TG16 CD unit memory "Recharge"

[gex]

Is this true?? I've never lost any game saves before, but I always have my CD unit plugged in. And there's definitely been 2 week intervals where I haven't "turned on" my console (like the manual says). I also remember reading in the TG16 CD's manual telling players not to leave the system constantly plugged in. But searching high and low online, I didn't find any stories / insight to support doing this.

[ccovell]

Yes, all the CD units use a "supercapacitor" for keeping the RAM chip of the backup RAM active.  They are slow to discharge (though don't know the hard specs of the ones in the CD units) and thus safe for weeks (months?) at a time.

[crazydean]

I knew they used a capacitor to maintain saves, but I thought the unit simply needed to be plugged in. Does it need to be turned on every couple weeks to maintain charge?

[gex]

I wonder if the supercapacitor's charge ever weakens, like batteries eventually do

Does it need to be turned on every couple weeks to maintain charge?

Would love to know the answer to this too

[esteban]

^ It *would* be nice to know if the supercapacitor needed to charge more frequently as it aged....

I don't know.


We have had prior discussions on this.... yes, you need to plug in the console to maintain the data files (BRAM)... but I don't think we had consensus on a specific "schedule" to follow.

Be prudent and do it more frequently than once a year—how does that sound?

Tennokoe Bank is nice for backing up data files...but you have to jump through hoops to use it with NA hardware.

[Lost Monkey]

I don't think I have ever lost a save on my TGCD and it was in the closet for most of the 2000-2010 years because the drive wasn't functioning. 

[gex]

Tennokoe Bank is nice for backing up data files...but you have to jump through hoops to use it with NA hardware.

I've owned one of these for years, but never have had the need (yet) to use it. With that being said, I have zero idea how they work. Would be cool to save a high school on Devils Crush though, i'll have to look up how they operarate. PCE converter/mods obviously, but beyond that I haven't played with it much.

[Black Tiger]

Don't forget to format your Turbo CD before using it.

[bob]

this whole thread makes no sense.
Everybody knows the save states are stored on the system card.

[gex]

My life is a lie

[_joshuaTurbo]

Tennokoe Bank is nice for backing up data files...but you have to jump through hoops to use it with NA hardware.

I've owned one of these for years, but never have had the need (yet) to use it. With that being said, I have zero idea how they work. Would be cool to save a high school on Devils Crush though, i'll have to look up how they operarate. PCE converter/mods obviously, but beyond that I haven't played with it much.

That seems surprising to me, I always have issues with running out of save space.  RPG/Strategy games take up large % of the backup memory.  The Tennokoe Bank is a life saver for me.

There are at least a couple games that take up an entire bank's worth of memory to save. (Might and Magic III comes to mind)  Do we have a list of the games that take up an entire bank?

[esteban]

^ the old TurboList had a FAQ/document that listed lots of games and the amount of storage "blocks" (whatever unit was used) required.



Not sure if it was ever updated,but we could make that a project here.

[GohanX]

^ It *would* be nice to know if the supercapacitor needed to charge more frequently as it aged....

I think so, I've had some older CD units that wouldn't keep a save if they weren't turned on after like a week or two. Meanwhile, my recapped (including the super capacitor) Duo has held a save for months with no issue whatsoever.

[xelement5x]

Yeah, the supercap is also a much better solution to me than the rechargeable coin cell that they use in the SegaCD.  I have been updating mine to use the supercap instead and it works great. 

[esteban]

^ It *would* be nice to know if the supercapacitor needed to charge more frequently as it aged....

I think so, I've had some older CD units that wouldn't keep a save if they weren't turned on after like a week or two. Meanwhile, my recapped (including the super capacitor) Duo has held a save for months with no issue whatsoever.

Ha! Good to know.

Yeah, the supercap is also a much better solution to me than the rechargeable coin cell that they use in the SegaCD.  I have been updating mine to use the supercap instead and it works great. 

Interesting... how often do you think it needs to be "recharged" for maintenance?