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 CX5M is similar to the CX5F but was aimed at the international market. The power supply is external. It is heavy and big. The CX5M is available in several models depending on the country of destination. The model number is marked only on the SN sticker. All keyboards are QWERTY only a few keys sometimes differ, such as the £ key.
| Brand | Yamaha |
| Type | CX5M (CX5MA, CX5MC, CX5ME, CX5MF, CX5MG, CX5MS or CX5MU) |
| Year | 1984 |
| RAM | 32kB in slot 0 |
| VRAM | 16kB |
| Media | MSX cartridges, side slot modules |
| Video | Texas Instruments TMS9929A or TMS9918A (CX5MC & CX5MU) |
| Audio | PSG (YM2149), SFG, MIDI |
| Chipset | Yamaha YM5214 |
| Extras | Module port, FM synthesizer with MIDI IN/OUT connector, music keyboard connector and stereo audio out |
Modules
The CX5M is identical to the Yamaha YIS-503, but was sold with a built-in FM synthesizer module SFG-01 plugged into side slot with MIDI IN and OUT. 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
Firmware of SFG modules
Specifications
The CX5M is a MSX1 with addition of 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 CX5M 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 CX5M, 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 in such a way. A better solution is to get a 64kB RAM cartridge or a memory mapper cartridge that can self-initialise on MSX1.
Slot Map
| Slot 0 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bank C000h~FFFFh | RAM | Cartridge Slot | Expansion Bus | Module Slot | |||
| Bank 8000h~BFFFh | |||||||
| Bank 4000h~7FFFh | Main-ROM | ||||||
| Bank 0000h~3FFFh |
- By default the Module slot contains a SFG-01 from 0000-3FFF (which gets mirrored to 4000-7FFF)
Connections
- RGB Monitor output (French model)
- RF connector (PAL models)
- Video composite PAL 75Ω (PAL models)
- Analog sound output (PAL models)
- Monitor connector with sound video composite signal (CX5MC & CX5MU)
- Tape recorder connector
- Centronics compatible Parallel port for a printer
- 2 general connectors (joysticks, mouse, paddle controllers, ...)
- 1 cartridge slot
- 1 module slot (left side, 60 pin connector)
- 1 expansion bus (back side, 2nd cartridge slot via CA-01 adapter)
- Music keyboard connector (via SFG-01 module)
- MIDI IN/OUT (via SFG-01 module)
- Audio out stereo L/R (via SFG-01 module)
Models
- CX5MA: Australian and New Zealand's market (RF = PAL-B on VHF 3/4ch)
- CX5MC: Canadian market (RF = NTSC on VHF 3/4ch - needs the RF-02 adapter)
- CX5ME: United Kingdom's market (RF = PAL-I on UHF 36ch)
- CX5MF: French market (Only RGB output)
- CX5MG: German market (RF = PAL-G on UHF 36ch)
- CX5MS: Scandinavian market (RF = PAL-G on UHF 36ch)
- CX5MU: United States market (RF = NTSC on VHF 3/4ch - needs the RF-02 adapter)