Description

The HB-F500 is the first MSX2 Sony computer released by Sony as part of a series with a professional looking design. The following models exist:

All models are available only in white. They have a 720kB 3,5" floppy disk drive and a separate keyboard. The Japanese keyboard has half of the keys with kanas in gray.

The Japanese model has a Kanji ROM which was removed on the international models that have a third cartridge slot.

Several programs are provided on a single floppy disk with the Japanese computer: Kanji Memo which also included a calendar, calculator, timer and a clock. With the European models you got a MSX-DOS disk instead.

Note about the Japanese HB-F500: There is no separate MSX-DOS 1 disk coming with this computer. We don't know whether the application disk includes it, as the exact contents of this disk is presently unknown.

There are two versions of the Japanese machine. The second version fixes a problem in the first version which occurred because the RAM was divided over two different subslots.

The international models are based on the first version of the HB-F500. The aforementioned problem was only fixed with the release of the HB-F700, a machine not released in Japan.

Pictures

Check also the pages about the different models!

Sony HB-F500

Sony HB-F500 mainboard

Sony HB-F500P

Sony HB-F500 keyboard

Sony HB-F500 back

Sony HB-F500P back

Sony HB-F500F back

Specifications

The HB-F500 is an MSX2 with a Z80A from Sharp (LH0080A) and an MSX-Engine S3527 from Yamaha. Floppy Disk Controller chip is the CXD-1032Q (Sony).

In the first version of the Japanese model and on the international models, the 64kB RAM is divided in two blocks of 32kB each in slots 0-0 and 0-2, a configuration that can cause poorly written software to crash. Also, due to this layout, entering POKE-1,(15-PEEK(-1)\16)*17 to work around buggy software that does not handle subslots properly will not work on this machine. So try BMMS instead if you have a memory expansion with Memory Mapper.

In the second version of the Japanese model, slot 3 is expanded instead of slot 0 and the 64kB RAM is in slot 3-2.

Slot Map for 1st Gen HB-F500

Slot Map for 2nd Gen HB-F500

Slot Map for HB-F500F & HB-F500P

Connections

• RGB output (RGB21, not SCART) + Analog sound & Composite video on HB-F500
• 6-pin DIN Audio/Video connector only on HB-F500P
• RGB output (DIN connector) on HB-F500F and HB-F500P
• Second Floppy disk drive connector for use with the HBD-30W
• Keyboard connector
• Data Recorder connector
• Centronics compatible Parallel port for a printer
• 2 general connectors (Joysticks, Mouse, Paddle controlers, etc)
• 2 cartridge slots (HB-F500) or 3 cartridge slots (HB-F500F and HB-F500P)
• Power plug for main power supply
• Power outlet for monitor (only HB-F500)

External links

• Japanese Sony HB-500 Flyer
• Sony - A Guide to MSX-BASIC Version 2.0
• Sony - MSX-BASIC Version 2.0 Reference Chart
• Service Manual HB-F500F / HB-F500P - part 1
• Service Manual HB-F500F / HB-F500P - part 2
• Sony HB-F500 on Generation-MSX
• Detailed look at the HB-F500 (Japanese)
• Blog post about repairing a HB-F500, part 1 , part 2 (Korean)