NES Region Lockout

[SlowCoder]

I don't have any, nor do I plan to get any, foreign games for my NES systems. But I'm cleaning up a couple of new consoles and while I'm in there, I'm considering performing the mod. I would like to know a few things about it:

 

- Aside from region lockout, what are the benefits? I've heard that it can help with the red blinking light.

- I've seen that some people actually install a switch to enable and disable the mod. Is there actually a benefit to re-enabling the lockout?

- Some of the tutorials show simply clipping the 10NES #4 pin. Other tutorials show connecting #4 pin to ground after clipping. Is there a functional difference, like will the chip burn out if I don't ground #4?

[fiddlepaddle]

I don't have any, nor do I plan to get any, foreign games for my NES systems.  But I'm cleaning up a couple of new consoles and while I'm in there, I'm considering performing the mod.  I would like to know a few things about it:

 

- Aside from region lockout, what are the benefits?  I've heard that it can help with the red blinking light.

- I've seen that some people actually install a switch to enable and disable the mod.  Is there actually a benefit to re-enabling the lockout?

- Some of the tutorials show simply clipping the 10NES #4 pin.  Other tutorials show connecting #4 pin to ground after clipping.  Is there a functional difference, like will the chip burn out if I don't ground #4?

 

1) It definitely helps with the red blinking light.2) Potential negative: it voids your warranty (will Nintendo provide any support at all for these things these days?)I cut the wire, and have no negative experience I am aware of.

[Cybergoth]

I have a somewhat related question: Will a PAL-A game run on an unmodified PAL-B console?

[Rex Dart]

I also clipped my 10nes chip's pin & have seen no negative results...

[+FujiSkunk]

I've clipped the pin in one system, with no unwanted side effects. I'm considering doing it in others, since I have a couple of "unauthorized" carts that blink when I put them in an unmodded side-loader.

 

Keep in mind if you'd rather not mod your hardware like this, the top-loader NES doesn't have a lock-out chip. But then the top-loader doesn't have A/V outputs either, and some people think it puts out a worse RF signal than the side-loader.

 

Also be aware the Nintendo World Championship cartridge apparently requires the lock-out chip to play. For most Nintendo gamers this won't be an issue.