What is it?

This board packs an FPGA TMS9918A with DVI output (F18A on Tang Nano 9k), an AY sound module and a dual joystick interface onto one standard-size module. It allows you to run MSX games on a ROMWBW machine using Les Bird's MSX8 rom loader for CPM. This board was also designed by Les Bird. It also allows you to run other software which uses TMS graphics and AY sound and expects the video chip and sound chip to be on MSX ports (unlike other TMS and AY modules, this one has fixed ports.) I'm supplying this fully assembled, with the FPGA programmed, with joystick adaptor cables and complete with an AY chip (I buy them as new but of course they're not. They are tested and working when I send them out).

Why did you make it?

I have built an MSX1 computer on an RC2014 backplane. (https://hackaday.io/project/190408-msx-on-rc2014) This is a great solution for the video / sound / joystick interface, packing all of that onto one module, saving space, neatening things up and giving me HDMI out.

I also enjoy using the TMS9918A for display on the regular RC2014, it gives a graphic display with 15 colours and hardware sprites. I've made many game ports and there are plenty of demos and .sc2 images around that can be run.

What makes it special?

The real TMS chip has composite output which can be a bit unclear and have colour artefacts. You also may need a converter to display composite on a modern TV/monitor. This module has an extremely clear picture via an HDMI port.

This one module takes the place of a TMS9918A module and an AY sound module, plus it adds the MSX dual joystick interface.

Note

This is not suitable for all RC2014s.

Because of its fixed ports in the 9 and A range, it will clash with the ACIA serial on 'classic' 32k RC2014s. It's suitable for use on an RC2014 with SIO2 serial (check that you have nothing else that clashes with the MSX video and sound ports). If you are interested in running the MSX8 loader, note that it currently only works with ROMWBW machines, not the CP/M 'Pro' machines (we don't know the reason yet, this may be fixed at some point).