Top Loader NES AV mod

2012-02-06 12:24:22 pm

I've seen a nice mod on youtube for the Top Loader

I was wondering if anybody here did it or if they would be willing to do it. I don't have the tools and skills necessary for a project like that. There is a forum link in the video description and a guide on how to do it on page 8. My original NES barely works anymore even with a new 72 pin connector so this would be a big help to record my runs. If you want to do it for me please tell me how much you would charge. Thanks

Thread title:

Sir VG

2012-02-06 01:54:18 pm

Fucking Weeaboo

That's pretty cool. I don't know if I could do it, but some time I should try it.

Mr. K

Edit history:

Mr. K: 2012-02-06 02:43:05 pm

2012-02-06 02:40:49 pm

Yes

If you're looking to record runs from the NES top loader, you can feed the coax through a VCR and then just capture the composite a/v output from the VCR. This is how I captured my NES runs and I haven't noticed any lag or video quality issues. I had the same thing happen to me with my original NES and so I bought a top loader and used this setup. It's been working well for me.

Xelotath

Edit history:

Xelotath: 2012-02-06 02:48:27 pm

2012-02-06 02:46:27 pm

The vertical lines disappeared? I'll try it later today, I have a spare VCR. The AV mod would still be more practical, since I would need to plug only that into the DVD Recorder or capture card. It's weird that with a hardware revision they removed the superior output, especially since the same model has AV out in Japan. I know it was to save money but I wonder how much they saved.

Mr. K

2012-02-06 02:50:32 pm

Yes

See for yourself:

It is unfortunate that they removed it, but it's really not bad with this setup. So this setup was Nes top loader coax > VCR composite a/v output> Powered A/V splitter > Capture Card and separately TV

Xelotath

2012-02-06 04:37:48 pm

I tried it, and while the quality is a lot better the vertical lines are still present. I even tried it with a brand new RF adapter from my top loader box(I was using the one from my old NES before). I think the only way to completly get rid of them is to bypass the RF completly like in the mod video. Thanks for the solution I'll play like this until I get it modded.

ZenicReverie

2012-02-06 05:43:27 pm

Waiting hurts my soul...

It's possible the vertical lines are an indication of an issue with the RF out port on your console, and not RF output in general. Good luck with the mod.

Xelotath

2012-02-06 05:53:06 pm

It's a common complaint for those who have the top loader model. I think the RF module in the console is cheaper than in the old model and it causes stuff like that. If you look carefully in Mr. K's video you can see them, look at 2:03 on the floor for example.

Tranquilite

2012-02-06 06:00:34 pm

Quote from Xelotath:

My original NES barely works anymore even with a new 72 pin connector

Have you tried disabling the lockout chip? Its quite easy, and helps considerably as the lockout chip tends to start locking out legitimate games as the console ages. Also from what I remember, it is better to not push down the cart after inserting it with new 72pin connectors.

Xelotath

2012-02-06 06:26:38 pm

No I never looked into the lockout chip. I'll check it out soon, thanks.

dballin

2012-02-06 10:58:56 pm

Balls jerky

This mod looks incredibly easy. A breadboard and a soldering iron is all you really need as far as I can tell/

Xelotath

Edit history:

Xelotath: 2012-02-06 11:55:43 pm

2012-02-06 11:47:38 pm

I have no experience soldering stuff and I don't want to mess up my NES, I won't have the cash to get a new one. The only mods I have ever done were always solder-less like the TEasy dualmod for the Madcatz TE stick.

Edit: Just found this on youtube, is this real or a mod? At first I thought it was an AV Famicom but the american cartriges worked.

PJ

2012-02-07 01:26:32 am

Is PJ

I think the French version of the top loader has AV output and works with NTSC carts. I played on one myself.

Svenne

2012-02-07 03:10:16 am

You can play all versions on a toploader NTSC/PAL etc!

sinister1

2012-02-07 11:14:45 am

sinister1

so pro u don't even know

Quote from Svenne:

You can play all versions on a toploader NTSC/PAL etc!

Do the PAL games run at 60hz when you play them on toploader then?

Xelotath

2012-02-07 02:29:02 pm

I did the the lockout chip mod to my old model NES and it's nice that there is no more blinking but I still have trouble with some games. In the top loader they play with no trouble. I guess this will be a solution for now since the quality is better than the RF top loader and I'm a bit tight on cash so I won't spend money on a mod I don't need THAT much. But I won't rule it out for the future, the convenience of the top loader is just great.

Svenne

2012-02-08 05:13:14 am

Quote from sinister1:

Do the PAL games run at 60hz when you play them on toploader then?

Sinister1, Because PAL games are optimized for PAL machines, it would mean that they would actually go FASTER then a NTSC game on a NTSC machine. And seeing how the toploader is an official NES Nintendo machine, SDA should not bann it. However, this will lead to overclocking PAL games but if they can be played, they should probebly be accepted.

We are always out for new ways to play games the most optimal speedrunning way. That's why some use JP Zelda: ALttP 1.0 when they speedrun, becasue it is the most optimal way of speedrunning that game.

So this should be almost a priority one issue for the MODS and if they bann it so be it. Unfortinuetly, I see no real reason for doing so, if it can be done without any tempering and on a offical machine, why not play games the fastest way and not be a sucker? If they accept it, I will do 2 things: Buy a Toploader myself and send a scandinavian SMB1 copy to andrewg!

(This is not TG, who only allows "games should be played as programmers intended", but SDA = the fastest way humanly possible without cheating. That is why this should be accepted with a toploader but not on a moded NES-1 machine)

Re:edit: Battletoads seems to go superslow but SMB superfast when I looked around YouTube for some answers.

/Svenne

[quote="sinister1"]Do the PAL games run at 60hz when you play them on toploader then?[/quote]
Sinister1, Because PAL games are optimized for PAL machines, it would mean that they would actually go FASTER then a NTSC game on a NTSC machine. And seeing how the toploader is an official NES Nintendo machine, SDA should not bann it. However, this will lead to overclocking PAL games but if they can be played, they should probebly be accepted.

We are always out for new ways to play games the most optimal speedrunning way. That's why some use JP Zelda: ALttP 1.0 when they speedrun, becasue it is the most optimal way of speedrunning that game.

So this should be almost a priority one issue for the MODS and if they bann it so be it. Unfortinuetly, I see no real reason for doing so, if it can be done without any tempering and on a offical machine, why not play games the fastest way and not be a sucker? If they accept it, I will do 2 things: Buy a Toploader myself and send a scandinavian SMB1 copy to andrewg!

(This is not TG, who only allows "games should be played as programmers intended", but SDA = the fastest way humanly possible without cheating. That is why this should be accepted with a toploader but not on a moded NES-1 machine)

Re:edit: Battletoads seems to go superslow but SMB superfast when I looked around YouTube for some answers.

[url]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nNsFBqb48RY[/url]

/Svenne

sinister1

2012-02-08 08:48:21 am

sinister1

so pro u don't even know

Well if this is made legal then I will have to redo the MTPO IL table because there are a few fights that would be faster with PAL running at 60hz, most notably Mr. Sandman.

PJ

Edit history:

PJ: 2012-02-08 09:45:47 am

2012-02-08 09:40:03 am

Is PJ

I'll just copy/paste when I mentioned to you on Facebook:

"I'm pretty sure the games have to run at their native framerate to be accepted. Since some PAL games are sped up before released to compensate for the lower framerate, if you overclock it that version would be artificially faster."

Edit: I guess that last statement can be generalized more. If you overclock any version of a game, it becomes artificially faster. Even if you use official software, it isn't legit.

Svenne

2012-02-08 09:46:25 am

Well, then they just have to ban the NTSC version of toploader and not the PAL one then I guess? makes no since what so ever thou, if you can play a game on a official machine with a official game, it is meant to be.

Edit: I think they will bann it, because this will make alot of runs obselete and it is not worth the effort. I just wanted to see if it could be done!;D

Well, the main-reason for the toploader being made was so that you could play all regions?

PJ

2012-02-08 09:48:13 am

Is PJ

The NTSC version of the toploader is legit for playing NTSC games, just like a PAL toploader is for PAL games. Just because you can fit a cart into the console and turn it on doesn't mean it was meant to be. I can shove an NES cart into an N64 and get it to display some random garbage I'm sure, but that certainly wouldn't count as an official game/machine combo.

VorpalEdge

Edit history:

VorpalEdge: 2012-02-08 09:54:16 am

2012-02-08 09:53:43 am

welcome to the machine

Congratulations. You have put me in the position of defending region lockout, which is something I never expected to do.

Short answer: no. Long answer: Running a PAL game at NTSC speed (or vice versa) is not going to be acceptable. I would write a bit more, but I have to go get ready for work and I hope a longer explanation isn't necessary.

Svenne

2012-02-08 09:56:42 am

No worries, I understand!;D

So it is settled then, Nintendo should not have made the Toploader!^^

Quote from PJ:

The NTSC version of the toploader is legit for playing NTSC games, just like a PAL toploader is for PAL games. Just because you can fit a cart into the console and turn it on doesn't mean it was meant to be. I can shove an NES cart into an N64 and get it to display some random garbage I'm sure, but that certainly wouldn't count as an official game/machine combo.

So is refering apples with oranges. If you can use a NES game in a NES machine, now that has with eachother to do but me using a gamecube disc in a playtation is invalid.

Carcinogen

2012-02-08 10:45:11 am

I guess the best way to explain it is in the most rudimentary way possible.

lol come on Svenne, really?

Listen to the music! The game is fucking up when you overclock it! You have an NTSC NES, and NTSC Mario/Duck Hunt cartridges are like $1USD.

Svenne

2012-02-08 10:52:20 am

Yo, I accepted it! No worries, now I can go back on doing my runs again. but imagine what the hell things would have been like if they accepted it! And remember, if I didin't bring it up, someone els would have. Always ways to see the future around the corner in competitive gaming! But PJ talking about using NES games in N64 is still pretty silly and was unvalid, now using PAL N64 games in a N64 ntsc, I could have agreed with^^

Edit: I don't have/own a NES NTSC, John Nurminen has!^^ If I had one I would not be on SDA but on SRL racing NES games.