Using an NTSC Radeon 64MB ViVo in Europe: how to get colour screen.

[aa_koch]

A while ago I bought a Radeon from someone in the U.S. I later bought one for my friend, also. When I hook up the card to my television, output is fine: everything is displayed in full colour, and the 60Hz refresh rate is no problem for my relatively new television. (In Europe, we use PAL and run at 50Hz.) However, my friend has an older television, and all he gets is a black and white screen. Can I change the ViVo module so that it outputs in PAL format, or is there a setting I can use to change the video signal from NTSC to PAL? (I tried to find one, but I couldn't locate it.) Or is there a jumper that changes the mode from NTSC to PAL? Or is the ViVo module on North American Radeon cards different from the ones sold in Europe, and will it therefore only work on European televisions that can handle the NTSC signal?

 

[hans007]

there is usually a jumper, or a solder. but you need a new bios too. it might just be the bios actually, but i dont know where you could get one. reactor critical used to have them for the rage128 line of cards, dont know about the radeon though

 

[aa_koch]

So there's no easy workaround to change the card to work in PAL mode, and back to NTSC mode again should I want to use this card in a PC in the U.S for example?

 

[Hawk]

Sorry man, probably not unless you can find someone to somehow download the BIOS of a European Radeon VIVO and flash it on your friend's, and there's still no guarantee that will work too...

 

[aa_koch]

Well, I sent an @mail to ATi Technical Support just now. Let's see what they have to say about it. I guess it's not half as bad: all my friend needs is a new television.

And hey, I can watch DVD movies and play games on my television just fine. It's not like I have a problem, really...