Contents |
Description
Computer
The NMS 8280 is a professional computer made by Sanyo for the Dutch company Philips. The machine itself is based on the design of the Sanyo MPC-27. The abbreviation NMS stands for New Media Systems.
This top model of the NMS serie was released by Philips on 1 April 1987. While it is very similar in appearance to the NMS 8250 and NMS 8255, the 8280 is a very different machine, as it features a video digitizer and super impose functionality. A color data bus, a control register and an independent CPU clock have been added for these functions.
The computer has in front sliders to control the video, audio mix and digitize levels and an extra button to select the input source. Most examples of this machine have 2 drives, but the first batch was provided with only 1 drive (see picture below of the box).
This computer comes with 128kB RAM (not 256kB as indicated on the machine and the box by adding the VRAM). Four models were produced, with the keyboard as difference:
- NMS 8280/00 for the Dutch and Belgian markets, keyboard layout is QWERTY
- NMS 8280/02 for the German market, keyboard layout is QWERTZ
- NMS 8280/09 for the German market, keyboard layout is QWERTZ
- NMS 8280/16 for the Spanish market, keyboard layout is QWERTY with ñ key
- NMS 8280/19 for the French market, keyboard layout is AZERTY
This machine was sold in Italy as Phonola NMS 8280. There's also a rare white version - see HCS 280.
A SBC 3810 mouse was included with this computer.
| Brand | Philips (Manufacturer: Sanyo) |
| Model | NMS 8280 |
| Year | 1987 |
| Region | Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and Spain |
| Launch price | DE: 2300 DM NL: ƒ2995 |
| RAM | 128kB in slot 3-2 |
| VRAM | 128kB |
| Media | MSX cartridges, 2DD floppy disks |
| Video | Yamaha V9938 |
| Audio | PSG (YM2149 integrated in MSX-Engine S3527) |
| Chipset | Yamaha S3527 |
| Keyboard layout | (NMS 8280/00) QWERTY+ numeric keypad (NMS 8280/02 and /09) QWERTZ + numeric keypad (NMS 8280/16) QWERTY with a "ñ" key + numeric keypad (NMS 8280/19) AZERTY + numeric keypad |
| Extras | 1 or 2 720kB 3,5" floppy disk drives, reset button, video digitizer, superimposer, sliders to control the video, audio mix and digitize levels, button to select the input source, software on disks (MSX-DOS 1 - Home Office 2 - Video Graphics - Demo disk), mouse |
| Emulation | version 8280/00 fully emulated in blueMSX, but not in openMSX - dumps required for all the versions - See this thread for details |
Floppy disks
Four floppy disks were provided with this computer:
- MSX-DOS1 with a text based menu driven interface
- Home Office 2, that can be viewed as the sequel to MSX Home Office, provided with the VG-8230 and VG-8235 machines, mixed with ideas taken from Ease, provided with the NMS 8245 computer: it contains 6 applications (Cards - Text - Spreadsheet - Planner - Mailing - Printer Settings) and 4 additional submenus, including a Calculator, a Print Menu, a Disk Menu and a Tape Menu.
- a drawing program in screen 8, called Video Graphics, the ultimate version of the 'Designer' or 'Designer Plus' utility as provided with the VG-8230, VG-8235, NMS 8220 and NMS 8245. This version has support for superimposing and digitizing, also in the demo part that can be started by pressing F10 and will run full screen (you can leave the demo by pressing ESC, and then F2).
- a Demo Disk
Pictures
Computer
Note: the PCB is different according the three first positions of the serial number:
- 005: extra PCB, but the main PCB is different from 006 and 007
- 006: no extra PCB
- 007: extra PCB
- 017: double sided PCB, less cables
- 027: like 017 + new model drives (some machines come also with a white colored mouse with a black wire)
There are also differences with the power supply.
Software
MSX-DOS
Home Office 2
Video Graphics
Demo Disk
Specifications
The NMS 8280 is an MSX2 with a Z80A from NEC (D780C-1) and an MSX-Engine S3527 from Yamaha.
This model is known for SCC (and other sound cards) mixing issues. There are several modifications fixing this, the opamp mod by Daemos and luppie not being the worst one.
The plastic front panel also gets very fragile with age. Special care must be taken when shipping that absolutely no stress is placed on the front panel.
Slot Map
| Slot 0 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3-0 | Slot 3-1 | Slot 3-2 | Slot 3-3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Page C000h~FFFFh | Bottom cartridge slot | Top cartridge slot | Sub-ROM Mirror | 128kB Memory Mapper | Mirror | |||||
| Page 8000h~BFFFh | Mirror | |||||||||
| Page 4000h~7FFFh | Main-ROM | Disk ROM | ||||||||
| Page 0000h~3FFFh | Sub-ROM | Mirror |
- The 16KB Sub-ROM is mirrored over pages 0 to 3 in slot 3-0
- The Disk ROM is a 16kB ROM - 4000h-7FFFh. However, the FDC registers are visible on all 4 pages.
Connections
- RGB output (SCART)
- RF output (UHF)
- Analog sound & Composite video
- 2 audio in connectors
- 2 audio out connectors
- Video in connector
- Video out connector with luminance switch
- Keyboard connector
- Data Recorder connector
- Centronics compatible Parallel port for a printer
- 2 general connectors (Joysticks, Mice, Paddle controllers, etc)
- 2 cartridge slots (on the right side)
Fixes And Repair
- NMS 8280 Service Manual
- How to fix distorted sound for Philips NMS-8250, NMS-8255 and NMS-8280
- Tutorial in video (by Repair-Bas)
- How to fix the issue with sound expansions for Philips NMS-8250, NMS-8255 and NMS-8280 (Spanish)
- Preventive modification for original disk drive (Dutch)
External Links
- NMS 8280 User Guide (Dutch)
- Home Office 2 manual (Spanish)
- Video Graphics manual (Spanish)
- More resources at MSX Info Pages