Serial Numbers

[circa2113]

Ok, call this a stupid question, but what is the big deal about serial numbers on AES units? Many people use it as the single most important reference when buying their unit. What makes them so different? I personally have a AES with a number of 116XXX and I've heard this is a good range to be in. Why exactly is this? Well, sorry to ask so many questions.

[Kazuya_UK]

I do remember some people saying that lower serials numbered home consoles had better video output, but other than that I'm nto sure. I suppose it's the usual collectors thing - with anythign that's numbered people always want the lowest number possible so they can say "hey look at me". Not sure if there are any other reasons...

Kaz

[circa2113]

Thanks for the reply. So basically it's just an egotistical, my console is numbered lower than yours kind of thing? Wow, that's pretty weak, I've never understood a lot of the ideas of the "NeoHardcore" Oh, well I guess if I stick aroung N-G.com long enough I might get infected myself. Nice avatar BTW, I used to listen to Killswitch quite a bit.

[HexElf]

When selling a console if it comes with a box that has matching serials compared to the ones on the unit makes it worth more cash to collectors.

While I'm not sure whether mine came with a better output a good tip is to buy yourself a RGB scart which will dramatically enhance the video output quality. You can use the one for the Genesis 2 which is a lot cheaper and uses the same output.

[circa2113]

Good tip. Maybe I should look into that, any video quality enhancements would be great. My TV is pretty sorry though, so I'll have to wait until I have something with RGB.

[HexElf]

Well as long as it has a scart input it should be ok.

[circa2113]

Scart? Sorry, not familiar with the term. I hear it come up a lot in discussions of European Televisions though.

[HexElf]

Hmmm perhaps your televisions are different but regardless, the cord outputs for a Genesis 2 RGB cable should be the same as the regular NeoGeo.

[phry]

As far as i'm aware, scart isn't usually used with US NTSC televisions, with S-Video being the output of choice. On the other hand, S-Video didn't make much of an impact of Europe due to higher quality RGB Scart signals (although most European TVs have both s-video and scart)

Either way both S-Video and scart are much better than using basic composite cables or aerial leads.

I think I remember hearing that later AES models didn't support full RGB scart output, but don't count me on that one.

[reaperman]

while we're on the topic of serial numbers, exactly why the heck do people scratch the serials off of MVS carts? There are so many with removed serials, and I must be so stupid, because I can't think of a possible reason.

don't get me wrong, I love carts with removed serials since they sell at least $10 cheaper on ebay, but still I wonder why.

[circa2113]

maybe so they can't be traced back to the arcade they were originally sold to? Hell, I dunno just a guess.

[Kazuya_UK]

reaperman said:

while we're on the topic of serial numbers, exactly why the heck do people scratch the serials off of MVS carts? There are so many with removed serials, and I must be so stupid, because I can't think of a possible reason.

don't get me wrong, I love carts with removed serials since they sell at least $10 cheaper on ebay, but still I wonder why.

Circa is right I think. I think originally arcade ops used to scratch them off because they weren't supposed to sell their carts on (which of course they did to make some cash back later on), and removing the serials reduced the risk of the cart being tracked back to them (from what I'm told).

I used to be slightly anal about my MVS carts, and I remember hating the fact that some of my full MVS kits didn't have matching serials. It didn't bother me THAT much and 9 times out of 10 I used to just buy bare carts on their own and didn't care if they looked a bit battered so long as they worked. When I went to one of my suppliers though I did always used to try to get kits with matching numbers... call it OCD or whatever, but it just used to bug me!

Anyways, back to the original question - this is off Wikipedia:

Neo Geo AES motherboard. Early motherboard revisions such as this one contained daughterboards used to enhance the clarity of the video output.

Link -->

I do remember people talking about that, but having always been more of an MVS guy I never looked into it too much. But yeah, RGB scart is really more of a European thing, I think in the states you guys use S-Video more, although there's also component (don't confuse that with 'composite') video or something? I think that's the equivalent of RGB over there (but don't quote me on that). If you want the best quality output possible though, it would be worth talking to someone that does mods to the Neo Geo home system, maybe someone like Jeff Kurtz if he is still around at neo-geo.com. You can get the home system modded for stereo sound, universe bios (which is well worth it!), and also modded for better picture quality. Again, you'd need to ask someone who's got more experience with the home console than me, but it is worth looking into.

Kaz