which Duo to get? *edit*-question added

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Fri Feb 04, 2005 8:12 pm

i want to buy a pc engine duo, but given that there are 3 releases (Duo, R, RX), i am wondering if any one release is superior. also, there have been a few posts about the "short lifespan" of some duos, does this line up with a particular model? thanks.

OmegaFlareX · Post by **OmegaFlareX** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 3:35 am

I've heard that the original model Duo is sturdier than the R and RX. Unfortunately, I can't confirm this. I do know that you'll pay a bit more for the R model and a lot more for the RX model (but it has that cool controller).

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 3:57 am

Unless you're totally set on a Duo, I'd get either a PC Engine, or a Turbo Grafx 16. Duo's seem to die faster then just about any other CD-based console I know of.

99pence · Post by **99pence** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 9:40 am

Get which ever one you like the look of most.

If you want to play CD games you're better off with a Duo clearly.

I've never heard people moaning about PC Engines being unreliable before. You've got to remember you're basically buying a 10+ year old CD player. Plus it needs to have been well looked after so it's always going to be a bit of a gamble buying one.

Naiera · Post by **Naiera** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 11:27 am

OmegaFlareX wrote:I've heard that the original model Duo is sturdier than the R and RX. Unfortunately, I can't confirm this. I do know that you'll pay a bit more for the R model and a lot more for the RX model (but it has that cool controller).

It's the other way around. The R and RX models are the sturdier ones.

Personally, I'm quite satisfied with my regular Duo. I'd go for an R if I could choose any though. Just got this one I have now because it was quite cheap and it came with an RGB mod.

dave4shmups · Post by **dave4shmups** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 5:31 pm

All I know is that I asked Turbo Zone Direct if the CD part of the Duo has a short life-span, and they said this in response:

"I cannot say short lifespan, but it seems to be the Achilles heel."

That having been said, I have been told on that the original Duo was made with sturdier parts then the Duo-R.

Naiera · Post by **Naiera** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 5:41 pm

dave4shmups wrote: "I cannot say short lifespan, but it seems to be the Achilles heel."

This is the first I've heard of this. Go with the general consensus and ignore the statement by "Turbo Zone Direct"...

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Sat Feb 05, 2005 6:34 pm

i am looking for a CD based NEC console (one of the turbos). i want a japanese model because i already have a turbografx 16 and want to play the cd games as well as the jp hu-cards. thanks for the info everyone!

PC Engine Fan X! · Post by **PC Engine Fan X!** » Tue Feb 08, 2005 10:24 pm

I bought my Turbo Duo brand new back in November 1994 for a cheap $100 and it turns out it was the last one in stock at my local Good Guys. Meanwhile, at some Toys-R-Us stores (like in San Francisco) that were still selling Turbo Duos at that same time period, they were selling for the regular retail price of $299.99.

Again, getting ahold of an original "boxy" Hu-Card convertor or even a Kisado convertor will set you back at $100.00 or more!

Just remember to buy a NEC Tennokoe Bank Rom-Ram Hu-Card to save your Duo game saves for posterity (as it is known that the Duo can lose it's "Backup Ram" if it's not turned on every few months to recharge the internal capacitor that supplies the juice needed for the "backup memory" of your TG-16 Hu-Card & Duo game saves).

I learned the hard way and learned that a Tennokoe Bank Hu-card is necessary in addition to owning a NEC Duo console of any kind.

Of course, there's the optional NEC Turbo Booster Plus that has the built-in "Backup Ram" save feature for the original TG-16 console but it still requires that you turn it on to refresh the internal capacitor to keep your game saves.

PC Engine Fan X! ^_~

supaT · Post by **supaT** » Thu Feb 10, 2005 11:53 am

Slightly OT: Does anyone know whether it is true if you cut off the power / open CD-Loader in busy-state from the Duo it wont boot up again? (Why you should always 'lock' the CD-Drive).

Just curious, because a friend of mine told me that and I am not going to test it

.

captain ahar · Post by **captain ahar** » Sat Feb 19, 2005 7:21 pm

I have recently bought a PC Engine Duo and am waiting for it to arrive.
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Couple questions though about the system cards:

-How many System Card releases were there (not including the Arcade Card)?

-What System Card did the PC Engine Duo ship with?

-Can I play all CD-Rom format games (aside from Arcade Card releases) out of the box?
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Thanks for the help. I remember that this information was readily available on the old forums, but don't remember seeing it here.

Post by **Ghegs** » Sat Feb 19, 2005 8:32 pm

captain ahar wrote:-How many System Card releases were there (not including the Arcade Card)?

-What System Card did the PC Engine Duo ship with?

-Can I play all CD-Rom format games (aside from Arcade Card releases) out of the box?

I believe it goes like this...

-There was 1.0, 2.0, 2.1 and 3.0

-3.0

-Yes.

shmups.system11.org

which Duo to get? edit-question added

which Duo to get? edit-question added

to clarify

Your best bet is a Turbo Duo with Hu-Card convertor...