MSX-Engine

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An MSX-ENGINE chip is a specially developed integrated circuit for home computers that are built according to the MSX specifications. Generally, such a chip combines the functions of many separate, older/simpler chips into one. This is done to reduce required circuit board space, power consumption, and (most importantly) production costs for complete systems.

The first MSX-Engine chip, the T7775 operated next to a standard

CPU.

The

CPU. MSX engine chips from Yamaha were mostly used in MSX-computers from (Panasonic/National).

Overview

Here is a short overview of MSX-Engine chips.

MSX 1

Yamaha S3527

• a Yamaha YM2149
  AY-3-8910
• parallel I/O chip: backward compatible with the Intel i8255
• standard MSX1 functions: DRAM control, slot selection, joystick ports, cassette/printer interface etc.
• 100 pins

Note that this IC is also used in many MSX2 computers, but does not include any MSX2-specific functions. In such machines, these are implemented using additional IC's

Sony MB64H131

• Intel i8255
• printer port

Toshiba T7775

• CMOS-chip with all MSX 1 functions.

Toshiba T7937(A)

• main CPU, a
  clock speed
  of 3,58 MHz.
• AY-3-8910
• Video Display Controller: T6950 rev. B (TMS9918
  compatible)
• backward compatible with the Intel i8255
• MSX 1-functions
• dimensions: 10,5 × 8,60 mm

Hitachi HD62003

• AY-3-8910 compatible PSG
• DRAM controller
• PPI i8255 functions

MSX 2/MSX 2+

Yamaha S1985

• a Yamaha YM2149 a Programmable Sound Generator - sound chip, compatible with a General Instrument AY-3-8910
• parallel I/O chip: backward compatible with the Intel i8255
• MSX1- and MSX2-functions (up to 512 KB memory mapper)
• Real Time Clock (Ricoh RP5C01A compatible) including 26 x 4 bits RAM, backed up by (separate) battery
• 100 pin flat plastic package

Toshiba T9769

• main CPU, a Zilog Z80 clone with a clock speed of 3,58 MHz (MSX2; switchable to 5,36 MHz on some MSX2+ machines)
• a Programmable Sound Generator - sound chip, compatible with a General Instrument AY-3-8910
• parallel I/O chip: backward compatible with the Intel i8255
• MSX1 and MSX2-functions (MSX2-computers)
• MSX2+-functions (MSX2+-computers)
• dimensions: 10,5 × 8,60 mm

MSX turbo R

NEC S1990, combined with a Toshiba T9769C

The S1990 is not in itself an MSX-engine but acts like "bus controller", it is the combining element that combines the Z80 inside the T9769C (the actual MSX engine) and a

CPU, and the memory and slot logic and other hardware inside the T9769C. It also contains hardware to assists in the debugging of software.

External links

• S3527 datasheet
• S1985 datasheet