Sony HB-F1XDJ – MSX2+

Today I had the chance to receive in his almost new box a beautiful MSX2+ trade mark Sony. For the little story, this machine from the range Hit Bit is the first computer MSX2+ of the Sony Only released on Japanese soil in 1988 whose main characteristics are:

• Model: HB-F1XDJ
• CPU: Zilog Z80 to 3.58 Mhz
• Graph: Yamaha V9958 (19268 Colors)
• RAM: 64 KB
• VRAM: 128 Kb
• ROM : 80 KB (MSX Basic v 3.0) + 16 KB (Disk Basic) + 16 KB (FM BIOS) + 256 KB (JIS 1 & 2 Kanji ROM) + 512 KB (MSX-JE)
• Audio: PSG 3 tracks + FM (OPLL YM-2413) 9 tracks
• Disk drive: 3.5′′ 2DD 720KB
• 2 cartridge ports
• 1 parallel port for printer
• 1 port Cassette
• Video outputs : RGB and Composite
• Audio output: mono
• 2 DB-9 ports for game controllers or mice
• Buttons: Pause, Reset, automatic shooting and CPU slowing cursor.

To understand the difference with the MSX2, know that the MSX2+ have two major developments, the sound PSG+FM integrated into standard (baptised) MSX-Music) and a new video processor (V9958 from Yamaha) fully compatible with the old (V9938 on board MSX2) and which allows to use new modes that can display for the famous Screen 12 with a few 19 268 colours displayable simultaneously on the screen. Needless to say, only very high-end machines at the time were capable of such a feat.

The Sony comes with a tool disk:

On the ludotheque side, you can count about 60 software and games released for MSX2+. Too little for such a machine but the MSX standard was already declining in 1989.

To my knowledge alone Sony, Sanyo and Panasonic have marketed MSX2+.

The models are as follows:

Sony HB-F1XDJ

Sony HB-F1XV

Sanyo WAVY PHC-70FD

Sanyo WAVY PHC-70FD2

Sanyo WAVY PHC-35J

Panasonic FS-A1FX

Panasonic FS-A1WSX

Panasonic FS-A1WX

* If you know other people, don't hesitate to make me notice.