Want to get a PC Engine but don't know which one

What I mean by that is, should I get just the white small PC Engine that plays just the HuCards or should I go further and get a Turbo DUO that has built in CDROM or the Duo RX or even the super Grafx.

There are some CD games that I would love to have, one of them being Super Raiden but I'm thinking it will work only on a Supergrafx system and the CDROM unit. My question about that is, will the regular CDROM unit for the 1st generation PC ENgine work on Supergrafx? I'm confused by all these different t ypes of PC Engine variations. I want to make sure i get the kind that can play most, if not, all the games for the system.

So please give me a rundown on this console and its many variations and the kind of games that willwork on them.

Because right now on ebay, I'm seeing auctions for Turbo DUO RX, the Turbo DUO. Two SuperGrafx auctions, PC Engine with CDROM and interface and some games for it.

 

Get a Duo, specifically a PCE Duo as you'll find suckage in hucards. Also PCE + America = ugh.

 

There are loads of excelent games on CD that you'll miss if you just go for a HuCard-only white/core unit. However, depends upon your financial status atm. Even if you get a white/core unit now, you can add a CD rom later. But really, go for a Duo/R/RX.

At the end of the day, there are only 6 SuperGraphx games. Yes the SG will play all Hucards and CD games. And yes, it will work with all CD versions. If you do get a SG, you'll need a Super CD Rom 2. If you go for an original white CD drive with docking station, youll need an interface unit, whereas a CDRom2 plugs straight on to the back of a SG. But the SG is an ugly beasty....

PC Engine models -
White original unit
White CD Rom + docking case
Grey Core
Grey Core2
Super CD Rom 2
Duo
Duo R
Duo RX
Laptop (LT) mmmmmm, nice
GT/Turbo Express
SuperGraphx

IMHO, go for a Duo R/RX cos they look lovely.

Hope this helps. Have fun, dude...

 

Ahh, reminds me of Marge in the Simpsons....

lol.

Anyway...

Can someone tell me the exact differences between the Duo, Duo R and Duo RX? Did I not read somewhere that the RX actually is missing something the R has?

 

The Duo RX comes with a PCFX style 6 button pad, the original Duo has most features i think, which may just be a headphone socket or something minimal.

If you're going to get just a base unit, i'd suggest either Core Grafx over the white for having composite out from the box (*(White needs an av booster unit).

 

Do any have RGB out? (yeah I know the machine is quite old!)

 

Nope. You have to mod all PC Engines for RGB out. But the mod really is worth doing, believe me, it looks gorgeous running through RGB Scart.

 

I just snagged a Core Grafx on eBay. I already own a US Turbo Duo, so I can play most of the CD games (I can't play arcade card CDs)

I would say that you should just get a PC Engine first...more specifically a Core Grafx 1 or 2...as like they said, a white PC Engine will only output RF. It will be a good way to get to see if you like the system, without commiting too much. Later on, you could upgrade if you see fit.

Oh, and PC egine is so cute too!

Sidenote...what is the difference between Core Grafx I and II...aside frome the color. I can't find anything.

 

Maybe a slight MoBo revision? Never seen inside to compare.

 

Thanks for the replies you guys. I did some further research. Turns out the original Duo has more features than the RX but the RX is more expensive right now on ebay. I might go with the SG/SUper CDROM 2 unit combo if it lets me play Super Raiden, which btw I'm a huge fan of the series. I'm already trying to get Raiden DX for PSX which is the port of Raiden DX for the arcade, my favorite one of them all imo.

 

What about the Shuttle? :-D

 

The SGX is pretty weak, unless you're into the 5 games it plays. The Shuttle... a fancy card-only system (no thanks). I've got a Duo-RX, and have never once used the other 4 buttons on the pad. Get a Duo or a Duo-R. They'll play all Japanese Hucards and SCDs, and ACDs (Sapphire!) if you get the card.

 

PCE Duo (1)s are the sexiest.

 

Out of interest, has anyone ever seen inside a Shuttle?

Is it a new MoBo revision with the expansion port removed, or just a normal Core MoBo with the exp port covered over?

As for the PC-FX, I reckon it loks pretty cool. But what is inside that casing; surely it can't all be taken up with the hardware? Pity the FX didn't have backwards compatibility with all PCEngine CD games, along with a HuCard socket.

 

Yeah, as everyone here has pretty much said, you will be able to play Super CD-ROM games on a normal Duo/PCE CD setup if you have the System Card 3.0.

 

I think I read on a "50 secrets of the PC Engine" or something that the expansion is under the casing of the Shuttle, though may not function?? I'll try and dig up the article.

Its here, interesting read in general http://nfg.2y.net/games/pce/

Everyone knows Briefcase CD Rom2 set up is the proper bo!

 

As you can see on this page the PCE Shuttle is missing a few pins needed for CD operation. In addition it's a lot smaller. It's perfectly possible to hack this to run a CD ROM if you're feeling silly.

In addition to the video bus pins (never used by any expansion device, BTW) the shuttle lacks /CE, /IRQ2, and all the audio + video pins. The CD modules have extra sound functionality and they mix this new audio, along with the CD audio, and pass it through the CD audio output. For this reason you have to pass the audio signals through to the CD system.

 

btw, if you have a normal PC Engine, you can get it to output composite + RCA audio through the Interface Unit which is also used to connect the CD addon.

Oh and could anybody enlighten me on the PCE upgrade cards?

 

For CD Rom2 use there is System Card 1.0, 2.0 & 3.0.

3.0 is Super CD Rom2/Duo standard, it plays all CDs up till then except Altered Beast.

Arcade Card Duo is for the Super CDRom2 & Duo systems, Arcade Card Pro for the older CD Rom2 briefcase to bring them up to ACD standard.

 

Put another way, there's three kinds of CDs:

CD ROMs (System Card)
Super CDs (Super System Card, Duo, Super CDROM)
Arcade CDs (Arcade Card Duo/Pro)

All are downward compatible.

The Arcade Card Duo uses its own RAM + System RAM, so you can't use it on the original CD ROM. The Arcade Card PRO works with everything - all hardware, all software.