Introduction

This article gives basic information about the successor of the MSX1 standard: MSX2.

MSX2 Standard definition

• Main RAM at least 64kB (e.g. Sony HB-F700 has 256kB RAM). Internally expandable to 4MB with the Memory Mapper system, more can be achieved with connecting multiple Memory Mappers with a slot-expander.
• 32kB BASIC/BIOS and 16kB subROM (MSX-BASIC version 2.0 or 2.1, the latter has the possibility of a RAMdisk bigger than 32kB in BASIC).
• Video Display Processor Yamaha V9938 (backward compatible with TMS-9918 and TMS-9928).
• Video RAM at least 64kB (usually 128kB in almost all machines, expandable to 196kB with 64kB ERAM, which can not be displayed, but can be used internally as a databank).
• Real time clock chip with rechargeable battery.

Not standard, but common:

• Most of produced MSX2 machines had built in at least one disk drive (360kB or 720kB 3,5").

Note: this list contains only specs that differ from an MSX1 machine.

Graphic capabilities

Screen modes from 0 to 3 are the same as on MSX1, except that in screen 0 an 80 column mode is available and that the colours can be selected from a 512 colour palette. The modes are of course governed by the used V9938 video chip and boil down to the following modes extra graphic modes (in MSX-BASIC):

Note: the 424 lines can only be displayed in interlace mode.

What are the screen modes used for?

• Screen 4: almost the same as screen 2. Used in some MSX2 games, e.g. Pennant Race 2 and Space Manbow by Konami. It's a pattern mode, making it very fast.
• Screen 5: used by many MSX2 games, because there are 4 pages available
• Screen 6: used by DTP programs, some MSX-DOS GUIs and some disk magazines. Examples:
  • Dynamic Publisher
  • Aladin
  • SYNTAX (Danish disk magazine)
• Screen 7: used by some games and most disk magazines and some drawing programs. Examples:
  • Cheese (drawing tool by NEOS)
  • Graph Saurus V2.0 by BIT²
  • Sunrise Magazine, by Sunrise
  • Xak, by MicroCabin
• Screen 8: used for displaying digitized images or drawing nice pictures. Not used much for games due to lack of possibility to redefine colours like in the other MSX2 modes, because it has only two pages, and because the performance speed is half that of screen 5. Examples:
  • Video Graphics by Philips
  • Video Graphics by JVC
  • Graph Saurus V2.0 by BIT²
  • ZOO by Radarsoft
  • Breaker by Radarsoft

Software

MSX2 software was and is supplied on 360kB and 720kB disks and as well in (Mega) ROM modules, but of course the (old?) MSX1 software can also be used on this MSX, in any medium.

What do I need to run the newest MSX2 software?

• MSX2 computer with at least 128kB RAM/128kB VRAM. MSX models may only have 256kB printed on their case, which could be a bit misleading as this figure includes 128kB VRAM, leaving you with 128kB main RAM. People tend to stick to 256kB main RAM as unofficial standard. Apart from some cracked games, not a lot of software really requires 256kB main RAM, Japanese games usually work with 64kB main RAM even. Having more RAM can be helpful in situations where tools such as music trackers offer song space according to the amount of installed RAM.
• Double sided disk drive (3,5" 720kB) and for convenience a SCSI/IDE harddisk/ZIP drive
• MSX-MUSIC or/and MSX-AUDIO or MoonSound music cartridge(s) if you like to enjoy better sound. Moonsound support isn't as widespread as MSX-MUSIC and/or MSX-AUDIO though, and the amount of installed Moonsound SRAM may be important. The original Moonsound was sold with 128kB SRAM, the maximum amount of SRAM is 2MB. There's not really a common standard, but a few years ago 640kB was promoted to become one. Newly produced Moonsounds ship with more SRAM however.
• A small amount of products requires a GFX9000 graphic card

Optional extras are more RAM and a 7MHz Z80H kit (for any MSX model).

Companies

Sony, Sanyo, Panasonic, Mitsubishi, National, Philips, Sakhr (Yamaha), Talent, Telematica, Toshiba, Yamaha, Daewoo, Canon, JVC, NTT etc.