PAL Amiga 500: Can I use a NTSC (US) Power Supply?

c0dehunter · 19 January 2021, 08:39

Dear all,

Can you connect a PAL Amiga 500 to a US (NTSC), power supply?

Thanks.

lesta_smsc · 19 January 2021, 09:56

I suspect the subsequent output voltages will be unchanged ie +12v, -12v and +5. Provided you have a way of powering the PSU correctly then yes it should work. Remember UK PSU is 230V whereas USA is 110V.

Daedalus · 19 January 2021, 13:51

Yes, the 500, 600 and 1200 do not have a tick signal from the PSU, so there's no difference from the Amiga side between a PAL or NTSC PSU. The input voltage point made above applies of course, but since you're talking about an NTSC PSU and you're in the US, you're probably the right way around for that.

Matt_H · 19 January 2021, 21:47

Yes. I am in the US and using a US power supply with a PAL A600.

c0dehunter · 20 January 2021, 18:55

Awesome! I am replacing an aging A500, with a PAL C= (chicken-lips)!

Can't wait to see those PAL demos (that were cut off at the bottom on my NTSC A500) in FULL SCREEN!

Matt_H · 21 January 2021, 03:35

If you have at least a 1MB Agnus chip you can switch between NTSC and PAL in software with Degrader.

c0dehunter · 21 January 2021, 05:37

I see. Well the C= is on its way, so...

AmigaHope · 22 January 2021, 06:14

There is a slight difference in CPU speed between NTSC and PAL A500 too, with PAL being slightly slower. It usually does not come into play as nothing written for NTSC pushes the limits enough to not run on a PAL system, and the speed difference is usually not enough to screw up timing on most PAL stuff.

The only problems I've run into came from forcing PAL/NTSC mode via hardware jumper on a dual-mode system. When you do it via software, the OS adjusts the timings to match the oscillator in the system, but when you make the change via hardware jumper it then assumes you have the other oscillator.

Either way, an ECS agnus will let you have the best of both worlds instead of having to swap between NTSC and PAL systems.

c0dehunter · 23 January 2021, 04:23

What is the reason behind certaain demos / games / screen being cut-off on NTSC, while showing fully on PAL Amiga systems?

Also, what do I need for this Amiga as far as hardware upgrade, etc.?

Thanks!

lesta_smsc · 23 January 2021, 09:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by c0dehunter

What is the reason behind certaain demos / games / screen being cut-off on NTSC, while showing fully on PAL Amiga systems?

Also, what do I need for this Amiga as far as hardware upgrade, etc.?

Thanks!

This is to do with the number of lines on display.

PAL = 576 lines
NTSC = 480 lines

Technically it is more for each but the above refers to visible lines.

19 January 2021, 08:39	#1
c0dehunter Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: USA Posts: 399	PAL Amiga 500: Can I use a NTSC (US) Power Supply? Dear all, Can you connect a PAL Amiga 500 to a US (NTSC), power supply? Thanks.

23 January 2021, 04:23	#9
c0dehunter Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: USA Posts: 399	What is the reason behind certaain demos / games / screen being cut-off on NTSC, while showing fully on PAL Amiga systems? Also, what do I need for this Amiga as far as hardware upgrade, etc.? Thanks! Last edited by c0dehunter; 23 January 2021 at 05:10.

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19 January 2021, 09:56	#2
lesta_smsc Registered User Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 3,173	I suspect the subsequent output voltages will be unchanged ie +12v, -12v and +5. Provided you have a way of powering the PSU correctly then yes it should work. Remember UK PSU is 230V whereas USA is 110V.

19 January 2021, 13:51	#3
Daedalus Registered User Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Dublin, then Glasgow Posts: 6,334	Yes, the 500, 600 and 1200 do not have a tick signal from the PSU, so there's no difference from the Amiga side between a PAL or NTSC PSU. The input voltage point made above applies of course, but since you're talking about an NTSC PSU and you're in the US, you're probably the right way around for that.

19 January 2021, 21:47	#4
Matt_H Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 943	Yes. I am in the US and using a US power supply with a PAL A600.

20 January 2021, 18:55	#5
c0dehunter Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: USA Posts: 399	Awesome! I am replacing an aging A500, with a PAL C= (chicken-lips)! Can't wait to see those PAL demos (that were cut off at the bottom on my NTSC A500) in FULL SCREEN!

21 January 2021, 03:35	#6
Matt_H Registered User Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 943	If you have at least a 1MB Agnus chip you can switch between NTSC and PAL in software with Degrader.

21 January 2021, 05:37	#7
c0dehunter Registered User Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: USA Posts: 399	I see. Well the C= is on its way, so...

22 January 2021, 06:14	#8
AmigaHope Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: New Sandusky Posts: 942	There is a slight difference in CPU speed between NTSC and PAL A500 too, with PAL being slightly slower. It usually does not come into play as nothing written for NTSC pushes the limits enough to not run on a PAL system, and the speed difference is usually not enough to screw up timing on most PAL stuff. The only problems I've run into came from forcing PAL/NTSC mode via hardware jumper on a dual-mode system. When you do it via software, the OS adjusts the timings to match the oscillator in the system, but when you make the change via hardware jumper it then assumes you have the other oscillator. Either way, an ECS agnus will let you have the best of both worlds instead of having to swap between NTSC and PAL systems.

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