Hi everyone!

I guess this topic have been around here before, but anyway, I want to get rid of the distorted and way too high PSG sound on my SVI-738, so I could hear some SCC-sound from my Konami-carts as well.
I found the 738 tech-PDF and a .txt-file with instructions that says I have to remove the 4K7 resistor from R2 and replace it with an 150K resistor.
But the image on the 738 motherboard is quite poor, but I guess the R2 is near the top left corner, beneath the J1, can anyone confirm this?
I have no soldering skills, but I've got some friends who might solve that for me.

There are 10 resistors in a row downwards just below the Monitor and Sound out RCA connectors. It`s number two counting from the connectors. You CAN also solder from the upside. Just snip the resistors legs close to the resistor, and solder the new one onto the old legs. Good luck!
-Dan

It is the second resistor underneath J1.

I just looked into the pdf (http://www.funet.fi/pub/msx/mirrors/hanso/hwmodsetc/svitechref.pdf), its not that bad, considering the original was a mediocre photocopy. At least I could see the R2 label.

On my list of things to do is a more complete scan of the technical manual, like the BIOS listing.

Yup, it's in the top left corner. Don't worry... When you open the computer "R2" is printed to motherboard.

Thanks so much for your help!

I thought about doing this same upgrade on my 728, but the damn thing is so small and in a very tricky place. The keyboard cable is also a problem because it's not too long, seems very brittle and can't be deattached from the motherboard. In the end i came to the conclusion that it's easier to buy a better (MSX2) machine and sell this piece of shit. Hopefully i can get that better machine soon... :/

Spectravideo MSXes are quite stylish, very much unlike philips MSXes

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Spectravideo MSXes are quite stylish, very much unlike philips MSXes

Stylish they may be, but quality wise they are total crap. It's easy to see that they were made in Hong Kong instead of Japan when you look at the motherboard. There's more glue that actual components on the PCB'(s)! They also have the worst mechanical keyboards in the history of computing.

Why must they be so common here in Finland?!! I would trade mine for a Philips MSX2 any day!

I've seen some complaints about the SVI-models keyboard, but I totaly disagree! It's one of the nicest among old computers. But the opinion is like a pair of buttocks - divided!

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They also have the worst mechanical keyboards in the history of computing.

Ha-ha!

I think the keyboard on the SVI 738 is resonable, but I think you are spot on when considering the pre-MSX SV328, the so called real keyboard was not very good.

In plastic shape and style the SVI738 has always been one of my favorites. Also its prepared upgradability from MSX1 to MSX2 was a scoop once we realised what was possible.

The SVI 738 is one of the sexiest things out there... especially considering the time in which it was built...

Hehe, I think the 738 X'press is a nice computer. I upgraded mine to MSX 2+ (128kb V-ram), FM-PAC, 1MB internal SIMM ram, reset button, DS FDD, RGB output etc. You could also install internal S-ram, clock chip, dos-2, 7MHz, more V-ram ++ And it was all quite easy compared to most other MSX`s. IMO the only drawbacks were that it only had one cartridge slot and the keyboard was noisy. The keyboard was better than the other SVI`s. It was even called an MSX 1.5 when it was unmodified, because it had the V9938, 80 column text mode, RS232 etc.

Hwoah! I want that one! Give it to me, Algorythms! *pokes*

mohaha... I actually have several for sale...

Algorythms: Ok, then just put the motherboard to PC box and add external keyboard and you have very nice MSX2, nothing to do with 738 though

BTW have you changed the disk ROM, or do you still have this original "4KB/sec + disk I/O error" BIOS? (Yeah, really... SCREEN 8 picture loads 13 seconds )