PAL SNES with SuperCIC and SD2SNES 50/60hz question in 60hz mode

[keropi]

Hello!

I just upgraded to SuperCIC on my pal SNES (was using an old 50/60hz switchless mod) and I have a question.
I am currently using the SuperCIC at 60hz mode (I am using this mode 95% of the time)
When I instert a NTSC cart it boots fine at 60hz
When I put the SDSNES it starts at 50hz and then changes to 60hz after 9 seconds... is this normal? Can't it start at 60hz from boot time? Or is this a PAL snes thing?

thanks for any info!

[APE]

Check the readme, that behavior is detailed.

[keropi]

APE, I assume you are talking about the comments in the .asm file?

; SuperCIC key CIC "region"
; ------------------------------------------------------
; 60Hz D/F413 50Hz for ~9 sec, then 60Hz
; 60Hz D/F411 60Hz permanent
; 60Hz none 60Hz permanent

So it does the ~9sec delay because the original CIC was a F413 one or the sd2snes "understands" it runs on a PAL console?

The main reason I am asking is because the previous 50or60hz mod was just like that: if you set 60hz then sd2snes/powerpak booted with 60hz mode. If you set 50hz then they booted on 50. It strikes me odd that the flashcards behave like a PAL game that boots at 50 and switches over to 60...?

[keropi]

I think I figured it ?!?

b) 60Hz Mode is actice (red)

If you insert a NTSC-Game, it will start with 60Hz
If you insert a PAL-Game, it will start with 60Hz (if Pin 4 is set GND)
If you insert a PAL-Game, it will start with 50Hz and switches to 60Hz after 9 sec. (if Pin 4 is set 5V)
If you insert a Game without CIC, it will start with 60Hz

I have set pin #4 at 5v in my installation (following the instructions here: http://wolfsoft.de/wordpress/?p=686 ) so is this why I get the switching?

[Bad_Ad84]

You want games to start in 50hz, then switch to 60hz as this avoids the checks some games do on startup. You pass the check, then swap mode.

Dont see the problem, this is what you want to happen.

If you want always 60hz mode, then hold reset and change to that mode. You have 3 different modes and the one you currently have on is "start NTSC in 60hz, start pal in 50hz and switch to 60hz after game checks). If you want just always 60hz, then switch it to that mode by holding reset.

You have red, green and orange on the led for each mode.

[keropi]

Yeah I know about the modes Bad_Ad84 and they work fine... your kit is excellent btw :)

What I want to know is why both sd2snes and powerpak register as PAL cartridges and when in NTSC force mode they start at 50hz for the first ~9 sec and switch over to 60hz. Is this normal behavior? Since I am using the force-60 mode shouldn't they start at 60hz from boot time?

[Bad_Ad84]

They are using the CIC clone.

The CIC clone in the cart detects your consoles region and sets itself to match.

I assume you have had these in your console when they were originally PAL or similar. So the cart is "pal" and the supercic is trying to avoid region detection on carts by starting in 50hz to match the game, then switching to 60hz.


Ikari mentioned how to set the carts region somewhere, but I dont remember the thread.

[keropi]

Yeah I had an older snes 50/60hz PIC switch, it was either force50 or force60 , no detection or anything. But when I had the force-60 mode set, the powerpak and sd2snes would boot to 60hz , when I had the force-50 they would boot to 50hz, both behaving as expected AFAIK...
Maybe I do need to ground pin4 in the supercic, so I don't get the 9sec delays, it will be either 50 or 60 as before...

[Bad_Ad84]

Your sd2snes and powerpak have their internal cic's set as PAL - which is why the supercic thinks its a pal game and is acting like it is.

You could set it to force, but if you use original games it could cause you issues. You would be better to just get the cic's in the carts to be NTSC, then you wont have any problems.

[Lum]

Maybe I'd try to sneak an emergency switch on the console somewhere. Total god-mode control of 50 or 60 during gameplay, no chance of accidental reset.

[Bad_Ad84]

That kinda makes the switchless mod pretty pointless and you should then just install a switch in the first place.....

[Lum]

That kinda makes the switchless mod pretty pointless and you should then just install a switch in the first place.....

True, that's just me. Always thinking of compatibility first to a fault.

[Bad_Ad84]

But its not more compatible.

Its only acting like it is, because the CIC clone in the carts are set to PAL.

If they were reset to NTSC, they would work like he wants.

The SuperCIC acts like it does to improve compatibility with games that detect video mode, by allowing the detection to happen and then switch to your desired mode.

[keropi]

Your sd2snes and powerpak have their internal cic's set as PAL - which is why the supercic thinks its a pal game and is acting like it is.

You could set it to force, but if you use original games it could cause you issues. You would be better to just get the cic's in the carts to be NTSC, then you wont have any problems.

allright, I get it now :) thanks ... now I wonder how do you change the sd2snes region :)

[Bad_Ad84]

It detects the cic in the console.

I am unsure how you set it to one region or another when you have a supercic in the console.

As I said, I am sure I remember seeing ikari mention the process on here once.