PCEngine-FX.com

For generations, we've been led to believe that all Super CD systems are the same...

They're not.

While experimenting with Vasteel 2's system-detection capabilities today, I made some startling discoveries:

Card/System                       Title Screen     Vasteel 2 revelation
TG16 CD Card                         2.00                        2.01 (!)
TG16 Super CD Card 3.0           3.00                        3.01 *gasp!*
Turbo Duo                              3.00                        3.01 *shock!*
PCE CD Card v2.1                    2.10                        2.10
PCE Super CD Attachment         3.00                        3.00
Arcade Card Pro                      3.00                        3.00

The Arcade Card Duo only provides ACD capabilities with no effect on whatever the system's SCD technology happens to be.  The above list is all of the hardware I had to test.

So, I have a few questions.
1.  What difference is there, if any, between 3.00 and 3.01?  Could this by why Turbo Duo's kick so much more ass than PCE Duo's?
2.  Which version do Duo-R's and RX's run?  Can someone test for me?
3.  Finally, I've been meaning to ask for a long time, what the hell's the difference between v2.0 and v.2.1?  Faster online gaming?  Increased motion-capture sensitivity?  3DO compatibility?

Quote from: VestCunt3.  Finally, I've been meaning to ask for a long time, what the hell's the difference between v2.0 and v.2.1?  Faster online gaming?  Increased motion-capture sensitivity?  3DO compatibility?

CD+G playback, maybe? I know it was added somewhere in the 2.0 line of cards.

I think the difference between 2.00/2.01 and 3.00/3.01 is simply the title screen difference for the different regions (PC Engine System vs. TurboGrafx CD System). I don't think the system software itself is any different. But I'm just guessing.

As for 2.10, who knows?

Quote from: VestCunt on 12/29/2007, 09:03 PM1.  What difference is there, if any, between 3.00 and 3.01?  Could this by why Turbo Duo's kick so much more ass than PCE Duo's?
2.  Which version do Duo-R's and RX's run?  Can someone test for me?
3.  Finally, I've been meaning to ask for a long time, what the hell's the difference between v2.0 and v.2.1?  Faster online gaming?  Increased motion-capture sensitivity?  3DO compatibility?

Each different card got is own revision number. Since the U.S. cards are functionally the same as their PC Engine equivalents, the Super CD card got its own decimal point value since the graphics change makes it technically unique. I'm guessing that NEC never bothered giving the Turbo CD card its own revision number since they probably didn't expect to ever put out another card and its unique appearence keeps it from being confused with any other card(unlike the U.S. "3.0" card).

The first one or two PC Engine System cards don't have the CD player software and the 1.0 card might be missing something else like the file manager. I think that the main difference between 2.0 and 2.1 is the Disc Change function in the CD player.

The PCE Duos use 3.0 cards. The giveaway is the "PC Engine" at the title screen(since the only known Super CD variation is the U.S. card). Its possible that they have some kind of special system card, but I doubt it'd be different from the Super CD-ROM unit.

Thanks guys, this is some good information.

Quote from: CrackTiger on 12/30/2007, 04:53 PMThe first one or two PC Engine System cards don't have the CD player software and the 1.0 card might be missing something else like the file manager.

Interesting.  I suppose it would be like using a Turbo Booster Plus. 

Memory tangents...

Wasn't there some talk of Frozen Utopia releasing a new System Card?  Is this still in the works?  Any chance it could include a file manager that reveals file size?

Does anyone remember all of the games that reveal file size?
I know Order of the Griffon, Vasteel 2 and maybe Cosmic Fantasy 3 can.

Does the Ten no Koe 2 include a file manager?

Quote from: VestCunt on 12/30/2007, 05:23 PMDoes anyone remember all of the games that reveal file size?
I know Order of the Griffon, Vasteel 2 and maybe Cosmic Fantasy 3 can.

3x3 Eyes and, if I recall correctly, both chapters of CF4.   

Quote from: runinruder on 12/30/2007, 06:08 PM

Quote from: VestCunt on 12/30/2007, 05:23 PMDoes anyone remember all of the games that reveal file size?
I know Order of the Griffon, Vasteel 2 and maybe Cosmic Fantasy 3 can.

3x3 Eyes and, if I recall correctly, both chapters of CF4.   

Add Babel to that list.  Can't recall anything else.