TurboGrafx-CD
From NEC Retro
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| Manufacturer: NEC | ||||||||||
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The TurboGrafx-CD is an add-on for the TurboGrafx-16 allowing the console to run games from CD-ROMs. It was originally released in North America in 1990, as the Western counterpart to the PC Engine's CD-ROM².
Hardware
The TurboGrafx-CD is a modified CD-ROM², though for the most part, the changes are purely aesthetical. Like the CD-ROM² the TurboGrafx-CD could theoretically act as an entirely separate CD player, however unlike its Japanese counterpart, it was never hinted as such. In Japan, the Interface Unit required to link a CD-ROM² to a PC Engine was originally sold separately, but the TurboGrafx-CD was always sold with the means to hook the system up to a TurboGrafx-16 through its rear expansion port, as was the (region locked) System Card allowing the console to communicate with the unit.
The TurboGrafx-CD is not region locked, and so can play any CD-ROM² disc regardless of where it originated from. In fact, such is the case with its design, the TurboGrafx-CD unit can be replaced with a Japanese CD-ROM² system and will still continue to function as expected. Likewise a TurboGrafx-CD can be placed in a Japanese Interface Unit and work alongside a PC Engine (or one of its many derivatives).
History
Release
In mid-1991 the price of the TurboGrafx-CD was reduced to $299[2].
With the announcement of the TurboDuo, the price of the system was cut to $149.99 in 1992[3].
| CD-ROM² systems |
|---|
| CD-ROM² (1988) | Super CD-ROM² (1991) | Arcade CD-ROM² (1994) |
| Hardware |
| CD-ROM² (Interface Unit | RAU-30) (1988) | TurboGrafx-CD (1989) | PC Engine Duo (1991) | Super CD-ROM² (Super CD-ROM² Adaptor) (1991) | TurboDuo (1992) | PC Engine Duo-R (1993) | LaserActive (1993) |
| System Cards |
| System Card | Super System Card | Arcade Card Pro/Duo |
| Games Express CD Card |