new msx2+ hardware

Van hit9918

Prophet (2932)

30-05-2014, 23:29

p.s. nice how fast an MSX2+ boots with just casette and no disk ROMs

Van msd

Paragon (1515)

30-05-2014, 23:40

Do you use the wait signal from the v9958?

Van flyguille

Prophet (3031)

30-05-2014, 23:55

hit9918 wrote:

The board with 4 slot connectors would be the most modular way to build new MSXes.
The only thing that cannot be in slots is z80 and PPI, all the rest could be on cartridge.
The PSG is a candidate to be on board because its role is much settled, there is no sucessor chip.

For flexibility reasons it would be good if one could deactivate the VDP.
Strictly speaking a "pure board" should also make it possible to deactivate PSG.

About Turbos. They should have same bios function as TurboR to switch mode.
The slow mode should be original z80 timing, the fast mode could be anything but should have a VDP brake.
When in doubt the brake should be like 18 cycles at 3.57Mhz.

you are already asking too much. anyway , seeing the image, that present a problem already, the slot connectors are too close one from the others, the only one reason to do that is if you don't want anybody to install a slot expansor vertically, or with a ribbon cable but folding it in way that the ribbon cable can go to the back without bothering the others cartridge connected next.

Van foody

Champion (469)

31-05-2014, 00:29

Hey fzanoto I really want this but I have one request. Can it be like the 1ChipMSX case or similar to that? Where keyboard is an option and it have two joystick port and couple of USB ports (where I can us the keyboard on the USB if I wanted too)!

Please can I have that?? Also if I can have that where can I buy it? This is diffidently the MSX 2 solution that I have being looking for, for a very long time.

Van hit9918

Prophet (2932)

31-05-2014, 00:55

Is that 5th connector maybe a mirror of one of the slots, to make a side slot?
in the video actualy all 4 slots were free and it did boot. And things are connected to that 5th connector.
Suspiciously the connected thing is upside down... hopefully its not the mainboard that is wired 180 degree wrong?

Van Grauw

Ascended (10768)

31-05-2014, 02:00

I would imagine two out of the four slot connectors are in the expanded slots 0 or 3? So you could only connect a slot expander to the first two slots…

That’s a neat configuration, it unlocks two extra slots that are not normally available on most MSX computers, and allows you to plug in a lot more cartridges before needing a slot expander. Like the two extra slots on the CX5MII (sound module and mini slot).

Van sd_snatcher

Prophet (3659)

31-05-2014, 02:53

Is it booting at 10MHz in the video?

Van hit9918

Prophet (2932)

31-05-2014, 03:39

No, it must be 4 full slots, because that costs LESS logic and makes the universal MSX!
The reason why normaly an MSX has not 4 slots is because it has already things plugged in. Like ROM RAM.

really just a z80 and a PPI makes the whole show. You cannot tell whether the 4 slot board is MSX1 or MSX2.

To make an MSX1, plug flashrom in slot 0.
To make an MSX2, need a flashrom cartridge that can do subslots or an expander.
RAM, for MSX1 plug vintage 64k, for MSX2 plug mapper RAM cartridge.
To make a Sony plug it in slot 2, to make a Phillips plug it in slot 3, something like that

Van hit9918

Prophet (2932)

31-05-2014, 03:49

Well I must add that I didn't read that in the board specs, it's just that 4 slots are crying out loud for it.

The "CPLD" part I dont know, except this contains ROM and RAM it makes nooo sense to not have 4 full primary slots.
Rest in the list is "z80" and "8255", that is what can make the whole 4 primary slot show.

To make it a really universal board, it should be possible to deactivate the 9958 of the board.
e.g. be able to make MSX1 with 9918 cartridge.
Or 9938 cartridge to get the games with wobbleborder scroll, kinda retro gaming on the 4 slot board

Van Grauw

Ascended (10768)

31-05-2014, 04:53

@hit9918 Padial already did what you talk about. You can order it on his website. It’s a great project (has been around for quite a while!), but if you buy a whole system, it will cost you a lot, and you need a PC case to fit everything.

This seems to be a more traditional MSX2+ with an MSX-ENGINE implemented in CPLD. I like that. It’s more of an integrated, wholesome system, with identity, rather than like a bare IBM PC-like system that you need to plug ten thousand expansion modules into before it does anything. It’s a real MSX2+, but on a modern board. Kind of like a One Chip MSX, but with real MSX2+ components where it matters. And very affordable it seems.

Well anyway. @fzanoto please tell us more!