N64 Modders

I thought I would take "notes" and eventually end up with some good information. See References at the bottom of the page.

tl;dr : The best N64 Motherboard for modification is: NUS-CPU-04

Approximate US Serial Numbers NS135731008 to NS204554187

Why:

2 qty RAM Footprints
Easy RGB Modification, need to add buffered csync (THS7374).
Overclocking of the CPU-NUS A is reported to be more stable
Other Modifications apply to all motherboards

Possible Modifications:

Change Power LED Color
Video Output
- Easy RGB : THS7314, THS7316
  - NUS-CPU-01 to NUS-CPU-03
- Better RGB : THS7374
  - NUS-CPU-01 to NUS-CPU-04
- Advanced RGB : Tim Worthington: Altera MAXII based board
  - NUS-CPU-01 to NUS-CPU-09-1
- HDMI Retroactive.be
  - Any N64 Motherboard
RAM Upgrade (up to 12 MB)
- NUS-CPU-01 to NUS-CPU-05
Over/Under Clocking
- CPU-NUS A on motherboards NUS-CPU-04 to NUS-CPU-09-1
Heat Sinks
Region Modification
Capacitor Replacement : Guide
Miscellaneous

Mod Descriptions

Change Power LED Color

Video Output

RAM Upgrade

This modification has 2 variants

8 MB RDRAM on Motherboard (w/ Jumper PAK)
12 MB RDRAM Total (w/ Expansion PAK)

Facts

Early motherboards NUS-CPU-01 to NUS-CPU-05-1 have 2 RDRAM footprints on the PCB
Early motherboards have 2 qty 2 MB RDRAM chips
Later motherboards and Expansion PAK's have 4 MB RDRAM chips

The Mod involves removing the 2 qty 2 MB RDRAM chips from an early motherboard and replacing them with 2 qty 4 MB RDRAM chips either from later Console revisions or Expansion PAK's.

The remaining question is whether to use the Jumper PAK or another Expansion PAK, that determines if you have 8 MB or 12 MB. Honestly most games can't take advantage of anymore RAM and some may fail completely because of assumptions the programmers made about RAM size.

TO BE VERIFIED!!

I've read that this RAM modification is just a solder fix, but I have not personally seen or performed this modification.

Under / Over Clocking

Console Background Information

Cross Reference Console Serial Numbers:

http://nintendo64.wikia.com/wiki/Console_Serial_Number_Guide

Serial Numbers notes:

It really matters which Motherboard, not the Serial Number, but there isn't another external indicator of which Motherboard is inside the console. Opening the console up is the only 100% positive way to tell.

Motherboard Revisions:

NUS-CPU-01:

Only used in early Japanese Consoles
2 qty RDRAM18
VDC-NUS i.e. EASILY - RGB Moddable
Buffered cync output included
RGB Mod's available: THS7314, THS7316, THS7374

NUS-CPU-02:

2 qty RDRAM18
VDC-NUS i.e. EASILY - RGB Moddable
Buffered cync output
RGB Mod's available: THS7314, THS7316, THS7374

NUS-CPU-03:

2 qty RDRAM18
VDC-NUS i.e. EASILY - RGB Moddable
CPU-NUS OR CPU-NUS A
Buffered cync output
RGB Mod's available: THS7314, THS7316, THS7374

NUS-CPU-04:

2 qty RDRAM18
VDC-NUS i.e. EASILY - RGB Moddable
CPU-NUS A
Needs THS7374 mod to restore csync

NUS-CPU-05:

2 qty RDRAM18
CPU-NUS A
RGB Mod - Tim Worthington: Altera MAXII based board

NUS-CPU-05-1:

2 qty RDRAM18
CPU-NUS A
RGB Mod - Tim Worthington: Altera MAXII based board

NUS-CPU-06:

1 qty RDRAM36
CPU-NUS A
RGB Mod - Tim Worthington: Altera MAXII based board

NUS-CPU-07:

1 qty RDRAM36
CPU-NUS A
RGB Mod - Tim Worthington: Altera MAXII based board

NUS-CPU-08:

1 qty RDRAM36
CPU-NUS A
RGB Mod - Tim Worthington: Altera MAXII based board

NUS-CPU-08-1:

1 qty RDRAM36
CPU-NUS A
RGB Mod - Tim Worthington: Altera MAXII based board

NUS-CPU-09:

1 qty RDRAM36
CPU-NUS A
RGB Mod - Tim Worthington: Altera MAXII based board

NUS-CPU-09-1:

1 qty RDRAM36
CPU-NUS A
RGB Mod - Tim Worthington: Altera MAXII based board

Some content and ideas are from a now archived site: kyorune

A lot of great, yet technical RGB information here: http://www.retrorgb.com/n64.html

RAM Upgrade discussion: assemblergames

RAM Upgrade How-To: bitbuilt

Schematic of NUS-CPU-03/NUS-CPU-04

Jumper Pack replacement discussion: benheck

Heat sink discussion: modretro

Portable discussion: modretro

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