MSX

The MSX was a standardized home computer architecture introduced in 1983 by a consortium led by Spectravideo and adopted by National, among other Japanese electronics firms. The goal was one platform for software and hardware compatibility.

National launched its first MSX machine in October 1983¹ at 54,800円¹. It had 16 KB of RAM and 16 KB of dedicated video RAM¹¹¹. It ran an MSX-BASIC interpreter¹¹ and had two ROM cartridge slots¹, which matched the baseline spec of early MSX systems¹. The CPU was a Z80A running at 3.5 MHz, as confirmed in documentation for the Philips VG8020 MSX model¹¹. The exact clock speed for National's initial unit is not explicitly recorded. Video came from a Texas Instruments TMS-9129 or functionally equivalent Video Display Processor¹¹. Sound and peripheral control went through a Yamaha S-3527 or similar chip serving as both PSG and PPI¹¹.

The MSX standard grew out of the Spectravideo SV-318¹⁰, which served as the hardware prototype¹⁰. On June 15, 1983, Spectravideo, Inc. joined with major Japanese electronics manufacturers to announce the platform¹⁰. One contemporary magazine called it "the most far-reaching personal computer standard in history"¹⁰. National first sold its MSX line under the name "King Kong" (キングコング) and used the character in advertising¹. It later moved to the Panasonic brand as its CF-series word processor-integrated models gained market presence¹.

Later National MSX models included the MSX ROM ×2, released in October 1984¹ at 59,800円¹. A cost-reduced version followed in 1985 at 43,800円¹. It kept 16 KB of RAM and came in red, white, and black¹. The CF-2000 was a design shift, with more memory and a linear wedge-shaped case that became the template for National's MSX1 lineup¹. User memory ran from &H8000 to &HFFFF, though the MSX-BASIC interpreter occupied portions of it¹¹.

Software support included built-in MSX-BASIC¹¹ and an operating system referred to simply as the MSX operating system⁶⁹. Titles included Invaders, Breakout, Squash, Othello, and Bioritme⁶. Financial applications included Beleggen, Sparen, Lenen, and Bedrijfsanalyse⁶. THE MSX RED BOOK by Avalon Software covered Z80 programming, RAM/ROM routines, and the MSX operating system⁶⁹. MSX-DOS 2.20 was the sole authorized release of MSX-DOS2¹⁶. ASCII granted non-exclusive licenses to partners such as HSH, which became a licensee in early April of an unspecified year¹⁶. No other MSX products were licensed to independent entities in Europe at that time, and no licensed hard disk interface was available there¹⁶.

The source material mentions a CALL STREET feature but does not detail its function or implementation¹. The surviving documentation is silent on I/O ports, expansion capabilities, display resolution, text modes, keyboard layout, physical dimensions, weight, and production volumes. No end-of-life date or discontinuation information is recorded in the provided sources.

References

1. MSX パーフェクトカタログ
2. msx computer magazine 07
3. msx computer magazine 07 apr 1986 (1986)
4. Family Computing Issue 01 1983 Sep (1983)
5. Philips VG8020 MSX computer
6. msx computer magazine 08
7. msx computer magazine 31 jul aug 1989 (1989)

Related Models

• MSX Daewoo MSX
• MSX Goldstar MSX
• MSX turbo R
• MSX 2
• MSX Panasonic FS-A1 MSX
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