Neo-Geo CDZ failure rates?

[Boredom]

I'm interested in picking up a Neo-Geo CDZ at some point for the arrange soundtracks, cheap (and burnable) games, and just so I can say I own an authentic piece of SNK console hardware. The load times with the standard model are too much for me to bother with.

However, Wikipedia tells me that there are endemic problems with the CDZ hardware that can lead to failures:

This version of the console has a design flaw that sometimes causes it to overheat after certain periods of time, breaking the console in the process and making it hard to repair. This is a result of a lack of ventilation in the cramped housing of the smaller unit and the inability to dissipate heat generated by the newer drive, which could damage the circuit board.

What I want to know is, how common are these problems among CDZ systems, how long at a time would you need to run the system to cause them, and just how hard are they to repair?

 

[Fox1]

Lets just say this, on YAJ there are more *JUNK* CDZ auctions then there are working ones.

 

[Boredom]

Ouch. So it sounds like SNK engineered their own Red Ring of Death?

 

[El Maricon Loco]

If you can't live with standard NeoCD load times, I wouldn't even bother. For the current going rate of a CDZ you can be balls deep in a MVS/CMVS setup.

 

[Boredom]

Thanks for the advice. Guess I'll stick to my ports, compilations and emulators for the time being.

I have heard that a few Neo CD games have options to disable all the superfluous intro/win quote/story scenes to reduce the amount of loading, though. Were there any releases other than Last Blade that let you do this?

 

[whisper2053]

I'll put it this way. If your ideal location to place your console is on the floor on a carpet/rug, or sequestered away inside a cramped hutch in an entertainment center with all kinds of other crap clustered around it, then you deserve it when your valuable investment dies on you...and it will. Count on it.

If you actually take care of your stuff and use a little thought behind the use of it, then you should have absolutely zero issues. I've had my CDZ for a while now, it's gets regular use, sometimes for hours on end, and I've had nary a hiccup. It probably has something to do with the fact that the console gets placed upon a flat countertop with nothing alongside or on top of it when in use. Ventilation is key!

 

[El Maricon Loco]

Dude, I have the top loader model and the load times (aside from a few fighting games) are more than bearable, for rare CD-R conversions it's perfect.

Thanks for the advice. Guess I'll stick to my ports, compilations and emulators for the time being.

I have heard that a few Neo CD games have options to disable all the superfluous intro/win quote/story scenes to reduce the amount of loading, though. Were there any releases other than Last Blade that let you do this?

 

[GoosehanX]

The Neo CD is awesome. Haters must exit.

 

[Pope Sazae]

Just compare the load times to early cd consoles like the 3DO, PS1, Saturn, etc. and it really isn't that bad. And aside from the fighters there isn't much in the way of loading.

 

[Kid Panda]

The Neo CD is awesome. Haters must exit.

This. I have MVS titles and AES games. And still love and play my Neo CD.

 

[WoodyXP]

Ventilation is key!

What this man said. My CDZ has been nothing but solid.

 

[Pope Sazae]

You can remove that big fucking piece of metal shielding in the CDZ to help the ventilation. Doesn't serve a purpose as far as I know.

 

[neo734]

What this man said. My CDZ has been nothing but solid.

Confirmed here as well. CDZ owner of about a year and haven't had a single issue with mine.

 

[ysselcneogeo]

I've owned my cdz now 5 years I believe. Its gotten some extremly heavy use at times. I've beat Samurai Spirits rpg and if you know anything its got some of the hardest longest loads. I played it one day for about 10 hours straight.

The thing has little to no issues. Ive had one issue and it was the cd lense not reading a disk. Swapped it with some alcohol and partied on.

I keep my on a tv stand on the top. Ventilation all the way around.

The CDZ is worth the cost.

As for games the have cuts, most of the later kofs have demo cut, last blade 1 and 2 have options for cutting everything and some others do as well.

I'd say its fine for everything thats not a fighting game and its good for everything pre 97 as far as fighters go. Kof 99 and 98 are the worst things ever. Especially 99.

If you play kof in single player mode on a cdz however its not bad.

SNK should of just really cut down on the animations for the later cd ports like it did with ps1 and others so that the load times would be much faster like the ps1 and saturn version.

Like animation is great but who cares when we're waiting 20 seconds between rounds sometimes to load in new characters or background effects.

 

[Boredom]

Thanks for the further responses; I'll give it a second consideration.

 

[GoosehanX]

You can remove that big fucking piece of metal shielding in the CDZ to help the ventilation. Doesn't serve a purpose as far as I know.

Is this generally recommended? I've got a CDZ on the way, I'll rip that bitch right out. I don't think RF shielding has been necessary for any system except for the OG Famicom (which it really could use during AV mods and I added to mine.)