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 based on the Japanese CX5F but was aimed at the international market. For most regional variations, the power supply is a big and heavy external unit, the NP 55xxx. The exception to this are the CX5MC and CX5MU which have an internal 120V power supply.
The CX5M is available in several models depending on the country of destination. The model version is marked only on the underside sticker. All keyboards are QWERTY and include a dead key to produce accents. Only a few keys sometimes differ, such as the £ key (not available on CX5MC and CX5MU). The variations are as follows:
| Product | Region | PSU | VDP | Video Out | Keyboard |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CX5MA | AU, NZ | Yamaha NP 55150 | TMS9929A | RF, Composite Audio and Video | QWERTY with £ key |
| CX5MC | CA | Internal 120V 60Hz | TMS9918A | Monitor Connector | QWERTY |
| CX5ME | UK | Yamaha NP 55140 | TMS9929A | RF, Composite Audio and Video | QWERTY with £ key |
| CX5MF | FR | Yamaha NP 55170 | TMS9929A | RGB | QWERTY with £ key |
| CX5MG | DE | Yamaha NP 55180 | TMS9929A | RF, Composite Audio and Video | QWERTY with £ key |
| CX5MS | Scandinavia | Yamaha NP 55130 | TMS9929A | RF, Composite Audio and Video | QWERTY with £ key |
| CX5MU | US | Internal 120V 60Hz | TMS9918A | Monitor Connector | QWERTY |
| Brand | Yamaha |
| Model | CX5M (CX5MA, CX5MC, CX5ME, CX5MF, CX5MG, CX5MS or CX5MU) |
| Year | 1984 |
| Region | Australia, Canada, France, Germany, New Zealand, Scandinavia, United Kingdom, United States |
| Launch price | DE: 1498 DM, FI: 4950 FIM |
| 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 |
| Keyboard layout | QWERTY with some variations (see table above) |
| Extras | 60 pin module port, FM synthesizer with MIDI IN/OUT connector, music keyboard connector and stereo audio out |
| Emulation | ROMs dumped and emulated for the CX5ME version. The rear expansion slot and side module slot are handled like regular MSX cartridge slots. ROM dumps needed for the other versions. See this thread for details |
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
SFG-01
More info about the SFG modules on these pages:
Specifications
The CX5M 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 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 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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
- RGB output (French model)
- RF connector (PAL models)
- Video composite PAL 75Ω (PAL models)
- Analog sound output (PAL models)
- DIN 41524 Monitor output (CX5MC & CX5MU)
- 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)
- 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)
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 CX5M Music Computer flyer
- CX5M Owner's Manual
- CX5M Technical Summary
- CX5MU Service Manual
- CX5M Service Manual
- CX5M Parts List
- Power Supply (PSU)
- Blog post about the CX5M (Korean)