Turbo Duo vs PC Engine Duo

[kaotik]

Can the PC Engine Duo play US games and vice versa or do I have to get a Turbo Duo to play games here in the US?

I would like to get back into TG16 game's and want a system that would allow me to play not only the TG16's but games from the other platforms.

Someone please set me straight as it's been years since I have had my TG16.

-Kaotik

[jorel]

so far the way I understand things the best thing to so is to get  a US duo, kisado converter and the arcade card...that will let you play everything save for super grafx and fx  stuff

[kaotik]

Good to know. I saw some PC Engine Duo's on ebay for 99.99 which is what led to this question. Do I have to bide my time now to find a Turbo Duo or is there a shop that still sells them? "Wish I never sold my TG 16"

-Kaotik

[jorel]

ebay? not sure if any shop has them in stock, I haven't seen any...

[dj898]

you can get PC Engine Duo modified to run both JPN/US Hu cards as well as CD for both regions. And at the same time get S-Video output done as well...
besides PC Engine Duo looks like more reliable from what I heard.

I have done similar mod on my SuperGrafx and couldn't be happier...
cheers

p.s. there's a guy called D-Lite does that mod in US

[Jammaniaclord]

you can get PC Engine Duo modified to run both JPN/US Hu cards as well as CD for both regions. And at the same time get S-Video output done as well...
besides PC Engine Duo looks like more reliable from what I heard.

I have done similar mod on my SuperGrafx and couldn't be happier...
cheers

p.s. there's a guy called D-Lite does that mod in US

He's correct folks, i have seen this on the net beofre, and even saw schematics on how to do it. I wouldn't attempt this at home, unless yer a pro at electronics. Send it to this guy D-Lite. Groooooove is in the heaarrrrrrrrt!!!!!!!!!!!!

[jorel]

so where does one find these schematics or get in contact with D-Lite?

[cubanraul]

Here ya go:  http://www.massystems.com/TD-Mod.html

[kaotik]

Is there a converter if I was to buy a PC engine turbo duo to play US game's? Im still hunting for a Turbo Duo but can only find the PC engine Turbo duo. "kicking self for ever selling my TG-16 and all the games"

[dj898]

no but you can have your PC Engine Duo modified to run both JPN/US Hu cards as well as CD/SCD

cheers

[kaotik]

Another question, if I buy a PC Engine Duo-R, can I play US HU card's and CD-Rom games on it along with the Japanese games?

[dj898]

With JPN Duo no the only option would be modifying to run both US/JPN hu cards as well as CD. On the other hand with US Duo you can use converter to run JPN hu cards and it has no country lock out with CD so you can run JPN CD titles without any problem. I'm about to list my Hu Card converter on eBay soon. If you are interested look for the seller "anya1117" on eBay.AU... (I know it's shameless self plug, heh)

[CrackTiger]

The cheapest thing to do is to buy a PC Engine Duo to play JP Hu's and all CD games(also the best way to play ACD's since yoiu don't need a convertor to use an Arcade Card) and a TG16 to play U.S. Turbo Chips.

If money is an issue at all, just pick up the PCE Duo in the meantime.

There are very few U.S. Turbochips/HuCards that need to played in english.

[Keranu]

I got my Turbo Duo last year and I knew back then it would be best to get a PCE Duo and a TG-16, but I couldn't help myself because I thought the American Turbo Duos were just so awesome, even though they are almost the same design as the PCE Duo . I still need a PCE system because I have about 10 PCE Hucards laying around that I can't play. Of course I need to get another job before I can buy one .

[CrackTiger]

I got my Turbo Duo last year and I knew back then it would be best to get a PCE Duo and a TG-16, but I couldn't help myself because I thought the American Turbo Duos were just so awesome, even though they are almost the same design as the PCE Duo . I still need a PCE system because I have about 10 PCE Hucards laying around that I can't play. Of course I need to get another job before I can buy one .

After having problems with my Duo RX & Supergrafx ,I'm loving my Turbo Duo more than ever now.

But I think it mainly means that I'm going to pick up a PCE Duo as soon as I can(I just want one reliable unit that can play ACD's without an adaptor).

[Keranu]

So those DUO RXs don't run so well, eh? Since I need to get a PCE system sometime, I have been deciding on getting a PCE Duo or Duo R/RX. Now that I hear about your problems with the RX, I might want to stick to the normal PCE DUO.

[Necro]

So those DUO RXs don't run so well, eh? Since I need to get a PCE system sometime, I have been deciding on getting a PCE Duo or Duo R/RX. Now that I hear about your problems with the RX, I might want to stick to the normal PCE DUO.

Actually, everything I have read points in the opposite direction there.  I am sure that people do have faulty Duo-Rs and Duo-RXs, but everything I have seen has said that the Turbo Duo and PCE Duo have many more tech problems than the R or RX, specifically the cd drives dying and the audio chips getting messed up from overheating.  I think there are some details about this on d-lite's site actually.  That said, I still recently picked up a Turbo Duo, I just couldn't resist it.  

[esteban]

So those DUO RXs don't run so well, eh? Since I need to get a PCE system sometime, I have been deciding on getting a PCE Duo or Duo R/RX. Now that I hear about your problems with the RX, I might want to stick to the normal PCE DUO.

Actually, everything I have read points in the opposite direction there.  I am sure that people do have faulty Duo-Rs and Duo-RXs, but everything I have seen has said that the Turbo Duo and PCE Duo have many more tech problems than the R or RX, specifically the cd drives dying and the audio chips getting messed up from overheating.  I think there are some details about this on d-lite's site actually.  That said, I still recently picked up a Turbo Duo, I just couldn't resist it.  

Yes, I'd like to hear more about the reliability of different models.  Since the RX was a redesigned (cheaper) model, I was unsure how much cost-cutting NEC took.  

I haven't had enough experience with all the models to provide answers, but here are some things I've heard (I'd love it they could be verified):

1. Supposedly, the TG-CD (and I would assume the PCE-CD) didn't have enough ventilation and this could cause problems. This would be in the actual CD-ROM drive (removable) and not the base unit.

2. The DUO-R and DUO-RX, being redesigned & "budget" models, might have used some cost-cutting, lower-quality components.

3. The DUO-R and DUO-RX corrects/improves upon the original DUO / TurboDUO and is thus more reliable (as stated in previous post).

PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: I have TG-16 + TG-CD, TurboDuo, PC-Engine.  I got the TG-CD in 1990 and haven't had problems with it (well, it's finicky with certain CDs and can't be smacked around... but that's the way it always was).  The TurboDuo, despite being newer and receiving FAR LESS gaming hours than my TG-CD, started getting flaky shortly after I purchased it (the CD drive far more finicky than the TG-CD and takes a couple passes to read a CD).  So, perhaps I was lucky, because my TG-CD is still the most reliable hardware.  AND, it endured long hot summers because my parents didn't have air conditioning when i was a kid. A friend of mine has a PCE DUO that has been totally abused (dropped multiple times) and it still works wonderfully, so go figure.

Of course, these anecdotes might not be representative of the overall trends.

Note: I think a distinction between "new" and "used" hardware is important to this discussion.  If you buy used, you don't know the history of the item.  I bought my US DUO used (complete in box and it seemed it was barely used)... but it's had problems.  Now, is that because US DUO, in general, tend to be flaky.... or because something happened to it...

[CrackTiger]

Ya, every system I've bought new has never given me any problems.

I just bought a Supergrafx & Duo RX from big name sellers on eBay and both have issues.

Its not worth it to return them because I already paid duty on them.

My Supergrafx plays Daimakaimura fine, but I have to try several Hu Cards several times to get them to work(of course, I tested it with like 80 different Hu's). It seems to be doing better since I cleaned the card slot.

I haven't found my lens cleaner yet, I'm hoping that it might help the 'RX, since it was filthy(just like the SG) when I got it.

[Keranu]

The only Turbo/PCE system I own and have ever owned is a Turbo Duo and it seems to be flawless, except one time I played without putting the CD cover lock on and the drive was quite load when it was loading. A friend I talk to online (Dhardyboyz if you know him Steve) has had a Turbo Duo for many years and he dropped a lamp on it once that melted the HuCard portion I believe and he says it still works fine.

I would also like to know if it's true that the Turbo Duo has slightly faster loading times than the TGCD.

[CrackTiger]

The only Turbo/PCE system I own and have ever owned is a Turbo Duo and it seems to be flawless, except one time I played without putting the CD cover lock on and the drive was quite load when it was loading. A friend I talk to online (Dhardyboyz if you know him Steve) has had a Turbo Duo for many years and he dropped a lamp on it once that melted the HuCard portion I believe and he says it still works fine.

I would also like to know if it's true that the Turbo Duo has slightly faster loading times than the TGCD.

I once stepped on the AC cable right where it plus into the Duo.

The whole circuit board(size of a thumb) got ripped up and the AC in got pulled into the system.

Since there wasn't anything like the internet, I not only couldn't get any help, I also couldn't get the bit to open the system up. So I took some sharp plyers to it and ripped open a giant hole around the opening.

It's worked fine to this day, with the giant hole and everything.

It was only last week that I finally got around to patching it up properly. Since I now have the bit, I opened it up, screwed the little circuit board down in place, and crazy glue a matching plate over the hole.

Unrelated to the hole, there was a time when my Duo screached and whined and missed loads stuff, but it passed. Maybe the lens just got out of alignment, maybe it just needed several cleanings.

But in the end, these types of things aren't necessarily permanent.

Also, if anyone ever has their PCE CD get stuck during a load, just open the cd door until the light goes off, then close it. It start the search new any almost always finds it way right off.

[Keranu]

Video games can have such trauma if they are damaged! Lets pretend there is a hospital for humans and a hospital for video games right next to it and my mom is in need of an emergency to the hosptial and then my Duo breaks - I think I might have to tell my mom to hang in there for a little while before I could rush her to the hospital   .

[Necro]

Here are a couple links over to the Neo-Geo.com forums where you can read more about the common audio problem with the Turbo Duo as well as the PC Engine Duo and what d-lite has to say about them.  According to d-lite the R and RX are not effected by the problem:

http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106243
http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83221

[D-Lite]

Here are a couple links over to the Neo-Geo.com forums where you can read more about the common audio problem with the Turbo Duo as well as the PC Engine Duo and what d-lite has to say about them.  According to d-lite the R and RX are not effected by the problem:

http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=106243
http://www.neo-geo.com/forums/showthread.php?t=83221

Nope, they seem immune.

I posted quite a bit in the other thread here on this topic, but I'll add a bit here.

One thing I noticed with regular black Duo units is that there is definitely something with the CD reading the disc that can be a problem and this seems to be the lid.  As mentioned above, the lock can affect performance and this seems to be related to the stability of the spinning disc.  I have a project for everyone.  If you have a balky Duo, trying playing a CD game with a hand pressed firmly, but not HARD on the CD lid.  Or a heavy book.  See if the audio works.

[esteban]

Thank you all for the links and discussion on hardware issues.  

[msb_1971]

Some very interesting information here, this is a great thread.

I just purchased a Duo-RX, nearly new condition in the original box; it looks great I am very happy with it. I purchased it from D-Lite, he also moded it before I received it. It has the region selector switch on the back this mod, which he offers on his site, is less than cost of a converter on eBay, with nothing to loose. I also had the Super VHS mod done as well, it is awesome I will try to make some videos in super VHS mode vs. regular composite video.

I think there is some real flawed logic here about the relative quality of the various models of Duo's. Having been involved with electronics for some time I find the logical order of actual device quality is Dou (lowest quality), Duo R (middle quality) and the Duo RX (highest quality).

How can I say this? I know I've heard all the arguments, the Duo RX was made to be cheaper, I know, I know.  The primary cost saving measure in the production of the R and RX was the removal of the headphone jack.

The other and more obvious cost saving measure on the R and the RX respectively is quite frankly the date of production. The NEC consoles, not unlike any computer-based device would become cheaper to produce each year as production methods improved and streamed lined. In addition to becoming increasingly inexpensive to produce the quality would also improve. Any person who has actively used computers for any amount of time knows the chips, all chips become better, faster and cheaper every year.

As far as I can tell the Duo was produced starting in 1991, the R in March of 1993, and the RX in June of 1994. The actual cost of producing the primary processor chips and peripheral chip sets would have improved dramatically from 91 to 94. Not to mention the improvement in the quality of CD drives. I hear often the problems playing burnt, copied games, on the original Duo and the higher rate of success using burnt games on Duo RX machines. This is far from a random occurrence. Each year that passed the components improved in kind.

I think it is logical to assume like any computer related device the newer the better. I guess time will ultimately show us which machines were built to last the longest.

I would also like to say most of the reliability of these devices would be dictated by their use and treatment since their production.  I also think this entire dialog is mostly intellectual, if you have a Pc engine, a Duo, a Turbografx 16 with CD rom or the Duo R or RX, and it works then that's what should matter most.

Thanks for a great Thread.

[twor2005]

Near as I can tell the TG CD is the most reliable. I got one around 1992 and used it heavily for several years for games and cds. It probably helps to avoid cdrs since it has to work harder to read them. Mine finally keeled over at the end of the 90s after HEAVY use, but I was able to get a brand new drive for it off TZD, right before they quit repairing.

3 months ago I got a used PC Engine Duo off Ebay and had to self-repair it within 2 weeks. The laser housing was stuck, but since then I've had no problems. I use it very sparingly though.

Off topic: I used to think the Duo was so cool looking.. how times have changed! It looks so late 80s/early 90s now, with the "fly" zig zag line.

[OldRover]

Has anyone ever thought of the idea of perhaps building new Duo units? I don't know how accessible the processor is (probably not at all... ) but if it could be done, would anyone take it up? I know I would for sure...and improve the design at the same time with more robust drives...

[CrackTiger]

Has anyone ever thought of the idea of perhaps building new Duo units? I don't know how accessible the processor is (probably not at all... ) but if it could be done, would anyone take it up? I know I would for sure...and improve the design at the same time with more robust drives...

Maybe someone could emulate the system in a chip and then make a shell containing the rest.

[DragonmasterDan]

Has anyone ever thought of the idea of perhaps building new Duo units? I don't know how accessible the processor is (probably not at all... ) but if it could be done, would anyone take it up? I know I would for sure...and improve the design at the same time with more robust drives...

Maybe someone could emulate the system in a chip and then make a shell containing the rest.

The PCEngine wasn't quite as popular as the Famicom which is so heavily copied that FOC (Famicom On Chip) based systems have been floating around for years. The PC Engine is also going to be quite a bit more difficult to properly emulate, remember the Laseractive using the actual chips had trouble with some games. It's a possibility, but it would require far more work than its worth.