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How To Set Up N64

An N64 connected to a modern HDTV.

Dug your N64 out of the cupboard and set it up only to find it won't connect to your TV? Don't panic! Chances are your console withal works — it just may not be uniform with your newer Tv set.

That'southward why I've come up with this guide to help you get your N64 working with your HDTV.

At that place are two parts to the guide:

Role 1 covers how to connect your N64 to a modern Telly using the composite AV cablevision that originally came with the console.

This may work, so long as your TV has the right connexion ports and supports the N64's video output signal. Even if it does work, yous volition likely experience poor picture quality and potential input lag.

Part two covers scalers — devices that convert the point from your N64 to a format that modernistic TVs can display (while improving picture quality in the process). You will need to utilize ane of these if your Telly doesn't have the right connection ports or if it tin can't discover the N64's video betoken.

The scalers I accept mentioned offering a far superior feel than the standard composite AV cable can on a modern flatscreen Goggle box. I would recommend using one of these, regardless of whether the original cable works or not.

Disclaimer

Please note: I cannot provide any technical support beyond what has already been stated in this guide.

Before purchasing whatever cables or scalers, check your TV and N64 console are compatible (I have no responsibleness for purchases made in error). I have only linked to scalers for informational purposes, and do not receive any remuneration or incentive in substitution.

For technical support with whatsoever scalers and cables, contact the original seller or manufacturer.

Nintendo 64 console, power cable, video cable and RCA-to-SCART adapter

Part 1: connecting your N64 using the original composite AV cable

Before getting started, make sure you have the following:

  • N64 console
  • N64 ability supply pb
  • N64 composite AV cablevision (preferred)
  • (Optional) AV to SCART adapter (merely if your Tv has a SCART input)
  • an N64 game – the N64 doesn't accept an operating system, so information technology won't prove a picture without a game cartridge inserted
  • an N64 controller (for testing)

Many PAL N64 consoles shipped with an RF adapter rather than a composite AV cable. This method requires tuning the N64 into the Television through the antenna port. I've never had any success with getting this to piece of work on a modern digital Goggle box, so I wouldn't recommend trying it.

Instead, get an N64 composite AV cablevision. You can notice these cheap on Amazon or eBay.

Reminder: even if it does work, the composite AV cablevision won't result in the best picture show quality or experience on a mod TV.

Pace one: Bank check your TV for composite AV or SCART inputs

Find the connection ports on the back or side of your TV. Can yous see a composite or SCART input?

The blended connectedness is three round ports — red, yellow and white. (AV IN 2 in photo.) Only insert the corresponding cable plug into each one.

Alternatively, look for a SCART port. This is a plastic port about an inch and a half wide that has 21 pocket-size slots in it. (AV one in photo.) Yous will need an AV-to-SCART adapter to use this port.

AV connections on a modern HDTV.

If you only take one of these ports and then use that 1. If you don't have any of these ports on your TV then go to pace 2.

Ane your N64 is plugged in, ability-up your N64 (with game inserted) and switch the Goggle box over to the corresponding source/input.

At present cheque the post-obit:

  • Can you encounter a motion picture? If so, are the colours correct?
  • Can you hear the game's sound?
  • If you have both video and audio, then play the game to see if there is any input lag. Is there a delay between you lot pressing the joystick/buttons and the resulting action happening on screen? (If supported, activate Game Mode on your TV for best results.)

Did it piece of work?

If everything works as expected, then congratulations! If your N64 still tin't connect to your TV or doesn't work properly, get to footstep 2.

Step two: try the component port (if yous have ane!)

Cheque the connection ports on the back or side of your TV for a component input.

This connection has 5 ports: light-green, blue, crimson, and red and white ports for audio.

The component port on your TV may be one of the ways you can connect your N64.

If your TV does not have a component connexion port, then yous volition need to utilize a scaler.

For this connectedness you demand to use the composite cablevision without a SCART adapter. Put the yellow cable plug into the green port. Put the red and white cables into the respective carmine and white audio ports.

One your N64 is plugged in, power-up your N64 (with game inserted) and switch the Tv set over to the component source/input.

Now check the following:

  • Tin you encounter a pic? If then, are the colours correct?
  • Can y'all hear the game'southward audio?
  • If you lot have both video and audio, then play the game to see if in that location is any input lag. Is there a filibuster between yous pressing the joystick/buttons and the resulting activeness happening on screen? (If supported, actuate Game Style on your TV for best results.)

Did it work?

If everything works every bit expected, then congratulations! If your N64 yet can't connect to your TV or doesn't work properly, then you will demand to apply a scaler.

Part 2: scalers

If you've reached this point in the guide then either your TV doesn't take the right connection port(south) for the standard cables or information technology doesn't support the N64's output signal.

If this is the case then you should consider buying a scaler. These devices tin can convert the bespeak from your N64 to a format that modernistic TVs can brandish.

Buy a specialist scaler designed for N64 and other retro video game consoles

There are many, many generic composite-to-HDMI converters bachelor on the market. Nevertheless , I would strongly recommend against ownership one of these.

Why? Because these cheap converters rarely work properly with the N64 — if at all. Fifty-fifty when they do piece of work, the picture quality and input lag are usually dreadful.

NEET composite to HDMI video converter

A generic composite/Southward-video to HDMI converter (Paradigm credit: James Doughty)

Instead, consider buying one of the specialist scalers that take been designed with the N64 and other retro game consoles in mind. They correctly procedure and convert the N64'southward original video signal to a supported format with zero (or barely any) lag.

Super Nintendo/N64/GameCube RAD2X cable

The RAD2X is a straightforward plug-and-play cable for connecting your N64 to a modern TV. It likewise works with the SNES/Super Famicom and GameCube.

The cablevision detects the N64'southward 240p output signal, processes it into a progressive scan paradigm, so line doubles this to 480p. It has a mini-HDMI output, so y'all can connect it to a modern TV using a mini-HDMI to HDMI cable.

It is 100% compatible with every Nintendo console that uses a MultiAV socket, and supports both PAL and NTSC N64 consoles. Likewise, it works with RGB-modified N64 consoles, resulting in an even better picture quality.

For more than information and to see the RAD2X in action, bank check out this video by RetroRGB:

RetroTink 2X-MINI

RetroTINK offer a range of devices, simply the 2X-MINI is the platonic choice for unmodded N64 consoles. It's straightforward and uncomplicated to set up too!

This scaler has S-video and composite connections, and an S-video cable is included to offer the all-time possible image quality.

The 2X-MINI works with both NTSC and PAL N64s. Still, many PAL systems practise non support Southward-video (so you'll demand to use composite).

A micro-USB cord comes with the 2X-MINI, which you lot use to power the device and make firmware upgrades. You can ability the device using a USB port on your TV, which is pretty handy.

To summit it all off, the 2X-MINI comes in five different transparent colours. They go well with sure Funtastic N64 models.

For more information and to see the RetroTink 2X-MINI in action, check out this video by RetroRGB:

Super EON 64

The Super EON 64 is expensive for what information technology is, simply it'south as well incredibly uncomplicated to employ.

Plug the device into the dorsum of your N64 and and then connect it to your Television receiver using an HDMI cablevision. The device and then outputs an South-video betoken scaled to 480p resolution with cypher lag.

Because it plugs directly into the console, information technology doesn't crave a separate power supply.

The EON Super 64 inserted into an N64's video output slot

Information technology also has a born "slick" mode, which when activated gives a smoother, less-jagged motion-picture show. Whether you use it or not is a matter of preference, and the results vary from game to game.

At that place are two different versions of the Super EON 64 — i for NTSC and NTSC-J consoles and i for PAL. Unfortunately, they are non cross-uniform beyond panel regions.

UltraHDMI N64

This luxury modernistic is no longer available, but you might become lucky scoring a pre-modded console off eBay.

The UltraHDMI mod upscales your N64'south video output to Hard disk drive resolutions (up to 1080p). It'southward a circuit lath that goes within your N64 and adds a mini-HDMI output port.

Information technology'southward an incredibly dandy and tidy mod that doesn't require any actress devices or ability supplies.

UltraHDMI N64 mini-HDMI connection port

Using born firmware (accessed via a control pad push input), y'all tin can change the output resolution and cull from a range of video-processing options (such as scanlines). These extra features simply add the slightest amount of input lag, and information technology's non noticeable.

Information technology's a fabulous mod, only incredibly expensive and difficult to notice present.

Is at that place a cheaper alternative to a scaler?

If your N64 can't connect to your Television set and the scalers above are out of your price range then consider getting a CRT TV.

While heavy and beefy, CRT TVs are still the all-time way to play N64. Ofttimes you can find decent CRT models in charity/thrift stores at affordable prices.

An N64 hooked up to a CRT TV.

While it may be tempting to get large, I'd advise finding a smaller CRT Television (14 to 21 inch screen size). It'll be much easier to lift and comport, and the N64'southward video output will look much sharper on a smaller screen.

Connecting an N64 to an HDTV — summary

Your N64 may work with your modernistic TV using the original composite cablevision. Check to meet if your TV has the right connections supports the N64'south 240p video output point. Just be wary that even if it does work, the quality may exist noticeably poor.

For the best results, use a specialist retro gaming scaler. Not only volition information technology work, but it'll make your N64 await a lot better at the same fourth dimension.

Failing that, at that place'south nothing wrong with going back to an old CRT TV — space permitting. After all, they still offering the best experience in terms of pic quality and nix input lag.

Martin Watts

Martin has been running N64 Today since it began in 2022. He previously wrote for Nintendo Life and works as a content professional by 24-hour interval. He got the Nintendo 64 as a Christmas nowadays back in 1997 and it's been his favourite console e'er since. His favourite N64 game is Goemon's Bang-up Risk.

Source: https://n64today.com/2021/03/16/n64-wont-connect-to-tv/

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