THE MSX2+ COMPUTER


3.1 MSX2+ Standard definition and remarks

After 1986, Microsoft stopped with supporting MSX and ASCII in Japan took over further develoment of the MSX system. Due to ASCII's lack of interest in European market the MSX2+ was never manufactured and sold outside Japan. Rumours and plans existed in the Netherlands to make a European MSX2+, but they never came to reality.


3.2 Graphic capabilities and other features

ModeResolutionColoursImage size
10256×212/424 12499 YJK (at once and + 16 out of 512 RGB in ML) 54kB
11256×212/424 12499 YJK (at once) + 16 out of 512 RGB 54kB
12256×212/424 19268 YJK (at once) 54kB

With the MSX2+ machines two other hardware features were introduced: Note that also some less common MSX2 machines have a Ren-Sha Turbo and/or speed controller. They are mentioned here, because most MSX2+ machines have one or both of these feature. Especially the Sony machines. Another feature that existed before, but was added to almost all MSX2+ machines is the hardware pause button that pauses the CPU. This pause cannot be circumvented in a software way.

3.3 Software

Actually there is not much "pure" MSX2+ software (especially games). Some MSX2 games are using optional features of an MSX2+ if they run on an MSX2+ computer. Sometimes only scroll feature is used if MSX2+ is detected. An example is Konami's Space Manbow, which looks a lot better on MSX2+. Mostly all image viewers gain benifits of MSX2+'s graphic capabilities. Due to the great amount of colours, GIF/BMP and JPG pictures are displayed very well. For several years there has not been any graphic program for screen 11 until a French group made one (Screen 11 designer).

Some MSX2+ software:


3.4 Companies which produced MSX2+ computers.

All MSX2+ computers in Europe are imported from Japan or are upgraded from MSX2 (or even MSX1) to MSX2+ internally or with special transforming kits (Brazil). MSX2+ computers were only produced by Panasonic, Sony and Sanyo. Here they are (I hope it's all of them!):

[Sony HB-F1XDJ]
Sony HB-F1XDJ: 64kB RAM, 128kB VRAM, 720kB 3,5" floppy disk drive, MSX Music, MSX-JE, 256kB JIS-1 and JIS-2 ROM, speed controller, Ren-Sha Turbo (autofire), hardware pause key

[Sony HB-F1XV]
Sony HB-F1XV: 64kB RAM, 128kB VRAM, 720kB 3,5" floppy disk drive, MSX Music, MSX-JE, 256kB JIS-1 and JIS-2 ROM, speed controller, Ren-Sha Turbo (autofire), hardware pause key

[SANYO WAVY 70FD]
Sanyo WAVY PHC-70FD: 64kB RAM, 128kB VRAM, 1 720kB 3,5" floppy disk drive, MSX Music, Ren-Sha Turbo (autofire), hardware pause key, 128kB JIS-1 ROM, built in MSX-BASIC Kun 2.x (run time basic compiler)

[Sanyo WAVY PHC-70FD2]
Sanyo WAVY PHC-70FD2: 64kB RAM, 128kB VRAM, 2 720kB 3,5" floppy disk drives, MSX Music, built in MSX-BASIC Kun 2.x (run time basic compiler), 256kB JIS-1 and JIS-2 ROM, RGB connector (DIN)

[Sanyo WAVY PHC-35J]
Sanyo WAVY PHC-35J: 64kB RAM, 128kB VRAM, 128kB JIS-1 ROM, Ren-Sha controller (autofire), pause key

[Panasonic FS-A1FX]
Panasonic FS-A1FX: 64kB RAM, 128kB VRAM, 720kB 3,5" floppy disk drive, 128kB JIS 1st KANJI, Ren-Sha Turbo (autofire), internal software (A1 Cockpit), Z80 compatible CPU built in MSX Engine (T9769x) that can be switched to from 3.58MHz to 5.38MHz via I/O port

[Panasonic A1-WSX]
Panasonic FS-A1WSX: 64kB RAM, 128kB VRAM, 720kB 3,5" floppy disk drive, MSX Music, 256kB JIS 1st+2nd Kanji, Ren-Sha Turbo (autofire), hardware pause key, firmware (A1 Cockpit, Word Processor with Color Print Support for Color Printers, MSX-JE), no cassette interface, S-Video output, Z80 compatible CPU built in MSX Engine (T9769x) that can be switched to from 3.58MHz to 5.38MHz via I/O port

[Panasonic A1-WX]
Panasonic FS-A1WX: 64kB RAM, 128kB VRAM, 720kB 3,5" floppy disk drive, Ren-Sha Turbo (autofire), hardware pause key, MSX Music, 256kB JIS 1st+2nd Kanji, firmware (A1 Cockpit, Word Processor, MSX-JE), Z80 compatible CPU built in MSX Engine (T9769x) that can be switched to from 3.58MHz to 5.38MHz via I/O port

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