Convinced a friend to get into Turbo

[ShadowKitty777]

Is there anything I can tell my friend since he is considering getting a Turbo? I don't really have any advice on what to pay or what not to pay. What would you tell someone if they were interested in buying a system?

[wyndcrosser]

If he has skills, tell him to buy a broken one. If not, go the duo-r route with a everdrive.

[ginoscope]

Depends what kind of money they willing to spend.  The ideal choice is a duo-r and an everdrive.

If they are on a budget they can go core grafx with an everdrive and start with hu card games.  Plenty there to start and then move on to the CD games.

[MNKyDeth]

Why recommend a Duo-R over a regular Duo?

To me they are exactly the same console except in color. They have all the same features and capabilities. They both need the caps replaced although yes the PC Engine Duo, TurboDuo usually have more damage from the caps once fixed it's a non-issue from my standpoint as well.

I can see why recommending either of the console's, Duo, Duo-R over the regular TG16 or PC Engine as they include the Super System 3.0 in the firmware within the system and it's all one unit instead of two.

US or JP version of the Duo and the Duo-R are very viable options but the JP versions will be cheaper. Just make sure the console has had it's caps replaced or plan on doing, having that done to the console once you get it. Then make sure you get the mods you want if needed, Region and/or RGB.

Those are all factors to consider in the price. I would pass on the US version TurboDuo because almost no matter what you can get a PC Engine Duo for much less. Duo-R's are a little more than the regular Duo's usually but even if the system is a fully working system it's smart to have all the caps replaced just so you know you have another 25yrs without worrying about it.

[PukeSter]

I've never heard about getting a Duo-R's caps replaced.

OP, your friend should just buy a coregrafx and everdrive. Rondo may not be on hucard, but most of the best non-rpg games are. Especially platformers

[SignOfZeta]

I'd be trying to talk him out of it, honestly. There are enough people into this system already.

[MNKyDeth]

I've never heard about getting a Duo-R's caps replaced.

OP, your friend should just buy a coregrafx and everdrive. Rondo may not be on hucard, but most of the best non-rpg games are. Especially platformers

Second post in this thread. Quote from thesteve

they will need the caps, just being newer equipment the caps are in better shape

https://www.pcengine-fx.com/forums/index.php?topic=19999.msg432813#msg432813

[ginoscope]

Didn't know the duo-r still needed the caps replaced.  I personally have a pc engine duo capped and I couldn't be happier with it.

[Pokun]

If Duo-r caps was the same as Duo caps only newer, they would need replacement too about now, wouldn't they? I believe it's a better built system with higher quality parts.

I'd recommend Duo-r/rw and Everdrive too. There are more CD games than HuCard games, so ignoring CDs sounds like a bad move to me.

[Vimtoman]

Duo-r has no SMD Caps. All radial.

[cr8zykuban0]

Make sure they are prepared for shooters. Lots of shooters

[SignOfZeta]

All electrolytic caps eventually fail, but it usually takes decades. The OG Duos were made in 1992/1993, the R/RXs/1994, something like that. It was only a year or two difference. If all Duos were as bad as the black ones...well, nearly all black Duos have had extensive work at this point, most Rs still work with original caps. Mine certainly does.

[Alt-Nintega]

tell your friend to start with a basic PC Engine and skip all the Duo and other fancy shit for now 

[CrackTiger]

Over the years, I've heard some of the repair guys say that the positioning and tight space of the black Duos only made the problem worse.

[Keith Courage]

if he wants cd-rom function, it's generally cheaper to buy a regular PC Engine duo that has already had the capacitors replaced then it is to buy a duo-r system.

[SignOfZeta]

Over the years, I've heard some of the repair guys say that the positioning and tight space of the black Duos only made the problem worse.

I think this was probably half the issue. A lot of electronics made during this period died from bad caps. Heat most likely speeds up the failure process.

We'll eventually figure it out. Black Duos started dying...what, 2007 maybe? So the machines were basically 15 years old. If heat alone was the issue then we'll see them all die again eventually. Since my black Duo was still %100 functional when I sold it (right around that time, actually) and I would often leave the thing on for days at a time, I'm not a huge proponent of the heat theory. Also, Duos don't get hotter than the stated operating range of a cap, I'm pretty sure. The fact that lasted so long probably has to do with how much cooler they run than other electronics.

While I don't have any proof of this, I also feel that letting a system power down and stay that way for 10-15 years is also not great for caps. If this is a real thing, then it likely killed a few Duos since most got turned off in the mid 90s and didn't power up again until people started dumping them on ebay.

There really isn't any way to prove any of this, but anecdotal evidence on UNRESTORED systems is an avalanche in favor of the Duo R as the best overall system. When it comes to stuff that has been repaired, the IFU is actually a pretty good choice. This assumes the problem gear has been replaced.

In the end, OP, it doesn't really matter. Your friend will only own the machine for three days before he starts strategizing on how to sell it for max profit. In three months he won't even remember the thing. As long as it doesn't break during that period he'll have nothing to complain about.

[wyndcrosser]

Duo-R... Enough said

[Keith Courage]

I bought a brand new Turbo duo back in 92 when they came out. Then the audio took a dump when it was only 4 years old. I'm sure bad caps were the issue. Although I had no idea how to fix it at the time. I ended up mailing it in to TZD for a Brand new DUO for just $50. I honestly think that a number of the DUOs just came with already defective caps. Meaning, As long as they are swapped out with good ones then I don't see them having issues in the future.

Heat can only be a very minor cause of the caps going bad. I mean, take a look at PC motherboards. They make at least 3 times the heat with the CPU compared to a DUO and there are capacitors almost butted up right against the heat sinks. Some of these caps do fail over time and others do not. So it must be due to the quality of the capacitor itself.


I've still never come across a DUO-R or RX that has needed new caps. So no, you do not have to change them.

Tell your friend to just get whatever the best deal is. All depends on if he needs/wants CD rom capabilities as well.

[nopepper]

Just getting a Duo (in any form, provided it has been serviced) and an Everdrive is enough to get you playing all the wonderful games in this system, with a relatively low cost of entry. That should be enough to convince anyone, especially if you are into shooters. IMO, if you are into the other systems of the 16 bit era, and you have the funds, you should absolutely get into the NEC world.

If he is just a collector, then he better be prepared for a lot of competition, which I know is alluring to some...

[Groover]

Want to play CD games get a Duo-R want just Hu Card games get a PC Engine core.

[NecroPhile]

Either start with a TG-16 or CoreGrafx (whichever is found cheap) and an everdrive.  If he really digs it and keeps it for the long haul, he can sell the system and move up to a Duo (any version) or keep it as a spare system.

[majors]

... tight space (of the black Duos)...

Likes it tight.

Duo is just too damn sexy!

[esadajr]

how bout doing the opposite? convince folks to stay away from that pesky "turbographix". Go get the awesome N64 instead.

[PukeSter]

how bout doing the opposite? convince folks to stay away from that pesky "turbographix". Go get the awesome N64 instead.

Hey, it's not that awful lol.

Obey folks might like to know Soldier Blade has a direct n64 sequel that's similar to Raystorm. Idk how good it is though

[nopepper]

how bout doing the opposite? convince folks to stay away from that pesky "turbographix". Go get the awesome N64 instead.

I figure you are just joking, but you are not the first person to say this, and there is always some truth behind every joke...so the question is, why? So as not to continue to drive up prices? But isn't it kind of selfish to not want people to discover something that might be enjoyable to them, just like it is enjoyable to us? To keep the "collectards" (whatever that means) away? But how do we know any new fan of the PCE will be a "collectard", instead of say, a potential new translator or homebrew developer?

If your post was 100% in jest, then please disregard. Otherwise, I'm genuinely curious as to what drives that rationale.

[NecroPhile]

I assume it was (mostly) a joke, but there's a very good reason to dissuade people from joining, or at least from them jumping in with both feet and blowing a grand on a Duo and a few of the "best" games; those people quite often end up dissatisfied and ready to sell two months later, usually selling everything for more than what they paid because they're not going to 'lose money' on fees and shipping.

[SignOfZeta]

I really don't buy into the idea of a non-shitty noob as anything but a statistical abnormality. I think the last good new member we got here was BlueBMW and that was like a decade ago. Was Bernie after or before? I don't know. Almost all new members are...I don't want to say assholes (although it's usually true, it doesn't matter) it's more just...people who are into video games for different reasons. When I got my first game system (Coleco w/2600 module) the idea that anyone other that Ricky Schroder would actually complete a full set of games for a system was pure fantasy. Now it seems to be the standard. And as NecroPhile has stated, everyone seems to think they own a video game shop so every time they off their shit to the next noob the prices go up. The amount of energy spent shipping hundreds of thousands of games around the world from one owner to the next, never being played, just shipped and shipped and shipped over and over again. It's moronic...and THIS is what they like. THE THRILL OF THE HUNT! THE GREAT DEAL! All that shit, so they can post a picture of the auction and then have it sold onto the next dick before the package has even arrived. This is why Contra is a $35 game now. Because there are 10,000 copies trapped in the postal system at any given time.

Games inspired my generation same way Bladerunner did, or 2001 or Lord of the Rings, or Godzilla or She Wore a Yellow Ribbon or NFL games did/do. Noobs learned to love games by watching Storage Wars and Hardcore Pawn.

Who would want to see their hobby come to that?

Tell him about the N64. It's awesome. Just ask anyone born in 1987.

[Gredler]

I really don't buy into the idea of a non-shitty noob as anything but a statistical abnormality. I think the last good new member we got here was BlueBMW and that was like a decade ago. Was Bernie after or before? I don't know. Almost all new members are...I don't want to say assholes (although it's usually true, it doesn't matter) it's more just...people who are into video games for different reasons.

Love you too, Zeta. I'm only in it for the collect-ability for sure. 


1/1 of my TV Sports Hockey collection. Eat my shorts!

[esteban]

how bout doing the opposite? convince folks to stay away from that pesky "turbographix". Go get the awesome N64 instead.

I figure you are just joking, but you are not the first person to say this, and there is always some truth behind every joke...so the question is, why? So as not to continue to drive up prices? But isn't it kind of selfish to not want people to discover something that might be enjoyable to them, just like it is enjoyable to us? To keep the "collectards" (whatever that means) away? But how do we know any new fan of the PCE will be a "collectard", instead of say, a potential new translator or homebrew developer?

If your post was 100% in jest, then please disregard. Otherwise, I'm genuinely curious as to what drives that rationale.

www.collectard.com

I reckon that 0.0005% of new members will stick with PCE for more than 3 years.

Of that, only 0.00000001% will program the equivalent of "Hello, world!"


BEST ADVICE:
I think you should convince a newcomer to grab a cheap PCE Core I / II + Everdrive.

As others have pointed out, this is a very SAFE, HASSLE-FREE method for jumping into things.

If he/she gets hooked, they can slowly learn and plan for the "next step"...