Snagged it on eBay a couple of minutes ago. It's CIB, from what I can tell.
Anyone have one of these? Wiki says they can be damaged by long periods of play due to poor heat dissipation.I may toss a fan inside the case if that's true.
Printable View
Snagged it on eBay a couple of minutes ago. It's CIB, from what I can tell.
Anyone have one of these? Wiki says they can be damaged by long periods of play due to poor heat dissipation.I may toss a fan inside the case if that's true.
It is indeed true, and the load times are awful. I have a CDZ, and truth be told, I kinda keep it shelved and instead opt to play my Neo Geo CD games on my dreamcast using that excellent NGCD emulator instead. Quicker load times, and I don't have to worry about killing a rare system.
I had no idea there was a NGCD emulator available. Oh well, if I'm unhappy with it, I can always sell it off elsewhere. Thanks for the heads up.
Take a spin over to DCEmulation and look around for it. It supports cart emulation, but the real treat is being able to pop a real Neo Geo CD game into your dreamcast and have it run full speed.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lastcallhall
I got my CDZ mainly for collecting reasons, I personally see no real reason to actually use it when the dreamcast does an admirable job. The only downside - you don't get to use that incredible mini-thumbstick on the dreamcast.
Is it Neo4All? Man, last time I checked in on that project, it took about 15 minutes to just boot up a Neo Geo ROM. It looks like they've made some outstanding progress here. :) I wonder how their MAME4all project runs in real time. Do you happen to know if the Carts tend to run slower than the CDs in game, or are they about the same? Thanks. :)
A heads up, though. Like all neo geo controllers, the CDZ controller is incredibly easy to modify, with each pin on the connection plug mapping to a single button. So, if you're handy with a soldering iron, it'd be a snap to build a converter to let you use it with a PC or something similar. I'm not sure if one exists, but if you can find an IPAC for the Dreamcast, building an adapter for the CDZ controller to the dreamcast would be trivial.
I believe it is indeed Neo4all. The carts take a long time to load because, naturally, they're huge, but Neo Geo CDZ games run just like they do on the system, albeit with faster loading times.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lastcallhall
I'm not too sure if the carts run slower in-game than CDZ games on the dreamcast, as I never really used the thing for cart games. If you mean in general, then no, aside from load times, in-game speed will be identical between carts and CD.
Nice! I'll have to give it a shot tonight. It's amazing to see all the work that can be done on a DC with minimal effort. Now if they'd just optimize the SD loader software for the DC (namely when it comes to reading .gdi images), I'd be in heaven.
Ah, well it seems you returned the favor because I had no idea they had SD card support for the dreamcast now; I haven't really been into the DC homebrew scene for years. I'm gonna have to check that out!
Yeah, IIRC, it's an internal mod that's pretty simple from what I've seen. I actually have an extra DC I could tear apart if time and money permit... good luck! :)
You could kill your Dreamcast faster than your NGCD by emulating with burned discs. Well, the laser, that is; fastest way to murder your Dreamcast.
My dreamcast is a launch unit (says manufactured August 1999) and I've already had to replace the fuse on the controller board a few times, so I might pick up another DC and test this mod out. Appreciate the info!
Using a CD-R, yes. But he has a real Neo Geo CDZ, with real CDZ discs I assume, and the actual discs won't destroy your laser any more than playing an audio cd will.Quote:
Originally Posted by QuickSciFi
EDIT: Not to mention that a dreamcast is much more common to find than a CDZ, and cheaper, too.
EDIT AGAIN: Also, using CD-Rs on a CDZ will also destroy that machine's laser. So... tl;dr: CD-Rs are bad for game consoles.
If I remember correctly though the SD loader mod does have some bad compatibility issues. Specifically from games that stream data off the disc. I remember seeing Dead or Alive 2 running off an SD card and it was a laggy, glitchy mess.
I was comparing using burned discs on the Dreamcast versus playing your regular Neo Geo CD games on the Neo Geo CD. Say what you will, your Neo Geo CD will last longer by itself playing its own games than a Dreamcast would playing burned games. But I guess the OP had a point, the NGCDz is a rarer system, and I too would minimize my gameplay on it (but I'd still play my NGCD games on original hardware, especially if I had the faster NGCDz to play them with ;)).Quote:
Originally Posted by TheSonicRetard
You can also buy this instead of modding your own SD card support:
http://www.racketboy.com/forum/viewt...hp?f=1&t=26005
But you'd still need a CD to boot into Dreamshell, unless you flash the BIOS. Here's a Google translated version of the Russian guide: http://tinyurl.com/6lqu77v
Yup, the speeds are pretty low. :( But it is nice for some games and homebrew, at least.Quote:
Originally Posted by TrekkiesUnite118
No no, I understood. I'm saying that there's really no risk in playing a real NGCD game on your dreamcast. Oooh but I didn't consider that you'd need a burned disc to boot the emulator. Perhaps he could load it via the SD mod he spoke of?Quote:
Originally Posted by QuickSciFi
He'd still need to use a CD-R to get into Dreamshell unless he flashed the BIOS, but that's probably a lot less laser wear in the long run. :)
How difficult is it to flash the bios, and what tools would be required to do so?
I used to think the same thing about the DC until I put in about 1000 hours using burned media BITD. YMMV.Quote:
Originally Posted by QuickSciFi
See above, although I do agree that CD-Rs are bad for any console. It's just something you come to appreciate as you get older, I guess.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheSonicRetard
Yeah, it's still in it's early stages, but it looks promising.Quote:
Originally Posted by TrekkiesUnite118
LOL, true. Although, after all is said and done, I might wind up putting case fans in the system to re-direct heat and see what happens...Quote:
Originally Posted by QuickSciFi
Is the Neo Geo CD basically just an AES with a 1x CD drive? I've been a bit curious about it in comparison to the AES and MVS.
I haven't done it personally, and this is the only guide I've encountered (in Russian, Google translated): http://tinyurl.com/6lqu77vQuote:
Originally Posted by TheSonicRetard
If someone has a better guide (or at least an English one), that'd be appreciated.
I don't know if there have been updates since I burned my copy, but AES4ALL has some serious sound/music glitches. In Neo Mr. Do the music plays at 1/4 speed or less, and in Blue's Journey it eventually ended up at triple or quadruple speed before the music engine just crashed outright.
Does the Neo Geo CD emulation (since it can load everything from a secondary disc) work better than the straight-up AES/MVS emulation (which crowds RAM and so forth)?
Much like the Genesis, the type of DC "model" you own can vary in performance and durability. I have heard that launch-model DCs are much more fragile than some of the later ones.Quote:
Originally Posted by Lastcallhall
Also, is there any way to do Neo4All in 240p? It seems like last time I tried it out, it wasn't an option. So no native resolution/scanlines. :(
Conversely, a few late model DCs can't read CD-Rs at all.Quote:
Originally Posted by llj
Oh yeah, but that's a deliberate limitation on Sega's part, rather than a quality control issue.Quote:
Originally Posted by TheSonicRetard
For the tech experts in here, what exactly is it about CD-Rs that make them bad for console lasers? What is the difference between a CD-R and a normal CD physically? Is there like a certain layer in the CD-R that makes it harder for the laser to get through or something?
My understanding is that the laser has to work harder to focus on the burns of a CD-R as opposed to the pits of a pressed disc, causing it to wear out faster. I know that's oversimplifying it, but that's the gist of it all.Quote:
Originally Posted by llj
So, the system came in the mail today, and I had a few minutes to check it out after I got home from work and school.
First off, the load times: I used a original copy of Ghost Pilots and a burned copy of Fatal Fury Special, and both were read without a problem. I'd put the loading time between the Sega CD and Playstation in terms of length. It took about 20-25 seconds for the initial load, and the remaining load times were only a couple seconds long - it's not as big of a deal as everyone makes it out to be. You want to see long load times, try playing Splatterhouse on the 360 without installing it to the HDD.
Secondly, the overheating issue: This is a serious flaw in the console's design. Here's a pic:
http://ds.mmgn.com/lib/Images/contents/neo-geo-cdz.jpg
You would think that the slots on the top of the system were to allow air through, but they're not - they're simply depressions in the plastic housing. It's the same all over the system - where you'd think there are ventilation slots, it's just cosmetic design. No wonder these things overheat! I'm going to take the Dremel to the casing over the weekend and air it out a bit, in addition to measuring the case for the 30mm fans I want. There seems to be just enough space for two on the back and two on the front, if I were so inclined... I'm also looking into getting thermal epoxy and some copper heatsinks for the ICs, but we'll see on that, as I haven't cracked the case yet.
As far as the video goes, it's top notch. The colors are bright, vibrant, and steady with little to no bleed on my 50" Hitachi RPTV. The audio is somewhat of a mixed bag, as the CD quality tracks are nice, but they don't exactly bring the arcade experience home, if you get what I'm saying. I wish there was an option to toggle between the remixed tracks and the original arcade tracks, but alas, there's not. I'll have to see how other games hold up...
Finally, the controller. The directional pad is essentially a mini joystick, and is nice and responsive to all commands, especially in the middle of a Fatal Fury bout. The buttons are nicely laid out in a logical manner - heavy (C and D) on top and light (A and B) on bottom. I still want to get a Neo Geo arcade stick for this, but for now I'm happy.
Overall, if I can get some of the design flaws worked out, I think this is a very solid system, and worth what I paid for it. I'll post more as I play more. :)
I have a DC that doesn't load retail games past 5 mins..
But it load Burnet CD games like Super Street Fighter 2 X
I used to have the original front loading neo geo cd and it was gorgeous system till it broke on me,now i have the second more common model but still want to get another front loader.
The load times for most games are fine but can be frustrating since its an arcade system and you expect instant action for fighters and stuff.Some games have insane loading,the worst one i have is last blade 2.
I started with the neo geo cd then later bought mvs board,but i still like to use my neo geo cd,its a great system.
I had a CDZ for a while before I sold it, it loaded quite fast, on par with a PS1 I would say and loved it. Have the old top loader now, slow as shit.
Pretty much, yeah. The Neo CD has the same processor and everything, but it has a CD drive, a shitload of ram, and internal memory so it doesn't use memory cards.Quote:
Originally Posted by TrekkiesUnite118
The Neo CD is pretty great, it has many games that are much cheaper than even the MVS games. Many games are improved by CD audio, and the load times aren't that bad for games that aren't fighters. For fighters, anything KOF 94 or older is okay on the thing, but newer fighters suck for the most part.
Neo CD favorites:
Metal Slug
Aero Fighters 2 and 3
Last Resort
Fatal Fury Special (the redbook audio is awesome!)
Neo Drift Out
League Bowling
This is pretty much the biggest reason to own a Neo Geo CDZ. The AES version of Metal Slug can run into the upper hundreds or even thousands, and depending on the model, buying an MVS->AES converter can sometimes run you as much as a full game. It's so much easier, and cheaper, to pick up Metal Slug on the CDZ than figuring out a way to get it playing on your AES.Quote:
Originally Posted by GohanX
How does the CD version compare to the Saturn port?
What's wrong with the newer fighters on it? Is it the games themselves or just bad load times?Quote:
Originally Posted by GohanX
Or you can get on the MVS bandwagon like the rest of us. ;) (available in Cabinet, Supergun and consolized flavors)Quote:
Originally Posted by TheSonicRetard
The only triple digit copy of AES Metal Slug you'll find is a conversion (MVS Mask ROMs on an AES donor cart). Authentic MS1 AES carts are always in the quadruple digits.
And yeah, the only difference between the MVS/AES and CD is the CD drive, 7 Megabytes of RAM and some internal save memory. That's why you sometimes see a CD exclusive converted onto a cartridge, like Ironclad or Zintrick. Most don't have the CD audio though, for obvious reasons.
EDIT:
It's because those newer fighting games take up a HUGE amount of ROM space. On a CD, it's nothing, but these games weren't designed with CD limitations in mind (for obvious reasons), so trying to fit large chunks of unoptimized-for-space ROM data into the Neo CD's comparatively small RAM space is quite difficult. That's why smaller games can be handled in the small RAM space, but larger games start to clog it up.Quote:
Originally Posted by zetastrike
To put this into perspective, Wikipedia states bitrate of a 1x CD drive is 1.23Mbits. The Neo Geo CD has a collective of 58Mbits of RAM.
Yeah, it's funny of me to say the Neo CD has a small amount of RAM, compared to the size of a Neo cartridge, since the Neo CD had an absolutely unheard of amount of RAM compared to it's contemporaries. It had even more than a Saturn with the 4MB RAM cart (pretty sure).
who says I DON'T have an MVS? haha
... Then why not just buy Metal Slug on MVS? They sell for $30 - $50 constantly on Neo-geo.com. I've never seen a Neo CD Metal Slug for that kind of money.
Well, if we're keeping score, I have both the MVS and CDZ version of Metal Slug. But the cost of an MVS, plus either an AES with a converter cart or a supergun, plus Metal Slug MVS will come out well ahead of just picking up a CDZ and the CDZ version.