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 CX5F is similar to the CX5M but was aimed at the Japanese market and features a Japanese keyboard. The power supply is internal.
| Brand | Yamaha |
| Model | CX5F |
| Year | 1984 |
| Region | Japan |
| Launch price | ¥64,800 |
| RAM | 32kB in slot 0 |
| VRAM | 16kB |
| Media | MSX cartridges, side slot modules |
| Video | Texas Instruments TMS9928ANL |
| Audio | PSG (YM2149), 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 | ROMs dumped and emulated. The rear expansion slot and side module slot are handled like regular MSX cartridge slots. |
Modules
The CX5F is identical to the Yamaha YIS-503, but was sold with the SFG-01 FM synthesizer module plugged into the side slot, providing MIDI IN and OUT. There is also an updated version called the SFG-05, sold separately and 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 CX5F 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 CX5F 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 CX5F, 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)
- Blog post about the CX5F (Korean)