SYS info..

[Vlabguy1]

I have an NTSC  A2000 that shows up as a PAL system on SYS info, what gives??

Rich

[Darrin]

Some A2000 models can be switched between PAL and NTSC via a jumper on the motherboard (If they have the right type of Agnus).  I've done it myself and turned my NTSC A2000 into a PAL one on boot up.

[Vlabguy1]

Time to inspect the motherboard.  Where would this jumper be located?  Curious why would
you want to boot into PAL, is it better for games?


** edit.. I don't think I have this jumper on the MB...screenmode
prefs only give me NTSC options.  If boot into PAL thorough early
startup I then get PAL screenmode choices.  Could it be
SYSinfo is wacky??

[Thorham]

Curious why would
you want to boot into PAL, is it better for games?

1) Being in a 'PAL country'.
2) PAL has a higher resolution than NTSC.

[Jiffy]

Curious why would
you want to boot into PAL, is it better for games?

PAL gives you 256 or 512 lines, NTSC gives you 200 or 400 lines (without overscan). Quite a difference in resolution.

[Honkybear]

back in the day 90% of my programs were compatible with both PAL and NTSC but every now and again you would strike some program or game that was one or the other. To get around this especially with the 2000 you could create a jumper atttached to a switch and switch between the two modes. I subsrcibed to ACAR magazine in Australia and There was an article in there on how to do it If I get time later today I will find the issue and where you can download it etc. I gather your in the US so it is interesting that yours is showing up PAL under Sysinfo. That I don't have an answer for unless there is a Jumper in place or not in place as the case maybe that we don't know about. From best I remember it actually says NTSC/PAL where the prongs are on the M/Board. Hope this helps a little.

[Vlabguy1]

back in the day 90% of my programs were compatible with both PAL and NTSC but every now and again you would strike some program or game that was one or the other. To get around this especially with the 2000 you could create a jumper atttached to a switch and switch between the two modes. I subsrcibed to ACAR magazine in Australia and There was an article in there on how to do it If I get time later today I will find the issue and where you can download it etc. I gather your in the US so it is interesting that yours is showing up PAL under Sysinfo. That I don't have an answer for unless there is a Jumper in place or not in place as the case maybe that we don't know about. From best I remember it actually says NTSC/PAL where the prongs are on the M/Board. Hope this helps a little.

Yes I am in the states and I will check the motherboard.  Like I said in my *edit above..
screen mode prefs show only NTSC choices.  However if I boot into PAL through the early startup(ie holding the mouse buttons etc, etc...) In the screen mode prefs I get PAL and NTSC choices.  All my programs/games run just fine when I normally boot the machine.

Rich

[Darrin]

Yes I am in the states and I will check the motherboard.  Like I said in my *edit above..
screen mode prefs show only NTSC choices.  However if I boot into PAL through the early startup(ie holding the mouse buttons etc, etc...) In the screen mode prefs I get PAL and NTSC choices.  All my programs/games run just fine when I normally boot the machine.

Rich

Are you talking screenmode prefs in Workbench?  Do you have the PAL monitor type in your DEVS/MONITORS draw?

I found the mod by searching online.  My A2000 is an ECS model (I can't remember which revision, 6.3 IIRC) and you need to remove the drive bays to access the jumper J102.  I didn't bother putting a switch on it and just cut the bridge and left it as PAL.

Not all Agnus chips can be switched between PAL and NTSC, however it is possible that soemone removed a NTSC Agnus and replaced it with a PAL one if this is a used computer.

[Honkybear]

Are you talking screenmode prefs in Workbench? Do you have the PAL monitor type in your DEVS/MONITORS draw?
 
I found the mod by searching online. My A2000 is an ECS model (I can't remember which revision, 6.3 IIRC) and you need to remove the drive bays to access the jumper J102. I didn't bother putting a switch on it and just cut the bridge and left it as PAL.
 
Not all Agnus chips can be switched between PAL and NTSC, however it is possible that soemone removed a NTSC Agnus and replaced it with a PAL one if this is a used computer.

 
Yes you are correct I'd forgotten that not all M/Board had this ability. Sorry

[Oldsmobile_Mike]

PAL gives you 256 or 512 lines, NTSC gives you 200 or 400 lines (without overscan). Quite a difference in resolution.

And PAL also displays at a painfully slow 50Hz refresh (25Hz in Interlace!), as opposed to NTSC's higher 60Hz.  In other words, flickery as he$# on a 1084 monitor.  I don't know how those guys in PAL countries stand it, LOL.  

Back in the day I used to always put my PAL A1200 into NTSC mode through early startup before booting.  These days I don't pay any attention to those settings, just use ScreenMode prefs to set a NTSC screenmode, the only time I might ever change anything to PAL is in the tooltypes for some stubborn game when running through WHDLoad.  Really it seems to be a non-issue with "modern" hardware.  

[Darrin]

And PAL also displays at a painfully slow 50Hz refresh (25Hz in Interlace!), as opposed to NTSC's higher 60Hz.  In other words, flickery as he$# on a 1084 monitor.  I don't know how those guys in PAL countries stand it, LOL.  

We learn to blink rapidly in time with the flicker.  That way the screen looks rock steady.  

I've got a Commodore SDFF card in my A2000 with the same Amber chip used in the A3000.  It works great (plus I have a Cybervision 643D for some nice Workbench screens).

[nicholas]

And PAL also displays at a painfully slow 50Hz refresh (25Hz in Interlace!), as opposed to NTSC's higher 60Hz.

Erm, we've had PAL60 for a long time now you know.

[Vlabguy1]

Are you talking screenmode prefs in Workbench?  Do you have the PAL monitor type in your DEVS/MONITORS draw?

I found the mod by searching online.  My A2000 is an ECS model (I can't remember which revision, 6.3 IIRC) and you need to remove the drive bays to access the jumper J102.  I didn't bother putting a switch on it and just cut the bridge and left it as PAL.

Not all Agnus chips can be switched between PAL and NTSC, however it is possible that soemone removed a NTSC Agnus and replaced it with a PAL one if this is a used computer.

I am adding two pictures.. this might help ??

Rich

[Darrin]

I'll be home in a few days and I'll be able to check mine.

[chris]

I am adding two pictures.. this might help ??

There's a newer version of SysInfo - http://sysinfo.d0.se/
Although I doubt it will help with this.