Internal of several MSX Computers: Canon V-8, V-10, V-20 / Toshiba HX-33 / YASHICA YC-64 / PHILIPS VG-8020/19

Wow big thanks for the info. :D sd_snatcher Shame that this collector only have the Cartbridges chips. :-? I really love to seen the outside of the cartridges. Or even better with Manual and Case or package. ;)

Dunno. I never saw any pictures of the HX-34 internals.

BTW, here's something you don't see every day: this guy made some cool composites showing transparent and cut views of many MSX models.

You're right. But many gate arrays perform functions that were later incorporated in newer versions of the MSX-Engines, do you agree? And what was called "MSX-Engine", nowadays would be called "chipset".

For example, many machines with the S3527 have a gate array that acts like a "complementary engine", to perform memory-mapper, some additional slot decoding etc. Those functions were later integrated into the S1985.

When we read the datasheet of an MSX-Engine, we see that there are many distinct blocks inside.

So it could be correct to think of such chips as very simple MSX-Engines (chipsets), that provably perform just the most simpler blocks like:

- PPI
- slot logic decoding
- DRAM controller
- I/O port decoding
- Printer port
- Kanji ROM select logic
- M1 waitstate generator

Along the lines of sd_snatcher: software tests can determine what functions an MSX has. Then take a list of hardware features needed to implement that, and subtract whatever is implemented in known / discrete IC's found inside.

With Manuel's example, you see discrete VDP, Z80, PSG etc. So those functions are not in those 'engine' IC's. Some TCX... IC's may have unfamiliar markings, but easy to tell it's some sort of ROM (or SRAM?) chip. One of the two 'engine' IC's may be used in another model, and from there deduced what functions that IC has. Whatever functions the MSX has that isn't found so far, must somehow be implemented in the remaining TCX... IC.

For those where that is too coarse: grab actual machine & trace pin connections. Add an IC's pinout to above info, and it'll be obvious what is or isn't included. It's not rocket science, just tedious work.

There are already some stripped MSX on MSX.pics. Would lovw to see more!