Hello i found a Toshiba HX-10 msx1 for sale.I want to ask about the expansions that i could do to that machine.Can i change the bios roms,and the vdp processor (from TMS 9929A to a proper 9938 that msx2 has?).Also can i fit a drive?The reason i am asking this is because the one i found in a local retro shop is sold very CHEAP.And with a few more money i would want to make it a proper msx2 model.

By the way here is the specifications of it http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=438

I'm -by far- not into hardware, but I wouldn't count on it. MSX2 stuff is in the MSX-engine while the MSX1 stuff was all with seperate chips -iirc-. But 2nd-hand MSX2's aren't *that* expensive, are they? I'd keep the HX10 being an MSX1 rather.

I have a nms8280 msx2 and a vg8235 msx2.I am planning to get a slot expander for the first model,and sunrise cf adapter,and the mp3 card when it appears again.Also i found a kit that i could use to make my 8280 a msx2+ by Gilberdo.

Now i will have to spend a lot of money.so that's why i thought that since i could really get that msx1 computer for the cost of a bottle of orange juice (the guy simply sells it for reasons of space and does not care to make profit at all),it would be good for me to make it msx2.And i like to make hardware modifications (although i have no experiance with soldering and i use a friend of mine that is expert with such stuff)

However it doesn't seem to be so easy.Maybe i keep it as a simple msx1 machine and maybe with megaram i could play some konami megaroms.

Wolf: MSX2 stuff is not by definition in an MSX-ENGINE. E.g. the Sony HB-G900P has everything in separate chips.

Anyway, I wouldn't try to convert the HX-10, it's too much work for too little gain. Better buy another MSX2 idd.

Having already two great MSX2 machines I don't see the point to risk a MSX1 so representative as the Toshiba "british tank" HX-10 (is the *only* MSX1 machine that can be closely related to the english market)
Keep it as is please!

I found a philips vg8020 and a vg 8000 at very low prices (they cost maybe less than a pack of macaroni).The latter vg8000 i would not want to upgrade. it can't be upgraded plus i think it is the worst machine made by philips.(collectors item really!).

Now really i would want to experiment a little my soldering skills so i have some questions.

Is it possible to upgrade the video ram only?It has 64kbyte of ram and only 16kbytes of video ram.
Is the TMS 9929A compatible to 9918 ?If it could have 64 kbytes of video ram,i could enjoy many good konami roms loaded to a megaflash scc or purchase a megaram.

Quote:

Is it possible to upgrade the video ram only?It has 64kbyte of ram and only 16kbytes of video ram.

I believe that the TMS9918 family can only address 16Kb and they don't have a banking mechanism. Maybe someone with enough skills could create some external hardware to do this VRAM page banking; but I've serious doubts about this being doable.
And yes, the TMS9929A and the TMS9918A are basically the same chip, the first one is the 50Hz version while the later is the 60Hz version.
I think that the most upgradeable MSX1 is the SVI-738, it already mounts the V9938!. If I'm not wrong a Yamaha model of the CX5M family has also the same MSX2 VDP.

just throw the entire msx hardware out, keep the case and cram a msx2 board in it and pretend
it's a modded msx 1
if people can build a pc inside an accordeon, then surely an msx2 can be built into an msx1 case

Quote:

just throw the entire msx hardware out, keep the case and cram a msx2 board in it and pretend it's a modded msx 1 if people can build a pc inside an accordeon, then surely an msx2 can be built into an msx1 case

hahaha ROFL


Hahahaha

Quote:

Is it possible to upgrade the video ram only?It has 64kbyte of ram and only 16kbytes of video ram. ?If it could have 64 kbytes of video ram,i could enjoy many good konami roms loaded to a megaflash scc or purchase a megaram.

1) the TMS can't handle more than 16kB VRAM
2) what does VRAM have to do with Konami ROMs on a MegaFlashROM SCC?

nikodr: please, keep this Toshiba HX-10 alive as is!

Anything is possible, but its a mader if its worty to do it

As mention before in some thred, Henrik Gilvad converted a Sony HB75P from MSX1 to MSX2
Actually he said its possible for 2+ too, but it will cost some space in the cardrigde slot.

I think he used a special converter to fit the MSX2-vdp into the mainboard, as far as i know that is the only MSX2 which is converter from "real MSX1" all other converted from MSX1 which alread had the MSX2VDP onboard.

So..... its possible but very difficult.

Better find a Sony MSX2 or a Svi 738 more easy to convert

-Claus

is possible in a HB75P because as no special chip inside

many MSX 1 as special chip MSXengine or Integrated Mapper with small parts to sold

Mapper on MSX1 ? I never heard about a mapper on msx1, but i dont know maybe.

Technical MSX1 and easily handle mapper, but not for so much use.

I didn say its easy to convert to MSX2, but that dont mean its impossible

-cb-

see on the forum S3527 chip

[ The MSX Engine IC, S3527 made by Yamaha, is used in all Philips MSX 2 machines. Even the MSX 1 VG8020 later versions used that IC.
It is also in some Sony machines.]

the VG8020 as no mapper but can have one because as a S3527 chip inside