PAL Neo Geo CD frontloader? Does it exist?

Ok, there apparently is a bit of confusion about whether my system exists or now. Apparently, according to the data I have on the Neo Geo CD systems, the frontloader was ONLY released in Japan.

However, I have one sitting right here in front of me that is a PAL system. I had tobuy an adaptor to get the power to work in my outlets, as I'm in Canada.

Can anyone tell me how it could be that the system I have doesn't exist? Or is it some sort of weird prototype? It would be really nice to know what exactly I have here if anyone can explain it! This was mentioned in my "Is my frontloader possessed?" thread too, but I figured someone more knowledgeable would know better than I so I reposted it.

Technically there is no such thing as a PAL frontloader manufactured by SNK.

All the frontloaders were limited edition units made for the Jap market only, to celebrate the ngcd's release.

Does your unit have PAL on the serial no.?

What makes you think your unit is PAL and not NTSC/J?

All PAL ngcd units were built for the European market and no other regions that use the PAL standard (ie Australia).

Some Neo consoles manufactured in Japan seem to be PAL. A member of this board, Winston Goh, has a JPN homecart system with PAL settings. According to him, the system was unopened before.

I'm also not sure about all this. I always thought that Japanese consoles would always be NTSC.

Obviously PAL and NTSC shouldn't be confused with 50/60 Hz. Of course, all NTSC consoles run at a display ratio of 60 Hz, while not all PAL consoles run at 50 by default. I heard about this a while ago and finally found a German faq detailing the technical background of the two display modes.

If you open your Neo and look for the PAL/NTSC and 50/60Hz jumpers, you will find them on different spots on the pcb, so it would be possible to set the display ratio to 60Hz while keeping PAL color output... don't know what that could be good for, but it works...

Well PAL refers to the video output, so if it works on your NTSC TV without modification its not PAL. That would make it a 220/240v NTSC system which is even more strange. What you may have is a normal Jap NTSC frontloader with a Euro Neo CD 220/240v power supply. The Neo CD takes DC input I think (sold mine a long time back) so the power supplies would be interchangable.

Yeah, the system does take DC power for an input...the power supply seems to convert to DC. So you think someone just got their hands on a PAL power supply to use with their Japanese NTSC frontloader? I wouldn't have thought the power supplies would be interchangeable but if they are, that would explain a LOT.

As for the serial number, it says: 028540 and then "Use CD-POW Adaptor Only" but the adaptor I have is a POWCD-E SNK adaptor that is 110 AND 240 Volts...a European dual mode adaptor. could it be that SNK sold leftover Japanese units to Europe with different power supplies or is it more likely that someone switched em (assuming the power supplies ARE interchangeable). My power supply has a tiny 3 hole input plug that goes into the bacl of the system with a ground, a 5V and a 10V spot...it's like no input plug I've ever seen before. So confused!

Yep, that would be my best guess. Maybe the unit was imported by someone in Europe who just picked up a Euro power supply when the NeoCD was released in Europe to save using a stepdown converter. It's somehow found its way to Canada. Like I said, if the NeoC itself was PAL it wouldn't work on your TV.

That's weird as all hell! And dashes my hopes it might be a proto *sniff* Ah well...now I just need games for it...all I have is fighters..and I can't stand fighting games (I know it's sacriledge here, but it's true!).