The best video upgrade for your N64 in 2023! PixelFX Retro Gem install and demonstration
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- Опубликовано: 8 фев 2025
- The N64 is one of the early 3D gaming consoles that really struggles to look good on a modern display. There are a few HDMI mods for the N64 out there, but the Retro Gem by PixelFX is the most feature rich and exciting to date!
For this week's Fix it Friday, we go through the installation and marvel at the results!
Check out 1uprestoration... for more video game console repairs and mods!
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Parts:
Retro Gem: www.pixelfx.co...
Install docs: docs.pixelfx.c...
Jumper settings: docs.pixelfx.c...
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Pretty sure this was my N64, thanks again for installing it, it has been working amazingly, the scanline filters are awesome.
Congrats! :) Have fun with your upgraded Machine :D
It is indeed! It was a fun project and enjoy it!
No sir, it's mine
DUDE I love this video, now I'm more confident in doing this mod especially with the no cut 3D print so I don't mess up the shell. good shit!
Now this is pretty fire to the N64 collectors!
Excellent video. Just ordered mine.
I might order one too. I just installed the ave hdmi kit on Wii. My second mod ever😂 it was finicky but I did it
I recently dug my n64 out of a closet in my old childhood room. What a gem. Its in damn near perfect condition. I bought a custom case for it and installed, this retro gem shiny is the only logical next step in improving my unit. Pixelfx here i come.
Great video man! I’ve been researching the gem for a while, but this has convinced be to pull the trigger. I’m a hardware engineer too so will do the install myself - really appreciate the birdseye views of you doing the actual rework 👌
Hello Andrew, did you manage to get it installed and working?!
I have the UltraHDMI in my N64 & it’s absolutely incredible. FPGA in the pipeline for 2024 but I still want to send my 2nd N64 in for this PixelFx mod & that Wi-Fi is a great for updates. Be great if 1up stocked this so it could be order with mod cuz it’s challenging ordering form 3rd party then ordering the 1up mod service & sending it all in.
I can certainly take care of that for you, and you can ship the parts directly to me next time to save on shipping
@LIRetroGaming how much do you charge to mode the 64 I have the console and the mod kit
Nice timing as Analogue announced their "3d" N64 FPGA system :P
I’m definitely interested in that as well. Analogues products are always top notch
Best part of my Fridays' this👍
Really glad to hear that, thanks!
Great vid! I'm seriously impressed with the Gem, even with the price controversy. Now if only I could get a discount on ordering multiple for all my compatible consoles.
Great to meet you last weekend at PGRE!
I totally agree, pixelfx have always made excellent products and I didn’t really care about the whole pricing controversy as well. It was great to meet in Portland!
You make it look easy. Someday I’m gonna give it a try.
I know right. I would have caused so much damage and so many bridges mouhahahaha
I wouldn’t recommend it without soldering experience. Try it first on a practice board. Soldering on a flex cable is even more “difficult” because it’s more sensitive to heat and force applied by the solder tip
I'm not like an excellent solder...er but I installed an N64 HDMI kit on my console last night, it really wasn't incredibly difficult. Wiring is exactly the same as this one, but it was a different kit. Just make sure you use some kind of magnification and check for bridging (which is less likely with leaded solder). The bitchin' camera on my S22 Ultra made it easy to check for bridging. Tin the cable, tin your pins, then it's pretty easy to do the actual install, as long as you've done a decent amount of soldering before.
@@brandogg Is it worth the hard work?
Thanks for another great video.
Thanks, glad you enjoyed it!
7:55 😂
Made me lol
Hey we are all human 😅
@@SNKev411 Honest relatable content 🎯
Great Work bro.
Thanks brother!
RUclips recommended this video, so I watched it. I know nothing about mods. I did crack up when you dropped the F bomb tho. lol.
Great video brother! Looks like the Retro GEM is a souped up N64Digital? In this installation anyways.
Would be very interesting to see them adapt it for NES. 🤔
Yes, it has the same feature set as the digital but with no analog output this time. I would love to see this added to the NES eventually!
Uh-oh, instant age restriction. 😂
Lol I realized I did the assembly out of order and forgot to edit that one out
@@LIRetroGaming no worries. We're all adults here👍
Next friday will be the instalation of the retro gem in ps2 fat(transluced blue), i hoop!
I did a PS2 fat install last week but I should have more ps2 installs lined up soon
I would like to see the Dreamcast retro gem install when it is available because I’m interested in doing this with my Mode modded Dreamcast.
I’m definitely planning on doing a video once I have one in hand!
Just learning about this kind of stuff, specifically for the n64; Is there an essential difference between something like this and a retrotink? They are both essentially upscaling and allowing use of hdmi, yes? Its just a matter of ease of use, price points, aesthetics, some features, footprint etc?
Sorry for the noob question, just a nostalgic guy trying to hook his n64 up to a modern tv to play with his kids lol
The difference is the signal that takes. The retrotink takes the analog or digital signal that comes out from the video out of your console and upscale that to the desired resolution. The HDMI mods, like this, works with the digital signal that comes out from the chip, so there is no digital to analog conversion. The downside of this mods is the soldering knowledge You need to install it, and the possibly needed cutting to fit the HDMI port. Another retrotink's advantage is that You can use it with multiple consoles. Yo can Even use both at the sale time, for example You can install this mod for outputting 1080p to the retrotink 4k, and that upscales it to 4k (something note possible with the retro gem only)
@@MatyLbdt14 is there a benefit to not having to convert the signal from analog to digital in the case that you use an HDMI mod? I've heard there's no input lag added in either case...
@@jayjayhooksch1 there is some signal degradation when You convert digital to analog, to then convert it to digital again , but it's almost negligible. either of both options make a clear picture Quality, if You are using good quality rgb cables with the retrotink
Do you use your microscope to solder these small ribbon cables or you just free ball it? Also i laughed so hard when you realized you forgot a part mouhahaah omg so funny. so happy you kept that in.
Normally I use a microscope for the flex cables but when I film I have to do it without the scope unfortunately
I got the basic version from a somebody that premodded the system and I am trying to upgrade to shiny edition but am having trouble trying to do the upgrade after i bought it
Reach out to the support team in the pixelfx discord, they should be able to help
@@LIRetroGaming yeah they got it figured out. for some reason it bought a second shiny upgrade for my ps2 gem instead of the one for my n64
Hey man! I'm having issues with my Nintendo Switch. I live on the island too and I was wondering if I would be able to bring it to your shop for repair. How can I get in touch with you?
It would be awesome if you guys did one on a Pikachu N64
Im thinking on sending one 😅😂
@@brunofuentes91 there's a company that makes special brackets for the Pikachu N64. I'm totally going to do it to mine once I get the money together
quick question did you print the no cut or did you buy them from somewhere? gonna do this mod myself with a extreme green n64 shell and some uv lights inside to make it glow :P
You can buy them from laserbear or print them yourself
@@LIRetroGaming nice. thank you. i dont have a 3d printer unfortunately or i would do that.
@@LIRetroGamingDo you know where i can find the files for the print?
You know where to get the files for printing yourself?
How does this compare to the other HDMI solutions?
It’s definitely better than the 64HD and the UltraHDMI N64. Higher output resolution, lots of scanline options, black frame insertion and other nice features
@@LIRetroGaming Darn, I have the N64 Digital installed in mine, would be a hassle to get this one 😅
Hi I will like to know I live in the nyc area can I bring my nes to do this mod with you and how can I contact you or where I try google you but it shows only the expo
Question is the Gamebox 64 picture quality just as good as this Pixel Fx? Or they about the same but if you get the "Shiny" edition it blows everything out of the water? Please let me know when it comes to picture quality. Ive read somewhere where a guy has Shiny Edition, but said picture looks better in 480p or 720p with using an M-Classic instead of no M-Classic and on Shiny Edition 1080p. I do have an M-Classic so wondering if i be good with Gamebox N64 set on 720p with M-Classic
It’s similar to a basic version of the PixelFX retro gem, but the shiny edition is definitely better. Personally I don’t think the m classic does anything to improve the video image.
Hey, hopefully you see this. With this retro gem mod, do you think there’s a point in keeping the mclassic if I have this hdmi mod installed? Thanks!
No, I don’t think the m-classic will really do anything to improve the video quality if a retro gem is installed. I haven’t tested this yet to be fair, but it doesn’t generally do much to improve video quality
Is it possible to add HDMI to the Sega Master System, Sega 32X, Sega Saturn, Atari 7800 even the Turbo Grapx 16?
Not yet, but hopefully it will be possible with the retro gem in the future
Hey I would like to have this installed in my n64, how can we set this up?
You can contact me at 1uprestorations.com and I will take care of it for you
Not a dead short however I have 604 ohms between 3.3 v and gnd. Normal?
That should be ok
Does this work on PAL systems as well?
Yes it does!
Does an RGB mod an addition to this provide any benefit?
You can add one and it’s good if you ever need to use the console on a crt instead of through hdmi
@@LIRetroGaming so it doesn't do anything for HDMI but provides better functionality on CRT, yeah?
Whats the price to do the hdmi on the n64 i have a pikachu one i wanna do
You can order this on my website, 1uprestorations.com
Is retro gem shiny better than the previous n64 digital chip?
For now I would say they are pretty similar. The older chip also has RGB built in which is useful
Ok, will prolly stick with the older chip then if im not missing out there, but if it doesn't have rgb then what does it have? Is rgb not needed for the digital hdmi connection and only for the components cables?
The closing Jumper for the clock mod, is just soldering It?
Yes. The clock mod is also totally optional
@@LIRetroGaming Ok, perfect. I tried by myself and i just cant 😂, thanks god i picked a backup cable. I contact from your web, i will probably send it to you.
oh fuck!
Only slightly out of place.
Does this work on the N64 PAL?
Yes, it does and there’s only a jumper that needs to be bridged for it to work with pal consoles
@@LIRetroGaming Ok, perfect. So... I should follow a pal video, or this video works? 😂
Anyway you can do mine ?
Sure thing, you can order the install service at 1uprestorations.com
For N64, better to just get a MISTER. Its N64 fpga core will be perfect very soon! Should be as good as hardware for latency and visual accuracy
I love the n64 core on the mister, it’s a great thing to own!
i got the n64 pixelfx ultrahdmi mod and just bought a new tv 4k oled. turns out i have significant latence issues. any ideas why and how to fix that? on my old LG everything was flawless!
It’s likely the tv and not the n64 since you can measure the n64 latency in the self test menu. The tv needs to be set to game mode and have any extra image processing turned off. All that stuff adds lag
Seems like too much work dude.ill stick with my emulator and free games 👍
Nothing wrong with emulation dude, enjoy it
This is such a bodge job.