MSX Cartridge slot
Contents
|
Description
The MSX cartridge slot is the standard expansion port, as defined in the MSX standard definition. It can be used for program cartridges, such as games, or for hardware expansion. It was inspired by the NEC PC-6001 slot.
Most MSX systems have two primary slots available for expansion, although some have just one, and may have a proprietary expansion slot.
A primary expansion slot can be split into 4 sub-slots using a Slot Expander.
Pinout of Standard MSX Cartridge slot
| Pin | Name | Type | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | CS1 | O | ROM page 4000h-7FFFh select signal |
| 2 | CS2 | O | ROM page 8000h-BFFFh select signal |
| 3 | CS12 | O | ROM pages 4000h-BFFFh select signal (for 32kB ROM) |
| 4 | SLTSL | O | Slot select signal |
| 5 | RSV (N.C) | Reserved signal line - use inhibited | |
| 6 | RFSH | O | Refresh cycle signal |
| 7 | WAIT | I | CPU's WAIT request signal |
| 8 | INT | I | Interrupt request signal to CPU |
| 9 | M1 | O | Signal expressing CPU fetch cycle |
| 10 | BUSDIR | I | This signal controls direction of external databus buffer Cartridges are selected and L level is output from each cartridge at data transmission time |
| 11 | IORQ | O | I/O request signal |
| 12 | MERQ | O | Memory request signal |
| 13 | WR | O | Write timing signal |
| 14 | RD | O | Read timing signal |
| 15 | RESET | O | System reset signal |
| 16 | RSV (N.C) | Reserved signal line - use inhibited | |
| 17 | A9 | O | Address bus signals |
| 18 | A15 | O | Address bus signals |
| 19 | A11 | O | Address bus signals |
| 20 | A10 | O | Address bus signals |
| 21 | A7 | O | Address bus signals |
| 22 | A6 | O | Address bus signals |
| 23 | A12 | O | Address bus signals |
| 24 | A8 | O | Address bus signals |
| 25 | A14 | O | Address bus signals |
| 26 | A13 | O | Address bus signals |
| 27 | A1 | O | Address bus signals |
| 28 | A0 | O | Address bus signals |
| 29 | A3 | O | Address bus signals |
| 30 | A2 | O | Address bus signals |
| 31 | A5 | O | Address bus signals |
| 32 | A4 | O | Address bus signals |
| 33 | D1 | I/O | Data bus signals |
| 34 | D0 | I/O | Data bus signals |
| 35 | D3 | I/O | Data bus signals |
| 36 | D2 | I/O | Data bus signals |
| 37 | D5 | I/O | Data bus signals |
| 38 | D4 | I/O | Data bus signals |
| 39 | D7 | I/O | Data bus signals |
| 40 | D6 | I/O | Data bus signals |
| 41 | GND | PWR | Signal ground |
| 42 | CLOCK | O | CPU clock 3.579545MHz |
| 43 | GND | PWR | Signal ground |
| 44 | SW1 | For insertion/removal protect | |
| 45 | +5V | PWR | +5V power source |
| 46 | SW2 | For insertion/removal protect | |
| 47 | +5V | PWR | +5V power source |
| 48 | +12V | PWR | +12V power source |
| 49 | SOUNDIN | I | Sound input signal (-5dBm) |
| 50 | -12V | PWR | -12V power source |
Notes:
- You look at front side of cartridge when alignment hole is at left
- Even pin numbers run from right to left on front side of cartridge and odd pins from left to right on backside
- Signals are TTL compatible.
- In audio and telephony, dBm is typically referenced relative to a 600 Ohm impedance
- Power source +5V must be 300mA max per slot.
- Power source -/+12V must be 50mA max for all slots. Not connected on MSXs Casio, General PCT-50, Hitachi MB-H1, Omega MSX, Victor HC-30 and Yamaha SX-100.
- Note: As a rule of the thumb, it's wise to supply at least 20mA/slot to be able to support the existing sound or RS-232 cartridges
- SOUNDIN pin is not connected on MSXs Casio PV-7, General PCT-50, Hitachi MB-H1, Victor HC-30, Yamaha SX-100 and Korean MSX machines.
Chronograms
These signal diagrams indicate the maximum timings for a proper operation.
Cycle M1
Memory cycle
I/O cycle
Fan-IN/OUT on data address bus
Fan-in/out is a term that defines the maximum number of digital inputs/outputs that a single logic gate can accept.
Dimensions
Slot
Cartridge
- STL files for 3D printing your own cartridges.
Lists of machines
NOTE!
These lists have been created to indicate which computers have more or less than 2 standard MSX cartridge slots.
Machines without MSX cartridge slot
| Model | Generation | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Daewoo CPC-88 | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Daewoo DPC-200S | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Forte II Games | MSX1 | Brazilian arcade with built-in MSX game |
| Frael Bruc 100 version 1 | MSX1 | Frael expansion bus slot |
| Haesung Super Free Kick / Spinkick | MSX2 | Console with built-in non-MSX game |
| Mitsubishi ML-TS100 | MSX2 | |
| Mitsubishi ML-TS100M2 | MSX2 | |
| Panasonic VW-KT300 | MSX2+ | MSX2+-based appliance |
| Philips NMS 800 | MSX1 | |
| Philips NMS 801 | MSX1 | |
| Sony XV-J555 | MSX2 | MSX2-based appliance |
| Sony XV-J770 | MSX2 | MSX2-based appliance |
| Sony XV-J777 | MSX2 | MSX2-based appliance |
Machines with only 1 MSX cartridge slot
Without expansion bus (or Yamaha module) slot
The following machines with only 1 MSX cartridge slot don't have an expansion bus (or a Yamaha module slot), so the only easy solution is to insert a slot expander in the unique MSX cartridge slot:
| Model | Generation | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Al Fateh 123 | MSX1 | |
| Canon V-8 | MSX1 | |
| Daewoo CPC-50A | MSX1 | Console |
| Daewoo CPC-50B | MSX1 | Console |
| Daewoo CPC-51 | MSX1 | Console |
| Daewoo CPC-61 | MSX2 | Console |
| Daewoo CPG-120 | MSX2 | Console |
| Daewoo SuperBoy | MSX1 | Console |
| Frael Bruc 100 version 2 | MSX1 | |
| General PCT-50 | MSX1 | |
| General PCT-55 | MSX1 | |
| Misawa-Van CX-5 | MSX1 | |
| Mitsubishi ML-8000 | MSX1 | |
| Mitsubishi ML-TS1 | MSX1 | |
| Mitsubishi ML-TS2 | MSX2 | A slot doubler is provided with the computer |
| Nikko PC-70100 | MSX1 | |
| Philips NMS 8260 | MSX2 | |
| Pioneer UC-V102 | MSX2 | |
| PTC MSX PC | MSX2 | Hybrid PC-MSX |
| Sakhr AX-230 | MSX1 | |
| Sakhr AX-330 | MSX1 | Has 1 NES cartridge slot |
| Sakhr AX-660 | MSX1 | Has 1 Sega Genesis/Mega Drive cartridge slot |
| Sakhr AX-990 | MSX1 | Has 2 Sega Genesis/Mega Drive cartridge slots |
| Sanyo MPC-25 | MSX2 | |
| Sanyo MPC-2500FD | MSX2 | |
| Sony XV-J550 | MSX2 | MSX2-based appliance |
| Sony XV-T550 | MSX2 | MSX2-based appliance |
| Spectravideo SVI-738 | MSX1 | |
| Spectravideo SVI-811 | MSX1 | Hybrid PC-MSX |
| Victor HC-30 (*) | MSX1 | |
| Yamaha SX-100 (*) | MSX1 | |
| Yashica YC-64 | MSX1 |
(*) These machines have actually a 56-pin cartridge slot with 6 special pins named abcdef: a, b and d are shield, c is sound in, e and f are slotselect. It is compatible with MSX cartridges.
With expansion bus (or Yamaha module) slot
Many MSX1 machines and a few MSX2 machines have only 1 MSX cartridge slot, but most of them have a proprietary expansion bus which can be used as second cartridge slot. Besides, a module slot can be present when it's a computer manufactured by Yamaha.
| Model | Generation | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| AVT CPC-300 | MSX2 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| AVT DPC-200 | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Bawareth Perfect MSX1 | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Bawareth Perfect MSX2 | MSX2 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| CE-TEC MPC-80 | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Casio MX-10 | MSX1 | Casio expansion bus slot for KB-10 unit |
| Casio MX-101 | MSX1 | Casio expansion bus slot for KB-10 unit |
| Casio MX-15 | MSX1 | Casio expansion bus slot for KB-15 unit |
| Casio PV-16 | MSX1 | Casio expansion bus slot for KB-7 unit |
| Casio PV-7 | MSX1 | Casio expansion bus slot for KB-7 unit |
| Daewoo CPC-200 | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Daewoo CPC-300 | MSX2 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Daewoo CPC-300E | MSX2 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Daewoo CPC-330K | MSX2 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Daewoo CPC-400 | MSX2 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Daewoo CPC-400S | MSX2 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Daewoo DPC-100 | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Daewoo DPC-180 | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Daewoo DPC-200 | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Dynadata DPC-200 | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Fenner DPC-200 | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Fenner SPC-800 | MSX1 | Samsung expansion bus slot |
| Fujitsu FM-X | MSX1 | Fujitsu expansion bus slot for MB22451 or MB22450 module |
| Goldstar FC-200 | MSX1 | Goldstar expansion bus slot |
| Goldstar FC-80 | MSX1 | Goldstar expansion bus slot |
| Goldstar FC-80U | MSX1 | Goldstar expansion bus slot |
| Goldstar GFC-1080 | MSX1 | Goldstar expansion bus slot |
| Goldstar GFC-1080A | MSX1 | Goldstar expansion bus slot |
| Mini IQ-3000 | MSX2+ | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Network DPC-200 | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Olympia DPC-200 | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Olympia PHC-2 | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Sakhr AX-100 | MSX1 | Yamaha module slot + unusable Yamaha expansion bus slot (occupied by Arabic rom) |
| Samsung SPC-800 | MSX1 | Samsung expansion bus slot |
| Sanno SPCmk-II | MSX1 | Casio expansion bus slot for KB-7 unit |
| Sanno SPCmk-III | MSX1 | Casio expansion bus slot for KB-7 unit |
| Sanyo MPC-10 | MSX1 | Sanyo expansion bus slot |
| Sanyo MPC-10mkII | MSX1 | Sanyo expansion bus slot |
| Sanyo MPC-100 | MSX1 | Sanyo expansion bus slot |
| Sanyo MPC-11 | MSX1 | Sanyo expansion bus slot |
| Sanyo MPC-6 | MSX1 | Sanyo expansion bus slot |
| Sony HB-55 | MSX1 | Sony expansion bus slot |
| Sony HB-75 | MSX1 | Sony expansion bus slot |
| Spectravideo SVI-728 | MSX1 | Spectravideo expansion bus slot |
| Talent DPC-200 | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Talent DPC-200A | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Talent DPC-300 | MSX2 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Talent DPS-201 | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Talent TPC-310 | MSX2 | Daewoo expansion bus slot + color bus connector for digitizer/superimposer |
| Talent TPP-311 | MSX2 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Talent TPS-312 | MSX2 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Toshiba HX-10AA | MSX1 | Toshiba expansion bus slot |
| Toshiba HX-10D | MSX1 | Toshiba expansion bus slot |
| Toshiba HX-10DP | MSX1 | Toshiba expansion bus slot |
| Toshiba HX-10DPN | MSX1 | Toshiba expansion bus slot |
| Toshiba HX-10E | MSX1 | Toshiba expansion bus slot |
| Toshiba HX-10F | MSX1 | Toshiba expansion bus slot |
| Toshiba HX-10P | MSX1 | Toshiba expansion bus slot |
| Toshiba HX-10S | MSX1 | Toshiba expansion bus slot |
| Toshiba HX-10SA | MSX1 | Toshiba expansion bus slot |
| Toshiba HX-10SF | MSX1 | Toshiba expansion bus slot |
| Vestel FC-200 | MSX1 | Goldstar expansion bus slot |
| Victor HC-5 | MSX1 | Yamaha module slot + Yamaha expansion bus slot |
| Victor HC-6 | MSX1 | Yamaha module slot + Yamaha expansion bus slot |
| Victor HC-60 | MSX1 | Yamaha module slot + Yamaha expansion bus slot |
| Victor HC-90 | MSX2 | 2 JVC expansion bus slots |
| Victor HC-95 | MSX2 | 2 JVC expansion bus slots |
| Wandy CPC-300 | MSX2 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Wandy DPC-200 | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
| Yamaha CX5 | MSX1 | Yamaha module slot + Yamaha expansion bus slot |
| Yamaha CX5F | MSX1 | Yamaha module slot + Yamaha expansion bus slot |
| Yamaha CX5M | MSX1 | Yamaha module slot + Yamaha expansion bus slot |
| Yamaha YIS-303 | MSX1 | Yamaha module slot + Yamaha expansion bus slot |
| Yamaha YIS-503 | MSX1 | Yamaha module slot + Yamaha expansion bus slot |
| Yamaha YIS-503F | MSX1 | Yamaha module slot + Yamaha expansion bus slot |
| Yeno DPC-64 | MSX1 | Daewoo expansion bus slot |
Machines with 2 MSX cartridge slots
Without expansion bus (or Yamaha module) slot
With expansion bus (or Yamaha module) slot
| Model | Generation | Remark |
|---|---|---|
| Gradiente Expert GPC1 | MSX1 | Gradiente expansion bus slot |
| Gradiente Expert XP800 | MSX1 | Gradiente expansion bus slot |
| Mitsubishi ML-G1 | MSX2 | Mitsubishi expansion bus slot (I/O port) Slot connector not soldered |
| Mitsubishi ML-G10 | MSX2 | Mitsubishi expansion bus slot (I/O port) |
| National FS-5000 | MSX2 | 3 National expansion bus slots |
| National FS-5500F1 | MSX2 | 3 National expansion bus slots |
| National FS-5500F2 | MSX2 | 3 National expansion bus slots |
| Olympia PHC-28 | MSX1 | Sanyo expansion bus slot |
| Sakhr AX-200 | MSX1 | Yamaha module slot |
| Sakhr AX-500 | MSX2 | Yamaha module slot |
| Sanyo PHC-28S | MSX1 | Sanyo expansion bus slot |
| Sanyo PHC-30 | MSX1 | Sanyo expansion bus slot |
| Yamaha CX11 | MSX1 | Yamaha module slot |
| Yamaha CX5MII | MSX1 | Yamaha module slot |
| Yamaha CX7/128 | MSX2 | Yamaha module slot |
| Yamaha CX7M/128 | MSX2 | Yamaha module slot |
| Yamaha YIS-503II | MSX1 | Yamaha module slot |
| Yamaha YIS-503IIR | MSX1 | Yamaha module slot |
| Yamaha YIS-503IIIR | MSX2 | Yamaha module slot |
| Yamaha YIS-603 | MSX1 | Yamaha module slot |
| Yamaha YIS-604/128 | MSX2 | Yamaha module slot |
| Yamaha YIS-805 | MSX2 | Yamaha module slot + Yamaha expansion bus slot, reserved for a digitizer |
| Yamaha YIS-805/128R2 | MSX2 | Yamaha module slot |
Machines with more than 2 MSX cartridge slots
| Model | Generation | Slots |
|---|---|---|
| Daisen Sangyo MX-2021 | MSX2 | 3 |
| Hitachi MB-H70 | MSX2 | 3 |
| Mitsubishi ML-G3 | MSX2 | 4 |
| Mitsubishi ML-G30 Model 1 | MSX2 | 4 |
| Mitsubishi ML-G30 Model 2 | MSX2 | 3 or 4 |
| Philips NMS 8245 Home Banking | MSX2 | 3 |
| Sanyo MPC-2 | MSX1 | 3 (*) |
| Sanyo MPC-3 | MSX1 | 3 |
| Sony HB-F500F | MSX2 | 3 |
| Sony HB-F500P | MSX2 | 3 |
| Sony HB-T600 | MSX2 | 3 |
(*) Only on special version