PAL and NTSC are the two old TV standards that retro consoles were built around. UK consoles are PAL and run at 50Hz; American and Japanese consoles are NTSC and run at 60Hz. That difference is why many PAL games run slower and show black borders, and region locks add a further layer that stops some imported games working at all.
What PAL and NTSC mean
PAL was the analogue TV standard in the UK and most of Europe. NTSC was used in North America and Japan. The two differ in how many times the picture refreshes per second and how many lines make up the image.
- PAL: 50Hz, meaning 50 fields per second, with more picture lines.
- NTSC: 60Hz, 60 fields per second, with fewer lines.
Consoles were built to match the TVs in the market they were sold in, so a UK Mega Drive, SNES or N64 is a PAL console.
Why PAL games can run slower
Many games of the era were written for NTSC first and tied their game speed to the screen refresh. When they were converted for PAL, they often weren't adjusted. With 50 refreshes a second instead of 60, those games run noticeably slower, around 17% slower in some cases. The music can play slower too.
Not every PAL game suffers. Some were properly adjusted for 50Hz and run at the right speed. It varies from game to game, so it's worth looking up a specific title if speed matters to you.
Why PAL games can have borders
PAL has more picture lines than NTSC. A game designed for NTSC fills fewer lines, and when it's run on PAL without adjusting, the gap shows up as black bars at the top and bottom. The picture can also look slightly squashed.
This is a feature of the software, not a fault with your console, so no repair will change it.
TV compatibility
PAL consoles run at 50Hz and NTSC at 60Hz. Most modern TVs handle both over HDMI or SCART, so for most people this isn't a barrier. Where problems do crop up, it's usually with a particular converter, upscaler or TV input rather than the console.
If you're getting a retro console onto a new TV, the connection matters more than the region. See my guide to connecting a retro console to a modern TV, and RGB SCART vs an HDMI mod if you're choosing between the two.
Region locks explained
Separate from the 50Hz and 60Hz difference, many consoles were region locked. The manufacturers split the world into regions and made it hard to play one region's games on another region's console. Methods varied.
Super Nintendo
The SNES used two methods. Physically, the American SNES cartridge is a different shape from the PAL and Japanese ones, so it won't fit a UK slot without help. Electronically, a lockout chip in the console checks a matching chip in the cartridge, which stops a PAL console running NTSC games.
Nintendo 64
The N64 used similar methods to the SNES: differently shaped cartridges and lockout chips in the console and cartridge.
Sega Mega Drive
Japanese Mega Drive cartridges have a different shape and won't fit a PAL Mega Drive slot. Some games also contain a software check that shows a warning message and refuses to play on a console from the wrong region.
PlayStation 1 and PlayStation 2
Both are region locked into three regions: NTSC for North America, NTSC for Japan, and PAL. A UK console won't boot a game disc from another region.
What I do and don't offer
I don't offer region mods. My work is repairs and picture upgrades on UK consoles, and PAL consoles get exactly the same service as any other.
If your PAL console has a fault, the retro console repairs page lists every service. For a console that won't turn on or shows no picture, there's a £4.99 assessment per console; for example, the SNES repair assessment or the N64 repair assessment. I diagnose it and send a quote before any work. Every repair has a 12-month warranty and it's no fix, no fee.
Frequently asked questions
Is a PAL console worse than an NTSC one?
Not in build quality. The difference is in the games: some PAL versions run slower or have borders, while others were properly adjusted and play just as they should.
Will my PAL console work on a modern TV?
In most cases, yes. Most modern TVs accept 50Hz over HDMI or SCART. Any trouble tends to come from a particular converter or upscaler rather than the console.
Can you make my console play games from other regions?
I don't offer region mods. My service covers repairs and picture upgrades for UK consoles.
