Converting PAL to NTSC using Famicom

[Vresiberba]

Wondering if it's possible to turn a PAL frontloader into a fully functional NTSC machine by using PPU, CPU and xtal from a Japanese NTSC NES Famicom, the red/white one?

[lidnariq]

Sure. Somewhat expensive for what you get, though. You'll end up with something equivalent to a US NES, except that the CIC region and RF modulator output will be wrong.

[Vresiberba]

Sure. Somewhat expensive for what you get, though. You'll end up with something equivalent to a US NES, except that the CIC region and RF modulator output will be wrong.

Awesume news! The thing is, buying a PAL frontloader locally and importing a Famicom from Japan is by far a more cheaper option than importing a frontloader from USA. Buying an NTSC frontloader here is 200 Euro, importing one from USA is, at least 120 Euro but buying a PAL frontloader is 20-30 and importing a Famicom about 50. Easily worth it, certainly since it's going to be fitted with a TW RGB kit which needs the PPU unsoldered either way.

Thanks.

[lidnariq]

Depending on what's available to you, it might be preferable to use famiclone parts (e.g. UA6527, UA6528) instead of a real famicom, and/or to use the real famicom as a famicom.

[kaliki]

Hi, new here, I can witness too it could be done and it will be like a 100% ntsc nes (except the minor things mentioned) I did many of them also as a first step to install nesrgb, cheapest way to me to have 60hz 72 pin here in Europe
Don't forget to connect diodes on controller ports if you want ntsc peripherals compatibility

[pakosup]

Depending on what's available to you, it might be preferable to use famiclone parts (e.g. UA6527, UA6528) instead of a real famicom, and/or to use the real famicom as a famicom.

It is hard to find working ones. So buying a famicom is preferable. Also better to use processors with G or H revision, so buy famicom with metal shield and FF signature on the front label.

[Vresiberba]

Depending on what's available to you, it might be preferable to use famiclone parts (e.g. UA6527, UA6528) instead of a real famicom, and/or to use the real famicom as a famicom.

It is hard to find working ones. So buying a famicom is preferable. Also better to use processors with G or H revision, so buy famicom with metal shield and FF signature on the front label.

What's different about G and H revisions?

[lidnariq]

The majority of US NESes have revision G or H PPUs, and they have a specific bug that some games rely on.

[pakosup]

PPU of E revision has a bug with reading palette, so using it with Everdrive leads to incorrect restoring of save states in games.

[Vresiberba]

PPU of E revision has a bug with reading palette, so using it with Everdrive leads to incorrect restoring of save states in games.

Dang. Good thing you advised me in time because I intend to use it with an Everdrive. I just bought a Famicom with the FF logo.

Thanks everyone for the information.

[lidnariq]

Not exactly a bug, more a "didn't yet occur to them that developers might want that"

[tokumaru]

Not exactly a bug, more a "didn't yet occur to them that developers might want that"

That's kind of a weird update to make once you already have lots of consoles out there with the old behavior, since developers will not be able to take advantage of the feature because of that. Unless they considered allowing only NES games to use that new feature.