A new slot expander from 8bits4ever

The Spanish hardware force 8bits4ever created a new piece of MSX hardware, a slot-expander. This new MSX cartridge expands the regular MSX slot to four sub-slots, allowing it to plug-in up to four cartridges simultaneously. That means you can use your IDE, FDC and sound-cartridges at the same time. The piece contains individual ON/OFF switch for each sub-slot and BUSDIR support.

The total power consumption of the plugged cartridges must not exceed the total power output of your MSX computer. Beware, cartridges that implement expanded slots by themselves (Carnivore2, SD512, etc) will not work properly when plugged in to this expander.

8bits4ever sells this slot-expander for 80 Euros (excluding shipping cost).

If you got too much cartridges, this might be the solution for you.

Relevant link: 8bits4ever homepage

Comentarios (12)

Por Louthrax

Prophet (2465)

02-01-2019, 20:46

Ordered !

I'm just wondering if anyone has been able to plug the flat cable directly in the back of a Toshiba HX-10 (unplugging it from the cartridge adapter)? If yes, is that working ?

Por gdx

Enlighted (6207)

03-01-2019, 08:45

Louthrax wrote:

I'm just wondering if anyone has been able to plug the flat cable directly in the back of a Toshiba HX-10 (unplugging it from the cartridge adapter)? If yes, is that working ?

Even if the pins have the same order, it is not sure that it works because there does not seem to be any buffer on the slots board.

Also the case does not hold the cartridges. This can be a problem for some cartridges (large or those connected to another device by a cable for example). Moreover, it does not seem to have connector for external power, that is embarrassing for the MSXs with having a power not powerful, particularly the HX10. I don't recommend this slot expansion for this MSX.

Por Pencioner

Scribe (1562)

03-01-2019, 13:00

Nowadays it is hard to buy any slotexpander, so this is niche product. With external power and good casing etc you have to pay more for it. If you unbderstand how you are going to use it, this might be good buy, btw. Let's see...

Por lintweaker

Champion (464)

03-01-2019, 16:28

Order one as well, I was waiting for one to appear.

Por hamlet

Scribe (4106)

03-01-2019, 17:03

I bought the Zemix clone and the SX1 from 8bits4ever, which are quality products. As I promised not to buy more MSX items to my girlfriend, I will keep this promise for one week or two and not buy this cart.
I would also like to know if the cartridge control has hardware or if the expander can be connected to the motherboard of the SX-1. This is of course already installed and can't take up an expander anymore, but I would be grateful for information. Just like that.

Por alexito

Paladin (761)

03-01-2019, 17:03

HI, GDX. I sent a private through this site because I can't find your contact Email.

Por gdx

Enlighted (6207)

04-01-2019, 07:58

Hi, Alexito.
Thank you. I will see that...

Por Elrinth

Resident (54)

29-05-2019, 11:04

now I also order one.
I hope to be able to use the high res cartridge graph thingie I forgot what it was called.
and sound card expander etc work

Por Grauw

Ascended (10767)

29-05-2019, 14:27

gdx wrote:

Also the case does not hold the cartridges. This can be a problem for some cartridges (large or those connected to another device by a cable for example).

Interesting, so the casing does not hold the individual cartridges, however there’s still a rim around it which prevents you from inserting the cartridges backward! Creative solution . Probably the plastic around individual carts is omitted so that they can be placed closer together, resulting in a very nice compact expander, much smaller than my bulky MK 3.0 expander. Ideal for Konami sized cartridges, though maybe not for bigger ones.

Por Pencioner

Scribe (1562)

14-06-2019, 10:46

Louthrax wrote:

Ordered !

I'm just wondering if anyone has been able to plug the flat cable directly in the back of a Toshiba HX-10 (unplugging it from the cartridge adapter)? If yes, is that working ?

Hi, i hope you already discovered yourself that the back connector of Toshiba is not compatible and didn't break your expander I have taken my Toshiba HX-10 out of the box yesterday and verified that - the pins have swapped (mirrored) rows if you compare to slotexpander connector

Por sdsnatcher73

Prophet (3951)

16-06-2019, 13:40

Pencioner wrote:

Louthrax wrote:

Ordered !

I'm just wondering if anyone has been able to plug the flat cable directly in the back of a Toshiba HX-10 (unplugging it from the cartridge adapter)? If yes, is that working ?

That is indeed good to know. I don’t think a wiki page exists already for this little slot expander so creating one (and adding this info) makes a lot of sense. I can’t do it myself at the moment (my back is acting up, so have to remain lying down).

On another note, do you know if MSX Flex connector (and pin out) is compatible with the HX-10? The discussion in that thread was inconclusive to me so far (and a wiki page for MSX Flex would also make sense)!

Por Pencioner

Scribe (1562)

16-06-2019, 15:10

I was involved in testing the FLEX and it is pin-compatible with 8bit4ever slotexpander, so not compatible with Toshiba HX-10 either. But Alexey told me that FLEX is compatible with SVI-728 though

A new slot expander from 8bits4ever

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