System Card 3.0 Not Working?

[ctophil]

Hi everyone,

I recently got an import converter from DB Elec to play Dracula X.  Well, the System Card 3.0 boots up just fine.  But Dracula X will only play the mini-game and acts like I only have the 2.0 Card inserted.  I tried playing other regular CD-ROM games, and they work fine.  But that's not what I need.  I need to get Dracula X running as normal. 

I don't have other Super CD-ROM games to test out.  So, I'm not sure if the problem is with the System Card 3.0 or perhaps the converter itself?  Has anyone had this issue before?  Thanks!

[thesteve]

It's most likely the card, as a sys3 card should work
Could be a poor connection caused by the converter

[ctophil]

Well, I suppose I could get an import Hucard to test out the converter, or I can get another System Card 3.0.  I can't imagine the converter causing the issue, since the Card did boot up.  Isn't the job of the converter is just to allow the Jap Hucard to play on the American console?  Like I said before, regular CD-ROM games (System Card 2.0 games) play just fine with the same System Card 3.0.  For some reason, the 3.0 functionality is not working.  Logic is saying that the extra RAM of the 3.0 is not working or something like that, but its 2.0 function is working.

[Keith Courage]

I once owned a 3.0 system card where it would only work as a 2.0.

It would however freeze up when playing any super Cd game but work perfect for 2.0 games.

I believe Bernie got it from me a long time ago.

[BlueBMW]

Better yet get an arcade card pro instead to test with.  That way if youe card is bad you have a replacement and can play arcade card games too!

[ctophil]

I once owned a 3.0 system card where it would only work as a 2.0.

It would however freeze up when playing any super Cd game but work perfect for 2.0 games.

I believe Bernie got it from me a long time ago.

Thanks for the info.  This tells me that it is possible for the System Card 3.0 to go bad.  I am ordering another System Card 3.0 to test it out. 

Better yet get an arcade card pro instead to test with.  That way if youe card is bad you have a replacement and can play arcade card games too!

Well, I can't afford an Arcade Card Pro right now, but it is a good idea.  Don't even know if the converter will work with it.  Something cool to try out in the future though.

[csgx1]

 I also have a 3.0 card that only works as a 2.0 card. However mine has obvious damage, one of the chips broke.

[wolfman]

I also have a 3.0 card that only works as a 2.0 card. However mine has obvious damage, one of the chips broke.

Great photo! Could you send me a closeup picture with higher resolution? I am interested in having a better look at the innards!

[thesteve]

those chips look to have numbers
that card may be fixable

[Ninja16608]

I once owned a 3.0 system card where it would only work as a 2.0.

It would however freeze up when playing any super Cd game but work perfect for 2.0 games.

I believe Bernie got it from me a long time ago.

Thanks for the info.  This tells me that it is possible for the System Card 3.0 to go bad.  I am ordering another System Card 3.0 to test it out. 

Better yet get an arcade card pro instead to test with.  That way if youe card is bad you have a replacement and can play arcade card games too!

Well, I can't afford an Arcade Card Pro right now, but it is a good idea.  Don't even know if the converter will work with it.  Something cool to try out in the future though. 

I have an Arcade card and I use it with a converter, works perfectly, what converter do you have?

[NecroPhile]

Could it be insufficient power getting to the huey socket, kinda like the problems some have with flash carts on region modded systems?

I have an Arcade card and I use it with a converter, works perfectly, what converter do you have?

"I recently got an import converter from DB Elec... "

[DragonmasterDan]

I've run into this with the arcade card pro being seen as a 3.0. Taking a pencil eraser and running it over the contacts then thoroughly cleaning it afterwards worked after retrying.

[ctophil]

I've run into this with the arcade card pro being seen as a 3.0. Taking a pencil eraser and running it over the contacts then thoroughly cleaning it afterwards worked after retrying.

Yeah, I've tried that as well.  It still didn't work.  But thanks for the suggestion though.  I should be getting my new System Card 3.0 tomorrow (Saturday).  So I'll report my findings asap.  :-)

I have an Arcade card and I use it with a converter, works perfectly, what converter do you have?

As Necromancer mentioned, I got the DB-Elec converter.

[clackattack]

Ctophil, your not crazy and dont bother none of the above mentioned methods will work (at least not in my experience). I bought that same converter and had the exact same issues with my SS3.0 card. I even got an arcade card pro to try and still the same thing. The convertor does import card games jsut fine, i think there is an issue with the convertor allowing the system access the ram thats in those system cards.

After trying everything that everone so far has mentioned in here, i ended up having TurboKon slap me in a region chip.

[thesteve]

sounds like a missing line or 2 in the converter
thats fixable

[ctophil]

Ctophil, your not crazy and dont bother none of the above mentioned methods will work (at least not in my experience). I bought that same converter and had the exact same issues with my SS3.0 card. I even got an arcade card pro to try and still the same thing. The convertor does import card games jsut fine, i think there is an issue with the convertor allowing the system access the ram thats in those system cards.

After trying everything that everone so far has mentioned in here, i ended up having TurboKon slap me in a region chip.

You are probably correct about that.  I'm currently in touch with DB-Elec.  If it is the converter, perhaps he can make a revision in his converter for the future.  But I'm still waiting for my new System Card 3.0.  We'll see what happens.  I really want it to work, because modding my Turbografx-16 is the last thing I want to do.  I'm one of those people who want to keep it 100% intact the way it was meant to be.   I know what you guys are thinking: Go buy a Turbo Duo or PC Engine combo.  Well, I would rather stick with the TG-16/CD.  I like playing with original hardware when it first came out.  But that's just me.

[BlueBMW]

Or get a pc engine + cdrom ifu...   Thats even more original than the tg+cd combo

[NecroPhile]

Slap a chopsado on the syscard(s) and use the converter for games.  Problem solved. 

[ctophil]

Slap a chopsado on the syscard(s) and use the converter for games.  Problem solved. 

Cool, does Chop still make the Chopsado?  I don't see any activity in the Homemade Converters thread.  So, I was just wondering.  Sounds like that is the way to go if I can get my hands on a Chopsado.  Thanks. 

Update: I confirmed that the DB-Elec Converter does not work with the Japanese System Card 3.0.  As discussed before, the system will only recognize it as a 2.0 Card.

[thesteve]

open up  your converter
it should have 8 wires swapped
all others must go strait through
any not connected will be the issue

[ctophil]

open up  your converter
it should have 8 wires swapped
all others must go strait through
any not connected will be the issue

Are you talking about the Chopsado?  I don't have one.  I have the DB-Elec one, which don't have any wires.  It's all soldered connections.

[thesteve]

The DB one
Look for any UN connected pins

[thesteve]

is this your converter?

[clackattack]

Thats the one. Ctophil and I have the same convertor... Nothing appears damaged or disconnected tho, everything looks intact. I havent hit it all over with a meter yet, but im pretty lazy and was content just using it in my TurboXpress

[NecroPhile]

is this your converter?

Does the middle(ish) pin go nowhere?  Looks like the ground pin.

[thesteve]

It's a ground pin
Looking over that board I have other concerns with circuit loads
Without the chip numbers I'm just guessing

[ctophil]

Hey everyone,

Just to update my situation.  I took Necromancer's advice and got a Chopsado (TurboPoser).  It worked great!  The System Card 3.0 booted up the game flawlessly.  However, this time my CD-ROM unit broke (doesn't load the game properly).  If it's not one thing, it's something else, right?  But I popped opened the Turbo CD myself and put in some 21st Century grease.  It's working like a dream now. 

As for the DB-Elec converter, I am working with someone right now to, hopefully, get an updated version so that I will have two converters working.  Cool stuff, thank you everyone for your advice and support!

[Bernie]

Its not the 3.0, its the converter.  I bought one of the db converters as well, and it does NOT like System Cards at all.  I do not know why, but for whatever reason, it gives a big FU to System Cards 3.0 and Arcade Cards.

[ishiyakazuo]

I think clackattack hit the nail on the head -- it can't access the RAM through it, so it goes back down to System Card 2.x mode.
By the way, db recently came out with a new converter that's a little less fancy and removes the switch feature.  I have a strong suspicion that it will work just fine with System Card 3.0 and the Arcade Cards.

[ctophil]

Hey Everyone,

I finally received the updated DB-Elec converter called the PC-Henshin.  After a period of testing, I would like to say that it works great!  The Japanese System Card 3.0 will work with it everytime.  So, those who need an alternative way to play Super CD games on your Turbografx-CD, the PC-Henshin Converter is the way to go.  Oh, it'll play import games too!  :-) 

As I said before, the TurboPoser or Chopsado will work as well.  But it is harder to use and may wear out in the near future, since it's just a slim piece of wiring.  The redesigned PC-Henshin (DB-Elec Converter) is smaller than the previous design, and the Turbografx16/PC Engine switch is no longer there.  They don't have it for sale right now.  But you can take a look at the converter here:  http://www.db-elec.com/home/products/pc-engine-to-turbografx16-converter

[ishiyakazuo]

Nice.  I think I've got a mod worked out for the old db Electronics converters, but it loses the switching function then (i.e. it basically is made into a PC Henshin).

Update: Yeah, this mod seems to work.  As I might've mentioned before, I don't have a working CD-ROM2 but in theory this should make the adapter passive, and thus resolve the problem.