Newb Question: PC Engine Duo or Core Grafx w/ Super CD Rom 2

[Dazz]

New to the NEC scene and i wanna purchase the right machine but i need a few tips from those of you who already own or have owned 1 or both of these machines. I am sure the question has been asked before, just wanna know which is better for my dollar and what is the difference in the 2 besides the DUo being a combination.

[nectarsis]

With the Duo you may have a problem with the caps going bad (sound issues).  I personally have a US Duo (knock on wood no issues yet), and a Supergrafx/CD ROM2 combo.  For a lot of people it's about what design they like, or what they find at the best deal.


BTW welcome to the site   You wouldn't happen to be the same Dazz from CAG would ya?

[Dazz]

yes that would be me. I do like the look of the duo more so but not sure if i can find someone that actually wants to sell one.

[nectarsis]

Ah cool, anyone who deals with Dazz, he's a great trader

[termis]

Duo -->
- parts are easier to come by,
- it's supposedly has slightly faster access times than the attachments setups according to some folks here,
- in most cases, this should come out to be cheaper than the CG+SCD-ROM2 setup,
- it's also easier to do the region mod if you choose to do so (though not impossible with the CG, it's more of a tight squeeze).

CG + SCD-ROM2 -->
- you have the option to throw in the SuperGrafx in the setup (though that's a huge monster of a setup).
- seems less prone to dry capacitors that the Duos are afflicted with (a pretty easy fix when/if it does happen).

And that's about it.
IMO, if you don't need the "all-in-one" SuperGrafx setup, going with the Duo makes more sense.

[nectarsis]

CG + SCD-ROM2 -->
- you have the option to throw in the SuperGrafx in the setup (though that's a huge monster of a setup).


and damn sexy

[TR0N]

Duo -->
- parts are easier to come by,
- it's supposedly has slightly faster access times than the attachments setups according to some folks here,
- in most cases, this should come out to be cheaper than the CG+SCD-ROM2 setup,
- it's also easier to do the region mod if you choose to do so (though not impossible with the CG, it's more of a tight squeeze).

CG + SCD-ROM2 -->
- you have the option to throw in the SuperGrafx in the setup (though that's a huge monster of a setup).
- seems less prone to dry capacitors that the Duos are afflicted with (a pretty easy fix when/if it does happen).

And that's about it.
IMO, if you don't need the "all-in-one" SuperGrafx setup, going with the Duo makes more sense.

Agreed.

[SignOfZeta]

I'd recommend the Duo. Its easier to mod, repair, and probably cheaper. Get an R, or RX. Obviously you'll never be able top play SGX games on it, but unless you eventually plan on collecting the entire PCE library, you'll be fine. There are only a half dozen SGX games and none of them are in the PCE top 50, IMO.

[Michael Helgeson]

Parts for the Super Cd Rom 2 drive are easier to get then the Duo if you are referring to the laser. New lasers for the Super CD-Rom only run $6-8 bucks, and about everyone that carries a large stock of lasers carries them. Swapping the laser on the other hand is not as easy as doing a Duo laser, but its not real hard either, just takes time and organization as there are pegs to remove that hold the different parts of the assembly together, 3 cables to unplug, ect.