Just bought a pc engine duo! Tips welcome!

[BricatSegaFan]

So I recently won a eBay auction on a pc engine duo, mainly so I could get into the stellar shmup catalog.

I've seen system cards and arcade cards and ahhhh what does it all mean?! I've heard that the caps ate prone to failure but ill cross that bridge when its time.

So fellow DP members I'm asking for some pointers on this system and maybe some game suggestions, any help is greatly appreciated.

Oh and here's a pic of what I won.

[bust3dstr8]

The Arcade Card Duo is for the last released CD games that need more RAM.
Mostly the Neo Geo ports and games like Sapphire. The Duo had the 3.0 System
Bios built in and will run most of the CD library. There are a few games that need
a special Bios card to run. Altered Beast and the Game Express titles are some ifc.

The time to do the caps is right now. The longer they sit the more damage they do.
The corrosion will eat up pads, destroys traces and can travel into and damage ICs.
Also the longer they sit the harder the repair becomes and can cost more down the line.


For shooter goodness I always loved the Soldier Series, Compile games, Gradius II and Lords of Thunder

[BricatSegaFan]

I shall heed your advice and get new caps. Although I'm not sure where they go but I suppose googling it wouldnt hurt.

I have lords of thunder on the Sega cd but I've heard its vastly inferior to the Pc engine. Gradius sounds like a solid choice, I heard air zonk is good as well.

[EricL]

Well, you've bought it so too late now, but have you played some of the great, classic shooters? When I think of shooters I usually don't think of 16-bit. I've taken a look at some of the PC Engine games but haven't found anything I liked. I own a TurboGrafx-16 but that's all.

[Tron 2.0]

As bust suggested id highly suggest getting it's capacitors replaced,all of them ! If you don't they will leak causing sound issue problems.Not to mention there are av mods for the duo,s-video or even component ask over at the pcenginefx.com forums about it.The pce duo itself can 'also "have a region switch put in" for playing u.s hucards but it's not a must.

By the way if you're put off by what some hucards go for there is the turbo everdrive.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y0nun1TQVLs

Also if you need reviews try spida1a of turbo views.
http://www.youtube.com/user/spida1a

[bust3dstr8]

The first person that comes to mind if you need a console cap kit is FABombjoy.

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/member.php?74-FABombjoy

[Ryudo]

Awesome! Today I won a TG16 on Ebay

[BricatSegaFan]

Thanks for the input guys! So I also got a duo cap kit that has a handy chart of what goes where, the only obstacle now is my soldering skills.

I was eyeing the duo r but this was far cheaper by about 170 bucks. As for the everdrive idea, idk to me it defeats the purpose of collecting, but can make some of the more expensive games accessible like Tatsujin.

[FABombjoy]

The first person that comes to mind if you need a console cap kit is FABombjoy.

http://www.digitpress.com/forum/member.php?74-FABombjoy

Thanks for the nod!

And regardless of where you get caps or who does it, you should consider replacing them while the Duo is asymptomatic. It's a bit of a job as it is, and it gets worse once the traces are damaged by sitting in leaked electrolyte.

I've fixed them both before and after they started showing problems, and the "before" Duos have always been easier to work on.

[IHatedSega]

Heres a good on it to me. Its like the title, underrated. Completely underrated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBhK2Gmo32M

[BricatSegaFan]

Heres a good on it to me. Its like the title, underrated. Completely underrated.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RBhK2Gmo32M

Yes all those games are fantastic, that's why I wanted a duo. I have a TG16 too, but I felt that the pc engine lineup is stronger.

I was looking a huge lot of 100+ games and super star parodier as well.

[BricatSegaFan]

Thanks for the nod!

And regardless of where you get caps or who does it, you should consider replacing them while the Duo is asymptomatic. It's a bit of a job as it is, and it gets worse once the traces are damaged by sitting in leaked electrolyte.

I've fixed them both before and after they started showing problems, and the "before" Duos have always been easier to work on.

Well ill try my hand a replacing them but in the event I chicken out would you know someone that could do.it?

[FABombjoy]

Well ill try my hand a replacing them but in the event I chicken out would you know someone that could do.it?

Sorry, I don't have any recommendations offhand, and my current schedule only permits me to work on an exchange basis.

Whomever you find should also be properly equipped to readjust the laser while they're in there. It will make a world of difference in how well it works.

[Tron 2.0]

Awesome! Today I won a TG16 on Ebay

Congrats now mod it given the base unit is rf only....