N64 Mod problem

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thatguy
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N64 Mod problem

Post by thatguy »

I have a Nintendo 64 that I modded a long time ago when I first learned how to mod, and the RGB has never had "the pop" people describe about N64 RGB. It's always had a Vaseline kind of look (more so than usual) and a heavy blur. I used the THS chip and 75 ohm resistors. Could the resistors be poor quality, could the wattage be wrong (I used 1/4 watt) Or could it be the birdshit soldering I did oh so long ago? I did solder directly to the chip using 22 gauge wire from an old ethernet cable.

I actually have a video of what I mean. I just want to know if it's par for the course and N64 RGB isn't that good.

http://youtu.be/51mnGyr8U64 (sorry if links aren't entirely allowed).

I will be cleaning up the mod asap
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blizzz
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Re: N64 Mod problem

Post by blizzz »

Hm, I don't see a problem with the mod, but hard to tell from the video. Conker is a blurry game by itself and you didn't record it correctly. The deinterlacing and scaling is wrong, which adds to the blur.
thatguy
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Re: N64 Mod problem

Post by thatguy »

It's like that on my CRT as well. Games that use the expansion pack are exceptionally blurry, while early titles like Mario 64 are a bit sharper.
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ociplaC
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Re: N64 Mod problem

Post by ociplaC »

Could the blurriness have to do with the game's resolution? Like for example, early titles like SM64 running at 240p, but Conker etc. running at 480i?

I also heard that N64 games have some sort of internal anti-aliasing video filter, as well as crosshatching patterns (source: Phonedork's N64 RGB review).
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Xan
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Re: N64 Mod problem

Post by Xan »

N64 uses edge AA, but most of the "blur" talk can probably be attributed to the low-res filtered textures. An RGB mod won't change that obviously, even though it at least gives proper colors.
kamiboy
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Re: N64 Mod problem

Post by kamiboy »

Systems from that era have not aged well graphically. People need to come to terms with that and adjust their expectations accordingly. Polishing a turd and all.
mvsfan
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Re: N64 Mod problem

Post by mvsfan »

N64 is just a blurry system. I never really got into the n64 even back in the day for that reason it used to bother my eyes.
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ApolloBoy
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Re: N64 Mod problem

Post by ApolloBoy »

ociplaC wrote:as well as crosshatching patterns (source: Phonedork's N64 RGB review).
That issue is caused by using composite video as sync, the color subcarrier signal interferes with the sync signal and causes that crosshatching pattern you see. Using either luma or composite sync eliminates that problem.
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blizzz
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Re: N64 Mod problem

Post by blizzz »

Image Image

Look at the blue sky and the health bar. The left picture shows some corsshatching that is caused by a badly shielded cable. Both cables use composite video as sync, but the right one has proper shielding. Luma or c-sync helps to eliminate problems, but you can also get great results with composite video as sync if the cable is made properly.
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