Cheap FDD emulator in Philips NMS8245 MSX2 | MSX Resource Center (Page 5/6)

Scribe (4105)

23-02-2017, 16:29

You´re CX5M has one cartridge slot, as long as you´re not willing to buy or build a adapter for the rear port.
You mentioned the MFR would be to expensive for you. But if you´re good in mathematics and add the cost for a SD reader, a adapter for the second port and a memory expansion, you should be smart enough to buy a MFRSD512. This will make your CX5M, your 8235 and at least even you happy. And yes, you can run Yamaha software from a MFR. It will even handle .dsk files to load from and save to. I know, this is not the first threat people try to explain what a MFR can do. And this is not the first threat you won´t notice that. You don´t have to get one of course. Try other ways, buy a slotexpander and a diskdrive, a memory expansion and a SD/IDE interface. Maybe a SCC cartridge, too. Expand the internal memory of your Yamaha if you have good skills in soldering. Otherwise you will have good skills after that. Or a death Yamaha. But you mentioned that you own two pieces of this precious hardware.
I remember this threat ended in using tapes to avoid tapes. That´s funny.

By marcoexo

Expert (83)

10-01-2018, 02:16

Hi I'm reviving this old thread just to ask if someone knows the hardware difference between the 720K and the 1.44MB versions of the GOTEK floppy emulator... I thought it could be just a firmware difference but it does not appear to be so ... Is it tru ?
I see that the 720K price is more than double compared to the 1.44 are we sure there's no way to get a 1.44 behave like 720k... I've seen other old models such as ipcas having a jumper for that..

I believe that's just a commercial choice, anyone owning both models can spot the difference on the board ?

By Edevaldo

Master (154)

10-01-2018, 06:53

Quote:

Hi I'm reviving this old thread just to ask if someone knows the hardware difference between the 720K and the 1.44MB versions of the GOTEK floppy emulator... I thought it could be just a firmware difference but it does not appear to be so ... Is it tru ?
I see that the 720K price is more than double compared to the 1.44 are we sure there's no way to get a 1.44 behave like 720k... I've seen other old models such as ipcas having a jumper for that..

I believe that's just a commercial choice, anyone owning both models can spot the difference on the board ?

Technically the 720k ones should be easier to emulate. Their transfer rate is only 1/2 of the 1.44MB ones (9 sectors vs 18 sectors per track). But maybe they have embedded more options in the 720k firmware, like different options supported by different platforms...

By marcoexo

Expert (83)

10-01-2018, 07:32

sure, but being that I'm going to reflash it with other firmware (HXc or Floppy flash...) isn't it the -same- hardware ? For what I've seen around it looks like I couldn't use a 1.44 version :-\

By Edevaldo

Master (154)

10-01-2018, 08:56

I looked a the different versions, images of the PCBs and schematics. I can't really spot a difference. There is nothing in the 1.44M version that would preclude 720k emulation. It is a $15 difference... But it seems that what drives it is that most 720k models are pitched as "industrial" or for specific applications like musical instruments.

The FlashFloppy source code has some comments about an enhanced version PCB though.

By Edevaldo

Master (154)

10-01-2018, 09:08

More info here:

https://github.com/keirf/FlashFloppy/wiki/Hardware-Mods

By marcoexo

Expert (83)

10-01-2018, 10:32

Edevaldo wrote:

I looked a the different versions, images of the PCBs and schematics. I can't really spot a difference. There is nothing in the 1.44M version that would preclude 720k emulation. It is a $15 difference... But it seems that what drives it is that most 720k models are pitched as "industrial" or for specific applications like musical instruments.

The FlashFloppy source code has some comments about an enhanced version PCB though.

Yes I think youu're right it's just a marketing strategy because 720k addresses mainly industrial needs I suppose ... I ordered an 1.44mb version at 15 euros... I think there's no need to double the price... I'll let you know, thanks for checking

By Philip

Champion (380)