MSX-Engine
Encyclopedia
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 Zilog
Z80-clone chip, the main CPU of the system, but most later versions of the engine also included the Z80 (clone) CPU in a same single chip package. The S-1990, is a special case, as its not really an MSX-Engine, but a chip that was used as "glue logic
" between the MSX-engine and an external R800 CPU.
The T9769 is used in MSX 2 computers, while in MSX 1 computers mostly the T7775 and T7937 are used. You can also find the S-1985 and S-3527 in these systems. After the MSX 2 generation (from MSX2+ onwards) Toshiba
took over the complete production of MSX engine chips. The last generation of MSX, the Turbo-R used the NEC
S-1990
"TurboR bus controller" together with a R800 CPU.
MSX engine chips from Yamaha were mostly used in MSX-computers from Sony
and Philips
, while the Toshiba chips were mostly used in computers from Sanyo and Matsushita (Panasonic/National).
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
T7775
T7937
S-1985
T9769
S-1990 combined with a T9769C
See S-1990
for the main article.
The S-1990 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 R800 CPU, and the memory and slot logic and other hardware inside the T9769C.
It also contains hardware to assists in the debugging of software.
Integrated circuit
An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit is an electronic circuit manufactured by the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material...
for home computers that are built according to the MSX
MSX
MSX was the name of a standardized home computer architecture in the 1980s conceived by Kazuhiko Nishi, then Vice-president at Microsoft Japan and Director at ASCII Corporation...
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 Zilog
Zilog
Zilog, Inc., previously known as ZiLOG , is a manufacturer of 8-bit and 24-bit microcontrollers, and is most famous for its Intel 8080-compatible Z80 series.-History:...
Z80-clone chip, the main CPU of the system, but most later versions of the engine also included the Z80 (clone) CPU in a same single chip package. The S-1990, is a special case, as its not really an MSX-Engine, but a chip that was used as "glue logic
Glue logic
In electronics, glue logic is the custom logic circuitry used to interface a number of off-the-shelf integrated circuits.This is often achieved using ordinary 7400- or 4000-series components. In more complex cases, programmable logic devices like a CPLD or FPGA might be used...
" between the MSX-engine and an external R800 CPU.
The T9769 is used in MSX 2 computers, while in MSX 1 computers mostly the T7775 and T7937 are used. You can also find the S-1985 and S-3527 in these systems. After the MSX 2 generation (from MSX2+ onwards) Toshiba
Toshiba
is a multinational electronics and electrical equipment corporation headquartered in Tokyo, Japan. It is a diversified manufacturer and marketer of electrical products, spanning information & communications equipment and systems, Internet-based solutions and services, electronic components and...
took over the complete production of MSX engine chips. The last generation of MSX, the Turbo-R used the NEC
NEC
, a Japanese multinational IT company, has its headquarters in Minato, Tokyo, Japan. NEC, part of the Sumitomo Group, provides information technology and network solutions to business enterprises, communications services providers and government....
S-1990
S-1990
The S-1990 is a VLSI integrated circuit created by NEC for the MSX Turbo R home computer, and is called the "Turbo R bus controller".Together with a R800 CPU and a T9769 MSX-Engine chip it forms the heart of a Turbo R MSX-system.-Development and design:...
"TurboR bus controller" together with a R800 CPU.
MSX engine chips from Yamaha were mostly used in MSX-computers from Sony
Sony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
and Philips
Philips
Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. , more commonly known as Philips, is a multinational Dutch electronics company....
, while the Toshiba chips were mostly used in computers from Sanyo and Matsushita (Panasonic/National).
MSX 1
S-3527- a Yamaha YM2149 PSGProgrammable sound generatorA Programmable Sound Generator is a sound chip that generates sound waves by synthesizing multiple basic waveforms, and often some kind of noise generator, and combining and mixing these waveforms into a complex waveform, then shaping the amplitude of the resulting waveform using...
-sound chipSound chipA sound chip is an integrated circuit designed to produce sound . It might be doing this through digital, analog or mixed-mode electronics...
, compatible with a General InstrumentGeneral InstrumentGeneral Instrument was an electronics manufacturer based in Horsham, PA specializing in semiconductors and cable television equipment. The company was active until 1997, when it split into which was later acquired by Vishay Intertechnology in 2001, CommScope and NextLevel Systems General...
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
T7775
- CMOSCMOSComplementary metal–oxide–semiconductor is a technology for constructing integrated circuits. CMOS technology is used in microprocessors, microcontrollers, static RAM, and other digital logic circuits...
-chipIntegrated circuitAn integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit is an electronic circuit manufactured by the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material...
with all MSX 1 functions.
T7937
- main CPU, a ZilogZilogZilog, Inc., previously known as ZiLOG , is a manufacturer of 8-bit and 24-bit microcontrollers, and is most famous for its Intel 8080-compatible Z80 series.-History:...
Z80 (clone) with a clock speed of 3,58 MHz. - a PSGProgrammable sound generatorA Programmable Sound Generator is a sound chip that generates sound waves by synthesizing multiple basic waveforms, and often some kind of noise generator, and combining and mixing these waveforms into a complex waveform, then shaping the amplitude of the resulting waveform using...
-sound chipSound chipA sound chip is an integrated circuit designed to produce sound . It might be doing this through digital, analog or mixed-mode electronics...
, compatible with a General InstrumentGeneral InstrumentGeneral Instrument was an electronics manufacturer based in Horsham, PA specializing in semiconductors and cable television equipment. The company was active until 1997, when it split into which was later acquired by Vishay Intertechnology in 2001, CommScope and NextLevel Systems General...
AY-3-8910 - Video Display ControllerVideo Display ControllerA Video Display Controller or VDC is an integrated circuit which is the main component in a video signal generator, a device responsible for the production of a TV video signal in a computing or game system...
: Texas InstrumentsTexas InstrumentsTexas Instruments Inc. , widely known as TI, is an American company based in Dallas, Texas, United States, which develops and commercializes semiconductor and computer technology...
TMS9918Texas Instruments TMS9918thumb|VDP TMS9918Athumb|VDP TMS9918Athumb|VDP TMS9928AThe TMS9918 is a Video Display Controller manufactured by Texas Instruments.-General information:... - parallel I/OParallel I/OParallel I/O, in the context of a computer, means the performance of multiple I/O operations at the same time. It is a common feature of operating systems....
chip: backward compatible with the Intel i8255Intel 8255The Intel 8255 Programmable Peripheral Interface chip is a peripheral chip originally developed for the Intel 8085 microprocessor, and as such is a member of a large array of such chips, known as the MCS-85 Family. This chip was later also used with the Intel 8086 and its descendants.It was later... - MSX 1-functions
- dimensions: 10,5 × 8,60 mm
MSX 2/MSX 2+
- a Yamaha YM2149 a Programmable Sound Generator - sound chip, compatible with a General Instrument AY-3-8910
- parallel I/OParallel I/OParallel I/O, in the context of a computer, means the performance of multiple I/O operations at the same time. It is a common feature of operating systems....
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
- 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 i8255Intel 8255The Intel 8255 Programmable Peripheral Interface chip is a peripheral chip originally developed for the Intel 8085 microprocessor, and as such is a member of a large array of such chips, known as the MCS-85 Family. This chip was later also used with the Intel 8086 and its descendants.It was later...
- MSX1 and MSX2-functions (MSX2-computers)
- MSX2+-functions (MSX2+-computers)
- dimensions: 10,5 × 8,60 mm
MSX Turbo R
See S-1990
S-1990
The S-1990 is a VLSI integrated circuit created by NEC for the MSX Turbo R home computer, and is called the "Turbo R bus controller".Together with a R800 CPU and a T9769 MSX-Engine chip it forms the heart of a Turbo R MSX-system.-Development and design:...
for the main article.
The S-1990 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 R800 CPU, and the memory and slot logic and other hardware inside the T9769C.
It also contains hardware to assists in the debugging of software.