VicViper Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 In the market for an MSX2, any other users on here? Im planning on grabbing a Panasonic A-1 since they are so abundant on Ebay, and because i don't plan on using a floppy drive. Gonna grab an SD cart from MSX Cartdridge shop as well. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+eebuckeye Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 I like the MSX! I have the two US only MSX models (really meant as music computers) and a Megaflashrom SCC+ SD. The MSX has thousands of games and I would like to get a MSX2 that works good in the US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artrag Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 I've an MSX Turbo-R Panasonic A1GT Using an SD cart is highly recommended Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VicViper Posted January 20, 2018 Author Share Posted January 20, 2018 I like the MSX! I have the two US only MSX models (really meant as music computers) and a Megaflashrom SCC+ SD. The MSX has thousands of games and I would like to get a MSX2 that works good in the US. What models where released in the US? I tried finding the info and couldn't find them. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+nanochess Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 The Japanese MSX2 can work just fine in US, these are NTSC and even thought A.C. hardware is for 100 V.A.C it works just fine with 127 V.A.C. Of course connecting video only thru composite or components as the RF modulator is calculated for Japanese TV. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
towmater Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 I've just finished an rgb->scart cable for my Sony F1-XDJ. I have an 2xsd-based 512 megaram mapper, which turns out to be very confusing to use, as it emulates a variety of things, cartridge rom goes one place, a:, b: the cartridge's files, c: is a Gotek 720kb. I typed b: but accidentally hit b* and it ran the first program that it found with b in it, on another drive - so even the dos is confusing. I still haven't figured out how to run SpaceManBow. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted January 20, 2018 Share Posted January 20, 2018 If I understand correctly, Yamaha released the CX5M and perhaps one more model in the US as music computers but possibly they were alone on the market. Personally I'm getting by with a Philips VG-8235 which is a rather common MSX2 model over here, though designed for European conditions and power then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
VicViper Posted January 20, 2018 Author Share Posted January 20, 2018 The Japanese MSX2 can work just fine in US, these are NTSC and even thought A.C. hardware is for 100 V.A.C it works just fine with 127 V.A.C. Of course connecting video only thru composite or components as the RF modulator is calculated for Japanese TV. My understanding is this is a bad idea. Should use a step down transformer. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JamesD Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 I had a Turbo R. Cool machine Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spacecadet Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 I've wanted an MSX for a while. Problem for me is they're a little expensive for what they can do. I've played a lot of emulated MSX games on the PSP, and the original MSX really does feel about ColecoVision level. MSX2, maybe more like NES, but the games aren't quite as good. And an MSX2 machine is like $200 minimum. If you can get one of those A-1's for less than $200 shipped, might be worth going for. My understanding is that they're like the lowest of the MSX2's, though. Not much RAM, VRAM or whatever, might not support all games without upgrades. Turbo R's, forget it. Like $700! At that point, I'd rather just play on emulation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+S.D.W. Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 I just purchased a Panasonic FS-A1WSX expanded to 512k but I am new to MSX. What SD card options do you recommend? Thanks 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artrag Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 (edited) This is a solid all in one solution https://www.msx.org/wiki/MSX_Cartridge_Shop_MegaFlashROM_SCC%2B_SD You can use as flash cartridge and as SD disk at the same time. It includes the SCC audio chip and mapper for konami and recent homebrew games, and additional psg chip to avoid any balancing problem between scc and psg, and it can emulate a floppy disk by its .dsk file. It can also include up to 512kB of ram expansion. Edited January 21, 2018 by artrag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discgolfer72 Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 My understanding is this is a bad idea. Should use a step down transformer. yes and no is it going to cause a problem probably not most wall wart transformers are rated at 10-20% tolerance so a wall wart from japan rated at 100v should be ok at 110/120 we pull from outlets here in the us on the other had you are causing more strain on the wall wart and they will run hot so it can cause the brick to fail premature i really only use my step down xformer on my systems that have internal power supplies Saturn , PlayStation , etc Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Usotsuki Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 I'd love to be able to dig up an MSX, especially an MSX2, sometime. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roland p Posted January 21, 2018 Share Posted January 21, 2018 I have fond memories of the MSX. It was my favorite homecomputer. No special hardware but it had great games! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ColorComputerStore Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 I lived in Japan for 14 years so MSX has a special spot for me. In my recent trip back, I picked up a bunch of sports games for MSX1. I'm selling them on eBay. If you want the link to my store, ping me. Also have 3 MSX2 machines. I am building a special power supply to run a Panasonic and Sony. The third MSX2 is also a Sony but takes a larger 3 pin supply. (grrrrrr). I tend to import a few MSX machines a month. Good to see some love for MSX here. Cheers 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nebulon Posted January 22, 2018 Share Posted January 22, 2018 Cool machines (and great case designs too). I'm a big ColecoVision fan and MSX is definitely my idea of the evolution of that platform. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artrag Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 Cool machines (and great case designs too). I'm a big ColecoVision fan and MSX is definitely my idea of the evolution of that platform. I agree and I did that path.If the CV had had more ram probably it would have lasted much longer. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Greg2600 Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 Cool system but too expensive to get into. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Loguidice Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 I agree and I did that path. If the CV had had more ram probably it would have lasted much longer. The ColecoVision's problems were not its RAM or lack thereof, but the company behind it. Until recently I had a very nice large and diverse MSX collection. In making the hard choice to keep a minimal collection, it had to go. Perhaps if it had a bit more English-centric content I would have kept one. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted January 26, 2018 Share Posted January 26, 2018 MSX was reasonably affordable in 2008-2010, though already then more expensive than your run of the mill Commodore or Atari computer. Nowadays I fully understand if you find MSX way too expensive. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artrag Posted January 27, 2018 Share Posted January 27, 2018 (edited) For those willing to give a try to an mx1 this is a web emulator with quite a lot of games to be selected by a menu http://www.file-hunter.com/MSX/index.php?id=uridium48 Uridium48 is the freeware version of a port done of mine This is original mine instead http://www.file-hunter.com/MSX/index.php?id=deepdungeon I've also developed the voice coder used in this Salamander patch http://www.file-hunter.com/MSX/index.php?id=salamander Edited January 27, 2018 by artrag 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
carlsson Posted January 27, 2018 Share Posted January 27, 2018 (edited) My latest haul: 7 assorted MSX1 and MSX2 games for a total of ~$38 at a local gaming flea market. No particularly interesting titles, but at affordable prices. From right to left: Casio: Exciting Jockey Casio: Exciting Baseball Nidec-M: The Cockpit (MSX2) HAL: Hole in One Special (MSX2) * Takara/Toshiba: Real Tennis Sony: Four Battle Mah-Jong Square: Dragon Slayer *) Now I've got four different golf games on the MSX, of which 3 from HAL and 1 from Konami Edited January 27, 2018 by carlsson 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+eebuckeye Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 Is the Panasonic A-1 the best choice for price/performance for a MSX2 computer for use in the US? I see it has 64k ram which is enough for all programs? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
artrag Posted January 28, 2018 Share Posted January 28, 2018 (edited) 64K of RAM are fine only if you plan to use roms and megaroms. If you want to try msxdos based games and recent homebrews, you will need more ram (or a ram cartridge). Actually msxdos2 will need 128KB minimum to start, but allows FAT16 and subdirctories. msxdos1 will start with 64KB but uses FAT12 and no subdirectories. Edited January 28, 2018 by artrag Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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