Coming back to the MSX

Master (158)

16-07-2011, 21:59

It's been a long time since I owned a MSX and I was thinking about getting one again to go with my other Retro computers. However in my old age I've grown impatient and can no longer stand teh 5 minute loading times (and more) of the old days and was wondering what new hardware I can get to speed up the process and also take advantage of the many tape and disk images there are out there in the internet.

I was hoping that either a Hard drive or CF adapter may still be out there to but ( I know there was the Sunrise but the website hasn't been updated for nearly 6 years) I couldn't find any recent sites. I know there is also a floppy emulator that is supposed to work with several old computers but does it work with the MSX? I was specifically looking at a Toshiba HX-10 as this is the computer I owned all those years ago.

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Van sd_snatcher

Prophet (3675)

16-07-2011, 22:14

The Toshiba HX-10 is an MSX1 computer. I do recommend you to get at MSX2 or higher and upgrade it to at least 256KB of RAM. Then you'll be able to use MSX-DOS2 with hard drives, CF cards, SD cards etc

If speed is a must, you'll be better buying an MSX Turbo-R. Then you'll be able to use the patched versions of many games that allows you to take advantage of the turbo features. No more slowdowns on those games.

Van wolf_

Ambassador_ (10135)

16-07-2011, 22:14

There actually is a new sunrise website here.

Van hap

Paragon (2043)

16-07-2011, 22:17

http://www.sunriseformsx.nl/
The site looks unfinished, but granted, Sunrise is still active and the webshop works fine. They're still selling the CF Interface yes. I don't know if CF works well on a bog standard MSX1 (anyone?). And if you're looking for a floppy simulator, get the NoWind (requires a PC nearby).

More than half of the MSX Software library was/is for the MSX2.
If you just want the oldies you used to play in the past on your MSX1, a Toshiba HX10 is fine.

(whee, 3 replies at the same time;p)
*edit* and no, as a normal user, you don't need an overpriced Turbo-R, or 256KB RAM

Van FiXato

Scribe (1743)

16-07-2011, 22:18

Actually, Sunrise For MSX is supposed to be the new webhome for Sunrise since 2010. You can Order a CF Interface through their webshop
Apart from the Sunrise CF Interface, there's also an SD Floppy Emulator, and the SD/MMC 2.2+ interface and the Nowind interface

Van Sander

Founder (1872)

17-07-2011, 11:47

Indeed. For starters, buy an inexpensive system, pal or ntsc depending on were you live. I would go for something with a floppy drive. But if you're planning to use only cf or sd card readers you could somewhat try to live without it (it can be useful to transfer floppy disks and not all floppy images work from sd or cf). A NMS 8220 MSX could be good choice, and internal memory is 128kb which can be upgraded to 256 kb.

A NMS 8220 doesn't cost much. The only thing that will hurt your pocket is the sd or cf card reader.

Personally I would go for something with a diskdrive though and go from there. It all depends what you need and what you want to do with the system. And of course your budget.

Van SolidEric

Champion (332)

17-07-2011, 11:51

Sander, as far as I know has the 8220 only 64 kb internal memory, offcourse it can be upgraded

Van Sander

Founder (1872)

17-07-2011, 12:38

My mistake. It can be upgraded to 128 KB.

Van OeiOeiVogeltje

Paragon (1439)

17-07-2011, 13:52

IMHO for playing MOST of the games any MSX2 is enough
id find one with a floppy
since you live in UK you have 230 V. and use PAL I as tv signal so as far as i know any european MSX shouldnt be a problem

Id reccomend a 8245 simply because it looks nice and isnt that big and heavy as a 825x

and then ,if you ever find that floppies alone isnt enough, find a CF reader

with this configuration you can use your MSX without any "help" of a PC like you would with a Nowind

Van Lord_Zett

Paladin (807)

17-07-2011, 17:28

i use a lot of msx inc hdd or sd or cf.
Msx1 and am mapper of 128 makes most posible. But pleas buy a msx2 its easyer.
I heard a lot of positive sounds about nowind its a nice idea instead of a sd reader.
Buy a msx 2 and have fun playing games.