CDX vs. Genesis & Sega CD [Archive] - Retrogaming Roundtable

Wraith Storm

02-07-2010, 02:09 AM

Seconded. It's cheaper than the CDX and even has limited built-in support for some Japanese import games.

What do you mean by limited? Limited as in it will play some imports without the need of a region mod? Limited as in it will boot imports but they will be prone to freezing?

Please explain, I would really like to know more.

As for the CDX compared to the Genesis + Sega CD, it is certainly a space saver, less cord clutter as it only requires 1 PS, and as mentioned above the locking spindle is a welcome addition. The downside is that for whatever reason, the CDX will not run the Terminator and Jurrasic Park Sega CD games. Both of them are excellent games in my opinion.

Other than that I can't say that I have any big issues between them.

The 1 2 P

02-07-2010, 02:54 AM

What do you mean by limited? Limited as in it will play some imports without the need of a region mod? Limited as in it will boot imports but they will be prone to freezing?

Please explain, I would really like to know more.

I mean that it's cartridge slot is wide enough that all Japanese games fit into it(a problem that early Genesis systems have because they were built to only play whatever region games you bought the Genesis from).

The limited part is that it still won't play any cartridges that have built in region lock-outs. For instance, on my JVC-X Eye I can play every import game I have except for the Japanese version of TMNT: The Hyperstone Heist. Once the Konami screen loads it freezes there. But for all my other import games I don't have any problems playing them. There are obviously more games out there with region lock-outs built in, but I don't have a list and it doesn't matter to me currently because I can play 99.9% of my imports without even using an import convertor. Thats one of the perks of having an X-Eye.

PC-ENGINE HELL

02-07-2010, 03:41 AM

Personally I just was kinda meh over the composite out on the CDX deck, and they are a pain to mod for svideo. A good combo would be a S-video modded early model 1 deck and a Sega Cd2, A Model 2 Genesis/Sega Cd 2 combo in conjunction with a 32X to help clean up the composite out, or a X-eye. X-eye is a great deck all around. I have two here, one I use, one as a spare. They can be modded easy for region switch and s-video too.

I have a spare 32X in the box, and a Genesis 2/Sega Cd 2 combo Im heavily considering letting go of. I dont need them, just taking up space. Thinking of selling them together in one lot maybe, and including a spare copy of Final Fight, SF2 Champ, ect. I also have a spare deck of the last Genesis 2 model that uses the Sony CX 1645, so it can be modded for s-video easily. Considering letting it go also. Just another deck I don't need and don't really have the time to mod. Anyway, not sure if you're interested in any of that sorta stuff anyway though.

You should figure out how much you are going to be willing to spend to get the desired results really too. A decent unmodded Genesis 1/Sega Cd model 2 set up will prob run you between $70-100 depending on if you get a lucky deal. X-Eye decks run about the same, sometimes a bit more for a loose system. If you're wanting a CDX you'll spend around $150 or more on average for a solid deck. I can tell you right now the CDX is the hardest to mod and repair of the decks, due to the compact size and construction. I'll never buy one again due to that.

If you want, take a look at this auction here for a boxed Xeye. The price is solid and it looks to be in good condition.
http://cgi.ebay.com/JVC-Xeye-Sega-CD-2-Controllers-Games_W0QQitemZ220552716019QQcmdZViewItemQQptZVide o_Games?hash=item3359f75ef3

DuckTalesNES

02-07-2010, 06:09 AM

Ordered. Thanks for the tip.

-hellvin-

02-07-2010, 07:29 AM

Ordered. Thanks for the tip.

Good plan, enjoy. Awesome console and I'm sure it will bring you much joy.

The 1 2 P

02-07-2010, 06:44 PM

Ordered. Thanks for the tip.

Like Hellvin said, you will enjoy it:)

Wraith Storm

02-08-2010, 01:32 AM

I mean that it's cartridge slot is wide enough that all Japanese games fit into it(a problem that early Genesis systems have because they were built to only play whatever region games you bought the Genesis from).

The limited part is that it still won't play any cartridges that have built in region lock-outs. For instance, on my JVC-X Eye I can play every import game I have except for the Japanese version of TMNT: The Hyperstone Heist. Once the Konami screen loads it freezes there. But for all my other import games I don't have any problems playing them. There are obviously more games out there with region lock-outs built in, but I don't have a list and it doesn't matter to me currently because I can play 99.9% of my imports without even using an import convertor. Thats one of the perks of having an X-Eye.

Ahh okay. Thanks for clearing that up. That's pretty cool I suppose but not a feature that I would make much use of. I have a handful of import Sega CD games but no import Genny titles.

savageone

02-08-2010, 06:36 AM

Between the X'Eye and CDX it's a close call but I'd consider the CDX the better of the two. It's a lot nicer looking (arguably Sega's most well designed hardware) and actually offers something substantial with the compact design. You wont find many people to mod them compared to other Genesis models but this isn't a big deal since if you want the best video output you'd do well to simply use the native RGB (converted to component if need be). There are supposedly some incompatible CD games but I've tried them all on multiple systems and they seemed to work fine, though I can't say I played them all in their entirety. I did with Terminator (which is the big 'incompatible' one) and I went as far in Radical Rex as I could before utter boredom took hold.

That said I wouldn't buy an X'Eye or CDX, at least not at current prices since they've shot way up in the last year or so.. After all the absolute best solution is/has been/likely always will be a 1st generation model 1 Genesis/Sega CD combo. Anything else has some downside or another. It might be trouble with unlicensed/import games, annoying copyright screens, inferior CD BIOS music (model 1 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ElG8ofo3f6o), model 2/cdx (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5LULwAjCEUs), X'Eye (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5wcuiI8LGcY) (lulz btw)), or even risking opening interdimensional portals in your home by hooking up the 32X.

goldenegg

02-08-2010, 07:34 AM

There are supposedly some incompatible CD games but I've tried them all on multiple systems and they seemed to work fine, though I can't say I played them all in their entirety. I did with Terminator (which is the big 'incompatible' one) and I went as far in Radical Rex as I could before utter boredom took hold.

Great to hear someone else hasn't had compatibility issues. I was starting to think it was only me. Terminator runs perfectly on my CDX. Perhaps there are different pressings of the disk?

Breetai

02-08-2010, 08:53 AM

I mean that it's cartridge slot is wide enough that all Japanese games fit into it(a problem that early Genesis systems have because they were built to only play whatever region games you bought the Genesis from).So, for those that have a CDX or a combo unit... just use a Game Genie. You can even play TNMT: THSH with the right code.

TonyTheTiger

02-08-2010, 12:52 PM

The problem is that not every game uses the same code and a comprehensive list of region locked games as well as their respective Game Genie codes hasn't been made as far as I know. I know that NBA Hangtime, for example, doesn't work on foreign hardware and I can't find a code to fix that.

fishsandwich

02-08-2010, 02:00 PM

I've owned two CDX units in my life. Both were aquired used but both worked perfectly when I bought them.

CDX number one quit playing CD titles after a few months. Sold it on Ebay as such.

The second one started to give me issues with the power... it would re-start with the slightest touch. Then the CD drive stopped working. Seems to be a reoccurring problem.

X'Eye all the way!

mrbigreddog

02-08-2010, 02:42 PM

1st Post! I'm new here but been around the block when it comes to retro gaming! I've had my previously used CDX for over 2 years! No problems! It has a 32x always attached and I personally think it reads just a little faster because of the higher firmware version... Terminator works fine. I can't get Final Fight or Prince of Persia to work... But that's not THAT big of a deal!
I also own a Model 1 Genny and a Model 2 Sega CD.... One less power brick! And takes us a 1/4 of the space! It's awesome!

savageone

02-08-2010, 03:52 PM

Really I've never heard so many "broken CDX" stories in my life as I have lately, about 2 years ago I had 5 of them (this was when they were ~$50 loose on eBay, I was mostly buying for the games that came with them) and they all worked perfectly. I wasn't buying mint units or anything either. The only broken Sega CD I've ever personally seen was a model 2.

Great to hear someone else hasn't had compatibility issues. I was starting to think it was only me. Terminator runs perfectly on my CDX. Perhaps there are different pressings of the disk?

I'm starting to wonder about CDX incompatibility, as far as I can tell it doesn't actually exist and is only mentioned in some ancient FAQ. I've plenty of times seen people mention X game doesn't work with X Sega CD system, maybe there are different pressings or perhaps it is all just bad discs? I have a copy of Resident Evil 3 on the PS1 that looks stunningly perfect (*MINT*), but it will lock up in the same spot during the game without fail regardless of what PS system it's in.. Again disc looks perfect, but is in fact bad.

1st Post! I'm new here but been around the block when it comes to retro gaming! I've had my previously used CDX for over 2 years! No problems! It has a 32x always attached and I personally think it reads just a little faster because of the higher firmware version... Terminator works fine. I can't get Final Fight or Prince of Persia to work... But that's not THAT big of a deal!
I also own a Model 1 Genny and a Model 2 Sega CD.... One less power brick! And takes us a 1/4 of the space! It's awesome!

Final Fight and Prince of Persia should work. When I first got the CDX I got the impression the CDX loaded CD games slightly faster as well (nothing really significant mind you), years back I tried running tests by recording audio from Final Fight CD (using model 1, x'eye, and cdx hardware) but I don't think it was the best choice of games to use. Or it might just come down to variance in CD drives, even on modern consoles some drives will load stuff just a bit faster or slower than the norm.

The 1 2 P

02-08-2010, 06:29 PM

So, for those that have a CDX or a combo unit... just use a Game Genie. You can even play TNMT: THSH with the right code.

Tony said it best....

The problem is that not every game uses the same code and a comprehensive list of region locked games as well as their respective Game Genie codes hasn't been made as far as I know. I know that NBA Hangtime, for example, doesn't work on foreign hardware and I can't find a code to fix that.

I have yet to find a code for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist. I remember how easy it was to find region lockout codes for PS1 games because new ones were added all the time, but thats not so for the Genesis/Megadrive. Last time I checked(around a year ago) the only available list had codes for less than 30 titles and they weren't even the most popular titles.

klausien

02-08-2010, 06:54 PM

JVC X'Eye with region switch & S-Video mods FTW. The only thing it can't play are foreign CDs, but that's why there's convscd and others. The MD/Genesis looks awesome in S-Video, despite the reduced effectiveness of dithering. The rumor that the 32X doesn't work was debunked years ago, and the PBC even works with a case mod/bare PCB.

That said, the collector in me says that if I could have one Mega Drive above them all, it would be the original JVC Wondermega. I've always loved how they look. Ferrari of the MD.

j_factor

02-08-2010, 07:21 PM

I'm starting to wonder about CDX incompatibility, as far as I can tell it doesn't actually exist and is only mentioned in some ancient FAQ.

Jurassic Park, in fact, does not work properly on a CDX. I've tried multiple copies of the game on multiple CDX systems. Every time, the game starts up fine, but as soon as you attempt to go beyond the first screen, it hangs.

The Terminator is often listed as being incompatible, but it works fine on my CDX. However, it crashes on my regular model 2. Yet I've heard from other people who say the game works fine on their model 2. It's possible that some CDX systems do have problems with it, and it's somehow an issue with a specific BIOS version. I'm just guessing, though.

The rest of the games that are listed as incompatible are garbage like Who Shot Johnny Rock, which I can't be arsed to attempt to verify.

The only other issue with the CDX is video quality: it's poor, compared to other models. However, that can be rectified with a 32x.

Still, I have to agree that the first version of the Wondermega is probably the ultimate Genesis system (with a region mod of course). The only problem with that is price, and I don't know how difficult the region mod would be.

Arasoi

02-08-2010, 07:44 PM

TonyTheTiger

02-08-2010, 07:50 PM

I have yet to find a code for Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: The Hyperstone Heist. I remember how easy it was to find region lockout codes for PS1 games because new ones were added all the time, but thats not so for the Genesis/Megadrive. Last time I checked(around a year ago) the only available list had codes for less than 30 titles and they weren't even the most popular titles.

Is anybody here a crackshot with Game Genie codes? From what I can tell, there aren't an obscene number of region locked Genesis games. Maybe we can address this problem and produce a comprehensive list.

Slightly OT:

PC Engine hell pointed me towards this multi purpose cart for Genesis/Sega CD systems, it resolves any regional lockouts for CD games as well as some nifty other functions:

http://products.genny4ever.net/megacart_v1x.html

I really wish that worked with the Wondermega.

goldenegg

02-08-2010, 11:00 PM

I really wish that worked with the Wondermega.

It works with the X'Eye, so I don't see why it wouldn't work with the Wondermega.

TonyTheTiger

02-08-2010, 11:50 PM

You'd think, wouldn't you? That's what I figured but apparently it doesn't for some reason.

Arasoi

02-09-2010, 12:28 AM

I'm guessing the Laseractive probably wouldnt work too well with that either..

savageone

02-09-2010, 12:42 AM

Jurassic Park, in fact, does not work properly on a CDX. I've tried multiple copies of the game on multiple CDX systems. Every time, the game starts up fine, but as soon as you attempt to go beyond the first screen, it hangs.

The Terminator is often listed as being incompatible, but it works fine on my CDX. However, it crashes on my regular model 2. Yet I've heard from other people who say the game works fine on their model 2. It's possible that some CDX systems do have problems with it, and it's somehow an issue with a specific BIOS version. I'm just guessing, though.

The rest of the games that are listed as incompatible are garbage like Who Shot Johnny Rock, which I can't be arsed to attempt to verify.

The only other issue with the CDX is video quality: it's poor, compared to other models. However, that can be rectified with a 32x.

Still, I have to agree that the first version of the Wondermega is probably the ultimate Genesis system (with a region mod of course). The only problem with that is price, and I don't know how difficult the region mod would be.

I could have sworn I played JP more in depth on the CDX but trying again I got similar results as you. Traveling between the screens doesn't seem to lock it up though, at least not totally. Letting it sit there for a few minutes and it will finally load the next screen, pretty unplayable like that no less.

I haven't noticed any difference in video quality, but then again I'd say any model Genesis looks like pants if you're not running through RGB. Why there is still talk of S-video mods in the year 2010 I will never know. jej

j_factor

02-09-2010, 01:38 AM

I haven't noticed any difference in video quality, but then again I'd say any model Genesis looks like pants if you're not running through RGB. Why there is still talk of S-video mods in the year 2010 I will never know. jej

Different Geneses have varying video quality, even comparing all of them in RGB. CDX is the weakest. I don't know why people still like to do S-video mods, but, the reason the CDX is the hardest to mod for s-video is because it requires an amp mod, unlike other Genesis models (but similar to the Turbografx). It's kind of moot though, because you can just get a 32x, which has very good video. Although I don't know if you can mod a 32x for S-video or anything, you can get SCART RGB out of it and go from there.

goldenegg

02-09-2010, 10:09 AM

I could have sworn I played JP more in depth on the CDX but trying again I got similar results as you. Traveling between the screens doesn't seem to lock it up though, at least not totally. Letting it sit there for a few minutes and it will finally load the next screen, pretty unplayable like that no less.

I just did a little test. I tried JP on my CDX (the first time I'v ever tried the game) and I got the same behaviour you experienced, although I did get a full hang after playing for ~10min. I then took my disk and copied it on a CD-R. Guess what? No more problems! Game plays perfectly.

So I'm thinking there's something weird with the pressing of the JP disk that causes problems on the CDX. Might be an interesting test in the future for SegaCD games which appear to be 'incompatible'.

RCM

02-09-2010, 10:44 AM

Slightly OT:

PC Engine hell pointed me towards this multi purpose cart for Genesis/Sega CD systems, it resolves any regional lockouts for CD games as well as some nifty other functions:

http://products.genny4ever.net/megacart_v1x.html

I've seen this site but it doesn't look like it has been updated in some time. Anyone buy from here recently?

TonyTheTiger

02-09-2010, 11:12 AM

Why there is still talk of S-video mods in the year 2010 I will never know. jej

Because RGB in North America is a bit of a pain in the ass and RGB to YPbPr converters usually aren't cheap. Also, the Genesis in particular looks amazing in S-Video. The leap from composite to S-Video on the Genesis is far larger than for other consoles.

savageone

02-09-2010, 07:23 PM

I just did a little test. I tried JP on my CDX (the first time I'v ever tried the game) and I got the same behaviour you experienced, although I did get a full hang after playing for ~10min. I then took my disk and copied it on a CD-R. Guess what? No more problems! Game plays perfectly.

So I'm thinking there's something weird with the pressing of the JP disk that causes problems on the CDX. Might be an interesting test in the future for SegaCD games which appear to be 'incompatible'.

That is interesting that a CDR wouldn't produce the same results, good thinking trying it with a CDR. Back when I ran my original tests I had several copies of Jurassic Park and the one I have now is definitely not the one I was testing with. Like I said I was fairly certain I played it more in depth on a CDX so it's possible there are different pressings of the game, some that work on a CDX and some that don't. Sadly I sold off another disc only copy of JP I had just a month or two ago, I wish I still had it now just to run the test. :(

Because RGB in North America is a bit of a pain in the ass and RGB to YPbPr converters usually aren't cheap. Also, the Genesis in particular looks amazing in S-Video. The leap from composite to S-Video on the Genesis is far larger than for other consoles.

Converters can be had for only ~$50, that is less than the total cost of a single s-video mod and will work on any system with compatible output. It makes sense even for a single system, but if you're using it on several the money saved really adds up. You don't have to perforate your system (if you care) and you get even better quality for the about the same price if not far less.

The jump to s-video is a big one but it should be mentioned that has less to do with the Genesis having great s-video output as it does with it simply having horrid composite output.