Contents |
Description
Computer
The Yamaha CX5, CX5F, CX5M, CX5MII and CX5MII/128 computers were specifically targeted at music and sound production, and as such were regarded by many as non-standard MSX machines. However, they are in fact standard MSX1 computers and can be used as such.
The CX5 is the same MSX1 as the CX5F but with a cheaper keyboard and internal power supply. Two keyboard overlays were provided, one is gray, the other one is black.
| Brand | Yamaha |
| Model | CX5 |
| Year | 1983-11 |
| Region | Japan |
| Launch price | ¥59,800 |
| RAM | 32kB in slot 0 |
| VRAM | 16kB |
| Media | MSX cartridges, side slot modules |
| Video | Texas Instruments TMS9928A |
| Audio | PSG (YM 2149), SFG, MIDI |
| Chipset | Yamaha YM5214 |
| Keyboard layout | QWERTY/JP50on |
| Extras | 60 pin module port, FM synthesizer with MIDI IN/OUT connector, music keyboard connector and stereo audio out |
| Emulation | ROM dump needed. See this thread for details |
Modules
The CX5 was sold with the SFG-01 module plugged into the side slot. There is also an updated version called the SFG-05, sold separately or included with the CX5MII. From BASIC, the music firmware can be launched with CALL MUSIC or _MUSIC.
Pictures
Computer
SFG-01
More info about the SFG modules on these pages:
Specifications
The CX5 is a MSX1 with a Z80A from Sharp (LH-0080A) and a side slot, reserved for the SFG-01 or SFG-05 module. The sound modules are 8 note polyphonic 4-op FM synthesizers by Yamaha, based on the YM2151 OPM sound chip (YM2164 in the SFG-05, which is compatible). They can be used in other MSX computers via the UCN-01 side-slot to standard MSX cartridge slot adapter.
The CX5 can be used together with the Yamaha YK-01, YK-10 and YK-20 keyboards for use with the FM synthesizer. The Toshiba HX-MU901 is also compatible.
To use the extension bus as second cartridge slot, you need the Yamaha Single Cartridge Adapter CA-01.
To get 64kB RAM with the CX5, you can insert the URM-01 cartridge in slot 1 or 2 or the SRE-01 module in side slot 3. It means that the 64kB RAM is split between two slots, a configuration that can cause poorly written software to crash. Also, with this layout, the POKE-1,(15-PEEK(-1)\16)*17 trick to workaround buggy software that does not handle subslots properly will not work on this machine expanded to 64kB RAM.
Slot Map
| Slot 0 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Page C000h~FFFFh | RAM | Cartridge Slot | Expansion Bus | Module Slot | |||
| Page 8000h~BFFFh | |||||||
| Page 4000h~7FFFh | Main-ROM | ||||||
| Page 0000h~3FFFh |
- By default the Module slot contains a SFG-01 from 4000-7FFF (which gets mirrored to 0000-3FFF and 8000-FFFF)
Connections
- DIN 41524 Monitor output
- Data Recorder connector
- Centronics compatible Parallel port for a printer
- 2 general connectors (Joysticks, Mouse, Paddle controllers, etc)
- 1 cartridge slot
- 1 module slot (left side, 60 pin connector)
- 1 expansion bus slot (back side, 2nd cartridge slot via CA-01 adapter)
- 1 music keyboard connector (via SFG-01 module)
- MIDI IN/OUT (via SFG-01 module)
- Audio out stereo L/R (via SFG-01 module)
Links
- http://www.cx5m.net/ (Now the site is broken only some files still online), Archived version (2019 version, some files are missing), Another mirror (file-hunter.com)
- Yamaha CX5 and CX5F Manual (Japanese)
- Yamaha CX5 Music Computer flyer (Japanese)