Using a PAL GameCube with NTSC games and RGB via SCART?

[2050-Z]

As you surely know:

- RGB video is only available from PAL GameCubes.
- The Gamecube Component Video cable is very expensive.
- Freeloader discs and mod chips exist and allow you to play NTSC games on PAL cubes.

Thus, I see a fairly cheap solution to RGB GameCube gaming in the USA:

- Import a PAL GameCube.
- Region mod it and use local NTSC games.
- Use the SNES RGB SCART cable you already own (or a different one if they are incompatible?)
- Connect to your Sony PVM or similar TV with SCART support.

Result:

- RGB GameCube!
- No need to buy a Component Cable!
- No need to unhook your SCART > BNC > PVM cables in favor of component!

Are there any problems with this plan?

Specifically, I'm worried about slowdown and timing issues when playing NTSC games in the USA on a PAL GameCube. Do any exist?

For a related question, is there a particular video chip in an NTSC cube that could be replaced with the same component from a PAL cube? This would enable RGB video and disable S-Video. Or wired up, like the N64 RGB mod?
http://www.assemblergames.com/forums/sh ... be-amp-RGB

Is a PAL GameCube viable for RGB gaming in the USA?

[megalomaniac]

why would anyone is the USA attempt to do this when most NTSC televisions will not support it??
buying a sony PVM or similar is also not acceptable considering their cost...
...and you still end up with only 480i



oh i hope you dont mind...i added one more selection to the poll

[2050-Z]

> why would anyone is the USA attempt to do this when most NTSC televisions will not support it??

But it sounds like it will work on a PVM?

> buying a sony PVM or similar is also not acceptable considering their cost...

I already own a PVM that I bought for $20 from a television studio's surplus. Many others do as well. They've *great* if you interested in consoles older than the GameCube.

> ...and you still end up with only 480i

CRT Sony PVMS don't display 480p as far as I know, so this isn't a problem. I'd feel bad wasting 480p component cables on the PVM!

Any idea about the timing issues?

[megalomaniac]

CRT Sony PVMS don't display 480p as far as I know, so this isn't a problem. I'd feel bad wasting 480p component cables on the PVM!

no its not a problem displaying GC PAL RGB on a sony PVM, but it is only a workaround solution to gain some improved color separation...still no where near the detail from 480p / 576p

i have a TV that accepts GC YPBPR 480i using the component cable and it looks great on CRT...
but it does not look as great compared to a TV which can display 480p...while you will see a noticeable improvement from RGB 480i or YPBPR 480i, it will never look as great as 480p

...and still...most NTSC TVs will not display RGB
so unless you already have a monitor or TV which can display RGB, then more money will have to be spent to purchase a video converter...

[2050-Z]

Apparently holding B at startup on a PAL cube will give an option to boot in 50 or 60Hz mode.

Or is this only when running a PAL game that supports the feature?

Which should be selected for a region-modded PAL cube playing NTSC games on a USA Sony PVM? Or does region-modding the cube select the 60Hz option automatically?

Is a 60Hz PAL cube playing NTSC games exactly the same as using a NTSC cube?

[Extrems]

Specifically, I'm worried about slowdown and timing issues when playing NTSC games in the USA on a PAL GameCube. Do any exist?

No.

Apparently holding B at startup on a PAL cube will give an option to boot in 50 or 60Hz mode.

Or is this only when running a PAL game that supports the feature?

Yes.

[theclaw]

I don't own a PAL GameCube to test this personally.

But if games check the system's region to decide whether holding B provides the 50hz or 60hz option, vs the 480p option...
Then they'll have the former on PAL consoles.

[2050-Z]

I don't own a PAL GameCube to test this personally.

But if games check the system's region to decide whether holding B provides the 50hz or 60hz option, vs the 480p option...
Then they'll have the former on PAL consoles.

Consensus here seems to be that the game disc determines the frame rate and resolution, not the BIOS. Thus if you are able to boot an NTSC game on a PAL cube the output will be 60Hz RGB via SCART.

Here's another thread on the same topic:
http://www.famicomworld.com/forum/index.php?topic=8468

[novenary]

Fwiw I have a PAL GC and I can play NTSC games from an SD Gecko with Swiss perfectly fine. I do have the RGB cable too and the picture is really great, though as Mega said, you don't get 480p with that.

[megalomaniac]

going back to the first post...

Region switches exist and allow you to play NTSC games on PAL cubes.

you mean using modchips or a codejunkies disc right?

[2050-Z]

going back to the first post...

Region switches exist and allow you to play NTSC games on PAL cubes.

you mean using modchips or a codejunkies disc right?

I was originally thinking/hoping it would be as easy as the USA/JAPAN toggle, but yeah, it looks like a modchip or Freeloader disc is needed for PAL > NTSC.

[theclaw]

I was originally thinking/hoping it would be as easy as the USA/JAPAN toggle, but yeah, it looks like a modchip or Freeloader disc is needed for PAL > NTSC.

Right. While US games are little issue, there's no cheap way to get the Japanese IPL/BIOS mode and RGB.

[megalomaniac]

Right. While US games are little issue, there's no cheap way to get the Japanese IPL/BIOS mode and RGB.

swiss_r283 release notes

[theclaw]

swiss_r283 release notes

Oh? I assumed Japanese language support was removed from PAL consoles, not just locked away.

[megalomaniac]

i thought the same also...extrems pointed out that it was in there...
unless i misunderstood...

[emu_kidid]

The fonts are there.

http://www.gc-forever.com/yagcd/chap10.html#sec10.3.1

[theclaw]

Guess I'll take your word for it. Unless someone in the US wants to donate me a PAL GameCube, heh.

[2050-Z]

Now the question is if we can use the same SCART cable for the NTSC SNES, modded NTSC N64, and PAL GameCube.

http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/official-pal- ... -consoles/
http://nfggames.com/forum2/index.php?topic=3203.0

[theclaw]

Sort of. They aren't meant to. As far as I know, csync cables won't work on PAL systems.

[kel01]

Now the question is if we can use the same SCART cable for the NTSC SNES, modded NTSC N64, and PAL GameCube.

http://www.mmmonkey.co.uk/official-pal- ... -consoles/
http://nfggames.com/forum2/index.php?topic=3203.0

Ideally no, but you might get away with it. It just depends on if your display can compensate any sync issues as a result of the different configuration in each console/cable on the composite video line.

[megalomaniac]

whats the point of all this???

SNES has a YPBPR mod
also N64 and Gamecube have another YPBPR mod


so why mess around with a little 20" sony PVM and RGB and BNC adapters and scart adapters and whatever else you want to daisy chain in there when you can use basic generic component cables to display YPBPR on any NTSC (70") TV while also getting 480p/576p from Gamecube????
this thread seems to make the simplest tasks so difficult

[2050-Z]

Because it's there.

[kel01]

SNES and N64 would look like ass on a 70" TV, not to mention input lag and that's if the TV even accepts a 240p YPBPR signal.

mega has a fair point about the Gamecube though... If you don't want to shell out for the expensive component cable then build the component cable replacement board that Unseen designed or if that is too difficult then wait for someone that is handy with that kind of thing to make a batch and buy one.