What's the difference between the Core Grafx and Core Grafx II?

[pcesupergrafx]

Is it just color?

[SignOfZeta]

The case is actually a different mold, but basically, yeah. It's all cosmetic. The Core Grafx II was designed to match the Super CDROM2 add-on.

[pcesupergrafx]

Oh that makes sence. What is it with NEC just releasing the same console with a different mold and/or color?
I'm still getting a Shuttle and RX though

[RR1980]

another difference is price. When the CGII came out the retail price is much lower than when the CG first came out. Same with the Duo/R/Rx

[pcesupergrafx]

What year did the Core Grafx come out and what year the Core Grafx II?

[Tatsujin]

http://www6.airnet.ne.jp/wataru/pce/pce_mech.htm

PCエンジンコアグラフィックス (PI-TG3) 1989年12月発売
Core grafx December 1989

PCエンジンコアグラフィックスII (PI-TG7) 1991年6月発売
Core crafx II June 1991

Core machine　 PC Engine PI-TG001 \ 24800 The first hard to commemorate. Known as "white engine". The chipset is 6502 series (8bit) custom, CPU + PSG / HuC6280, VDC Hu6270, VCE HuC6260. Equipped with 8KB of main RAM and 64KB of video RAM, the maximum resolution is 320x224 and the maximum is 512 colors. PSG sound source up to 6 voices. Equipped with a general-purpose expansion bus (69 pins) and a pad terminal (MINI-DIN 8 pins). AC adapter and RF switch included. The output is RF. The controller is a non-burst PCE pad. PC Engine CORE GRAFX PI-TG3 \ 24800 Second generation PC Engine. Known as "Coagula". RF output is treated as an option, and AV output has become standard. The size is the same as the white engine, but the design and coloring have been changed. The controller is a dark gray turbo pad. PC Engine SUPER GRAFX PI-TG4 \ 39800 PC Engine fully upward compatible machine. Known as "Spagra" and "SG". The chipset is the same as a normal PCE, but with 32KB of main RAM and 128KB of video RAM, the image relationship has been greatly expanded, with 128 sprites and 2 backgrounds. The output is AV output. The 18-pin parallel terminal for the analog controller (power console) looks like a "cecum" and is sad. The controller is a dark gray turbo pad like Koagra. Some Hu card software needs to be switched. Although the performance is outstandingly good, it disappears naturally due to the high price and the lack of compatible software. However, due to its large body, it was (apparently) very popular with remodeling enthusiasts. PC Engine CORE GRAFX 2 PI-TG7 \ 19800 A low-priced version of CORE GRAFX. Known as "Coagula 2". The design coloring has changed. The attached pad has also changed from dark gray to light gray (mist gray?) Turbo pad. No changes have been made to the mechanism. PC Engine LT PI-TG9 \ 99800 Koagra with an LCD monitor added. It has a built-in 4-inch TFT LCD, TV tuner, and monaural speaker, and has an external antenna input terminal, AV input terminal, and stereo headphone output terminal. Equipped with an expansion bus, core concept options can also be connected. (Memory base 128 cannot be connected. An adapter is required to connect to SUPER CD-ROM 2. ) "LT" is an abbreviation for LAP TOP. However, \ 99800 is too expensive. ＞ NEC-HE Hu card dedicated machine　 PC Engine SHUTTLE PI-TG5 \ 18800 Hu card dedicated machine for children. Known as "shuttle". AV output as well as Koagra. The attached pad is a turbo pad II that matches the design of the main body. For cost reduction, the expansion bus is omitted and the core concept option cannot be connected, but it is equipped with a backup unit terminal dedicated to SHUTTLE. PC Engine GT PI-TG6 \ 44800 Portable PC Engine. Known as "GT". Equipped with 2.6-inch TFT color LCD, external tuner terminal, stereo headphone terminal, communication terminal, and monaural speaker. Only SG and almost all Hu cards except some can be used. Despite the two-button specification, there are (some) strong players who play "Street Fighter 2'" with this. With 6 AA alkaline batteries, it can be used continuously for about 3 hours. "GT" is an abbreviation for GAME & TV, and the previous work was not "Z". WANTED! PC-KD863G PC-KD863G \ 138000 Based on NEC-HE's RGB monitor "PC-KD863S", it has a built-in PCE board. The expansion bus is omitted and unfortunately the core concept options cannot be connected. It is the only product that has RGB output hardware. WANTED! X-1 Twin (SHARP) CZ-830C \ 99800 A personal computer with a built-in PC Engine that has sharp eyes. There is no hardware connection between X-1 and PCE, and PC Engine is a poor AV output. (It's a good match with PC-FXGA) If this is X-68k instead of X-1, and the software production environment is substantial, don't think about it. Duo PC Engine Duo PI-TG8 \ 59800 In a sense, it is the ultimate PC Engine that can use Hu cards other than SG only, CD-ROM 2 and SUPER CD-ROM 2 software, and also has a backup system. Equipped with a CD drive lock function, stereo headphone jack, and battery pack slot, which are not found in the Duo series after "R". The output is AV. The attached pad is a turbo pad (black). By installing the optional battery pack, it can operate continuously for 4 hours outdoors. In addition, a "Duo monitor" with the same design is available as an option. Good design product selected by the Ministry of International Trade and Industry. The 7th Design of the Year Awarded Product. PC Engine DUO-R PI-TG10 \ 39800 Although "Duo" has excellent functions, the cost is high, so in order to acquire new users, the lock function, headphone terminal, and battery bay have been removed from "Duo", and the plastic forming method has been simplified. A model that aims to reduce costs. The size is slightly larger than the original Duo. Off-white DUO-R dedicated turbo pad included. "R" is an acronym for round. PC Engine DUO-RX PCE-DUORX \ 29800 A minor change version of Duo-R. The model number is no longer "PI-TGXX" for some reason. There is no change in the mechanism and formation design itself, but the coloring is shadow gray. A 6-button arcade pad is standard equipment. The previous work was not "Black" by any means. <Persistently the last machine of PC Engine (TT). Laser Active Laser Active (PIONEER) CLD-A100 \ 89800 The world's first and last (?) Laser Active system compatible player. It functions only as an LD player by itself. It doesn't have S terminal and double-sided playback function, so it's not good as an LD player. The photo above is the PIONEER version, equipped with a karaoke pack (PAC-K1). 2 AV outputs, 1 optical digital output, control I / O. Laser Active (NEC-HE) PCE-LD1 \ 89800 Laser Active compatible LD player. OEM products from Pioneer. Performance is exactly the same. Below the photo is the NEC-HE version, equipped with the Megadora Pack (PAC-S1). The logo sign is "NEC" and the color is dark gray. Note that "Laser Active" is just a general term for systems, not machine names. WANTED! LD-ROM 2 Pack (PIONEER) PAC-N1 \ 39800 Option for players compatible with Laser Active system. By installing this , all Hu cards except LD-ROM 2 , CD-ROM 2 , SUPER CD-ROM 2 and SG dedicated software can be used. (However, some CD-ROM software cannot operate.) A dedicated turbo pad for Laser Active color with the Pioneer logo is included. WANTED! PC Engine Pack (NEC-HE) PCE-LP1 \ 39800 Option for players compatible with Laser Active system. This is also an OEM product. Includes a dedicated turbo pad for Laser Active color with the NEC logo. CD SYSTEM PC Engine CD-ROM 2 SYSTEM CDR-30 (A) + IFU-30 (A) \ 32800 + \ 27000 CD-ROM drive for PC Engine. Equipped with a headphone terminal, interface connection terminal, and CD playback button. The price that does not seem to be for home use is amazing. An interface that connects the PC Engine and CD-ROM 2 . All core machines can be connected. Equipped with ADPCM sound source. Equipped with SRAM-64KB, DRAM-64KB for ADPCM, and SRAM-2KB for backup data. The attached system card is Ver1.0. The output is AV output. Those with "A" in the model number have the circuit grounded to prevent CD access errors, and the system card is Ver2.1. (The photo is "A") PC Engine SUPER CD-ROM 2 SYSTEM PI-CD1 \ 47800 PC Engine CD-ROM 2 SYSTEM system with built-in SUPER SYSTEM CARD . A major design change was made to integrate the interface unit and the CD-ROM drive. The coloring is light gray. An adapter is required to connect to LT.

[RR1980]

http://www6.airnet.ne.jp/wataru/pce/pce_mech.htm

PCエンジンコアグラフィックス (PI-TG3) 1989年12月発売
Core grafx December 1989

PCエンジンコアグラフィックスII (PI-TG7) 1991年6月発売
Core crafx II June 1991

Looking at the prices of all those pce hardware back in the day it's crazy the LT was actually more expensive than the Laser Active!

[SuperDeadite]

Well the LA can't actually play games by itself, just an LD movie player with a giant whole in the front.

[spenoza]

I wonder if the CGII implemented any cost savings via chip or board consolidation or anything like that. I know the different Genesis models varied some in terms of audio quality. Did the various PCE models have any differences in color or audio reproduction or did NEC/Hudson have better chip quality control?

[nat]

http://www6.airnet.ne.jp/wataru/pce/pce_mech.htm

PCエンジンコアグラフィックス (PI-TG3) 1989年12月発売
Core grafx December 1989

PCエンジンコアグラフィックスII (PI-TG7) 1991年6月発売
Core crafx II June 1991

You know, looking at those part numbers, I noticed something I've never noticed before. All the part numbers are "TG<something>" all the way back to the white PC Engine. Could TG stand for TurboGrafx, or does it mean something else obvious that I'm just having a brainfart on? Could it be, that even the JP PCE was originally to be called "TurboGrafx" but had a name change at some point along the way?

[Mishran]

Being that every system after has "Grafx" in the name, who knows!

[nat]

That was my thought as well. I mean, it's a real possibility, right?

[roflmao]

Very interesting observation, nat!

[farankoshan]

I seem to remember that outputs are different on the two cores? I could be wrong, but doesn't the difference lie in something beyond aesthetic?

But, yes, the color swap shows that the biggest difference between them is a small one.

[SignOfZeta]

No, There is no functional difference whatsoever.

I can't say for sure, but I think the PCBs are identical with the only change being the casing. There isn't as much junk to get rid of in a PCE as there is in a Genesis, Saturn, PS2, etc.

[TurboXray]

There's an audio upgrade (revision 6280A) in one of the CoreGrafx models over the original PCE. I believe it's the CoreGrafx model 1 because it came out about the same time as the SGX (which has the upgraded revision). So it's possible that CGII doesn't have this (I've never seen a Duo model with the A revision cpu). So that's a potential, albeit small, difference.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

There's an audio upgrade (revision 6280A) in one of the CoreGrafx models over the original PCE.

What does it do differently/better?

[TurboXray]

There's an audio upgrade (revision 6280A) in one of the CoreGrafx models over the original PCE.

What does it do differently/better?

There's popping on the corresponding channel's DAC when volume is adjusted. It's relative to the size of the adjustment, but it can get pretty loud/noticeable if the change is large (in either direction, including turning 'off' the channel). So the revision cpu fixes this (since the audio chip is included in the same package as the cpu) and gives a little smoother audio. When I was creating a few different sound engines, I specifically wrote support for silencing a channel without the noticeable pop. So you can work around it if you're making your own sound engine/code. The one offender that stood out to me was Ninja Spirit (more apparent with headphones). Trust me, you don't want to notice it or you'll start hearing in other games/musics as well. Ignorance is bliss ;)

[spenoza]

If you have a decent selection of hardware at home, could you check out this popping for us? I have a Core I, but that's it. I can't do any sort of comparison. It is also possible that the revision was incorporated into later CPUs without the model number change.

[Nazi NecroPhile]

Trust me, you don't want to notice it or you'll start hearing in other games/musics as well. Ignorance is bliss ;)

Nope, mine doesn't make any untoward noises.  *sticks head in sand* 

[TurboXray]

If you have a decent selection of hardware at home, could you check out this popping for us? I have a Core I, but that's it. I can't do any sort of comparison. It is also possible that the revision was incorporated into later CPUs without the model number change.

I only have a white pce, supergrafx, and an original US duo. I did a bunch of test along with mednafen emulation author and the result is a selectable core for pce audio emulation (it emulates the pops and some of the other small behavior. The waveform output is inverted on the A revision too, but that could just be the amp circuit in general - but it does have a small impact when CD and ADPCM is accompanied with it. And other tiny small differences). We did a ton of testing, so I don't think there's anything else really to be found (but I encourage anyone to take up the task. The more tests, the better). There's somethings you can do on the A revision that you can't do exactly on the original revision, like streaming high playback sample rates and low cpu resouce - using the waveform memory as a small buffer. The original audio chip would allow this, but turning on/off the channel causes a LOUD buzzing sound. The original chip can use a work around by having another channel cause a reverse direction audio spike to cancel it out but it requires two channels to do the same trick the SGX using one. Though I digress, 'cause no games do this...