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Neo Geo CD

NEOCD · ZDD1-4300 · 1994–1997 · home console

Specifications

Cpu: Motorola 68000, 12 MHz (plus Zilog Z80 co-processor for sound), same core as the AES
Ram: max: 64 KB main RAM (fixed, not expandable) · base: 64 KB main RAM (plus 68 KB video RAM)
Media: CD-ROM (single speed on the original front-loading unit and CDZ, double speed on the top-loading model)
Output: RF, composite video, RGB SCART (region dependent)
Release Price: $599 (front-loading launch model)

Variants

Models

Front-loading (original)1994 launch unit, single-speed CD drive, long load times became the system's defining criticism.

Top-loadingLater revision with a top-loading tray, cheaper to produce, same single-speed drive on most units.

CDZJapan-only 1996 revision, double-speed drive cutting load times significantly, no official Western release.

Upgrade paths

storage

Swap to a CDZ double-speed drive mechanism · Popular modern mod among collectors to fix the notorious load times; requires sourcing a CDZ drive assembly and fitting it into a front or top-loader shell, not a drop-in part.

~$60-100 for a donor CDZ drive plus fitting

HARD

storage

Optical drive emulator (ODE) replacing the CD mechanism entirely · Loads games from an SD card near-instantly and sidesteps disc rot on aging Neo Geo CDs, the more common fix today versus hunting a CDZ drive.

~$150-250 for third-party ODE kits

MODERATE