Converting a PAL PS1 to NTSC

Warren3 · 24-09-2010 10:34AM #1

Hi

Is it easy to convert a PAL ps1 to NTSC??

Is there an convertor you can buy?? Or is it easier to just but a american PS1??

Thanks

Jambo221 · 24-09-2010 10:42AM

I've never heard of it being done without a lot of hassle, if you're stuck I'd recommend using ePSXe to play the disc on your PC rather than shelling out for an NTSC PSX.

djimi · 24-09-2010 10:52AM

The problem with ePSXe is that it usually doesnt play the game very well; I was using it to play my Gran Turismo 2 discs for a while but the sound was completely awful.

o1s1n · 24-09-2010 10:56AM

I'm fairly sure the ps1 signal is controlled by software rather than hardware. So you can't fit a 60hz switch

Warren3 · 24-09-2010 11:01AM

Thanks for the advice

Ideally I was looking for something like a game genie or similiar style convertors rather than playing the games through my pc

Retr0gamer · 24-09-2010 12:05PM

1. Buy the PAL version of the game.

2. Get a disc swapper like PSXchange 2

3. 'Acquire' the NTSC version of the game.

4. Play the NTSC back up

5. Vow never to buy PAL games ever again.

o1s1n · 24-09-2010 12:39PM

Retr0gamer wrote: »

5. Vow never to buy PAL games ever again.

It's a pain, the ps1 seems to be the one system where I have a crap load of PAL games with no way of playing them in 60hz.

Warren3 · 24-09-2010 12:50PM

I bought a ps1 from america for a reasonable price then after I bought it he claim he made a mistake with the shipping costs and wanted an extra $25!!

I want to play Chrono Cross ( and persona 1 and 2 when I get them )so I am looking at options to see what the cheapest system option is

Retr0gamer · 24-09-2010 01:03PM

Chipped system or a swap disc is your best bet.

Warren3 · 24-09-2010 01:09PM

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Chipped system or a swap disc is your best bet.

Yeah I think so too but not so easy to find either!

Ebay does not allow either to be sold!

Myrddin · 24-09-2010 01:19PM

I cannot verify how reputable this site is at all so shop around. But they are out there, and I agree with Retr0man, it's the only way to roll when playing imports.

Atavan-Halen · 24-09-2010 03:51PM

Are the PS1 modchips easy to install? I have a chipped PS1 myself and opened it up to take a look (see what's inside y'know) and didn't look too complicated.

Myrddin · 24-09-2010 03:55PM

atavan-halen wrote: »

Are the PS1 modchips easy to install? I have a chipped PS1 myself and opened it up to take a look (see what's inside y'know) and didn't look too complicated.

Pudding. My first chip install was a PS1, in stark contrast to a PS2 chip install, which I won't touch.

fasty · 27-09-2010 09:29AM

Why not get a US PS2 off eBay?

Myrddin · 27-09-2010 09:30AM

fasty wrote: »

Why not get a US PS2 off eBay?

Cheaper than a chip or a breaker disc?

fasty · 27-09-2010 09:43AM

Probably not, but a lot less hassle and you get the means to play US PS2 and PS1 games.

Myrddin · 27-09-2010 09:47AM

fasty wrote: »

Probably not, but a lot less hassle and you get the means to play US PS2 and PS1 games.

I agree, but the postage premium from the states just makes in not viable imo. A chip was the only viable option for me, all regions & at a very small price.

fasty · 27-09-2010 10:02AM

Whatever works! I was just making an alternate suggestion.

I bought a slim PS2 from Videogamesplus.ca about 5 or 6 years ago to replace a model I'd chipped myself and it worked out for me.

Myrddin · 27-09-2010 10:08AM

fasty wrote: »

Whatever works! I was just making an alternate suggestion.

I bought a slim PS2 from Videogamesplus.ca about 5 or 6 years ago to replace a model I'd chipped myself and it worked out for me.

But this is a PS1...the PSU is inside them (not sure about PSOne's though have they got internal PSU's?). So this means having to use a step-down for it to work on 220v, or swapping out the PSU of a PAL unit into a US one.

fasty · 27-09-2010 10:09AM

No, the slims have a multi voltage PSU so you just need to change the plug or use a travel adapter.

Atavan-Halen · 27-09-2010 11:24AM

Yeah the PS2 slims have an external ps so just use a uk one and you're grand. However the newest slims (9000 series) have an internal ps so you'd need to use a step down in that instance.

The PSone (small PS1) have an external ps too.

Myrddin · 27-09-2010 01:36PM

fasty wrote: »

No, the slims have a multi voltage PSU so you just need to change the plug or use a travel adapter.

Ps1's?

atavan-halen wrote: »

Yeah the PS2 slims have an external ps so just use a uk one and you're grand. However the newest slims (9000 series) have an internal ps so you'd need to use a step down in that instance.

The PSone (small PS1) have an external ps too.

The 9000's have an internal PSU again? They do like changing things don't they

Retr0gamer · 27-09-2010 02:10PM

EnterNow wrote: »

The 9000's have an internal PSU again? They do like changing things don't they

Yeah like removing features :P

Myrddin · 27-09-2010 02:25PM

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Yeah like removing features :P

Apparently the PS4 is just going to be a plastic case with no innards, RRP €599 :pac:

Atavan-Halen · 27-09-2010 06:16PM

EnterNow wrote: »

The 9000's have an internal PSU again? They do like changing things don't they

Yup! And they're lighter. I suspect you wouldn't find much inside if you opened it up :P

KeRbDoG · 28-09-2010 12:00AM

I had a PSX years ago which had was a refurb unit as my older model went to Sony as the laser/drive unit was on the way out.
The replacement unit I got had a modchip pre installed

cheers Sony!

I then found out yea could do a 'colour mod' which was just cutting a single track on the main board and it would then allow my import 'Puzzle Fighter' play in colour through the composite output.

So I had a completely universal PSX which could play everything, in colour on any TV! Then I sold it for nothing...

Now, can I find any info on the model number yea would need to complete the 'colour mod' - nop. Can I find any info on how to do a 'colour mod' - nop.
Annoying - it wasn't a modchip feature, just a simple trace cut from what I remember.

If yea could find out what model of PSX yea would need for that mod and then completed it yea would be sorted

but thats a lot of 'if's

Retr0gamer · 28-09-2010 01:31AM

Your colour mod probably just changed the NTSC output to 50 Hz while also slowing the game down and adding black borders. Only thing I can think of.

Anyway there's no need for a colour mod. Nobody should be playing games on a PS2 in anything less than RGB scart.

Myrddin · 28-09-2010 08:50AM

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Your colour mod probably just changed the NTSC output to 50 Hz while also slowing the game down and adding black borders. Only thing I can think of.

Anyway there's no need for a colour mod. Nobody should be playing games on a PS2 in anything less than RGB scart.

Agreed, the same thing can be done on the DC. It mod forces NTSC to be 60hz by the sounds of it.. I'll have a poke around and see can I find anything on it.

KeRbDoG · 29-09-2010 11:48AM

Retr0gamer wrote: »

Your colour mod probably just changed the NTSC output to 50 Hz while also slowing the game down and adding black borders. Only thing I can think of.

Anyway there's no need for a colour mod. Nobody should be playing games on a PS2 in anything less than RGB scart.

Nop, didn't add black borders from what I remembered. Full screen fun.

The OP was asking about the PS1 which is what I was commenting on.

Warren3 · 30-09-2010 12:39PM

Thanks for all the replies

Managed to get a NTSC slim PS1 from someone local for a reasonable price

Does anyone know if you can use PAL memory cards in a NTSC machine??

Thanks

Atavan-Halen · 30-09-2010 12:46PM

Yup they should work fine. The only problems I've heard of memory cards and regions is with the gamecube. If you use a non-japanese memory card in a japanese gamecube it has to be formatted for it to work.

Converting a PAL PS1 to NTSC

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