, at least not on older firmware.

Jordino wrote:Do you recommend that I buy an oem supply off of ebay or get a 3rd party one?
OEM. I don't know if there are any reliable third party PSU for the N64.
Jordino
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2019 12:50 am

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by Jordino »

Link83 wrote:Isn't this the noise that the additional power regulator board was designed for?:-
https://github.com/borti4938/n64rgb/tre ... c/PowerReg
I didn't realize there was such a thing until now. I'm going to order it prebuilt off ebay since it's cheaper and easier than sourcing each individual piece. When I reconnect the 3.3v wire, should I solder it to the original 3.3v pad or the large one at the bottom near the cut off edge, or does it matter?
User avatar
Arthrimus
Posts: 106
Joined: Mon Apr 02, 2018 5:49 pm
Location: Arkansas

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by Arthrimus »

The 3.3v regulator PCB is exactly what you need. The N64 has a notoriously noisy 3.3v rail that reveals it's self in the dac section of Tim Worthington's N64RGB design. It doesn't really matter which 3.3v pad you solder it to as long as you make sure to disconnect the old 3.3v wire. If you need one I have some made already. PM me if you are interested.
plus ça change,
plus c'est la même chose,
The more that things change,
The more they stay the same.- RUSH- Circumstances

I install and sell mods at arthrimus.com | SNES RGB Bypass+Dejitter available now! | Watch me live stream my work on YouTube
Jordino
Posts: 13
Joined: Mon Mar 04, 2019 12:50 am

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by Jordino »

Also, will attaching 2 3.2v 20ma leds in parallel with the proper resistors pull to much power from the 12v line? I don't want to ruin the PSU I'm getting.
User avatar
Syntax
Posts: 1774
Joined: Wed Aug 09, 2017 12:10 am
Location: Australia

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by Syntax »

I find it funny Tim never revised that board to include the fix.
Really that entire half of the board should be 5v not 3.3
The THS amp drives better at 5v
Last edited by Syntax on Tue Aug 20, 2019 10:36 am, edited 1 time in total.
fernan1234
Posts: 2175
Joined: Mon Aug 14, 2017 8:34 pm

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by fernan1234 »

Borti's boards made Tim's obsolete anyway.
makar1
Posts: 67
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2019 5:10 am

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by makar1 »

fernan1234 wrote:Borti's boards made Tim's obsolete anyway.
They're more expensive and harder to buy though.
User avatar
Lawfer
Posts: 2283
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:30 am

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by Lawfer »

fernan1234 wrote:Borti's boards made Tim's obsolete anyway.
Yeah it's great!

makar1 wrote:
fernan1234 wrote:Borti's boards made Tim's obsolete anyway.
They're more expensive and harder to buy though.
Does borti not make them anymore?
makar1
Posts: 67
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2019 5:10 am

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by makar1 »

Lawfer wrote: Does borti not make them anymore?
I don't think he manufactures any of his old designs; instead releasing the design files for others to build themselves.

Tim's boards are more widely available at his own store and from the approved distributors.
User avatar
BuckoA51
Posts: 3358
Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2010 10:08 am
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by BuckoA51 »

makar1 wrote:Lawfer wrote:
Does borti not make them anymore?
We'll be stocking them in Q4, fully Borti approved kits with flex cables and mounting kits.
OSSC Forums - http://www.videogameperfection.com/forums
Please check the Wiki before posting about Morph, OSSC, XRGB Mini or XRGB3 - http://junkerhq.net/xrgb/index.php/Main_Page
User avatar
Lawfer
Posts: 2283
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:30 am

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by Lawfer »

BuckoA51 wrote:
makar1 wrote:Lawfer wrote:
Does borti not make them anymore?
We'll be stocking them in Q4, fully Borti approved kits with flex cables and mounting kits.
Nice!
makar1
Posts: 67
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2019 5:10 am

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by makar1 »

BuckoA51 wrote: We'll be stocking them in Q4, fully Borti approved kits with flex cables and mounting kits.
Which of Borti's kits will you be stocking? The power regulator and UltraHDMI+RGB flex, or just the regular RGB boards?
User avatar
Lawfer
Posts: 2283
Joined: Fri Dec 01, 2006 3:30 am

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by Lawfer »

makar1 wrote:
BuckoA51 wrote: We'll be stocking them in Q4, fully Borti approved kits with flex cables and mounting kits.
Which of Borti's kits will you be stocking? The power regulator and UltraHDMI+RGB flex, or just the regular RGB boards?
Wouldn't the closest borti's board to tim's board be the N64 Advanced board?
User avatar
BuckoA51
Posts: 3358
Joined: Sat Oct 02, 2010 10:08 am
Location: Ireland
Contact:

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by BuckoA51 »

Yeah it will be N64 RGB advanced.
OSSC Forums - http://www.videogameperfection.com/forums
Please check the Wiki before posting about Morph, OSSC, XRGB Mini or XRGB3 - http://junkerhq.net/xrgb/index.php/Main_Page
borti4938

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by borti4938 »

Lawfer wrote:
Wouldn't the closest borti's board to tim's board be the N64 Advanced board?
The equivalent to Tim's board is the N64RGBv1. The N64Adv is the version with most features incl. an on-screen menu.
makar1
Posts: 67
Joined: Fri Jul 05, 2019 5:10 am

Re: N64 RGB mod has horizontal scanlines + bad PSU

Post by makar1 »

borti4938 wrote: The equivalent to Tim's board is the N64RGBv1. The N64Adv is the version with most features incl. an on-screen menu.
Are you still developing the flex cables for installing UltraHDMI and your/Tim's RGB mod in the same system?
Post Reply