MSX2 expansion ROM for MSX

French MSX enthousiast Fabf is building on a cartridge which upgrades any MSX machine to MSX2 specifications, based on the work of MsxPro and corrected by BASS and Jipe on MsxVillage. The extension contains a MSX2 VDP, 128KB VRAM, ExtROM and video circuitry. For demonstration Igal, who is developing a parallel project to the Fabf project, posted a small YouTube video showing the double boot. As of yet, the only things still missing are the quartz and video components. Also noteworthy is that Fabf states it is easy to replace the 9938 VDP with a 9958, which opens MSX2+ possibilities, and that he is researching means to reproduce something similar to the VSU project.

Relevant link: MSX Village discussion

Comments (16)

By msxholder

Champion (399)

28-08-2012, 21:44

Shouldn't it be less complex to rebuild an ma20 from NEOS the rom's are there
And even easy to make without clockchip rpc5 pointing to zemmix msx2 and making
selectable ntsc or pal

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6556)

28-08-2012, 22:27

Two little corrections :

- it's not BAFF, but BASS

http://www.basshp.msxall.com/

- the video has been made by Igal, who is developing a parallel project to the Fabf project.

By Jorito

Mr. Ambassadors (1802)

28-08-2012, 23:54

Fix0red!

(Hmm, these are small corrections, not little corrections)

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6556)

29-08-2012, 00:45

Thanks !

(and sorry for the 'small/little' confusion .... English is a very subtle language )

By Fabf

Champion (266)

29-08-2012, 09:46

Happy this project make some interest

Another correction
The two expansions, Igal's and mine work well so MSXPRO work is confirmed
Except the video circuitry witch is take from an another website

Actually this expansion need to mod internally the MSX
msxholder, can you send me the link for NEOS Roms ?
This Roms seems to work without modifications

Expanding this extension to MSX2+ is planned when I'll receive the VDP
Using a CXA1145 is also planned for simplicity

By sinus

Expert (85)

02-09-2012, 22:44

Excellent project!
I've somehow followed the development on the Village. I've always thought this kind of cartridge would be every single MSX1's Grail. Quite astonishing that these MSX2 expansions were not frequent. Maybe due to the fact that, back in the past, they were quite expansive, therefore little relevant compared to buying next generation full machines. You proved it feasible anyway. I really like the Playsoniq expansion for what it brings in terms of compatibility, usability and usefulness. The potential of these MSX2(+) cards for MSX1 is already known, still it's the missing link... Hope you'll manage to tune it all up ! Good luck, Village team!
Sinus

By Fabf

Champion (266)

03-09-2012, 08:34

Now V9958 is plugged to the expansion
SPMANBOW works fine in MSX2+ mode

To complete the mod I need MSX2+ ROMs without clockchip

Maybe someone can remove it from original ROMs

MSXVillage link : http://www.msxvillage.fr/forum/topic.php?id=1380&pt=1

By Scarlettkitten

Supporter (14)

08-09-2012, 16:16

Fantastic, this looks like a superb addon

By Fabf

Champion (266)

18-11-2012, 21:24

MSX2+ expansion is now fonctionnal
hhttp://youtu.be/PKwO4fWnFkYEnjoy

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6556)

18-11-2012, 22:02

Next step : MSXturboR expansion ?

By Fabf

Champion (266)

18-11-2012, 22:17

By mars2000you

Enlighted (6556)

18-11-2012, 23:30

Don't cry, I know it's very difficult, you can be proud for having converted a MSX1 into a MSX2+, that's fantastic

By sd_snatcher

Prophet (3675)

20-11-2012, 21:57

@Fabf

Why don't you just add the RTC RP5C01 to the board instead of using patched ROMs?

Tip: Don't forget to connect the V9958 /WAIT signal (pin-26) to the /WAIT of the slot connector (pin-7).

By Fabf

Champion (266)

20-11-2012, 22:54

If you have schematic to add RTC, i'm very interested.

What the utility to connect /WAIT ?
It works well like that.

By sd_snatcher

Prophet (3675)

21-11-2012, 01:09

On MSXpro there's the complete schematics of the CIEL Expert3-Turbo motherboard. There you can you can get RTC circuit, and any other circuits needed to build a complete MSX2+ with turbo support. (only the turbo clock generator is missing)

The /WAIT signal allows faster VRAM transfers, including at turbo speeds, without the need of using an I/O slowdown as required for the V9938 & TMS9918 VDPs.

By Fabf

Champion (266)

21-11-2012, 18:41

Thank you for the link
I'm going to study it

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