Tim Worthington N64 RGB mod dark screen flicker

[Red2503]

Last year I have installed Tim Worthingtons N64 RGB mod on my PAL N64 and it worked perfectly. However now I also have installed the Ultra PIF mod on the same N64 which lets me switch between PAL 50 Hz and NTSC 60 Hz, and when it switches to NTSC 60 Hz, I notice there is a constant flicker in dark screens. At first I thought this happened because I made a mistake while installing the Ultra PIF, but then I found out the N64 RGB mod causes this flicker.

I have made two videos with a dark (not 100% black) screen generated in 240p test suite:

NTSC 60 Hz:
https://youtu.be/nRJBaI4OlwE

PAL 50 Hz:
https://youtu.be/tq68ov89UqY

As you can see in the video, in PAL 50 Hz there is no flicker while in NTSC 60 Hz there is a constant flicker.

I noticed when I bend or move the 12 wire flex cable from the RGB mod, the flicker changes (i.e. it becomes better, worse, different). So I think the problem is that the wires in the flex cable pick up noise from each other. Maybe it helps if I replace the flex cable by a 12 wire shielded cable, but if possible I prefer a different / easirer solution because there is relatively little space under the heat sink of the N64. Does anyone have an idea how I can get rid of this flickering?

[Brandonritter]

Last year I have installed Tim Worthingtons N64 RGB mod on my PAL N64 and it worked perfectly. However now I also have installed the Ultra PIF mod on the same N64 which lets me switch between PAL 50 Hz and NTSC 60 Hz, and when it switches to NTSC 60 Hz, I notice there is a constant flicker in dark screens. At first I thought this happened because I made a mistake while installing the Ultra PIF, but then I found out the N64 RGB mod causes this flicker.

I have made two videos with a dark (not 100% black) screen generated in 240p test suite:

NTSC 60 Hz:
https://youtu.be/nRJBaI4OlwE

PAL 50 Hz:
https://youtu.be/tq68ov89UqY

As you can see in the video, in PAL 50 Hz there is no flicker while in NTSC 60 Hz there is a constant flicker.

I noticed when I bend or move the 12 wire flex cable from the RGB mod, the flicker changes (i.e. it becomes better, worse, different). So I think the problem is that the wires in the flex cable pick up noise from each other. Maybe it helps if I replace the flex cable by a 12 wire shielded cable, but if possible I prefer a different / easirer solution because there is relatively little space under the heat sink of the N64. Does anyone have an idea how I can get rid of this flickering?

Hello,

It appears that the flickering issue you are experiencing with the Tim Worthington's N64 RGB mod when using the Ultra PIF mod in NTSC 60 Hz mode may be related to interference or noise picked up by the 12-wire flex cable.

Check Cable Connections: Ensure that all the connections between the Ultra PIF mod, the N64 RGB mod, and the 12-wire flex cable are secure and properly seated. Sometimes, flickering issues can be caused by loose connections.

Twist the Wires: If you don't want to replace the entire flex cable, you can try carefully twisting the individual wires in the flex cable. Twisting the wires can help reduce interference and noise picked up by the wires. Be gentle to avoid damaging the cable.

Add Ferrite Beads: Ferrite beads are cylindrical magnetic components that can be placed around cables to reduce electromagnetic interference. You can try adding ferrite beads to the flex cable to see if they help reduce the flickering. Make sure to use ferrite beads that are appropriate for the cable's size.

Use Shielded Cable: If possible, replacing the 12-wire flex cable with a shielded cable could be a more effective long-term solution. Shielded cables are designed to reduce interference and noise, and they could potentially eliminate the flickering issue.

Check for Grounding Issues: Ensure that all components are properly grounded. Grounding can help reduce interference and stabilize the signal.

I hope the information helps you.

[BeatriceWright]

Hy there i can see your post and i have some suggestion

Here are some steps you can take to address the flickering issue:

Use Shielded Cable: As you mentioned, consider replacing the 12 wire flex cable with a 12 wire shielded cable. This may help reduce noise and interference, resulting in a cleaner signal.

Check Cable Connections: Ensure that all connections on the cables are secure and well-insulated. Loose or poorly insulated connections can lead to interference.

Grounding: Check if there are any grounding points TellHappyStar specified in the mod installation instructions. Proper grounding can help minimize interference and improve the overall performance of the mod.

Signal Amplification: In some cases, signal amplifiers or signal boosters may help improve the signal quality and reduce interference. Check if there are any recommended signal amplifiers for the specific mod setup you have.

Mod Compatibility: Verify that both mods (Tim Worthington N64 RGB mod and Ultra PIF mod) are fully compatible with each other. Sometimes, certain combinations of mods can lead to unexpected issues.

Thanks and regards
BeatriceWright