Nintendo 64 on LCD

[Nashy]

Google isn't being much help at all with this one. I'm finding threads on forums that are full of users saying it's the cables, get an old TV etc.

I have a N64, and I want it to work on my LCD HDTV. If I have to buy something to convert the signal, I really don't care.

I know this console works, I know the cables are fine, I know the games are fine. This is a signal issue with the TV.

Can canyone tell me what I should go and buy to get this to work.

I have AV cables (red, white, yellow). I've tried them in the AV ports, and in Composite ports (plugged in correctly).

Any help would be appreciated.

[xendrome]

your LCD TV should have RCA hookups, Red/White/Yellow and it should show on that input... What TV do you have, make/model?

[@Leo]

If your TV lacks RCA input, you can find an RCA to HDMI converter on Ebay.

[The Teej]

You will probably need a down converter, if they exist. Don't forget, the large majority of games run at 320x240 which a lot of newer TVs don't support for some reason. Do you have an expansion pak and a game which supports 640x480, such as Perfect Dark or Star Wars Episode 1 Racer? This might be a good way to try it out.

Either way.... have fun with your N64... I tried mine on my 42" HDTV for the first time a few weeks ago and I almost cried at how bad it looked. I had all upscaling features turned on on my TV and it just didn't work one bit - it was horrendous to look at. I hate to say it, but you're better off getting a cheap tablet of some kind which runs N64 emulators well and connecting that by HDMI... :(

[Nashy]

Got a new cable and it's working. But it's on and off, really annoying.

[neufuse Veteran]

You will probably need a down converter, if they exist. Don't forget, the large majority of games run at 320x240 which a lot of newer TVs don't support for some reason. Do you have an expansion pak and a game which supports 640x480, such as Perfect Dark or Star Wars Episode 1 Racer? This might be a good way to try it out.

Either way.... have fun with your N64... I tried mine on my 42" HDTV for the first time a few weeks ago and I almost cried at how bad it looked. I had all upscaling features turned on on my TV and it just didn't work one bit - it was horrendous to look at. I hate to say it, but you're better off getting a cheap tablet of some kind which runs N64 emulators well and connecting that by HDMI... :(

the games resolution was 320x240, but the output resolution was standard NTSC or PAL resolution when it went out via Composite video

[cybertimber2008]

Do you have them plugged into the composite or component? One is white/red/yellow, one is red/green/blue (plus white/red for audio).

[redvamp128]

S-video???

http://www.walmart.com/ip/21152523?wmlspartner=wlpa&adid=22222222227015263528&wl0=&wl1=g&wl2=&wl3=17434678750&wl4=&wl5=pla&veh=sem

or this universal??

http://www.walmart.com/ip/Mad-Catz-6-Universal-S-AV-Cable-Universal/5244809?findingMethod=rr

[The Teej]

Got a new cable and it's working. But it's on and off, really annoying.

Welcome to old N64s. i strongly recommend not blowing into the cartridges or the cartridge slot as we used to do as kids - as it turns out, all it does is just leave tiny bits of spit on the connectors and ends up rusting them :p

[fgsdfwerwer]

Do you have a PAL N64? I live in the UK and have a PAL N64, and bought a cheap AV (Red/White/Yellow) cable from ebay, and the colours were all messed up and had a massive white glare problem, turns out the PAL N64 is slightly different and these generic cables dont work well. You need one thats been especially made or altered for PAL. Not sure if this is your problem but definitly worth considering.

[guitmz]

well... i have a 47" LED tv and the N64 simple sucks at it... the image is so streched that the fonts are barely readable... the best result I find (w/o conversos, just the colored cables) was to plug it into a 32" tv.. the image is still bad, but is a LOT better and at least readable.. i also own a 29" CRT tv which i use with the N64, but please let me know if you get some better results!

[guitmz]

also, just to report.. my tv does not have s-video, so i didnt tested it... but doesnt seem to solve the issue afaik

[(Account no longer active)]

NTSC/PAL?

[xendrome]

well... i have a 47" LED tv and the N64 simple sucks at it... the image is so streched that the fonts are barely readable... the best result I find (w/o conversos, just the colored cables) was to plug it into a 32" tv.. the image is still bad, but is a LOT better and at least readable.. i also own a 29" CRT tv which i use with the N64, but please let me know if you get some better results!

Can't you set your TV Input for that to be 4:3?

I'm running my SNES on a 59" Samsung Plasma, and it looks great with he standard RCA cables.

[guitmz]

i'll try that and let you know.. but as far as i know, the black borders is what 4:3 does, right? so it seems a "smaller" screen inside the big screen... i need to try that! hope it works!

im on NTSC

[(Account no longer active)]

Welcome to old N64s. i strongly recommend not blowing into the cartridges or the cartridge slot as we used to do as kids - as it turns out, all it does is just leave tiny bits of spit on the connectors and ends up rusting them :p

A trick I found was just to plug and unplug the cartridge several times before switching the unit on. By doing this, you're basically scraping off the oxidized layer from the cartridge's PCB tracks, and perhaps even the connector inside the 64 - shiny surfaces will usually always become oxidized (except for gold I think). I sometimes had to do it 20-30 times (while the unit was off of course) - but it always seemed to work.

Forget blowing - it won't help a cartridge that hasn't been used for 10 years. You're probably going to make the oxidization worse.

[guitmz]

^ you are correct.. i always to that!

[(Account no longer active)]

A blank screen ("No Signal") could most likely be the sign of the cartridge not being read correctly - try my steps above. The AV part of it should be fine. The 64 will not output a signal unless the cartridge can be accessed properly.

Have a look at the cartridge contacts - if they're as dull as a well-used $1 or $2 coin, then they're most likely heavily oxidized. When the cartridge was new, they would have been shiny.

[xendrome]

q-tips and a drop of rubbing alcohol will typically clean the contacts pretty well.

[The Teej]

A trick I found was just to plug and unplug the cartridge several times before switching the unit on. By doing this, you're basically scraping off the oxidized layer from the cartridge's PCB tracks, and perhaps even the connector inside the 64 - shiny surfaces will usually always become oxidized (except for gold I think). I sometimes had to do it 20-30 times (while the unit was off of course) - but it always seemed to work.

Forget blowing - it won't help a cartridge that hasn't been used for 10 years. You're probably going to make the oxidization worse.

Yep, you're bang on. It's also a part luck thing too, hoping to get a good enough connection for the game to work :p

[JustGeorge]

A trick I found was just to plug and unplug the cartridge several times before switching the unit on. By doing this, you're basically scraping off the oxidized layer from the cartridge's PCB tracks, and perhaps even the connector inside the 64 - shiny surfaces will usually always become oxidized (except for gold I think). I sometimes had to do it 20-30 times (while the unit was off of course) - but it always seemed to work.

Forget blowing - it won't help a cartridge that hasn't been used for 10 years. You're probably going to make the oxidization worse.

Q-Tips n' clear rubbing alcohol always worked for me. If that doesn't work, Dremel and a light buffing pad will shine the gold contacts right up. Don't over do it though! You'll need the special bit to open up the cartridges and as with all electronics, beware of static!