Messages

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Best Modern CD Burner for Backups?]

The media is 100 times more important than the burner as long as your burner was made in the last few years.  You can spend 30 dollars on a burner, but 50CDs will cost you just as much.  If you buy cheap CDs, you simply hate your computer/consoles.

You are absolutely right about the importance of good media.  When Audio & Video Cassettes were mainstream 20 years ago, names like TDK, Maxell and Sony meant superior quality.  You would hope that they would have maintained that same quality.  However, Taiyo Yuden (for CD) and Verbatim (for DVD) now hold the quality reputations today.  I was really uncomfortable with the fact that the Taiyo media was as inexpensive as it was...because like you I generally believe that cheap = trash and future heartaches.  I had heard about them for years but I was uncomfortable using or ordering them.  Therefore, I didn't even give them a chance until I became desperate looking for truly good media.  However after reading about them over and over in different media testing forums, I finally decided to give in and try them and I am really glad I did.  If anyone is looking for really picky approach to media, check out cdfreaks.com.  The way those guys test burners and mediums is incredible.  I am not as hardcore as those guys, but you can get some really great viewpoints and test results from their forum.  I always spend more money for better quality, but more money does not always deliver better quality.  In the last year I have used TDK, Maxell & Sony Media for my Duo.  None of them approach what the Taiyo Yuden are doing for me now.  The Verbatims are a close runner up though

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Best Modern CD Burner for Backups?]

The best mode is: any mode. It doesn't matter what burner you use (as long as it's not ancient), or what speed you burn it at. It's just an urban legend. Of shit.

I wish this were true.  But try using a brand new Hewlett Packard or Samsung writer and TDK media (all reputable names by the way) at their lowest burn speed of 16x and then make a backup of Sapphire.  Then check the load time after each level.  In many cases it will double or even quadruple.  You can still play the game, but your valued Duo will be straining and possilbly wearing out quicker. 

To validate part of your point though, if you use extremely good media like the Taiyo Yuden brand, then you very possibly can use just about any new burner and get great backups!  For the person whose decade old Duo has a weakening laser and is looking for help...my post will hopefully help...where yours probably won't.

Both my question and later discovery were intended for someone who is experiencing
real problems and looking for real answers.  Thanks for juicing up the thread though.   

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: CD-R Back Up Tests]

Alcohol 120% does a good job at doing backups if you have the original.  If you already have a Bin / Cue file or a Cue file with MP3s or Wave files, then use Nero and click on the Recorder tab and then the Burn Image tab.  Both give excellent results with the right equipment which brings me to the next point.

Buy a Pioneer DVR-115 (If you have IDE) or a Pioneer DVR-212 (If you have SATA).
Either one of them will cost you 30 bucks from Newegg.com.  Then buy a cakebox of Taiyo Yuden CD-Rs from the same company for 22 bucks. 

For 60 bucks including shipping you can make the best burns possible for Turbo Duos.

I have spent hundreds of dollars trying out different burners and discs over the last 6 months to find the best results.  Most modern burners only allow CD's to be burned at a minimum of 16x. Most crap or mediocre media with big names will not burn good enough at that speed to eliminate long load times and will really stress the Turbo Duos Laser reading abilities.(Especially since it wasn't designed to read CD-Rs to begin with.)  I can even hear a light squealing or whirring noise continuously coming from my Turbo Duo Laser when playing backups made with low quality media or burns.

The Taiyo Yuden CDs are the main key and you can check on forums dedicated to DVD and CD burning and see that their reputation and consistant quality is primo.
They use a superior ink dye that older cd player and game systems can read without straining.

The reason for the Pioneer burners is that they will burn at both 10x and 4x.
For over the counter CD-Rs like TDK, Maxell, or Sony your best burn speed is 10x on the Pioneer. Your Turbo Duo will work OK with these different medias at this Speed. The 10x burns worked slightly better than the 4x burns.

But the real kicker is that if you team up the Pioneer Burners I mentioned above with the Taiyo Yuden CD-Rs, YOU CAN GET PERFECT BACKUPS BY BURNING AT 24X.         No squealing...the same load times as my original discs...excellent sound.  It's the best and fastest results I have gotten in the last 10 years with any burner / disc combination...and the most affordable!


Naturally this combination will not fix a broken Turbo Duo, but it does wonders for one whose laser is beginning to weaken.

I have both an American Turbo Duo and a Duo RX from Japan.  The RX plays everything I throw at it without complaint, but the American Duo squeals and complains if I don't feed it right.  I will probably pop in a new laser eventually, but for the last few months it has been great for testing out different burners and media.

I am not trying to be a know-it-all or any kind of a guru.  But I am extremely thorough in my pursuits.  When it comes to classic disc-based game systems, I have the Duo, a Saturn, a 3DO, Sega CD, a Dreamcast and a Neo Geo CD.  The Duo and the Neo Geo CD are the Pickiest at playing CD-Rs properly. And for good or bad, I am obsessive when it comes to finding the best quality and results in anything electronic.

Anyway, give the current Pioneer Burners and the Taiyo Yuden CD-Rs a shot.  If they don't help, then there is a major hardware issue somewhere in your game system.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Best Modern CD Burner for Backups?]

One of the most exciting parts of my report on burners and discs that I forgot to share is this...The Pioneer burners that I mentioned only sell for $30.00 on Newegg.com

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=2010100005+50001167&name=Pioneer


And 100 of the Taiyo Yuden CD-Rs only sell for $22.00


http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16817172103


Basically, for $60.00 with shipping, you can have one heck of a party for less than half of what one copy of Dracula X would cost on ebay!   

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Best Modern CD Burner for Backups?]

Eureka...I have finally found the perfect combination!

Thanks for all the help and different opinions. I have been experimenting over the last week with different burners and media. I have burned at speeds ranging from 4x to 48x according to what each burner would allow.
The clear winner so far has been the Pioneer DVR112d or DVR212d depending on whether you have IDE or SATA.

When teamed up with the Taiyo Yuden CDs (The cheapest thermal printable ones with the light blue data surface), it blew my mind how good the results were. By burning at 24x with these CDs, my old Turbo Duo responded to these with the same load times and read quality that I get with my originals. I cannot emphasize enough how great my results were with the Pioneer & Taiyo teamup at 24x. I also tested Verbatim LightScribe CD-Rs (because I also have an HP Writer with that Capability) on the Pioneer, but had to burn them at 10x to get close to the same results.
I have not been able to get good results with TDK, Maxell, or Sony CD-Rs using any burner but the Pioneer and then only at 10x. Once again, my Turbo Duo has much longer load times between levels (especially on Sapphire) and the laser makes a low volume whirring - squealing noise as it reads lower quality discs or burns. On the new Pioneer burner and the Taiyo CD-Rs at 24x, the load times are as perfect as original CDs and there is silence as the Laser reads and plays the game backups. In fact these are the best results I have ever gotten with any burner or Cd combination I have ever used in the last 10 years. I hope this can be of help to someone and once again I really appreciate all of the help and input!

Once again...the best combination of Modern CD Burner and Blank CD-R for Turbo Duo Backups is the Pioneer DVR-212d (if you need an SATA Drive) or Pioneer DVR-112d (for IDE) and the Taiyo Yuden CD-Rs.

UPDATE:  The newest models are the Pioneer DVR-115d (IDE) and DVR-215d (SATA) I just put the 115 in my office computer and it works just as well as the 112 or 212 for backups.  I have not been able to find the 215 stateside yet.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: PCE Flash Cards]

I've got the Neo Power 64 meg version and have had it for over a year now.  It works great.  All of the games both US and Japanese have worked great on it except for one.  I have trouble with TwinBee having trash in the graphics while it is playing.  It boots up great but plays with distorted graphics.  It's the only game that does this for me.  I'm playing on an American Duo with a Region Switch.  Ive programed the card for both regions and I have even used the numerous hacked versions of the rom and they have all had the same trash in the graphics.  Has anyone else experienced this?

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Best Modern CD Burner for Backups?]

I have retail versions of Spriggan and Castlevania and I want to make the best quality back ups of them to play on my Turbo Duo.  Most new CD burners only allow you to burn at a minimum of 16X which does not make the best quality backups.  I've read other posts in this forum that suggested anywhere from 1X to 10X depending on the burner and the medium.  What is the best currently made Burner for making backups for the Duo?

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Can I Save Dungeon Explorer on a Turbo Booster Plus?]

I see the password feature on Dungeon Explorer, but I can't figure out how to save a game on my Booster Plus.

Also, how do access Save Banks on the Booster Plus without a game in the T16.  Is there any way to do this so that I can erase old saves?

Sorry for all of my Noob questions, but you guys are the gurus when it comes to all things Turbo or PC engine!

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Turbo tap on the pc engine duo]

all you have to do is switch out the cables on the controllers themselves.  It will work.  OR  get the classics converter.  It works with a logitech wireless PS2 controller.

Where can you find this "classics converter" that works with the Logitech Wireless PS2 controller. I would love to have one of those.  I already have the Logitech PS2 controller.  Do you have a link to it?

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Which TurboCards or HuCards had Backup or Save Capability]

Does anyone have any info on which games had save capability through the TurboBooster Plus or the CD Add On?  I was curious as to whether it was a popular feature or just an afterthought with the HuCards?

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Turbo Grafx 16 Add on CD Unit Question]

Will the AC Adapter that comes with the TG16 power both the TG 16 and the CD Add On Unit or is there a special AC Adapter that comes with the CD Unit that you have to use in order to power both?

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Same AC adapeter for American and Japanese Duo?]

Just thought I would give it one more shot.  Does anyone know what type of AC adapter the Duo R and the Duo RX use?  Can the AC adapter for the American Duo be used with them?

Also, does the Duo R and The Duo RX use the same AV Adapter as the American Duo?

TIA for any help you can give me.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: Difference in Turbo Booster ann Turbo Booster Plus]

Thanks for the help. A lot of people on ebay advertise the Turbo Booster as being able to do game saves, but I didn't think they knew what they were talking about. Thanks for letting me know that the Plus is the right one to go with.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: oldschoolgamer.ca "Is their work any good?"]

Thank you everyone for your replies and help.  I have checked these forums and I do understand about the capacitor problem.  I just don't feel comfortable doing the soldering myself.  I would love for D-lite to do the work, but I think he has been out of commision for at least 6 months.  Please correct me if I am wrong.  An interesting addition to all of this info is that I called Turbo Zone Direct yesterday and they said that currently the only repair service that had been "steady and of good report" recently was "oldschoolgamer".  He said everything he had heard about them was good.  Once again, this is the best forum to read about these things on, so any response postive or negative is appreciated.

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Difference in Turbo Booster ann Turbo Booster Plus]

Does anybody know the difference in the Turbo Booster and The Turbo Booster Plus for The T-16?  I know they both have AV output, but do they both have the ability to do game saves on compatable game cards?

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Re: oldschoolgamer.ca "Is their work any good?"]

Yes, they do service Turbos.  Check out their site at http://www.oldschoolgamer.ca/information.aspx?SID=15

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / oldschoolgamer.ca "Is their work any good?"]

I have a Turbo Duo with sound problems.  Can anyone vouch for the work that oldschoolgamer in canada performs.  They also do region switchs according to an email I received from them.  Does anyone have a better suggestion for repair work on a Turbo Duo?
Man, I wish Multimods was up and running.  They are the best!

[PCE/TG-16|CD/SGX Discussion / Same AC adapeter for American and Japanese Duo?]

Does the American Turbo Duo use the same AC Adapter as the Japanese Duo, Duo R and Duo RX?