Where to get a import converter?

willis · 10/30/2006, 10:12 PM

Does anyone know where i can get a card import converter for my U.S. Turbo Duo?

CrackTiger · 10/31/2006, 04:43 PM

Quote from: "willis"Does anyone know where i can get a card import converter for my U.S. Turbo Duo?

You can usually find them on eBay, but you can get a complete PC Engine Coregrafx or Coregrafx II for like half the price.

The only reason you'd really need a converter over seperate hardware is if you really want to play Arcade Card games on your Turbo Duo.

But you can even get a Duo R for the same or a little more than a converter.

SignOfZeta · 10/31/2006, 06:14 PM

Yeah, what he said. Converters are an overpriced pain the neck. Just get another system.

rolins · 10/31/2006, 06:49 PM

You could also modify your Duo with a region switch. It'll cost about $50 which is still cheaper than a kisado converter.

willis · 11/01/2006, 12:36 AM

Thanks guys for your help. I think i might try and track down a Duo-R and that might solve my problems and be a little cheaper than tracking down a converter.

TR0N · 11/01/2006, 12:39 AM

http://www.multimods.com for your modding needs.

Realy a converter is a waste of money these days.

willis · 11/01/2006, 01:57 AM

Funny you should post that..... i'm checking that out right at this moment!

theoakwoody · 11/01/2006, 03:42 PM

I got my converter for $ 30 bucks about 2 years ago when a guy was selling like 10 at a time. I've got the purple Barney but I wouldn't mind modding my system.

theoakwoody · 11/13/2006, 05:21 PM

Oh by the way, my system 3.0 card has stopped working very well with my purple barney for some reason. To get it to work I ahve to rest my SF II case at the end of the card before I turn my system on. I'm sure I'll break it sooner or later but oh well, back to Ys.

CrackTiger · 11/13/2006, 05:33 PM

Quote from: theoakwoody on 11/13/2006, 05:21 PMOh by the way, my system 3.0 card has stopped working very well with my purple barney for some reason. To get it to work I ahve to rest my SF II case at the end of the card before I turn my system on. I'm sure I'll break it sooner or later but oh well, back to Ys.

The way I remember it, both System 3.0 cards are universal and don't require a converter.

SignOfZeta · 11/13/2006, 09:05 PM

QuoteThe way I remember it, both System 3.0 cards are universal and don't require a converter.

Um...is that even possible?

nat · 11/13/2006, 09:06 PM

Quote from: guest on 11/13/2006, 05:33 PM
Quote from: theoakwoody on 11/13/2006, 05:21 PMOh by the way, my system 3.0 card has stopped working very well with my purple barney for some reason. To get it to work I ahve to rest my SF II case at the end of the card before I turn my system on. I'm sure I'll break it sooner or later but oh well, back to Ys.
The way I remember it, both System 3.0 cards are universal and don't require a converter.

Nope. Just tried it.

TurboXray · 11/13/2006, 09:12 PM

Quote from: theoakwoody on 11/13/2006, 05:21 PMOh by the way, my system 3.0 card has stopped working very well with my purple barney for some reason. To get it to work I ahve to rest my SF II case at the end of the card before I turn my system on. I'm sure I'll break it sooner or later but oh well, back to Ys.

I'm not sure what converter I have, but I had the same problem. Some of the solder joints had come loose - so I just re-soldered them.

theoakwoody · 11/14/2006, 11:18 AM

The problem isn't with the converter. I popped in sf II and it worked the first time I tried it. It must be something with the contacts on the 3.0 card. Oh and I got screwed because my 3.0 card isn't universal.

VestCunt · 11/14/2006, 04:23 PM

Quote from: theoakwoody on 11/14/2006, 11:18 AMOh and I got screwed because my 3.0 card isn't universal.

Don't worry, none of them are. That why you can find Japanese 3.0 cards for $15 and US ones often go for $100+. If you already have a converter just use an Arcade Card. They work fine for SCD's.

CrackTiger · 11/14/2006, 05:24 PM

Quote from: SignOfZeta on 11/13/2006, 09:05 PM

The way I remember it, both System 3.0 cards are universal and don't require a converter.[/quote]
Um...is that even possible?[/quote]
I don't know if I ever tried it with a console, but I once got at least one of the System 3.0 cards to work on a TE/GT.

Maybe it's just the U.S. version.

wooster · 12/12/2006, 04:45 PM

Can someone explain the implicit points behind many of these posts saying a converter is not necessary? A converter is used to use Japanese HuCards with US TurboGrafxs and Duos.

When someone says get a CoreGrafx instead, are they saying the CoreGrafx can already play both Jap Hucards and US turbochips without any conversion? I thought the reason we needed a converter for US consoles was to adjust the physical form factor, and that's it? Apparently not, since I also see references to region codes. does the Coregrafx then play both US and Jap regions while also dealing with the different physical form factors of both Jap Hucards and US turbochips?

And does the Duo-R also play both types of cards?

termis · 12/12/2006, 05:00 PM

Quote from: wooster on 12/12/2006, 04:45 PMWhen someone says get a CoreGrafx instead, are they saying the CoreGrafx can already play both Jap Hucards and US turbochips without any conversion?

Nope. A US Duo/TG-16 can play Jp games with a converter, but any Japanese system will require an internal hardware mod (to ground pin 29 of one of the IC chips), THEN you can use the converter.

Physically, both US and JP cards have the same dimensions. The cards will fit in the other country's system, but it won't work, because the contact pins are arranged in different orders.

QuoteAnd does the Duo-R also play both types of cards?

Same as above. Internal mod + converter required.

In addition, a region switch can be installed so you don't have to use a converter.
https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=1829.0

VestCunt · 12/12/2006, 05:42 PM

Quote from: thumpin_termis on 12/12/2006, 05:00 PMNope. A US Duo/TG-16 can play Jp games with a converter, but any Japanese system will require an internal hardware mod (to ground pin 29 of one of the IC chips), THEN you can use the converter.

In addition, a region switch can be installed so you don't have to use a converter.

I'm pretty sure most people who go through the trouble of modding their system also install a region switch because converters are so expensive these days. The exception might be the handhelds because space limitations only leave room for the system to be modded one way or the other.

Quote from: wooster on 12/12/2006, 04:45 PMWhen someone says get a CoreGrafx instead, are they saying the CoreGrafx can already play both Jap Hucards and US turbochips without any conversion?

They're saying that a cheap TG16 or Coregrafx as a secondary system is an easy alternative to installing a region switch or buying a $100+ converter. For example, I have a SuperGrafx, Super CD-Rom2 and arcade card. I can play everything but domestic Turbochips. Rather than installing a region switch on my Supergrafx, I picked up a cheap TG16 and Turbobooster Plus.

CrackTiger · 12/12/2006, 09:44 PM

Quote from: wooster on 12/12/2006, 04:45 PMCan someone explain the implicit points behind many of these posts saying a converter is not necessary? A converter is used to use Japanese HuCards with US TurboGrafxs and Duos.

When someone says get a CoreGrafx instead, are they saying the CoreGrafx can already play both Jap Hucards and US turbochips without any conversion? I thought the reason we needed a converter for US consoles was to adjust the physical form factor, and that's it? Apparently not, since I also see references to region codes. does the Coregrafx then play both US and Jap regions while also dealing with the different physical form factors of both Jap Hucards and US turbochips?

And does the Duo-R also play both types of cards?

Pretty much every Turbochip game is available cheaper as a PCE HuCard and almost none require reading to play. So you can buy a cheap reliable Duo R/RX and play pretty much everything as cheap as possible and play Arcade Card games without messing with a convertor that can cause problems.

Convertors usually sell for more than actual hardware, most people can't do mods themselves and almost no one offers custom Turbo/PCE mods for $$$.

Turbo Duo's have overheating problems. But it just makes more sense to play hundreds of PCE HuCards without a convertor than to wear out your card slot using a convertor over and over again just so you can play dozens of Turbochips without a convertor. Especially when a TG-16 is dirt cheap and connvertors are super expensive.

Because the whole point of convertors is to save money right? Otherwise people would just buy the most expensive U.S. & Japanese hardware instead.

You can buy a reliable PCE Duo R/RX + TG-16 + even a friggin SuperGrafx (and probably squeeze in an Arcade Card) for the price of a single Turbo Duo, let alone the added cost of a convertor.

Do the math (256 bits for the price of 8 bits).

termis · 12/13/2006, 03:11 PM

Quote from: guest on 12/12/2006, 05:42 PM
Quote from: thumpin_termis on 12/12/2006, 05:00 PMNope. A US Duo/TG-16 can play Jp games with a converter, but any Japanese system will require an internal hardware mod (to ground pin 29 of one of the IC chips), THEN you can use the converter.

In addition, a region switch can be installed so you don't have to use a converter.
I'm pretty sure most people who go through the trouble of modding their system also install a region switch because converters are so expensive these days.

Yeah, you're probably right on that point.

Quote from: guest on 12/12/2006, 05:42 PMThe exception might be the handhelds because space limitations only leave room for the system to be modded one way or the other.

I've read of it being done, yet I've never seen a picture of it. I'm not sure if the normal 3" push-button everyone uses would fit in there. One other way to mod it is using an IC circuit that may take less room than tons of wires flying around, so that could be a solution. I've also seen what seems to be a smaller 8PDT slide switch in some pics floating around, so that could be the other viable option - if you can find anywhere that sells that particular switch, that is...

Quote from: guestPretty much every Turbochip game is available cheaper as a PCE HuCard and almost none require reading to play. So you can buy a cheap reliable Duo R/RX and play pretty much everything as cheap as possible and play Arcade Card games without messing with a convertor that can cause problems.

This is true. I can actually only think of Cadash being one game where you might want the US Turbochip version, but other than that, all other games are just as well with the JP version. (I'm sure there are other worthy games where you might want English, but Cadash is all I can think of!)

The only reason why I decided on a switch is the fact that I hate the idea of whipping out a separate system just to play some US TurboChip games (though I seem to have plenty of PCE systems!). And converters have all the problems that CrackTiger mentioned.

Call me lazy, I guess.