In today’s world of massive televisions and Ultra-HD monitors, there’s no wonder that you’ve come here to look for the best N64 HDMI solution for your N64.
Nintendo’s legendary 64-bit console has some of the greatest games ever made, and retro gaming fans far and wide are still wielding the best Nintendo 64 accessories in a bid to relive their favourite adventures.
Just take a minute to think about some of the best N64 games for this console. Banjo Kazooie, Ocarina of Time, Perfect Dark, Goldeneye, Star Wars Episode 1: Racer, Shadows of the Empire. I could go on for days, such is my unnatural love for this console.
Still, the problem remains; how do we make these graphics look good in today’s tech-obsessed world?
The fact is that these old games don’t look as good as we remember them. Games like Super Mario 64 seemed unbeatable back in the day, but playing them on a 50″ TV makes my eyes feel like thorn-pricked-marshmallows.
Fear not, fellow gamers. We’ve listed our recommendations for the best N64 HDMI cables and solutions below, along with some handy information as to how to get the best from your N64!
Checking Out The Best N64 HDMI Solutions
What Is the N64 Display Resolution?
The N64 has a resolution of 240p (320×240). That’s a far cry from the 1080p of the Switch or the 4K gaming capabilities of the new PS5.
But then again, this console did come out in 1996, a time where 4K referred to how much money you had in your bank account and was nothing to do with screen resolution.
Why Do I Need an N64 HDMI?
Any gamers that are planning to fire up their N64 on an HDTV will no doubt need an N64 HDMI cable or adapter. They push your N64 to provide the best results, battling off the rubbish analogue signal in order to create clearer graphics and brighter colours.
How Does An N64 HDMI Cable/Adapter Work?
Most cables and adapters plug straight into the back of the console and then hook up to your TV. That’s the case with two out of the three products that we’ve chosen below.
In some cases, you can also modify your console and add new ports into the back of the unit itself. We’ll touch on that a little later too.
N64 HDMI cables and adapters boost signals and provide a much clearer gameplay experience. They don’t magically turn your game carts into 4K versions of themselves.
An adapter or cable can only work with what your machine and cart are capable of producing, with results being pushed to 480p in most cases.
How Do I Buy An N64 HDMI?
Obviously the results that you will get will all depend on the product that you buy. There are tonnes and tonnes of options out there for you to choose from when it comes to modifying your N64, but we’ve chosen to pick our favourite three products for both new and avid N64 gamers.
Underneath each of the pictures below is a ‘Buy Here’ link that will take you straight through to a purchase page for each product. Don’t forget to check your region and whether the product is compatible with your machine before purchasing!
1. The Plug & Play Choice – E.O.N Super 64
The E.O.N Super 64 HDMI adapter is a super sleek bit of kit. Not only does it fit smoothly into the back of your machine and look like it was always designed to be there, but it also comes in a box designed like the N64.
This solution definitely provides the best results with the least amount of work and is now available for PAL users aswell as NTSC and NTSC-J machines.
So how does it work? Well, this N64 HDMI adapter delivers a pure digital signal from your machine without any of the analogue mushiness. It doesn’t need external power either as it plugs directly into the back of your machine where the old RGB adapter would usually sit.
The E.O.N Super 64 provides 480p images with vibrant, custom tuned colours. There’s zero lag too, so gamers can play without any annoying interference (unless your parents or partner tries to tell you to stop playing!).
The Super 64 also has a ‘Slick Mode’ which rounds off some of the sharp pixelated edges. Maybe Yoshi’s nose might actually look round for once with this thing!
The downside is that this N64 HDMI solution is a little on the pricey side You can expect to pay around $145 for this adapter in the US, and around £109 in the UK. Still, the results are more than worth it in our opinon!
2. The Cost-Effective Choice – Hyperkin 3-In-1 HDTV Cable for GameCube/ N64/ Super NES
If you’ve been reading our articles for a while now, then Hyperkin is a brand that you will certainly have come across before.
These guys are dedicated to bringing retro gaming to the masses, making it accessible to everyone and keeping the games of yesteryear alive.
The Hyperkin 3-In-1 HDTV Cable for GameCube/ N64/ Super NES is a cable that you can use with not one, not two, but three of Nintendo’s classic machines.
That’s right, now you can put your SNES, N64, and GameCube in a row and use one cable for all three of them! How cool is that!
Hyperkin make great cables for a whole range of consoles, and at $29.99 (around £22), they certainly won’t break the bank. This cable provides up to 720p resolution and crystal clear audio on any television.
The downsides are that it may require an external power source, and the GameCube function doesn’t work with PAL machines. But we’re only concerned about N64s in this article, so that’s beef that we’ll try to sort out another time.
Sure, the E.O.N Super 64 provides better results, but the Hyperkin N64 HDMI cable costs around $100 less, making it perfect for anyone gaming on a budget
Why not bag yourself this Hyperkin Wireless N64 Remote and pimp your console even more!
3. The Expert’s Choice – Ultra HDMI Mod
Our final N64 HDMI solution is also the most intricate to install; the Ultra HDMI.
We’ve called this the expert’s choice because it does provide the best results of any cable or adapter, but it also requires some soldering and modifications on your part.
I should point out two things at this point before I go ahead. The first is that this bit of kit is hard to come by, with many retailers stating that there will be a long wait for the next preorders. You can buy machines that have already been modified on the internet, but be prepared to pay an extortionate price.
The second is that this method will require you to take your N64 apart in order to add some new components. There are companies that will do this for you, but again, the process can cost anything up to $150 if you’re not comfortable installing it yourself.
The Ultra HDMI is made by retroactive.be and sold all over the world, though as I’ve already mentioned, finding stock can be tricky.
This mod transforms your digital signal and can boost it all the way to 1080p! The unit itself attaches straight onto the RCP, capturing all video as digital RGB. There are tonnes of other customisable options that you can mess around with too by keying in a controller code to bring up an on-screen menu.
As I’ve mentioned a couple of times through this article, this N64 HDMI solution doesn’t magically fix blurry textures or change your characters. It does, however, show you what your N64 can do before it gets squashed into a pitiful analogue signal.
If you’re looking for the best support for 4K widescreen TVs, then this is the solution for you.
Seb Santabarbara has bought every Nintendo console that has ever been released in his 31 years on Planet Earth. His favourite game franchise is Zelda, and he’s patiently waiting for Banjo-Kazooie to come back to the fold. When he’s not playing games, he’s travelling the world in his self-converted camper van.
