Hello from ATL

deltronik · 08/27/2014, 10:01 AM

Hello pcenginefx!

I'm new to the scene, but it's been a long time coming. I am a bit of a Sega fan boy, but I've always had my eye on the PCE/TG-16 since my Korean friend first brought one back around '89. We spent countless hours playing R-Type.

I think I'm finally ready to take the plunge and invest in some Turbo goodness.

I've done a fair bit of research as far as hardware goes and would love to get a nice DUO-R to add to my console selection, but I am not sure that I'm ready to take that plunge judging by current Ebay prices. I may settle on a cheap PC Engine or Core for the moment. I'd love to buy from someone in the community.

I also plan on region modding and RGB modding, but I don't think I'm skilled enough to do a capacitor refresh myself.

I notice that there seem to be many conflicting guides on RGB modding these systems. Is there a de-facto mod that uses c-sync and no/minimal jailbars?

Thanks!

Nazi NecroPhile · 08/27/2014, 10:12 AM

Welcome aboard!

MrFulci · 08/27/2014, 10:22 AM

Deltronik,

My suggestion, if I were just getting into this system myself I'd do the same. Get a flash cart. Some prices are, "silly" now. Get a good deal, then, yeah, go for the original, but, if I were just getting into the system, I'd get a flash cart.

That's why I am getting one, even for silly games like, "Toilet Kids", that I never bothered with before.

deltronik · 08/27/2014, 10:39 AM

Thanks guys.

MrFulci, I'll most certainly be investing in a flash cart to play some of the more rare and expensive cards. I am a big fan of using original hardware and software if I can, but some of these prices are ridiculous! Is everdrive the best option on that front? and how do the flash carts handle the different pin outs for hucards and ports on JP vs US consoles?

Nazi NecroPhile · 08/27/2014, 10:46 AM

Yarr, flashcarts are a great way to try stuff out; the everdrive is the best bang for your buck nowadays. Also, I'd buy PCE games instead of the generally much pricier US version, except for the handful where the language difference matters (like Ys).

esteban · 08/27/2014, 10:55 AM

Quote from: MrFulci on 08/27/2014, 10:22 AMDeltronik,

My suggestion, if I were just getting into this system myself I'd do the same. Get a flash cart. Some prices are, "silly" now. Get a good deal, then, yeah, go for the original, but, if I were just getting into the system, I'd get a flash cart.

That's why I am getting one, even for silly games like, "Toilet Kids", that I never bothered with before.

Granted, I bought it when it was cheap (over a decade ago), but Toilet Kids is not abominable (if you are a shootemup fan, it's fun to play silly examples of the genre...if you are a casual gamer, same thing). Believe me, I'm not actually entertained by potty humor, but look at the universe of generic shootemups and Toilet Kids is....a generic shootemup, sure. But it isn't the worst, ha!

I successfully repeated myself 8 times in a short post.

MrFulci · 08/27/2014, 11:16 AM

Quote from: esteban on 08/27/2014, 10:55 AM
Quote from: MrFulci on 08/27/2014, 10:22 AMDeltronik,

My suggestion, if I were just getting into this system myself I'd do the same. Get a flash cart. Some prices are, "silly" now. Get a good deal, then, yeah, go for the original, but, if I were just getting into the system, I'd get a flash cart.

That's why I am getting one, even for silly games like, "Toilet Kids", that I never bothered with before.
Granted, I bought it when it was cheap (over a decade ago), but Toilet Kids is not abominable (if you are a shootemup fan, it's fun to play silly examples of the genre...if you are a casual gamer, same thing). Believe me, I'm not actually entertained by potty humor, but look at the universe of generic shootemups and Toilet Kids is....a generic shootemup, sure. But it isn't the worst, ha!

I successfully repeated myself 8 times in a short post.

I held of, for years, because,... How good could, "Toilet Kids", be? So I thought/think/ will anticipate.

That's what the flahscart will be for, after Jtucci finishes with that, "Every Simpsons Ever" marathon on FXX, and ships stuff out.

deltronik · 08/27/2014, 01:51 PM

So theres a PC Engine White on ebay right now for 125 shipped that is already region modded and A/V modded (not RGB but better than RF) that includes an avenue 6 pad, standard controller, and Street Fighter II CE....

does that sound reasonable?

Nazi NecroPhile · 08/27/2014, 03:11 PM

I'd put that money towards a Duo.

deltronik · 08/27/2014, 03:15 PM

Quote from: guest on 08/27/2014, 03:11 PMI'd put that money towards a Duo.

Point taken! What is a reasonable price to pay for a DUO-R? I see the cheapest "buy it nows" are $350+ shipped on ebay. How much cheaper could I realistically find one for?

deltronik · 08/27/2014, 04:31 PM

Are the plain Duos to be totally avoided? or is it just the fact that the capacitors will need to be replaced and/or will damage the system beyond repair?

I keep reading that the DUO-R is the way to go for that reason, but is there any other reason to avoid a fully working DUO?

Thanks again guys!

Opethian · 08/27/2014, 04:35 PM

the stock caps are marginally better on the DUO-R but if you change the caps that's no problem.
the DUO has a headphone jack where the DUO-R/RX does not.

HailingTheThings · 08/27/2014, 10:21 PM

Welcome to the forum.

Go with a modded Duo-R, for sure.

deltronik · 08/28/2014, 08:32 AM

Thanks for the welcome and all of the info!

At this point I just need to decide if I am gonna pony up the cash for a nice DUO-R/X or if I can get away with a plain jane DUO. It seems replacement caps will be inevitable on either console, but a more urgent matter on the old DUO.

Is there any major show stopping reason to avoid an old DUO if I am prepared to refresh the caps?

Opethian · 08/28/2014, 09:28 AM

only if you have a fear of headphone ports

NightWolve · 08/28/2014, 09:33 AM

Welcome.

Our resident EE (thesteve) came up with a fix for jailbars. Check out my thread for a photo guide on it.

https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=13231.0

Grounding to the chip, using insulated wires that are as short as possible will also help. And no, there is no one guide on what amp circuit to use. I still don't know what I'd use myself in addition to the YPbPr circuit which is a must for new TVs as S-Video is being phased out.

deltronik · 08/28/2014, 09:54 AM

Quote from: Opethian on 08/28/2014, 09:28 AMonly if you have a fear of headphone ports

Ha! No worries there, as I said, I'm a sega fan boy, there's actually a reason to use the headphone port on the model 1 genny!

deltronik · 08/28/2014, 09:59 AM

Quote from: NightWolve on 08/28/2014, 09:33 AMWelcome.

Our resident EE (thesteve) came up with a fix for jailbars. Check out my thread for a photo guide on it.

https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=13231.0

Grounding to the chip, using insulated wires that are as short as possible will also help. And no, there is no one guide on what amp circuit to use. I still don't know what I'd use myself in addition to the YPbPr circuit which is a must for new TVs as S-Video is being phased out.

Awesome, I'll give that a read through. I will probably mod for RGB scart out to match the rest of my systems rather than component, but that really helps me out as I hadn't seen any definitive jailbar fix for these yet. ( and I would have probably skipped that guide altogether since the subject was YPbPr and not RGB!)

Thanks!

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