A Question for TurboGrafx-16 system w/CD owners

[Anthony1]

I have a question for people who have a Turbo Grafx system, with the CD drive attatchment.

What exactly do you need to play CD games?


This is what I have:

1. TurboGrafx-16 system
2. Power Adapter (Actually a Sega Genesis 1 power adapter)
3. Turbo Pad
4. TurboBooster
5. RFU Switch

So to play CD games, I obviously would need the CD drive attachment, but would I also need......

1. A Power Adapter for the CD player?
2. A special HU card that goes into the slot to run the CD player?
3. Any other special wires, or adapters?

And one more question.....

When playing CD games does the TurboBooster get taken out of the equation? Would I only be able to use the RFU Switch, if I'm playing CD games?



The reason that I'm asking these questions, is because I have an opportunity to get the CD drive for the Turbo, but from what I understand, it's just the CD drive with nothing else. It doesn't have a special HU card or a power adapter or anything, so I'm trying to find out what else I would need to have if I ended up getting this thing.

Thanks for any replies.

[AB Positive]

Well, I just got mine in and hooked it up so here's what you need:

1) CD Drive attachment. no brainer
2) Docking Station. You NEED this as that is what you add to the TG unit itself, and then mount the CD-Rom drive on. IT also has two lock switches that keep the components from slipping out.
3) Power supply for the CD rom drive. You will no longer need the TG adapter if you have the docking station/CD rom
4) Some type of system HuCard, be it 1.0, 2.0, or 3.0. It won't run without a card.

as for RF worries, the CD rom drive itself has video outputs, so you don't need to go back to RF. I haven't tested this yet (since I don't have any games that save yet) but I'm sure the save feature of the TurboBooster is also implemented in the docking station.


I hope this helps you out :)

-AG

[Anthony1]

1. So is the power supply for the CD player different?
2. What are the differences between the different system HU cards?


I know that the System 3.0 Hu card is super expensive, but what about 1.0 or 2.0? Where would I find a system HU card by itself?


Basically, it looks like this really wouldn't be a smart buy for me. Even though I could get it super cheap, without having the correct Power Adapter and one of the system cards, it would appear to be useless.

[AB Positive]

2.0 cards are fairly inexpensive, it's what I have.

the CD drive power supply is hard to find, when I traded for the one I have, Maxlords was kind enough to find a replacement. You can mock one up but I'm unsure as to what the voltage, etc... are.

1.0 came with the system initially, 2.0 cards were packed in later. 3.0 cards were sold separatly later, pretty close to when the Duo appeared if I have my timing right.

as for whether it's worth it, it really depends on how much they're asking for.

-AG

[Achika]

I ordered a system card from www.tzd.com a few months ago, I think it was 1.0 and only a few $.

They are out of power supplies, but IIRC it was 11.5 V and maybe around 1300 mA. I'd need to check the polarity though. That was for both the CD Drive & the TG unit.

[maxlords]

Ok....here's the scoop. The System 2 cards are super cheap ($20 or so) but you can't play a TON of the games with them. If you see a US System 1 card, it's really a System 2 card. Plays everything but Super CDs. The actual System 1 card is Japan only. I only learned this recently :) You need a System 3 card to play Super CDs.

The power supply for the docking station is weird as hell. 11.5 V, 1.5 Amps. Basically...no such power supply can be bought...ANYWHERE. However, you CAN use a 12V, 1 Amp one IF you can find one that will fit it. Radio Shack used to make one but they don't anymore. I found one at Wal-Mart by total luck for $25. So you're looking at $40-50 to be able to play MOST games. A System 3 card will run you $75-100 and then you can play EVERYTHING. If you can get a docking station cheap though, GET it, even if you don't want it...someone (like me) will want it. I stockpile TG16 software and hardware myself, so you can always trade it off to someone if you don't want to spend the money to rig it for CD games.

Basically, it's kind of spendy, but if you like the games...do it! If you have the extra money though, I'd go for a Duo...easier to deal with...just costs a lot more up front. This you can build piece by piece over time and if part goes out, you can replace part, not the whole thing.

[Achika]

When I got my System card a few months ago, TZD also had docking stations, which is where I got mine. I think the US Radio Shacks still have those PSU's, since I picked one up shortly after getting the docking station.