Messages

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: REPAIR GUIDE - TurboDuo: Sound Fix]

Thanks, I will take a look and see if I can find it.  I just remembered that I also did not change the electrolytic caps around the heat sink because I was having such a hard time getting them free.  I thought of clipping them off and trying to remove the legs, but decided against it.  It was trying to get the bent bit of the leg from underneath the board to come free that was the problem.

I am happy to say that I had no problems with RGB amp installation on this system.  Tested it yesterday on my wonky French Trinitron, and it was gorgeous.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: REPAIR GUIDE - TurboDuo: Sound Fix]

I finally got my junky PCE DUO finished recapping yesterday.  The AC adaptor finally arrived so I was able to test it, at last.  I had no sound when I first turned it on with PAC-LAND in the system.  Hmmm, ok, "I'll test out the CD drive", I thought.  It worked!  Loaded DOWNLOAD 2 with no issues, but still no sound.  I thought that maybe the new caps need to charge up for a while before the sound comes back.  That worked and I had full Hu and CD sound after a good 45mins-1hr. 

I thought I would check this morning to see if it was still working and when I turned it on again, there was no sound   This time, however, sound popped in after about 10mins.  Does it need a long time to charge?  I am letting it sit for a few hours today in the hopes that it will full charge and I'll have no more issues in that area.

EDIT:  Hmmm, well that did not work.  I just checked it and it had no sound again.  I checked the caps to make sure they were OK and discovered that I actually had a cap missing, duh.  Guess I will have to try again after rectifying that later today.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: BRAM upgrade hack]

Is this genius seriously blaming NEC because the system wasn't sold in his country and he wasn't savvy enough to import?!? 

And here I thought fanboys could never be as stupid, ignorant and blind as the nintendorks.  PC Engine fanfucktards are just as bad it seems.  Importing was not an option, "genius".  See where I said I bought one "AS SOON AS I DISCOVERED EBAY"???  Not everywhere in the world had a thriving import scene!  If I could have bought one before that, I would have!  I'll say it again, the system SHOULD HAVE BEEN IMPROVED WITH THE DUO!  At the very least they could have increased the size!  It is the stupidest back up system I have ever seen.  Unlike the MEGA-CD, there is no indication of how much space you have or how much space each game takes up.  It is not until you boot a game that you discover you cannot save.  The Ten no Koe is rather shit as well.  You cannot transfer files back and forth, you can only transfer the entire block of data.

I bet you are one of those types that thinks PCE Popfulmail is superior to the MEGA-CD version (LMFAO!!!) while defending Strider Hiryu as being a good game.  You're a rude, ignorant  joke.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: REPAIR GUIDE - TurboDuo/PC Engine Duo/R/RX: Laser Swap & Adjustment Guide]

It's been a long time since I took the screws out of my PCE DUO, and I seem to have "misplaced" them.  I always planed on replacing those torx #10 screws, one of which stripped and was a complete bitch to get out, with regular Phillips once the thing was complete.  I tried looking for "#40 1/2" pan" but never found anything that looked right.  So for instance, is http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Qty-5-Pan-Head-Machine-4-40-UNC-x-1-2-Stainless-SS-304-Screw-Phillip-Bolt-BSW-/231669035899?hash=item35f08cf37b:g:jPoAAOSwMmBV4HC7 correct?  They look far too long to me.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: BRAM upgrade hack]

Now THAT is what I call a useful upgrade!  It's so stupid that NEC and/or Hudson did not come up with a better save system for the DUO.  Especially seeing as thete was no option for a save-straight-to-RAM-card option like the MEGA-CD and everything afterwards had.

Man, what's with the 21st century bitch fest?

Can you name another console from the same era with a better save system? No, you can't. I know you can't because it was the very first CD-ROM thing ever, and therefore the first system to allow you to save to the machine AT ALL.

Sorry it isn't perfect.

The PCE came out the same year as US Legend of Zelda, most Americans first experience with being to save on a console period. All of these carts have either had their batteries replaced or you can't save on them. But look, my PCE still saves, never replaced anything.

I agree there is a lot of room for improvement, but I've had way more issues with corrupted saves on Saturn and PlayStation because flash sucks, early flash is twice as bad.

I think many of the modern complaints come from people who want to hoard saves the way they hoard games, something that nobody at Hudson/NEC thought of when they designed the system 30 years ago. They didn't know people would acquire complete libraries and try to keep the same dumb Neutopia II save for 18 fucking years. If the PCE (which is a SUPREMELY well designed system, btw) had a system that could keep unplayed saves for decades on end it would have outlasted every NES cart, most SNES carts, a lot of Laserdiscs, VHS tapes, audio cassettes, Zip Disks, Famicom Discs, and pretty much every single flash thing from its invention until at least the late 90s. It would be kinda weird for NEC to design a game machine than cost $600 in the 80s so that people could not use it for months. Why did they buy it then?

Please get real. These people weren't being "stupid" they were genius. And while I can see the use of a better memory manager or something, the system as it exists works pretty much perfectly for me. I play the game every couple of days until I'm either bored of it or I finished it. If I don't turn my PCE on for two months...well I guess I don't play all that much PCE do I? The save disappears after my interst in the game has disappeared. I have no use for a year old RPG save because I'll never be able to tell where the fuck I am or what I was doing. Most early RPGs have very few reminders that say "this is what you were doing" so I'll just wander around in circles until I realize how much time I could save by just starting the game over.

Jesus fucking christ, calm the fuck down, your fanboy panties are starting to show.  It WAS a stupid system and still is.  I am not complaining because an "18 year old save is no longer on the system", exactly when did I say that?  I lost many saves over the years simply because I didnt turn the system on for a fortnight or so.  THAT is a stupid fucking system!  Yes, let's all hail the geniuses at NEC!!  I also could not give a damn about "Americans first experience saving to a console", FULL STOP.  What the hell does that have to do with anything?  If NEC were in "geniuses", explain the Super Grafx and PC-FX.  The geniuses were the ones that created games.  Suzuki Yu is a genius.  NEC were not.

And yes, the MEGA-CD's save system was superior in every way possible.  I already said that  onviously a RAM cart could not be used, which made it worse. I KNOW there was nowhere to put it! Duh!  As for the Ten no Koe, I have one but I did not get one until 2001.  I got my original PCE IFU system in 1995.  Where exactly was I supposed to buy a Ten no Koe from?   It was by complete chance I came across one of my game shops selling the PCE, there was nowhere to buy anything PCE related in my country.  I did not even get a SSC3 until 2001 when I got a computer and discovered eBay!   The thing was useless to me until that time. There was not even a similar device released in the US, correct? 

My original PAL MEGA-CD bought on 31 March, 1993 still has saves from back then.  It still has SNATCHER and both LUNARs so that makes it saves from at least 1994.  I never had/do not have a single corrupted PS1 or PS2 card.  Same goes for the Saturn.  The Saturn was the best save cart ever.  You bought one and you never had to worry about running out of memory.  Unlike the tiny PS1 cards.  SONY must have made a fortune from those things.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: BRAM upgrade hack]

Now THAT is what I call a useful upgrade!  It's so stupid that NEC and/or Hudson did not come up with a better save system for the DUO.  Especially seeing as thete was no option for a save-straight-to-RAM-card option like the MEGA-CD and everything afterwards had.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC Engine 'Jail Bar' Video Noise - repair guide by Tim W]

I keep reading that the white PCE gives jailbar free RGB in the IFU

Sadly that's not always the case, my RGB modded white PCE gives me jailbars on a IFU  They are visible in places like Keith Courage's blue sky and Bomberman/Bonk 3 title screens. Looking forward to do viletim's mod too, saw it on Shmups forums and the results look amazing for a very simple procedure; before that I was wondering if modding the IFU could get me a better image.

That's disappointing.  But in saying that, it seems that nothing is ever 100% the same with this wacky system.  Some people report no jailbars with a Core Grafx while others say it's terrible.  Same can be said with just about every other iteration, save the US versions, it seems.  I am STILL waiting for my power cables for both my IFU and DUO (which I finally finished capping today) to arrive before I can test them out.  I am not impressed with "Retro Game Suuplies" service, at all. 

I do not have Wataru yet (been meaning to buy it for years!!) or PC Genjin 3 to test with, what games are good to test for jailbars?  I think I've seen Super Raiden used before, I can use that.  Legend of Hero Tonma has quite a lot of blue backgrounds from memory, I may try that, too.  Although, I don't remember full solid backgrounds, it tends to have more going on in the background.

One other thing I was wondering, does the Super Grafx suffer from jailbars, too?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Turbo Express Lifted pad repair]

You're welcome, I'm glad it worked!

[PC-FX Discussion / Re: Makeruna! Makendou Z]

Wow, I never realised that this game was an RPG.  I thought it was more boring "anime adventure" crap that NEC so loved making.  I wish I had bought it back in 2004 now!  I could have bought it new for only about 6000yen.  It's quite rare these days.  And it is "rare" as in hard to come by rather than "rare" like Zenki FX of DracX where they are just overpriced and every damn shop in Akiba has at least one copy.  Not to mention the auction sites.

[PC-FX Discussion / Re: Zenki battle Raiden]

I always wished that Hudson had made a Zenki beat em up for the Saturn.  I imagined that it would be very similar to Banpresto's awesome Sailor Moon arcade game.  I actually thought the PC-FX game was a beat em up, rather than a generic platformer.  I do not like playing games I do not own but will download and test some games, usually overpriced ones, to see if I want to spend the money.  I kind of recall trying Zenki when I got my PC-FX in 2004, but I was not at all impressed with it and doubt I will ever spend 35,000yen+ on it.  I only played it for a few minutes though.

[General Gaming / Re: Ys VIII Lacrimosa of Dana PS4 & Vita]

It is my hope that Falcom will port this game to PS4/Steam themselves and bypass Xseed.

Heh, that would be my sincere wish as well or another publisher/localizer like Atlus replaced 'em, but their partnership is pretty firm after all the previous titles they licensed so not gonna happen... :/ I really do hate the position that Thomas Lipschultz put me in, but I do have to stand up for myself.

After reading about your story a few weeks back, I am so glad I did not buy the Ys games from GoG.  I still remember back when you first started on the Ys VI translation project and how awesome I thought it was as that was before I went to uni to study Japanese.  I will stick to playing them in Japanese!  I never did open Ys Origin though and really do not want to now.  I don't think I have the ISO for it anymore either.  I ordered it and Felghana from Falcom themselves.  It was so excitting at the time.  I was never able to finish Felghana because my laptop utterly died during the final boss battle and I had no idea about the stupid hidden file save sata bullshit that Falcom loved pulling back then, grrrr!  I also remember when XAK III and Ys IV Mask of the Sun translations were started!  I think it was on the Ys forum??  I do not remember now.

I wish Falcom and gone for the PS3 instead of the bloody PSP when they decided to make console games again.  I waited and waited for that promised PC upgrade of Ys VII which of course never happened.  Even playing Sora no Kiseki FC on the PS VITA TV does not come close to the PS3 version graphically.  If only there was a voice patch for the PS3 versions!  I am not a fan of the "updated" chara designs in the VITA version.  Much prefer the originals.  I am not a fan of modern JP game designs in general.  I am so, so SOOO fed the fuck up with females and the ridiculous boob sizes!  It is just pathetic!  Even SEGA had to go and ruin the designs in the sequel/spinoff/whatever it will be to Senjou no Valkyria.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Question about the DUO/R/RX's save data cap]

I put the 1000uF cap in my original DUO-RX and tested it briefly.  It worked, after a format of the save data.  I imagine that the chips have to "power up" to hold the data?  I only played it for 50 minutes or so.  I had it hooked up to my loungeroom plasma and it was just too damn ugly to look at for an extended period! 

I still had Monbit in the CD drive, so annoyed I lost my data for that game.  I was really enjoying it.  Then I put in Gates of Thunder and played one stage followed by Travellers! for about 35 minutes.

I've already installed them in the IFU and DUO I am modding, but I was thinking of taking out the DUO one because it is over one leg of a cap and am worried about something shorting out.  I will look to buy one of the upright caps shown in this thread, rather than the short, squat round (probably 20mms in diametre) cap I have in there now.  I also thought about desoldering it and putting some tape around the area it sits above to prevent contact between the caps.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC Engine Duo-R Repair]

I *think* I had some problems with the naked copy of PC Genjin 2 I got with my original IFU system in 1995.  Is there something with that game that causes problems?  I only played it 2 or 3 times because I found it quite boring.  Hu's, like carts are usually pretty indestructible which is why I found it weird.   I think there was 25+ Hu's and another 30 or so CD-ROM2 games included with it and no other games had problems.  I just wish that the ownder had owned the "good" Hu's!  No Splatterhouse, no Saigo no Ninden, no Bloody Wolf, no Hana Taka Daka?!?.  Same could be said for the CDs but there was quite a few good ones.

OFF TOPIC

 I still think "BONK" is one of the WORST character name changes, ever.  I still remember in one of my Mean Machines mags where they were making fun of the Summer CES booth promoting "BONK".  It apparently said; "Bonk'em hard, bonk'em fast, bonk'em any way you can!".  They then commented "ooh er, obviously the word does not have the same meaning over there (the US) as it does here (the UK, but same counts to Australia)...."  Still makes me giggle when I think about it.

On a side note, I remember reading a comment by an over zealous PCE "fanboy" on youtube (yes, I know  ) about how wonderful the HuChip was and how NEC were so much smarter than SEGA and Nincrapo when they invented them.  He had obviously never seen a SEGA SG-1000 or early Mark III game before

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: I think I killed my DUO-RX when RGB modding]

The replacement really seems like it will be needed to me.  If it can be fixed without, that would be nice but I think I ruined the chip too much.  I have the Core Grafx that came with my extremely cheap IFU system I bought last year for RGB modding, and the Super CD-ROM2 I just bought to go along with the Super Grafx I also just bought, has a Core Grafx II that will not be needed.  I am not even sure of their condition.  I would sacrifice the Grafx II over the Grafx, I think.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC Engine 'Jail Bar' Video Noise - repair guide by Tim W]

Definitely trying this one the DUO when I get the caps replaced.  The IFU I am doing has a Core Grafx with the CD-ROM2.  The IFU system I bought waaaaaaay back in 1995 was an original white PCE so I will interested in seeing if there is any difference, video wise between the two.  I keep reading that the white PCE gives jailbar free RGB in the IFU,

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: I think I killed my DUO-RX when RGB modding]

Thank you to everyone for the kind and encouraging words    I will keep modding stuff and I really think that I learnt many lessons through this horrible mess.  Just wish it didn't take the "death" of a DUO-RX to give me the experience.  I intend to grab a NESRGB from Tim once I have some spare money, hopefully soon.  With all the games coming out in Japan in Jan/Feb, spare cash will be sparse.  Desoldering the PPU should be a nice "fun" challenge for me to do.  I have 3 or 4 junky Famicoms that I have no use for, so I may practice on one of those first.  Still have not decided if I want to do one of my Twins (I have 5) or my AV Famicom with FDS system.

I have the DUO RGB wires soldered to the 6260 chip, and I did it with not a single problem.  Have yet to put the DIN8 in, yet, but will do it when I finish off the caps tomorrow.  The IFU has all the wires soldered but not yet hooked up to the amp or DIN8.

I do not have a 15mm drill bit, nor do I have a dremel so I am trying to work out the best way to drill/make the hole in the IFU case for the DIN8 to be installed.  The psu's I ordered should be here on Monday, I hope. 

The place I ordered it from sent an email on the 30 December saying the items had been sent, but did not give me a tracking number.  I emailed and asked about it a few days later and when they replied, the tracking was showing that it had been sent on 5 Jan.  It makes me think that they forgot to send it and only did so once I emailed them.  They should have been here already.  I know they are in the country, but I do not know WHERE in the country they are.  EMS from Japan always annoyingly goes to Sydney.  I am hoping this French package has come to Brisbane directly.  I want to make sure the systems are ready to be tested as soon as the psus arrive.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / REPAIR GUIDE - Super CD-ROM²: Total Capacitor Replacement Chart]

Here are some pics of the area on my Super CD-Rom 2 unit.




The way the expansion board is laid out the caps are just behind the other ones on the main PCB. There is one cap in that area on the bottom at C63? but I used a ceramic cap in that spot so clearance was not an issue. I cut the legs short on the caps that go on the expansion board then bent the legs into a "L" shape and soldered them on.

I used Nichicon audio caps on the expansion board except on C604 and C610. I used ceramics in those two spots.

Nice!  Thanks for the pics.  Does not seem so bad now, and if I cannot get caps to fit, I know that ceramics are fine.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC Engine 'Jail Bar' Video Noise - repair guide by Tim W]

So, Tim finally put up some info in regards to the AV Driver.  I am still waiting for that thing to appear in the shop section.  Shame he does not do repairs, I could use an expert like him to fix my DUO-RX

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: I think I killed my DUO-RX when RGB modding]

Lots of aussie game tech gurus here http://www.aussiearcade.com.au/content.php

Fantastic, just the kind of thing I need!  Thanks!

I feel bad about having to sacrifice a Core Grafx system, but I'd rather have my RX back over a system I will never use.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: I think I killed my DUO-RX when RGB modding]

Thanks mickcris.  I do have a Core Grafx and Core Grafx II, one of which I would be willing to sacrifice.  I'll ask Steve and find out how much he will charge to swap the chip and if it works out too much with postage, I'll look closer to home.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: I think I killed my DUO-RX when RGB modding]

I'm not sure if this is a silly question or not, but with replacing the IC, does it have to be a HuChip or just an 80 pin IC of such-and-such type?  I may ask one of the places I know that f that mods and repairs modern systems about replacing the chip if it does not have to be a HuChip.  I can't imagine that there are a bunch of systems out there being striped of their chips to fix others, or so I hope.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: I think I killed my DUO-RX when RGB modding]

It does look a bit worse than your last pic. Luckily none of the legs are broken off. I would see how much it would cost to send to thesteve if he will take it. Unless you can find someone good in Australia. Not sure if you tried to look up emu_kidid (spelled the name wrong before) yet to see if he'd look at it. Not really sure though I he does that kind of thing. Just know he's going to be installing the ultra HDMI kits there soon.

I wish so much that it still looked like my first picture

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: I think I killed my DUO-RX when RGB modding]

Damn it!  I carefully lifted the legs from 51 onwards to try and straighten them so they could be aligned properly and soldered back in place.  I was fixing the last leg, and the bastard broke off.  It was either 51 or 52.  If it was 51, i guess it is screwed for RGB!

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: I think I killed my DUO-RX when RGB modding]

I know one thing for sure, if I was in the US, I would have sent the RX to mickcris to install for me   The IFU/expansion port jobs are simple, but I was always worried about that damn C6260 chip.

Ok, brace yourselves, here is a picture of the chip.  Looks worse than I thought it was

https://s19.postimg.cc/d158ol5sz/image.jpg

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: I think I killed my DUO-RX when RGB modding]

Thank you for all the comments.

and i have done work on on in Australia and shipping was not only expensive, it was really bad (they kept smashing the box when it came home)

That sucks   I was thinking of sending it, too.  AusPost is usually good with packages and I've never had a problem other than a huge box of LDs I bought from Japan 15 years ago.  Now packages from Amazon are a different story.  I've had many damaged games from Amazon US.  Same with things sent via USPS.

I was thinking that I could send just the PCB, well padded in a box.  If I did manage to send it to you, how much would the repair of the HuC6260 cost?  Even if shipping is not cheap, it has to be cheaper than buying a new system at today's prices.  I would assume the chip needs replacing, but I will take a pic later.

I am the one that stuffed it myself and it was just a friend of mine that ruined it more   I have no idea about anyone in this country that could fix old consoles.  Kinda sucks considering this is the country where the NESRGB and PSIO devises are made.  I have now modded one of my IFU systems and have the C6260 wired up on the DUO.  Makes me even more angry with myself for screwing the RX!

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: I think I killed my DUO-RX when RGB modding]

Thanks guys.  I am almost too embarrassed and ashamed to take a photo   I will get a photo up later today.  I let someone touch the system whom said "I might be able to fix it", big mistake.

The original issue was simply that I soldered and desoldered quite a few times because I was not getting power.  That turned out to be the ac adaptor and NOTHING to do with the soldering!  Because of this, there ended up being an excess of solder on the pins that was bridging several legs.  Dragging the solder both across the length of the chip as well as down the legs, only made it worse.  I then bought and used some desoldering braid which removed the solder, but by this time, half of the solder on several legs was missing and I was getting screwed up colour.

The person that said they "might be able to fix it", seems to have added more solder, tried to remove it with braid and the braid stuck to the chip.  It lifted several legs and made the chip look a thousand times worse.  Grrrrr!  It comes down to my stupidity for this happening in the first place so I do not blame them.  Meanwhile, I added the "RGB" lines to the DUO I am recapping and it was perfect first time.  I do not know why I did not try the DUO first.  If I'd screwed up on that, I would not be AS annoyed as I am now!  The RX in question was a secondary RX I bought early last year for the purpose of modding.  I never touch "original" systems when modding, I always buy a second or third.  My "original" RX is in its box, safe and sound.  This RX cost me a "whopping" ¥6200, naked but with the shitty RX pad.  The prices have blown out so much in the past 4 or 5 months, if I tried to replace it, it would be quadruple that!  Even naked Rs are going for stupid prices on yahoo now!  I still have the second IFU set I bought (¥3000!) along with the DUO I'm recapping and a recently purchased SG and SCD2 for my RGB needs.  I am just waiting on ac adaptors for the DUO and IFU to arrive.  I would have done the simple IFU mod first if I could find my old adaptor from the IFU system I bought back in 1996.  I am worrying about making that damn hole for the DIN8 socket....

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: I think I killed my DUO-RX when RGB modding]

Aaaaaaand now I get a green screen and nothing else be it HuCard or CD.  Goddamn it!  The side of the chip with pins 41-60 have been badly damaged.  Would it be possible to link the legs of the chip to points on the board?  I'd just like to know if it is possible to fix it, or if it is a lost cause.  I was hoping that one of the experts could chime in with some advice.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / REPAIR GUIDE - Super CD-ROM²: Total Capacitor Replacement Chart]

Thanks for the info, guys.  About the area of the board with low clearance, what is the best way to replace those caps without using wires?  Is it OK to use ceramic SMD caps there?  Is there something different you would all recommend?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Super CDROM2 Clicking noise]

The "upside down" trick makes me think it needs a new laser.  That exactly how my PS2 is with CD-R media now.  It plays originals fine, but needs to be upside down to read CD-Rs.  I do not have to use a CD-R to boot my HDD anymore, thankfully, but I will replace the laser eventually.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PCE Turbo Duo RGB - No jailbars - working solution]

Yep, really hard to solder to otherwise ;)
I use a scapel to scrape it off but you can buy fibreglass pens which are the 'proper' tool...

Hahaha, thanks!

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PCE Turbo Duo RGB - No jailbars - working solution]

errrm, massive noob question...  When installing the ceramic caps on 41 and 43, does one scratch off the green masking to reveal copper to which the ceramic is soldered to?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PCE Turbo Duo RGB - No jailbars - working solution]

Because there is no pre-wired sync when connecting a DIN8 to an IFU, I am going to try pure SYNC first to see how it works on a few different TVs.  I will only be using it on RGB SCART TVs, and I know that some TVs will only use composite sync.  I am tempted to just cut the trace and link pin 44 directly to the sync pin on the DUOs because I have no need for composhite, but I may leave it incase I ever want to sell one.  OR I may add a switch as Keith suggested.  If the pure sync from the IFU is OK, that will make the descision harder.  Great info in this thread, thanks to you all!

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PC Engine Duo-R Repair]

Yes it is only for CD, there is no power light at all.  I modded my Duo-R to have LED that comes on when the power is on and it goes off when the CD light comes on so I can get red for drive and blue for power/no drive:  https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=19491.msg416483

A couple dollars worth of parts and a few minutes is all the mod needs.

What a great idea.  I'd love to do that to my DUO's.  Is there a guide you followed or did you simply do the mod yourself?

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: PCE Turbo Duo RGB - No jailbars - working solution]

Is using pure sync for use on a CRT TV OK?  Or does it depend on the TV?  I was thinking of cutting the sync pin on the DIN8 and linking pin 44 to it rather than using the composite video.  I will also be doing what is suggested in the thread.  Jailbars are evil.  Now if I could get rid of that horrible "mesh" effect the PCE has, that would be even better!

P.S. I am drooling at the sight of Wataru in RGB on a PVM.  Damn those things are gorgeous!

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Super CDROM2 Clicking noise]

Heh, that's so weird that you've had DUO's that do not like the good CD-R quality.  Is that only the DUO?  Or R and RX, too?  If only the DUO, is it US and JP models or only one of the two?  Sorry for all the questions, I will keep this in mind once I test out the DUO I have at the moment.

[General Gaming / Re: Ys VIII Lacrimosa of Dana PS4 & Vita]

I hated the three party aspect of VII when I first saw it (and the fact that it was not on the PS3!), but goddamn did I love that game!  It worked so well, far better than I imagined.  Same goes for Celceta.  I cannot wait for VIII to come out in the PS4.  2016 is going to be crazy for games, it's like I've gone back in time 15 years when JP devs ruled everything.  I love this resurgence of Japanese console development!

[General Gaming / Re: Snes cd add on]

Didn't realize that original Wondermega looks ugly. It's like someone tried to marry a cheap ass CD player with a Duo shell.

HA!  What a joke!  The Wondermega is GORGEOUS!  Especially when powered on.  By far my favourite console I own.  I do love the MD/MCD/32X stack as well, though.  It's a damn shame the WM does not do RGB.  I no longer use it for that reason.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Turbo Express Lifted pad repair]

I have a PCE DUO I am recapping that had been so badly corroded in places, the pads were gone and caps had fallen off the PCB.  One solution I found online was to connect the leg directly into the via, which I have done for one cap that has no pad on the + side, and a lifted pad like you describe in the - side.  Once my power adapter arrives I will finish off the remaining caps (my local shop was short a few caps I need) and find out if it works or not.  I am far from an expert, others may say this is a stupid idea that does not work, if they reply to you.  At least then I will know for sure, too!   Will also come in handy when I recap a SCD2.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Super CDROM2 Clicking noise]

I would recommend only using high quality Taiyou Yuden brand CD-R's, that is all I use for my back-ups, now.  The PCE family of CD-ROM2 systems are not as picky as my JP MCD1 systems, but I notice no difference between originals and said back-ups, unlike cheap CD-Rs I used in the past.  I had problems getting TDK and Verbatim discs to load on the MCD systems, but TY discs play perfectly.

In regards to the SCD, is it wise to invest in a gear for it?  I have seen them for sale but had no idea if they are a big problem like the CD-ROM2's Middle gear.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: Super CDROM 2 to SuperGrafx jumper power cord]

Got to retrobright that shit!

Careful using retro bright on those gray super CD drives. I tried it once and some of the gray color actually turned too white in some spots making things look all splotchy and uneven. Same can be said for the Gray core grafx game pads as well.

Never had a problem using retro bright on any other NEC systems thus far and I've been doing it for a couple years now.[/quote]
Same thing happened to one of my SuFami's.  Stupid me left the grey inner part of the case on and it was ruined.  It sucks that we cannot buy liquid peroxide in large quantities in my country.  All I've found is a 200ml bottle and that is about $7.

As for the SG+SCD2 combo, it's quite hideous looking, but I am looking forward to having it in my collection :p

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Question about the DUO/R/RX's save data cap]

Ahhh, so it IS socketed, thanks for the info!  It looked like the small board is slotted into a few points on the main board, but I did not want to go pulling at thing I case I broke something.  Having seemingly killed one of my RX's, that is unthinkable.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Question about the DUO/R/RX's save data cap]

I checked my open IFU that I am going to RGB mod and found the save cap.  It looks to be exactly the same as the green 0.047uf NEC cap that I replaced in my DUO.  Has anyone swapped that cap out?  It is sandwiched between the main board and a smaller board which will make it both hard to remove and also, to replace with the newer, larger radius cap I put into the DUO.

EDIT: In relation to the picture you posted of the DUO, MNKyDeth, I am thinking that I may buy another supercap in the style of the one you have in your boards.  The 1000uf cap I put in is about half the height of the original green NEC cap, but about twice as wide.  I had to solder a leg of a cap under it.  I worry that it may cause a short.  I figure that your style may be better for the DUO and I may try and use the currently installed cap in the IFU, instead.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / I think I killed my DUO-RX when RGB modding]

Thanks to a stupid, goddamned dodgy power supply (which never played up prior), I had some trouble installing an RGB amp I bought from mickcris.  I soldered and desoldered the RGB wires far too many times because I was getting no power when I turned the system on, thinking it was something I was causing with a bad wire or a bridge.

The pins ended up with some excess solder on them which I tried to drag off with the aid of flux.  All it did was make a mess of the pins and now I have pins that are half broken or missing the solder on the end of the leg (pad?).  I now have seriously messed up colour and missing information.  The "SUPER CD-ROM SYSTEM" logo for instance, is missing all words except for "SUPER" and half the "M" from SYSTEM.  I was hoping this could be salvaged somehow by running wires from the chip to vias on the board.  I have no clue where these vias would be though    I decided to solder the "RGB" lines from the C6260 chip in the DUO I am recapping and it was perfect first time, grrrr.  If only I could go back a fortnight!

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Duo DC power]

Damn!  Now THAT is what I have been looking for!  Too bad I already ordered the DUO PSU 

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Duo DC power]

I would jump on that if I was in the US.  I instead decided to buy a DUO and IFU PSU from Retro Game Supply.  Not cheap as it was in Euro's, which is an worse conversion rate for me than the US$, but I guess it will be worth it.  I will need to make another order for a SG+SCD2 and RX PSU, seeing as the cheap POS RX plug I bought from HK Game Doctor (with its pathetic 10cm cord!) is playing up.

[Buy/Sell/Trade / Re: FS: PCE/Turbografx RGB amps/cables (new sync stripper cables)]

Fantastic seller and incredibly helpful and patient with help/advice with installing the mod.

I will need to grab a few more amps.  Possibly 3 plus PCB mount DIN8s.  How much would that be with postage to Australia?  Thanks!

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Duo DC power]

I'm wondering if it is possible to replace the plug on the DUO with one from a CD-ROM2 or PCE so I can use an MD PSU?  Same for the SCD2 and IFU.  The main thing I wonder about is the fact that CD-ROM2 and PCE's are centre negative whilst the other two are centre positive.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: Question about the DUO/R/RX's save data cap]

I bought a bigger cap for my DUO I am recapping at the moment.  Will have to see if it works once I have the thing up and running.  I plan to do the same with my RXs', IFU and SG+SCD2 

[Console Repair/Mod Center / REPAIR GUIDE - Super CD-ROM²: Total Capacitor Replacement Chart]

I just bought a SG+SCD2.  I was wondering if the SCD2 is as bad as the DUO and MCD cap wise?  DUOs ALWAYS need re-capping, did the SCD2 use the same shitty SMD caps as the DUO or is it a bit better in the cap department?  I will re-cap it anyway, I just want to know if I will face something as bad as the DUO I bought a while back.  Several caps had corroded the board so badly, they had fallen off.  I have to use the vias for those because the pad has been eaten away.  If the SCD2 is in the same boat as the DUO/MCD/Game Gear, I will make sure I have the caps ready, on hand once the system is on its way to me.

[Console Repair/Mod Center / Re: DUO-RX RGB mod not working]

I think I have killed my precious DUO-RX    Several pins on the C6260 seem to have been either fried or disconnected from the PCB.  I am getting severely messed up colour and missing bits of information.  I used desolder braid to remove the solder off the pins, but it did not help.  I tried to re-connect the pins to the PCB in front of the chip by dragging tiny bits of solder down the legs which seemed to work for some, but not all.  I blame myself, of course.  But if I had know the reason I was getting no power was nothing but the POWER CABLE being faulty, this would never have happened!  The soldering to and from the pins multiple times killed them.

I suppose now I have to hope there is a way to repair it.     I was hoping that the chip could be connected to vias on the board. 

More annoying is that when I soldered to the HuChip on the the junk PCE DUO I am re-capping, it was perfect the first time.  I decided to do it yesterday when I was capping.  I suppose I have to hope that the thing works when I finally finish repairing it!  I still have one of my IFU systems plus a SG+SCD2 to mod, but killing a DUO-RX hurts, really badly.  Especially considering how stupidly expensive they have become in the past 6 months!  I paid less than 6000yen for the naked system I fucked up, I would have to spend almost 4 times that now to replace it.  This is why I never touch my original systems and always buy a second or third system for modding.  My original RX baby is safe and sound in his box.