Zeus
03-23-2006, 12:12 PM
Product Name: Duo Q
Platform: Nintendo GC
Reviewer: GlenC of <A href="http://www.cheapmod.com" target="_blank">CheapMod.com</a>
Buy Duo Q Now: <a href="http://www.divineo.cn/php/affstart.php?affcode=66623&prod=gc-duoq" target="_blank">Asia $15.49</a> <a href="http://www.divineo.com/php/affstart.php?affcode=66623&prod=gc-duoq">CAN/USA $15.49</a> <a href="http://www.divineo.es/php/affstart.php?affcode=66623&prod=gc-duoq">Spain</a> <a href="http://www.divineo.de/php/affstart.php?affcode=66623&prod=gc-duoq">Germany</a> (world wide shipping options available from all stores)
Anyone here heard of Team Omega's latest mod.....no, (a few puzzled faces in the crowd thinking, who on earth are Team Omega).
Ok let me rephrase the question. Anyone here heard about the latest Duo modchip. Ah, that’s better people know the Duo name.
Team Omega, makers of the Duo range of chips have been around for a number of years now, producing mods for a number of different systems. Their mods tend to be basic in operation, highly reliable, high quality and CHEAP. The term cheap is used as in cheap in price not as in the phrase cheap and nasty. Other mods may have lots of bells and whistles but this new budget mod is here just to boot your precious imports and backups (keeping your original in a safe place to stop little johnny sticking it in the video player or covering it in jam. Anyway, how many people still mess around with the menu systems on the more expensive mods after the initial exploration when the mod is first installed? Not many I guess.
The DuoQ is the latest 'no frills' mod hot off the production lines from Team Omega. I've had one for a few days and have put it through its paces.
Installation
The install is relatively easy, 6 wires all very conveniently placed on the dvd drive PCB. You don't need to remove any heat sinks and there is plenty of room to work with. The Duo Q is supplied with a sticky back so it will attach itself to the Gamecube PCB and stay there.
<center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/duo_q_install_full.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/duo_q_install_small.jpg"></center></a>
<center><i>Shown above is Glen's completed installation of the DuoQ on the GC.</i></center></a>
The mod is supplied with a small led pcb, which is an optional attachment, the leds showing the status of the mod. The small LED board can be placed anywhere on the Gamecube and is attached to the DuoQ by means of 3 wires. Once installed, you are ready to go. There is no firmware to program onto the mod and no menu system to navigate.
Duo Q in Operation
With the Gamecube back together and the laser adjustment tweaked (if required), we are ready to go. There is no menu on this mod; it’s like an elite stealthy ninja, effective yet never seen.
The first test was an imported original Gamecube game. I put the disc in and turned on the power. The LED on the status pcb glowed orange showing that the mod was powered correctly, as the disc started to turn, the status LED turned blue showing it was patching the dvd drive to boot the game, and a second or so later the game boots.
Next I tried a backup of one of my games, exactly the same thing happens, the game just boots without any issues.
When the original Cube mods were first released, a number of games had problems with the audio being garbled. This resulted in a number of patching tools being releases to improve playback. Once the game was patched the audio would play fine.
A little while later, the GC chip manufacturers solved the audio problem by getting their mods to patch the games automatically, but this resulted in the previously patched games having audio problems.
I'm glad to say the DuoQ can handle both of these types of game images. If you have a patched version of the game, you can tell the DuoQ not to automatically fix the audio by holding the left shoulder button when the game is booting. If the game hasn't been audio patched, just let it boot as normal.
The right shoulder button can be pressed whilst booting to turn off read retries, personally I think this is pointless, but someone may find a use for it.
The mod also supports multi-discs.
Comparsion
How does the DuoQ compare to the other more expensive mods on the market? Let takes a look at the features on the other mods to see how they compare (and my opinion of them).
X Megs of memory: The DuoQ has no programmable memory,I don't feel the need to store 16 copies of the latest bios on my mod.
USB Programability: The DuoQ does not need to be programmed, this could only potentially be a problem if a new revision of the Gamecube was released.
MP3 Player: This can be booted via a disc, I dont need to have it built into the mod, although it's a nice feature.
Built in cheats: DuoQ has no cheat support built in as standard, although you can always boot an action replay disc if cheating is your thing :)
Duo Q – Super cheap GC mod that hits the Spot
The DuoQ does everything I wanted it to do, there is nothing really bad to say, it boots everything you put into the GC. It does lack a number of the features of the more prestigious Viper GC Extreme, but if soley booting your imports and backups of titles is your thing, then this is a mod you will ultimately consider especially with a super low price tag to boot. The Omega team has done it again, producing a solid quality mod yet at a rock bottom price for the GC.
Positives
+ Simple 6 wires install
+ Heatsink removal not required
+ Status led operation
+ Cheap :)
+ Works without any problems
+ Audiofix can be turned on and off
+ Mutligame disc support
Negatives
- No bells and whistles (I know some people like the bling)
- No built in cheat support
- Cant make you a cup of tea
- No built in mp3 player or cheat support....what do you expect at this price ;)
Buy Duo Q Now: <a href="http://www.divineo.cn/php/affstart.php?affcode=66623&prod=gc-duoq" target="_blank">Asia $15.49</a> <a href="http://www.divineo.com/php/affstart.php?affcode=66623&prod=gc-duoq">CAN/USA $15.49</a> <a href="http://www.divineo.es/php/affstart.php?affcode=66623&prod=gc-duoq">Spain</a> <a href="http://www.divineo.de/php/affstart.php?affcode=66623&prod=gc-duoq">Germany</a> (world wide shipping options available from all stores) <a href="http://www.cheapmod.com" target="_blank">CheapMod.com</a> (UK)
Platform: Nintendo GC
Reviewer: GlenC of <A href="http://www.cheapmod.com" target="_blank">CheapMod.com</a>
Buy Duo Q Now: <a href="http://www.divineo.cn/php/affstart.php?affcode=66623&prod=gc-duoq" target="_blank">Asia $15.49</a> <a href="http://www.divineo.com/php/affstart.php?affcode=66623&prod=gc-duoq">CAN/USA $15.49</a> <a href="http://www.divineo.es/php/affstart.php?affcode=66623&prod=gc-duoq">Spain</a> <a href="http://www.divineo.de/php/affstart.php?affcode=66623&prod=gc-duoq">Germany</a> (world wide shipping options available from all stores)
Anyone here heard of Team Omega's latest mod.....no, (a few puzzled faces in the crowd thinking, who on earth are Team Omega).
Ok let me rephrase the question. Anyone here heard about the latest Duo modchip. Ah, that’s better people know the Duo name.
Team Omega, makers of the Duo range of chips have been around for a number of years now, producing mods for a number of different systems. Their mods tend to be basic in operation, highly reliable, high quality and CHEAP. The term cheap is used as in cheap in price not as in the phrase cheap and nasty. Other mods may have lots of bells and whistles but this new budget mod is here just to boot your precious imports and backups (keeping your original in a safe place to stop little johnny sticking it in the video player or covering it in jam. Anyway, how many people still mess around with the menu systems on the more expensive mods after the initial exploration when the mod is first installed? Not many I guess.
The DuoQ is the latest 'no frills' mod hot off the production lines from Team Omega. I've had one for a few days and have put it through its paces.
Installation
The install is relatively easy, 6 wires all very conveniently placed on the dvd drive PCB. You don't need to remove any heat sinks and there is plenty of room to work with. The Duo Q is supplied with a sticky back so it will attach itself to the Gamecube PCB and stay there.
<center><a href="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/duo_q_install_full.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://www.maxconsole.net/content_img/duo_q_install_small.jpg"></center></a>
<center><i>Shown above is Glen's completed installation of the DuoQ on the GC.</i></center></a>
The mod is supplied with a small led pcb, which is an optional attachment, the leds showing the status of the mod. The small LED board can be placed anywhere on the Gamecube and is attached to the DuoQ by means of 3 wires. Once installed, you are ready to go. There is no firmware to program onto the mod and no menu system to navigate.
Duo Q in Operation
With the Gamecube back together and the laser adjustment tweaked (if required), we are ready to go. There is no menu on this mod; it’s like an elite stealthy ninja, effective yet never seen.
The first test was an imported original Gamecube game. I put the disc in and turned on the power. The LED on the status pcb glowed orange showing that the mod was powered correctly, as the disc started to turn, the status LED turned blue showing it was patching the dvd drive to boot the game, and a second or so later the game boots.
Next I tried a backup of one of my games, exactly the same thing happens, the game just boots without any issues.
When the original Cube mods were first released, a number of games had problems with the audio being garbled. This resulted in a number of patching tools being releases to improve playback. Once the game was patched the audio would play fine.
A little while later, the GC chip manufacturers solved the audio problem by getting their mods to patch the games automatically, but this resulted in the previously patched games having audio problems.
I'm glad to say the DuoQ can handle both of these types of game images. If you have a patched version of the game, you can tell the DuoQ not to automatically fix the audio by holding the left shoulder button when the game is booting. If the game hasn't been audio patched, just let it boot as normal.
The right shoulder button can be pressed whilst booting to turn off read retries, personally I think this is pointless, but someone may find a use for it.
The mod also supports multi-discs.
Comparsion
How does the DuoQ compare to the other more expensive mods on the market? Let takes a look at the features on the other mods to see how they compare (and my opinion of them).
X Megs of memory: The DuoQ has no programmable memory,I don't feel the need to store 16 copies of the latest bios on my mod.
USB Programability: The DuoQ does not need to be programmed, this could only potentially be a problem if a new revision of the Gamecube was released.
MP3 Player: This can be booted via a disc, I dont need to have it built into the mod, although it's a nice feature.
Built in cheats: DuoQ has no cheat support built in as standard, although you can always boot an action replay disc if cheating is your thing :)
Duo Q – Super cheap GC mod that hits the Spot
The DuoQ does everything I wanted it to do, there is nothing really bad to say, it boots everything you put into the GC. It does lack a number of the features of the more prestigious Viper GC Extreme, but if soley booting your imports and backups of titles is your thing, then this is a mod you will ultimately consider especially with a super low price tag to boot. The Omega team has done it again, producing a solid quality mod yet at a rock bottom price for the GC.
Positives
+ Simple 6 wires install
+ Heatsink removal not required
+ Status led operation
+ Cheap :)
+ Works without any problems
+ Audiofix can be turned on and off
+ Mutligame disc support
Negatives
- No bells and whistles (I know some people like the bling)
- No built in cheat support
- Cant make you a cup of tea
- No built in mp3 player or cheat support....what do you expect at this price ;)
Buy Duo Q Now: <a href="http://www.divineo.cn/php/affstart.php?affcode=66623&prod=gc-duoq" target="_blank">Asia $15.49</a> <a href="http://www.divineo.com/php/affstart.php?affcode=66623&prod=gc-duoq">CAN/USA $15.49</a> <a href="http://www.divineo.es/php/affstart.php?affcode=66623&prod=gc-duoq">Spain</a> <a href="http://www.divineo.de/php/affstart.php?affcode=66623&prod=gc-duoq">Germany</a> (world wide shipping options available from all stores) <a href="http://www.cheapmod.com" target="_blank">CheapMod.com</a> (UK)