The One Chip MSX is technically an FPGA computer that emulates the MSX and MSX2 standard in hardware. Discussion can be had whether this is emulation or not, the One Chip is a true MSX computer in the sense that it provides slots for cartridges, and has the ability to load software from tape. It also implements the MSX-MUSIC and SCC+ audio extensions that were popular with various games.

Even though it lacks a 3.5" disk drive, disks are supported through emulation on a memory card, including support for booting MSX-DOS.

Since the machine can be recoded using the VHDL hardware programming language, new versions of the original code have introduced more features and better compatibility with the original MSX/MSX2+ standard.

Hardware Specifications:

• Altera Cyclone EP1C12Q240C8N FPGA chip
• 32 MByte SDRAM
• SD/MMC card slot
• 2 MSX Cartridge slots
• 2 Audio outputs
• S-Video out
• Composite out
• VGA out
• PS/2 keyboard connector
• 2 USB Ports
• 2 MSX Joystick Ports
• FPGA I/O pin (40 & 10 pin)

• CPU and Memory
• Video Output hardware
• Audio hardware
• Cassette and Disk drives
• Keyboard, mouse and joysticks
• Expansion and I/O ports

MSX was a standardized home computer platform announced on June 16th, 1983 as a joint effort between Microsoft and Japan’s ASCII Corporation. It was marketed by Kasuhiko Nishi, who was Vice-President at Microsoft and a director at the ASCII Corporation, with the goal of creating a unified hardware and software standard across multiple manufacturers. At the time, the home computer market was highly fragmented, with each company offering its own incompatible systems. The MSX standard addressed this by providing a common architecture that companies like Sony, Panasonic, Philips, Toshiba, and Yamaha could all build upon, ensuring that software and peripherals would run consistently across machines. At its core, the MSX used the popular Zilog Z80 processor, featured cartridge slots for games and applications, and supported both cassette tape and disk drives, making it versatile for both gaming and productivity.

The MSX Standard defines specifications for:

• CPU and Memory
• Video Output hardware
• Audio hardware
• Cassette and Disk drives
• Keyboard, mouse and joysticks
• Expansion and I/O ports

The MSX line saw several evolutions, including MSX2, MSX2+, and MSX Turbo R, each improving graphics, sound, and performance to keep pace with the growing demands of the market. While it never achieved major success in the United States, the MSX was a significant force in Japan, much of Europe, and South America, where it became a beloved platform for gaming, programming, and creative applications. Iconic game developers such as Konami and Hudson Soft produced influential titles on the MSX, helping to shape the future of video games. Today, the MSX is remembered as one of the most ambitious attempts to create a universal home computer standard, and it holds a cherished place in the history of 1980s computing.

Cassette Interface

The MSX Standard calls for all MSX computers to have a standard data-cassette port. This port transports the audio-in/out signals to and from the datarecorder and the computer has a relay-switch on board to turn the recorder on and off.

MSX Cartridge

The MSX Cartridge system uses a 50-pin flat-edge connector to connect to the systems expansion bus. The cartridge slot maps into one of the main- or sub-slots.

MSX Joystick Port

The MSX Joystick connector is backwards compatible with the Atari 2600. It is a so called DB9 style connector and has the same pin-out as the original Atari connector, with the addition of an extra button. This port is also used in analog mode on the MSX to read a mouse, a light-pen or an analog joystick. The MSX Standard called for 2 joystick ports (Joystick A, and B).

Printer Port

The MSX uses a 14-pin Centronics port for connecting a printer. The printer port was not part of the mandatory MSX standard, but the standard strongly recommended manufacturers to implement a printer port.

Other Ports

Other mandatory ports on the MSX computer included a Composite Video or an RF output port for video. Many manufacturers also included an Audio port, a scart port on european models, the JP21 Scart variant for Japanese MSX computers, or an RGB port for better video connection to a monitor

The MSX2+ was an advanced iteration of the MSX2 home computer standard, first introduced in 1988, predominantly in Japan. Building on its predecessor, the MSX2+ boasted enhanced graphical capabilities that made it popular among gaming enthusiasts and hobbyist programmers. It featured upgraded video processing with support for three new screen modes, providing smoother animations and more vibrant color depth with up to 19,268 colors. The inclusion of improved sound through the built-in FM sound chip enabled richer audio experiences for games and multimedia applications. Although the MSX2+ did not achieve widespread global adoption like other home computers of the era, it remained a beloved and influential platform within Japan and parts of Europe, setting the stage for the even more powerful MSX Turbo R that followed.