Question about NEC PC-Engine...

[Nodoyuna]

Hi
I'm interested in getting the PCE Everdrive as soon as it's available. Problem is that I don't own a PCE console.... yet...
So I plan on buying one, but I'm really confused about them.
I'm in Spain so a PAL console should be the one to get. I don't know if there are differences between PAL and NTSC consoles, regarding better quality image, better speed or anything. If the NTSC consoles are somewhat a better option, I can consider in getting one of them.
Also, I think the CD unit is an add-on, similar to the SegaCD. I'm interested in that the console will play CD based games (I know there are no plans for Everdrive to support that), but I'd like to be able to burn the CD and play them.
I don't know if there are more things to consider, in order to buy the console, so...
What's in your opinion, the best option for buying a console?
Thanks in advance.

[Lum]

Zero PAL games were ever commercially developed for PCE, and the CD unit was not released in PAL form. There's no telling what games may or may not have unforeseen bugs. To be fair I haven't heard of any known attempt to connect the CD unit with a PAL console.

The CD unit is expensive and unreliable. Finding one sold apart from the console is difficult enough. (they're usually seen together today) Let alone working conditiion.
CD unit by itself also won't play Super System Card games. Includes Dracula X and many other big name titles. We all know how overpriced the US 3.0 card has become...

[MottZilla]

All PAL consoles are conversions. You should get a regular NTSC unit.

The CD-ROM add-on is expensive and can be hard to find. If you want to play CD-ROM games it is better to get a DUO console. However, many DUO consoles also have broken CD-ROMs. And DUO's are expensive too. If you want to play CD-ROM games you should buy a professionally refurbished DUO system. You could spend anywhere from $200US to $350US on a DUO console. The PC-Engine isn't a cheap system to buy or collect games for. The actual PC-Engine without CD-ROM isn't terribly expensive though.

[Lum]

Core Grafx is recommended if going for a basic non CD setup.
Or JPN Duo for CDs.

US or PAL models run fewer hucards. Plus the first US/PAL system has less controller variety than JPN without adapter (Japan's control port didn't get introduced to America until Duo)

The first US or JPN PCE, are both RF only also. No composite by themselves.

[Nodoyuna]

So, the best option should be a Japanese NTSC Duo? The Duo will be able to run the hucards and the CD games, am I right?
Also, are the hucards region free?

[Lum]

Usually, Supergrafx isn't for everyone. Its failure led to under a dozen games needing one. At the cost of not having a CD unit built in.

Japanese Duo will run: Japan hucards, CD, & super CD. Arcade CD takes an add-on card.

Hucards are not region free. Most US games run an additional check, so pin converter only works for Japanese consoles. But the complicated fanciest region mod type is internal. Once finished just a single switch changes hucard type to read.

Unfortunately RGB isn't on any standard PCE. A real shame! PCE's true potential video sharpness is borderline miraculous.

[Calpis]

Most US games run an additional check, so pin converter only works for TG-16 consoles.

Corrected. Since he's talking about using an Everdrive it doesn't matter which region he gets because TG-16 games can be bitswapped and the lockout protection is easily patched (it's the same in each game).

[MottZilla]

And I gave KRIKzz patching information so it won't be any trouble to run US HuCard Roms on the PCE EverDrive on a Japanese console.

In short, if you just want to play HuCards, buy a TG16 or PCE CoreGrafx. If you want to play CD games, but a PC-Engine DUO (or DUO-R) console. Be certain the console is in good shape. There is someone in Japan that refurbishes PC-Engine DUOs and RGB and Region mods them. I have one that was just refurbed and RGB modded and the condition and quality was excellent.

[ave]

@Mottzilla
Yes, you're talking about the ebayseller doujindance. I bought my RGB regionmod PCE-Duo from him :)

[Nodoyuna]

Wow!...
Thanks for all the answers, this one seems to be a complicated system to get the right console type :)
I'll try to get one of the PCE-Duo from this japanese seller. If he's offering rgb and region mods, I'm definetely interested
Thanks again

[Lum]

Indeed rgb is the luxury choice here. Fantastic video clarity with no channels to tune. Keeping that same full screen/speed of 60hz.

[MottZilla]

@Mottzilla
Yes, you're talking about the ebayseller doujindance. I bought my RGB regionmod PCE-Duo from him :)

That's him. I bought it because of the condition but also because of crystal clear RGB. But he wasn't doing region mods when I got mine so I haven't collected any US HuCards.

[Nodoyuna]

Are anything special about power supply of the console? I'm in Spain, and I don't know if I'll need some adaptor for the voltage or the plug.
Thanks in advance

[MottZilla]

The PC-Engine DUO-R power supply says 9 Volts DC at 1amp, Center Positive. The input voltage to the power adapter should be 100V (no more than 120V). I'm unaware or Spain's electrical system but assuming it is a PAL region you probably have 220V or 240V power outlets and will need a step-down convertor to use US and Japanese electronics. If you do not, you will damage permanently the hardware.

[Nodoyuna]

Yes, we have 220V in Spain. Where can I get a step-down convertor? I'm a newbie about non PAL stuff, and I've never heard of such a thing before...

[MottZilla]

I guess shops or places that talk about importing in Europe would have information on it. I can't really tell you much else because I'm in North America. I've never dealt with any PAL hardware.

It is possible to avoid the need for a step-down convertor IF you had a local power supply that can supply the correct power specifications. But I strongly advise trying to talk to someone in a PAL 220v country that has imported a PC-Engine for their first hand knowledge. Try the forums here: http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php

[ave]

Buy them from ebay or your local hardware store (although not all hardware stores have them). Generally, old consoles consume little power (<50W), so you don't need a very huge one. I used 50W convertors (15 bucks) for everything NES - Dreamcast, including PC-Engine. I think a Duo uses arond 15 Watts? Not sure.. a Saturn is 35W.

Just get a 50W, or if you wanna be really safe then 100W, 220V->110V step-down converter on ebay and you're all set.

[Nodoyuna]

Thanks for the replies. I'll try to get a 220v->110v here at some shops around.

[scottzane]

I don't know much about PCE. But I bought a MegaCD in UK with its power supply (100-110 V). I simply bought in a shop, down the street, a standard power supply (you can select 3-6-9-12V and you have different size of plug). And there was no problem at all.

Simply refer to what MottZilla said "9 Volts DC at 1amp, Center Positive" and it should be OK. Don't bother with those scrap converters.

[Nodoyuna]

I've talked to the seller and he says the power supplythat comes with the console is good for use in spain, as it can do 110V-240V range. :)

Only problem now is the type of plug, which is different to the one in Spain. The question is: japanese type plug is the same as UK type plug?

Thanks in advance