Turbo Duo

[Press_Start]

Managed to get myself a good set of Turbo Grafx 16 and CD games recently and now looking to get a Turbo Duo system to play them on.

How much does a Turbo Duo system sell today?

[Damaramu]

Well, if you go the Ebay route, prepare to pay out the ass for one.

A few sellers have them with BIN prices jacked up so high that they seemingly have been sitting on the same ones for the last few years.

Example:

BEHOLD! (http://cgi.ebay.com/Turbo-Grafx-16-CD-DUO-System-Keith-Courage-Complete-BOX_W0QQitemZ330187985246QQihZ014QQcategoryZ62054Q QrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQ cmdZViewItem)

[RadiantSvgun]

Bare bones DUOs go on average $250-375. If I were you, I would get a PC-engine Duo and get it region modded. It all depends on what you want to spend. Turbo hobby isn't cheap.

[InsaneDavid]

I'm still waiting for the crazy offer that will make me sell my 'Duo stuff (http://www.classicplastic.net/dvgi/MasterList-turboduo.htm) off.

[jupitersj]

Well, if you go the Ebay route, prepare to pay out the ass for one.

A few sellers have them with BIN prices jacked up so high that they seemingly have been sitting on the same ones for the last few years.

Example:

BEHOLD! (http://cgi.ebay.com/Turbo-Grafx-16-CD-DUO-System-Keith-Courage-Complete-BOX_W0QQitemZ330187985246QQihZ014QQcategoryZ62054Q QrdZ1QQssPageNameZWD1VQQ_trksidZp1638.m118.l1247QQ cmdZViewItem)

How did I know it would be GameSquad ... haha that dude overprices every item he offers on eBay by a crapload :hmm:

[bust3dstr8]

Quoted for truth

Bare bones DUOs go on average $250-375. If I were you, I would get a PC-engine Duo and get it region modded. It all depends on what you want to spend. Turbo hobby isn't cheap.


For the price of a TurboDuo you can get a region modded and video modded
PCE-DuoR. Unless you really want the TurboDuo as a collectors item, this
would be the way to go. There are some killer PCE HuCards:-P, why not leave your options open?

[RadiantSvgun]

Quoted for truth



For the price of a TurboDuo you can get a region modded and video modded
PCE-DuoR. Unless you really want the TurboDuo as a collectors item, this
would be the way to go. There are some killer PCE HuCards:-P, why not leave your options open?


Not to mention a Duo-R has that cool look.

[ScottK]

If you get a TurboDuo, whatever you do...don't play Meteor Blaster DX on it. It is known to freeze the cd lens in the far right position. It happened to me. Fortunatly I was able to open it up and reset it. However, I have read elsewhere where others had the same problem and it totally messed their system or sound up. I would restrict that game to emulation only.

[Steve W]

Wow, I didn't know that TurboDuos cost so much for barebones units. I feel incredibly lucky that I picked up one pretty cheap a year or two ago.

[RadiantSvgun]

Wow, I didn't know that TurboDuos cost so much for barebones units. I feel incredibly lucky that I picked up one pretty cheap a year or two ago.

I got one on the cheap too, but the repairs brought me up to about $250.

[Steve W]

That's the thing about mine, I have no idea if it even works or not. I bought it for $50 from a vendor out at my local flea market that I do a lot of business with. He didn't have any way of testing it, so he let me have it for that price. It even had a copy of Dungeon Explorer II in the drive. It's one of those things that I would like to get running, but I'm afraid that it won't work. For example, I bought an Astrocade in the box with a dozen games from another vendor out at the flea market, but it wasn't tested. After reading online about the high failure rate of those things, I put it aside and didn't try it out for several months. Finally I broke down and tried it, and luckily it worked. I'm just putting off testing the Duo because I like thinking that I have a working unit rather than trying it out and discovering it's dead.

[RadiantSvgun]

That's the thing about mine, I have no idea if it even works or not. I bought it for $50 from a vendor out at my local flea market that I do a lot of business with. He didn't have any way of testing it, so he let me have it for that price. It even had a copy of Dungeon Explorer II in the drive. It's one of those things that I would like to get running, but I'm afraid that it won't work. For example, I bought an Astrocade in the box with a dozen games from another vendor out at the flea market, but it wasn't tested. After reading online about the high failure rate of those things, I put it aside and didn't try it out for several months. Finally I broke down and tried it, and luckily it worked. I'm just putting off testing the Duo because I like thinking that I have a working unit rather than trying it out and discovering it's dead.

I actually bought my Duo knowing it was broke. But the deal was good enough that I couldn't pass up. I really recommend testing yours to see it if works or not. Even broken it can net over $100.

[RadiantSvgun]

http://cgi.ebay.com/NEC-Turbo-Duo-Console-TurboDuo-Grafx-TurboGrafx-16-CD_W0QQitemZ260215267319QQihZ016QQcategoryZ62054QQ ssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

There you go. Still a lot of days left too.

Oh yeah, keep your hands off the Cotton, thats mine.

[gepeto]

Someone here was selling one not long ago for like around 200.00

[MadTitan]

If you are still looking for one I saw one on ebay earlier for 199 buy it now with 1 dollar shipping. Thats the best deal i've seen in a while. Just search for Turbo Duo system.

[Press_Start]

Thanks, guys.

But a question just entered my head, is the Turbo Duo capable of playing both US and Japan HuCards and CDs?

If not, is the PC-Engine Duo R capable of playing both US and Japan games? If not, where can I get region-modded versions and for how much?

[RadiantSvgun]

Only CDs are region-free. HU-cards are locked out. Either of the DUO or CD systems will play the CD games. (The CDs require the proper system cards.)

You could buy a converter, but most of the turbo community considers them junk. You need to check out www.oldschoolgamer.ca - they can do region mods. Actually, the oldschoolgamer is run by the technical forum moderator, omendon. Check with him. They installed a region switch that works like magic on mine.

[bust3dstr8]

NEC hardware can get a bit confusing.

Also, one thing to note. A US Duo can't play the Arcade CD's, since the
Arcade bios was only released on a Japanese system card.

[InsaneDavid]

NEC hardware can get a bit confusing.

Also, one thing to note. A US Duo can't play the Arcade CD's, since the
Arcade bios was only released on a Japanese system card.

Yes it can, but you need either a HuCARD region mod or converter board to accept the Arcade Card Duo.

Info on formats and systems is here (http://pcenginefx.com/main/nec_compatibility_guide.html).

[RadiantSvgun]

It all depends on what you want to play. That link that InsaneDavid sent you is perfect. I got my DUO modded mainly for the reason of the Arcade Card.

[smork]

Wouldn't a Japanese Duo + US TG16 be the best route? You could play anything, and probably cheaper, too. Not as nice as one system, but still...

[InsaneDavid]

Wouldn't a Japanese Duo + US TG16 be the best route? You could play anything, and probably cheaper, too. Not as nice as one system, but still...

Or a USA DUO and a Japanese Core Grafx, which is the set up I know many people use.

[RadiantSvgun]

Or a USA DUO and a Japanese Core Grafx, which is the set up I know many people use.

I wanted to use a setup like this or vice versa. However, the price of a core grafx, or white pc-engine has shot waaay up in price lately. It was more economical for me to have the duo modded.

Even TG-16s have risen in price lately.

[bust3dstr8]

.....or a SuperGrafx with RAU-30 conected to a IFU-30 with CD-ROM2
and a TG-16:yipes:

[RadiantSvgun]

.....or a SuperGrafx with RAU-30 conected to a IFU-30 with CD-ROM2
and a TG-16:yipes:

Or you could just region mod that supergrafx. That setup would play the entire library. But thats really expensive.

[Steve W]

How much have TurboGrafx-16 units been going for? I've come across one or two in the past (one was suspiciously rust covered on it's metal surfaces) that I passed on.

[RadiantSvgun]

I used to get them for 15-25, now they are upwards of 40-50. The Duo is actually the cheaper route in the long run, since a Turbo grafx, Turbo Grafx CD, and a US system card 3.0 will cost way over $300.

[Overbite]

I was planning on getting a duo but they're so damn expensive I ended up emulating it instead.

[RadiantSvgun]

I was planning on getting a duo but they're so damn expensive I ended up emulating it instead.

Its not as expensive as its made out to be, you just need to be prepared to invest at least 200.

[turbokon]

Or you could just region mod that supergrafx. That setup would play the entire library. But thats really expensive.

but the supergrafx is so ulgy compared to the us duo. Every time I see thing it reminds of some secret highly clarified military equipment.

[-hellvin-]

God daymn I can not believe these things are so expensive now. I don't remember them being that much about 2 years ago when I got mine. Mine I was lucky enough to get for 50 bucks. It was an auction for a non working duo. The guy said it played cds all right and that hu cards did not work at all, just a white screen.

Received it in the mail...no problems, AT ALL. SWEET! Still going strong today.

[SnowKitty]

but the supergrafx is so ulgy compared to the us duo. Every time I see thing it reminds of some secret highly clarified military equipment.

true o.o the duo does look pretty damn cool...

[turbokon]

Only CDs are region-free. HU-cards are locked out. Either of the DUO or CD systems will play the CD games. (The CDs require the proper system cards.)

You could buy a converter, but most of the turbo community considers them junk. You need to check out www.oldschoolgamer.ca - they can do region mods. Actually, the oldschoolgamer is run by the technical forum moderator, omendon. Check with him. They installed a region switch that works like magic on mine.

I'm offering region mod as well. Check out my post, http://www.digitpress.com/forum/showthread.php?t=114644.