Scart lead for N64

The_B_Man

Hi,

I recently tried to hook up my N64 to my flatscreen for some Goldeneye. I used the coaxial cable that came with it, that plugs into the pipe/aerial port in the telly, but I couldnt tune it in.

I figure its something to do with old vs new technology.

Anyway, I figured I'd just make the jump to a scart cable so I don't have to tune anything in, but I'm not even sure you can even get them.

Does anyone know if I can get one, and where?

Cheers

Myrddin

You can get them, the only place I'd recommend is a site called consolegoods.co.uk

However, don't go for the standard N64 scart cable, the quality of the image, particularly on an lcd screen will be rubbish. You want the lead labelled as "N64 S-Video cable - PAL version" This will give a far superior image on your tv, for a few quid extra.

Edit - You'll need to combine it with the item listed underneath it, called "SCART / A/V /S-Video In/Out adapter" assuming your tv doesn't have an svideo input

machiavellianme

You still have working N64 controllers?
You lucky devil!

My last one wore out to white dust last year and I cant bring myself to buy another. 27 controllers worn out since launch and all with the same problem.
Simultaneously the best and worst controller of all time

The_B_Man

I assume they're working. I haven't been able to hook up the telly to test them!

I just sent an email to that crowd asking do they have any of those adapters in stock. Otherwise I'll have to get one off eBay, like this one.

Myrddin

The_B_Man wrote: »

Otherwise I'll have to get one off eBay, like this one.

That cable will give you a really poor image, the svideo cable is by far the one to go for. Its like the difference between av scart & rgb scart

The_B_Man

That one on eBay IS an S-Video cable though. How is it different from the S-Video cable on that other site?

Retr0gamer

The_B_Man wrote: »

That one on eBay IS an S-Video cable though. How is it different from the S-Video cable on that other site?

The PAL N64 was made without S-video support, If you use that cable on a european console you'll get a washed out screen with an overbright picture, it will look terrible. The only s-video cables that will work on european consoles have to be specially modified and only consolegoods.co.uk sells them. Trust me I have a PAL and US N64 console and only the modded cable gives a picture you can actually see on a PAL console.

Myrddin

The_B_Man wrote: »

That one on eBay IS an S-Video cable though. How is it different from the S-Video cable on that other site?

That cable I'd imagine is carrying an av video signal into an svideo connector, like running av scart through a fully wired plug. The only way these work on PAL consoles is a specially modded/true svideo cable, as Retr0 mentioned

Retr0gamer

EnterNow wrote: »

That cable I'd imagine is carrying an av video signal into an svideo connector, like running av scart through a fully wired plug. The only way these work on PAL consoles is a specially modded/true svideo cable, as Retr0 mentioned

Actually it's a really good s-video cable. I have the exact same cable and it works great on my US N64 and SNES. The problem is that it won't work on a PAL system.

As for the cable only carrying a composite signal to the s-video connector, that's how s-video works S-video is the exact same signal as composite it's just the black and white signals are carried on seperate wires rather than being carried on the sames wire as the colour signals. Means there's less noise between light and dark colours and no dot crawl.

The_B_Man

The guy replied and said it'd be a few weeks before they're back in stock.

My missus has a GC at home. She'll be goin there at the weekend. Would there be any point in getting her to bring that up? As in, will the video cable in the back of that work for the N64?

Presumably its scart and not co-axial or whatever, so would do trick.

Myrddin

The_B_Man wrote: »

The guy replied and said it'd be a few weeks before they're back in stock.

Which guy?

The_B_Man

The guy from the site in the second post.

Retr0gamer

I'd actually not buy that cable at all. I got the exact same one myself and I'm having trouble with the s-video. There's lots of ugly artifacting on the screen which indicates it's a very poor quality cable. It's even worse when you don't use s-video and just use the yellow, red and white composite cables. Composite looks dreadful anyway but it's one of the worst composite cables I've ever used. My other s-video cables look fine including the modified one I got for my PAL N64. There's also the fact that as we said s-video won't work on a PAL N64 unless the cable is modded.

My advice is to get a better quality cable. Get yourself the modified s-video cable from consolegoods.co.uk.

The Gamecube cable will work but just a warning, it's more than likely composite (yellow, red and white cables) so will look awful on a flatscreen.

Since these cables are analogue and not digital like a HDMI cable you really can't scrimp on quality with them. I've had my share of trouble the last week with this awful cable and also a cheap megadrive RGB cable, it's not worth it to cheap out. Consolegoods.co.uk is the only place I'd trust for good quality cables at the moment.

Myrddin

Retr0gamer wrote: »

I'd actually not buy that cable at all. I got the exact same one myself and I'm having trouble with the s-video. There's lots of ugly artifacting on the screen which indicates it's a very poor quality cable. It's even worse when you don't use s-video and just use the yellow, red and white composite cables. Composite looks dreadful anyway but it's one of the worst composite cables I've ever used. My other s-video cables look fine including the modified one I got for my PAL N64. There's also the fact that as we said s-video won't work on a PAL N64 unless the cable is modded.

My advice is to get a better quality cable. Get yourself the modified s-video cable from consolegoods.co.uk.

Thats the one I mentioned in the second post, the PAL modded Svideo cable from consolegoods. Not in stock apparently for the next few weeks

Retr0gamer

Ah ok. I thought it was the ebay link. really unhappy with that cable. Two dodgy cables in a row, it's what I get for cheaping out

jasonbourne.cs

okay slightly related question recently picked up a N64 and it has the composite out cable and i got a Svideo to scart adaptor but playing the like of goldeneye is terrible , can barely make out characters .

is this a result of a poor cable or is this simply that it wont display correctly on LCD / flat screen TV' s?

Retr0gamer

Using a scart adapter won't help at all. You are feeding a composite signal into a scart adapter, it won't magically change into RGB. You'll still get a dreadful composite signal. The only thing you can do is get the modified s-video cables from consolegoods.co.uk. It's the only good quality cable you can get for the European N64.

Myrddin

Retr0gamer wrote: »

consolegoods.co.uk

We should be getting commission from that place man

The_B_Man

haha you should!
I got my cable anyway and its flawless, if a bit delicate feeling.
Was playing Goldeneye on it there the other day and its great!