1 chip MSX clone

[MaDDuck]

Does anyone here know where I can get one of these in the US?

 

http://www.msx.d4e.co.jp/

 

I would LOVE to get my hands on one.

 

Or if not, can somebody translate the order page and see if they will ship to the US?

 

thanks!!

 

Oh I also found this article:

http://www.msx.org/Bazix-reveal-further-On...wspost3891.html

 

but no further details.

[Ze_ro]

If you do end up getting one, please let us know how it turns out! I love the idea of an FPGA-based computer, and have been on the fence about buying a C-One for some time now, but it's development seems to go so slowly that I'm wary of dropping the money on it. Finding information about this Bazix machine is somewhat difficult, so I'm not sure if it's situation is any better.

 

--Zero

[MaDDuck]

I'm still digging for one!!

 

I'm running a minimig and it works like a champ.

 

 

Oh well, the search continues

[icbrkr]

If you do end up getting one, please let us know how it turns out! I love the idea of an FPGA-based computer, and have been on the fence about buying a C-One for some time now, but it's development seems to go so slowly that I'm wary of dropping the money on it. Finding information about this Bazix machine is somewhat difficult, so I'm not sure if it's situation is any better.

 

--Zero

 

I tried out the latest C-One core today and it didn't seem to fix a lot of issues I had. One thing they did get working was the cartridge port on there, but until they get the IDE interface and internal floppy disk going, I'm still not really happy. Supposedly a new core is coming out in the future and an Apple II core is in development.

[Ze_ro]

It's really too bad that the C-One didn't catch on... I thought for sure it would turn out to be the ultimate hacker/hobbyist computer, but it just never turned out that way. Maybe some combination of the high price and difficulty of FPGA programming doomed it.

 

--Zero

[icbrkr]

It's really too bad that the C-One didn't catch on... I thought for sure it would turn out to be the ultimate hacker/hobbyist computer, but it just never turned out that way. Maybe some combination of the high price and difficulty of FPGA programming doomed it.

 

--Zero

 

Personally, I think it's just another barely-supported Jens project. Jens tends to make a lot of good hardware for old systems and then hopes the community will get it to work properly. There is still development going on, but it's stupidly slow at this point. I don't need the machine to be 100% compatible with all sorts of VIC tricks to be useful - if I can get a working cart port, RS232 ports and HD interface, I can use it as a BBS machine or machine for at least making D64s.

[Red_Queen]

Well I was going to break out the wallet but then I see that 200+ dollar price tag and my waller retracted by inside itself

 

Still correct me if I am wrong. The MSX takes floppy like disks, and has other upgrades in it? I was doing alot of major reading on the MSX series deciding which one to get. I would love to get one to show off my buddies who only type in Arabic

 

I mean dang it let me see how the official MSX forum is reacting to this

[Giltygear]

im debating picking one up... i just got into the pc engine and i still have a ton of games that i still need to buy for it. i guess the only ones i would get for it would be the metal gears, gradius, contra, and vampire killer

[Red_Queen]

Well I would not Jump into it, after looking at the reviews this is a causual usage of the MSX. I want full usage of the MSX. I would wait until SONY releases a real MSX.

[Ze_ro]

Jens tends to make a lot of good hardware for old systems and then hopes the community will get it to work properly.

Well see, that's what I had hoped would happen too. Obviously, Jens is a busy man, so I don't expect him to devote all his time to single-handedly perfecting the C64 core, but I really had hoped the community would jump on this and release new cores to make it do neat things like Apple II, Atari 800 and such... but it looks like aside from C64, the only cores out there are for the VIC-20 and the CPC machines. Why didn't more hackers get into it? There are tons of people making and porting emulators, and plenty of people still making demos and games for the C64... is VHDL so much more difficult that it scares people away?

 

I'd really love to see an FPGA-based computer with enough power to handle not only C64 and Apple II, but 16-bit machines like the Atari ST, Amiga and 68k Macs... then I could replace numerous setups in my basement (even though I likely wouldn't because weird quirks would likely convince me to keep all those machines going for that ONE game that didn't quite work ).

 

--Zero

[yuppicide]

There are no more for sale. They were pre-order only. There are no plans to produce anymore. I am on their mailing list, so if they do produce more I'll be notified. The people that handled the sales outside of Japan can be found here;

 

http://www.bazix.nl/

 

You can sign up for the mailing list through them.

 

The machine itself looks sweet.. takes MSX carts, and SD.

 

I believe 2000 of them were made.

Edited June 16, 2008 by yuppicide

[+remowilliams]

There are no more for sale. They were pre-order only. There are no plans to produce anymore.

Yeah, that really sucks. I wanted one, but didn't find out about the pre-order until it was far too late.

 

As for the C-One, it's an awesome creation. Unfortunately it seems to be doomed to collecting dust in the corner here though.

[yuppicide]

Yeah, that really sucks. I wanted one, but didn't find out about the pre-order until it was far too late.

 

Same here. I didn't find out until this thread and I went to investigate. I've never played an MSX game or ever seen one outside of some screenshots on the web. Reminds me of my C64. Boy I loved that.

[doubledown]

There's a few of these on ebay right now if anyone's still interested.

 

http://search.ebay.com/search/search.dll?f...&category0=

[yuppicide]

Man, I do want this, but I just got a new apartment. I need $2900 by Nov 1.

[+remowilliams]

Ok, so now I have one of these and it is very, very cool.

 

Now I need some sort of cohesive English FAQ on it. I've done well so far by guessing and looking at the pics in the Japanese manual, but I still have questions like - do I have the latest code on it?, is there some way to use extra memory as MegaRAM?, what's with the KITT led display?

 

It looks like I can't load .ROM images on it without either MegaRAM emulation or a real MegaRAM cart, but I got the .DSK image loading going. Sweet!

[98PaceCar]

Ok, so now I have one of these and it is very, very cool.

 

Now I need some sort of cohesive English FAQ on it. I've done well so far by guessing and looking at the pics in the Japanese manual, but I still have questions like - do I have the latest code on it?, is there some way to use extra memory as MegaRAM?, what's with the KITT led display?

 

It looks like I can't load .ROM images on it without either MegaRAM emulation or a real MegaRAM cart, but I got the .DSK image loading going. Sweet!

 

 

This thread reminded me that I wanted to get one of these, so I've now got one on the way! I've been doing some research and found these pages I thought might interest you. If you try any of it out, I'd love to know your findings for when mine gets here!

 

http://msxbanzai.tni.nl/computers/ese3.html

http://www.tni.nl/products/romload.html

 

Have you found any general usage sites or have any basic tips for someone that will be a first timer with an MSX?

[+remowilliams]

Have you found any general usage sites or have any basic tips for someone that will be a first timer with an MSX?

Good eye on the web, I turned up those two (and especially the msxbanzai one) as the most helpful so far.

 

As far as basic usage, out of the box you need to enable the SD/floppy mode (DIP), enable some form of RAM cart (DIP - I chose ESE3-SCC), copy over the FAT DOS files, your .rom and .dsk images and utilities such as EP, EXECROM, MGLOAD. The msxbanzai site also references copying over certain system ROMs first to the SD card, but I'm not sure that is even necessary any more.

 

I've had very little trouble with .dsk images and the EP utlility, it's pretty straightforward. Where it get's tricky is .rom and RAM cart settings. Oddly enough I loaded Metal Gear Solid 2 (with MGLOAD) straight off the bat and it worked fine including the SCC enhanced audio. MGS2 is usually a problem title I take it for real MSX users based on the RAM/SCC requirements. Where I am running into issues is getting other .rom files to work correctly. I think it has to do with different images being in different formats (ASCII8/16) and the correct way to load them. I've had some success using ROMLOAD with different switches, but this is one of those areas I could use some advice from an MSX expert as this is real hit or miss and rather annoying.

 

I'm hoping the answer isn't that you need to switch the ESE-RAM/SCC modes at a hardware level because I sure as hell am not playing repeatedly with those little SMT DIPs.

Edited September 16, 2008 by remowilliams

[nathanallan]

This is a neat thread, and very informative!

 

Something I realised, is that if these can all be done, the MSX, C64, a few more, they would make excellent replacement innards for broken actual machines! I wonder how many originals are out there, broken, brunt, magic smoke all gone that could benefit from a slightly upgraded internal board? The CDTV did wonders for the C64, and it can be dropped right into a box with a bad motherboard.

 

I just hate seeing remarks like "looks near new but it won't power up." Grinds my nerves

[98PaceCar]

If I'm not mistaken, I believe that this link is the latest firmware for the OCM. I haven't quite figured out how to flash it yet, but I believe it's a program called pldload.

 

http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~hra/note/onech...ev_20080712.zip

 

I've read somewhere on www.msx.org about more recent firmware that uses key commands to change the configuration of the slots on the fly, among other things. There is also another file I've found on the same site that is a version 2.2b for the OCM, but I'm not sure what the difference is. I think both files are in the same thread in the Revival section of their forum.

 

I'm getting antsy to get my board. Can't wait to try it out!

[98PaceCar]

Here's another couple sites I've run across that look useful.

 

http://niga.at.infoseek.co.jp/msx/free.html (has ngload, apparently a replacement for mgload and romload)

 

http://www.webalice.it/gnogni/ (this is the site with the repacked(?) firmware 2.2b and a flash utility)

 

http://www.symbos.de/ (GUI for MSX)

 

http://www5d.biglobe.ne.jp/~hra/note/onechipmsx/index.htm (a stable(?) firmware release that seems a bit newer than the 2.2b, but I'm not sure how they tie together or what the difference between them is)

 

Has anybody found a source for a real MSX controller? I understand you can use an Atari joystick for single button games, but would like to find a proper controller at some point. Not much has turned up on ebay yet, but I'm still looking.

[+remowilliams]

I'll check out that rom loader. I'm trying to get a decisive answer as to what the latest (best) firmware to use is. That 2.2b is a beta and I don't think any of these types of firmware are 'official'. One reason for taking exceptional care is that if bad firmware is flashed, you will brick the device. At that point you need a Byteblaster active serial cable and Quartus to revive it.

 

As far as the MSX controller, I've been using a Genesis pad at the moment but will rewire an extra one, or make an adapter for correct two button operation.

[98PaceCar]

I've seen a few threads about bricked systems myself and was wondering what firmware to go with. I would hate to have to buy that cable to fix it! I'm still looking for the answer to that one, so if I run across anything I'll be sure to let you know.

[Ze_ro]

I loaded Metal Gear Solid 2...

Wow! They made Metal Gear Solid 2 for the MSX? I didn't realize they were porting games to 8-bit computers in 2002!

 

The CDTV did wonders for the C64, and it can be dropped right into a box with a bad motherboard.

Putting an Amiga motherboard into a C64? Sounds like an interesting case mod to me!

 

Sorry, I'll stop picking on typos now... obviously remo meant Metal Gear 2 (not Solid), and nathan meant DTV...

 

--Zero

[killersquirel]

I just got one of these, and I'm really lost on how to get this up and running. I'm usually pretty good with these things, but if anybody can PM me with the basic info on getting this going I would be grateful.

 

Thanks,

mike