Weird video problem with TurboGrafx CD Interface Unit

[Ace]

See, here's the thing: the pop sound I heard from the ColecoVision when something blew in it came from one of the 8 notoriously awful RAM chips.  That's the weird part.

Now, Charlie, you've said the TurboGrafx 16 has that type of circuit protection, but what about the SuperGrafx?  I plugged in a power supply with reversed polarity into that.  It DID NOT power on.

[Charlie]

 Remember I said (for the '16):
"...No way it should run under reversed polarity. "

You said (for the SG)
"...  It DID NOT power on. "

Seems to me both statements say the same thing.

And again, we're talking DC supplies only.  AC supplies can work differently.

Charlie

[blueraven]

You're incredibly lucky.

This is what happens when you plug the wrong polarity power supply into a Duo.

http://www.pcenginefx.com/forums/index.php?topic=6033.0

[Ace]

My GOD!  That's one sick PC Engine Duo right there.  It almost seems as though the quality of NEC's hardware got worse every time something's released.  Think about it:

-TurboGrafx/PC Engine: barely any problems
-PC Engine CD-ROM/TurboGrafx CD: jammed gears/jammed laser/disintegrated gear
-TurboExpress/PC Engine GT: leaky capacitors
-TurboDuo/PC Engine Duo: leaky capacitors/sensitive to reversed polarity/stupid laser that runs off its track

Wow.  That's one awful record for reliability.

[Black Tiger]

My GOD!  That's one sick PC Engine Duo right there.  It almost seems as though the quality of NEC's hardware got worse every time something's released.  Think about it:

-TurboGrafx/PC Engine: barely any problems
-PC Engine CD-ROM/TurboGrafx CD: jammed gears/jammed laser/disintegrated gear
-TurboExpress/PC Engine GT: leaky capacitors
-TurboDuo/PC Engine Duo: leaky capacitors/sensitive to reversed polarity/stupid laser that runs off its track

Wow.  That's one awful record for reliability.

Except that these problems didn't really show up until a couple generations after the PCE's extremely long commercial lifespan. Combined with the cutting edge features of each-

TG-16/PCE: tiny HuCards, tiny PCE as first 16-bit console was smaller than current 8-bit consoles.
Turbo/PCE CD-ROM: first console CD-ROM, actually released as Sega was only releasing the original MegaDrive.
TE/PCE GT: first portable console and was still super high quality. It took forever for handhelds to match its screen quality.
Turbo/PCE Duo: As Sega was finally getting around to putting out a CD-ROM, the PCE received this sleek compact combo with built-in system card.


I'm surprised that they're as reliable as they are. They're especially great considering how many consoles had common problems while still current, such as the NES, PSX, PS2, 360, etc.

I mean when a PCE console develops a problem today, it's the equivalent of Marty McFly finding his old cutting edge CD player while in the future and it doesn't function perfectly.

[Ace]

That does leave one big problem: all the people who have no technical knowledge are going to trash their PC Engine GT/TurboExpress/TurboGrafx CD/PC Engine CD-ROM/PC Engine Duo/TurboDuo deeming them impossible to recover.  And since the problems all seem to be happening now, it's only a matter of time that many of those consoles will find themselves in a dumpster.

[Necromancer]

Wow.  That's one awful record for reliability.

I think there's a few million 360, PS, and PS2 owners who only wish that their consoles were so unreliable.  PCE stuff ain't unreliable, it's just old.

[kattare]

I read somewhere that the failure rate on an xbox 360 over a 3 year lifespan is 30%.

One in three people's xbox 360 fails within 3 years.

Do a search on ebay for "broken console", heh.  It's 90% 360's.

[Necromancer]

I read somewhere that the failure rate on an xbox 360 over a 3 year lifespan is 30%.

One in three people's xbox 360 fails within 3 years.

That might be true now, but I'd wager that the initial (first year) console's failure rate was at least double that.  Kinda sad considering the culprit is heat - a.k.a. one of the easiest and cheapest problems to find and fix.

[blueraven]

I have 3 dead 360's in for repair, all broken solder joints. All because of heat. If you have one of these consoles, put it in front of your air conditioner, and don't smoke cigarettes inside. Do not, under any circumstances use those "cooling fans" that plug into the console: These will cause more heat, shortening the lifespan of your 360.

The black PC Engine Duo and American Turbo Duo along with the Express' and PCEGT's need replacements because the capacitor's after 15-20 years of heavy play and not-so-great storage can rust, leak, and go kaput. 

The Duo-R and Duo-RX seem to be noticeably more absent of the Capacitor problems.

Wow.  That's one awful record for reliability.

I think there's a few million 360, PS, and PS2 owners who only wish that their consoles were so unreliable.  PCE stuff ain't unreliable, it's just old.

Agreed Necro.