MSX

Label applied to MSX compliant computers.

The MSX standard (short for “Machines with Software eXchangeability”) was a home‑computer architecture developed by ASCII Corporation and Microsoft. It was inspired in part by the Spectravideo SVI‑328, one of the earliest MSX‑compatible machines, and was officially introduced on 16 July 1983. After Microsoft became involved, some people mistakenly referred to MSX as “MicroSoft eXtended.”

The goal of the MSX initiative was to create a unified standard that would ensure software and hardware compatibility across all MSX‑based home computers.

Although popular in Japan, MSX computers never achieved the same level of success in the United States or Europe, where competing platforms like the Commodore 64, ZX Spectrum, and Apple II were already firmly established.

The platform evolved through the MSX2, MSX2+ and TurboR generations, with each revision boosting the system’s hardware capabilities — from improved graphics modes to faster CPUs — before the standard was discontinued in 1993.

Technical Standards (Original MSX)

Interfaces

• 2 autonomous cartridge ports
• 2 joystick ports (Atari-Standard)
• Centronics interface for connecting external peripherals, e.g. printer
• Separate video ports for connecting TV or monitor
• Audio out
• DIN tape port

Mainboard

• CPU: Z80 with 3.58 MHz clock rate
• Memory: 8 - 64 Kbyte RAM, 16 Kbyte Video-RAM
• ROM: 32 Kbyte
• Graphics: TMS9918 (Texas Instruments)
• Sound: AY-3-8910 (General Instruments)
• OS: MSX-BASIC, MSX-DOS

MSX home computers (selection)

MSX 1

MSX-Computer Sony Hit Bit HB-75

• Canon V-20 (1984)
• Daewoo DPC100 (1984)
• Daewoo DPC200 (1984)
• Fujitsu FM-X (198?)
• Hitachi H1 (1984)
• Goldstar FC200 (1984)
• Mitsubishi ML8000 (198?)
• Philips VG-8010 (1985)
• Philips VG-8020 (198?)
• Samsung SPC800 (198?)
• Sanyo MPC5 (198?)
• Sanyo MPC64 (1985)
• Sanyo MPC-X (198?)
• Sony Hit Bit HB-55P (1984)
• Sony Hit Bit HB-75P (1984)
• Sony Hit Bit HB-201P (1985)
• Spectravideo SVI-728 (1984)
• Toshiba HX-10 (1984)
• Yamaha CX5M (1985)
• Yashica YC-64 (1984)

MSX 2

• Philips VG-8235 (1986)
• Philips NMS-8245 (1986)
• Philips NMS-8250 (1986)
• Philips NMS-8280 (1987)

Links

Wikipedia: MSX