N64 video issues on HDTV

[chavosaur]

So yes, I'm trying to use an N64 on a Samsung HDTV. Allow me to circumvent the obvious things first

>Yes it has Y/R/W cable input and they are plugged in the correct order
>Yes, I know it will display better on a CRT

Im just curious if there is any kind of peripheral or cable alternative I can use to get the N64 to display. (Because it's not displaying anything at all)

I think what I might end up trying is going to Goodwill to find either a baby CRT, or a VCR with video IN and OUT, as those are the best things internet searching has yielded me.

I just want to know if there are any other alternatives to N64 input, I don't QUITE understand why it is only an n64 issue when my SNES works just fine on the same TV.

 

[emmanu888]

First off what's going on with the video output? I plugged my sis N64 on my TV before and its a Samsung TV as well and i never had troubles.

But instead of a VCR why not try those AV switchers that lets you switch between three inputs?

 

[chavosaur]

First off what's going on with the video output? I plugged my sis N64 on my TV before and its a Samsung TV as well and i never had troubles.

But instead of a VCR why not try those AV switchers that lets you switch between three inputs?

Well that's the thing.
There is no output. Nothing
Nada
Zip

I can try and get an AV switcher I suppose, I'm just trying to get a grasp on what I ought to try to get the little thing working.

 

[acidmango]

some HDTV's can't handle 240P resolutions (N64, Megadrive, SNES, etc)
The easiest way to get it to display is to run the N64 through another device first that outputs to the TV in 480i. Like a DVD Recorder or VCR.

If you want the best quality though, you should look into getting a line doubler.

Some AV Switchers do NOT change the signal to 480i, they just re-route.

strange that your SNES works.
Might be a faulty cable
Have you tried your SNES using the N64 cable?

 

[Coto]

the N64 bilinear filter makes things blurry tbh.

You can pretty much solder some cables and get S-VIDEO.

Or RGB mod (if n64 rev v4 (csync circuitry must be redone), rev 3 ok, rev 2 ok, rev 1 ok).

I just did my N64 RGB mod and looks gorgeous, so I have two units:

one having s-video | composite video and the other RGB mod

 

[MarioFanatic64]

A few years ago, I had a similar problem. One specific TV didn't like my N64. After turning it on, there might be one frame of image on the screen, but then it just disappears.

I couldn't figure out the problem, as all my other consoles worked fine on it.

 

[Hanafuda]

So yes, I'm trying to use an N64 on a Samsung HDTV. Allow me to circumvent the obvious things first

>Yes it has Y/R/W cable input and they are plugged in the correct order
>Yes, I know it will display better on a CRT

Im just curious if there is any kind of peripheral or cable alternative I can use to get the N64 to display. (Because it's not displaying anything at all)

I think what I might end up trying is going to Goodwill to find either a baby CRT, or a VCR with video IN and OUT, as those are the best things internet searching has yielded me.

I just want to know if there are any other alternatives to N64 input, I don't QUITE understand why it is only an n64 issue when my SNES works just fine on the same TV.

What you're describing there are component inputs on the TV. N64 doesn't have component out. With a stock, unmodded console you can get composite or S-video from it. You'd need some kind of S-video to component (or s-video to HDMI) converter, plus an S-video cable for the console. As noted above the extreme option is to rgb mod the console (see, e.g, retrorgb.com) and then use a scaling device (XRGB mini Framemeister) to upscale the signal from 240p to 720p or 1080p.

Or you could get an old CRT.

It's a sucky situation.

 

[emmanu888]

What you're describing there are component inputs on the TV. N64 doesn't have component out. With a stock, unmodded console you can get composite or S-video from it. You'd need some kind of S-video to component (or s-video to HDMI) converter, plus an S-video cable for the console. As noted above the extreme option is to rgb mod the console (see, e.g, retrorgb.com) and then use a scaling device (XRGB mini Framemeister) to upscale the signal from 240p to 720p or 1080p.

Or you could get an old CRT.

It's a sucky situation.

Yellow/Red/White is RCA which is Composite.

 

[Hanafuda]

Yellow/Red/White is RCA which is Composite.

oh yeah. wtf was i thinking? durrrrrrrrrrrrrr.

but if OP's not getting any video from the N64 over the yellow video input, then he needs to test composite signal(s) from other device(s). It's either the N64, the cable, or the TV. Process of elimination.

 

[chavosaur]

To post some updates, I just tried it with my SNES cable.

The SNES shows up when I plug it in via composite.

Using the same cable on the N64, nothing shows up.

ALSO worth mentioning that the original cable the N64 has, I tried using THAT on my SNES and nothing showed up either, which is odd. I'm starting to wonder if it's an AV issue with the console itself, as I also tried the RF cable with the console, and it didn't work either.

I'll keep attempting solutions for now, but as of right now I can report that

>My SNES works on this TV
>My NES worked on this TV
>My Playstation ONE works on this TV

So I have no idea why this N64 refuses to work.

 

[Nemmay]

To post some updates, I just tried it with my SNES cable.

The SNES shows up when I plug it in via composite.

Using the same cable on the N64, nothing shows up.

ALSO worth mentioning that the original cable the N64 has, I tried using THAT on my SNES and nothing showed up either, which is odd. I'm starting to wonder if it's an AV issue with the console itself, as I also tried the RF cable with the console, and it didn't work either.

I'll keep attempting solutions for now, but as of right now I can report that

>My SNES works on this TV
>My NES worked on this TV
>My Playstation ONE works on this TV

So I have no idea why this N64 refuses to work.

Hm, have you tested the console on another TV? There's a few things it could be if it were the console itself, but test it and let us know first.

Also, marshallh, the guy who designed the 64drive, is working on an hdmi board you can solder up in an N64 to get it to output in hdmi.

 

[Catastrophic]

Also, marshallh, the guy who designed the 64drive, is working on an hdmi board you can solder up in an N64 to get it to output in hdmi.

I can't wait for it. I wish it would come out soon.

Well that's the thing.
There is no output. Nothing

This may be a silly question, but did you make sure that the cartridge connectors are all clean and in contact? I don't believe the TV would display anything if the console doesn't detect the cartridge.

 

[chavosaur]

I can't wait for it. I wish it would come out soon.



This may be a silly question, but did you make sure that the cartridge connectors are all clean and in contact? I don't believe the TV would display anything if the console doesn't detect the cartridge.

Yea I took a Cotton Swab and got all the funk out of the carts. Some were still surprisingly clean, only my DK64 cart was like, dust galore. I think the games themselves are fine, I'm going to go to this Retro Games shop later and have them test it to see if it's all working, or if I'll just need to replace the little guy.

If it works in their TV, I'll know then that my TV is probably the issue.

I only have 2 TV's in the house that even take component input, and it didn't work on either of those TV's... So they'll test it on a CRT and we'll know for sure what's going on then.

 

[acidmango]

Yea I took a Cotton Swab and got all the funk out of the carts. Some were still surprisingly clean, only my DK64 cart was like, dust galore. I think the games themselves are fine, I'm going to go to this Retro Games shop later and have them test it to see if it's all working, or if I'll just need to replace the little guy.

If it works in their TV, I'll know then that my TV is probably the issue.

I only have 2 TV's in the house that even take component input, and it didn't work on either of those TV's... So they'll test it on a CRT and we'll know for sure what's going on then.

Composite*

That's reallllllly strange that your SNES didn't output using the N64 cable
The next thing I was gonna ask is if your N64 is NTSC or PAL and if the TV is the same format.

 

[Deleted User]

Does the N64 work with the SNES cable?

Also, check that the Expansion Pak (or Jumper Pak) is in all the way, you may need to reinsert it. Same with the game you want to play.
I got a Japanese N64 recently and I thought it wasn't working so I got out my only other NTSC game, (a NISB Mega Man 64), unscrewed the back (mint condition ruined forever D: ) and booted it up and it worked so I kept trying with my other game till it worked. Another time I had trouble booting one of my N64s and it was because the Jumper Pak (I have 1 Expansion Pak between 2 N64s don't judge!!) wasn't in right.
There is an official N64 cleaning kit with various cleaners for cartridges, controller paks and their corresponding ports that might help with games that don't boot. I got one for $20 unused a couple of years ago.