Re: Converting a Commodore 64 from NTSC to PAL

On 13.04.2012, at 06:43, Jeffrey Brace wrote:

> -----Original Message----- From: silverdr@wfmh.org.pl
> Sent: Thursday, April 12, 2012 5:15 AM
> To: cbm-hackers@musoftware.de
> Subject: Re: Converting a Commodore 64 from NTSC to PAL
> 
>> But for today, isn't it better/easier to grab a working PAL C64? Unless the conversion is to be done for pure fun of doing it that is..
> 
> I don't know. Someone thought it was the other way around. You have to find someone in Europe selling the C64 and deal with the cost of shipping overseas and customs stuff. Isn't there some issue with power supply as well ?

You can use the power supply for a US C64 with a PAL one, so that shouldn't be an issue.

Getting your hands on a 6569 or 8565 VIC should also not be too hard. I'd see the biggest problem with the crystal. A 14.318 MHz crystal is very easy to get (since IBM used it in their PC and everyone copied the design), but the 17.7xxx MHz one is not very common, especially in the USA. To get a PAL picture with color you need this crystal, not one that is close.

If you don't want to hook up a TV but are happy with a Monitor using CVBS or Y/C, the NTSC modulator shouldn't matter. If it does, there are circuits on the web that allow you to remove the modulator and still get proper Y/C at the video output of the C64. The simplest one of them is just 2 transistors plus a few resistors, one diode and a capacitor.

The CIAs have a bit to tell them whether the TOD signal is 50 or 60 Hz. And that's only if you want to use the TOD, the Kernal and Basic don't as far as I know.

(8565 for a 250469 board, all others use the 6569)

 Gerrit

 
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