SD-Snatcher
@sdsnatcher.bsky.social
This profile is mostly about the #MSX, but also some other #Z80 cousins (#SMS, #zxspectrum, #ColecoVision, SG-1000), Pixel Art and chiptunes. #pixelart, #8bit
http://frs.badcoffee.info
http://frs.badcoffee.info
Yours is safe. The only MSX2+ computers that have that HIC1 daughterboard were made by Sony.
BTW, if you want to add the internal FM chip to your A1FX, there's an article here:
www.msxinfo.net/2013/06/15/a...
BTW, if you want to add the internal FM chip to your A1FX, there's an article here:
www.msxinfo.net/2013/06/15/a...
Adding MSX-Music to a FS-A1FX
Today I finished building MSX-Music (based on a YM2413) into my FS-A1FX Here is a Demo Video where you can hear the difference. On this picture the extra circuit I’ve added to get the FM-Soun…
www.msxinfo.net
January 2, 2026 at 8:55 PM
Yours is safe. The only MSX2+ computers that have that HIC1 daughterboard were made by Sony.
BTW, if you want to add the internal FM chip to your A1FX, there's an article here:
www.msxinfo.net/2013/06/15/a...
BTW, if you want to add the internal FM chip to your A1FX, there's an article here:
www.msxinfo.net/2013/06/15/a...
What model is it? If it's one of the models that has the EMC-NX0039 aka "HIC1" daughterboard, you might need to replace its elcaps ASAP:
www.msx.org/forum/msx-ta...
www.msx.org/forum/msx-ta...
Urgent alert to MSX2/2+ owners: suicide capacitors on HIC-1 daughterboard | MSX Resource Center (Page 1/5)
Dear MSX friends,
Many MSX models had an analog daugtherboard called
www.msx.org
January 2, 2026 at 12:32 PM
What model is it? If it's one of the models that has the EMC-NX0039 aka "HIC1" daughterboard, you might need to replace its elcaps ASAP:
www.msx.org/forum/msx-ta...
www.msx.org/forum/msx-ta...
Basically, to install it you just have to unzip it into a folder on your SDcard, like SOFARUN, and run it from there.
December 19, 2025 at 12:35 AM
Basically, to install it you just have to unzip it into a folder on your SDcard, like SOFARUN, and run it from there.
What kind of issues do you still have?
December 19, 2025 at 12:33 AM
What kind of issues do you still have?
Yep. For the MSX models that don’t have the space for an internal FM chip, that’s the best choice.
But for those where it can be installed internally, this will save you from using an external slot.
But for those where it can be installed internally, this will save you from using an external slot.
December 16, 2025 at 2:17 PM
Yep. For the MSX models that don’t have the space for an internal FM chip, that’s the best choice.
But for those where it can be installed internally, this will save you from using an external slot.
But for those where it can be installed internally, this will save you from using an external slot.
Parodius indeed has some particularly hard stages.
But the rest of the Gradius series for the MSX has just "normal Gradius difficulty".
I would recommend to play the patched versions with smooth scroll for the MSX2/2+.
But the rest of the Gradius series for the MSX has just "normal Gradius difficulty".
I would recommend to play the patched versions with smooth scroll for the MSX2/2+.
December 13, 2025 at 7:03 PM
Parodius indeed has some particularly hard stages.
But the rest of the Gradius series for the MSX has just "normal Gradius difficulty".
I would recommend to play the patched versions with smooth scroll for the MSX2/2+.
But the rest of the Gradius series for the MSX has just "normal Gradius difficulty".
I would recommend to play the patched versions with smooth scroll for the MSX2/2+.
Bonus tip: there’s also the fan-made sequel for the MSX2, called “Pampas & Selene”.
December 13, 2025 at 1:27 PM
Bonus tip: there’s also the fan-made sequel for the MSX2, called “Pampas & Selene”.
Tip: There’s also a fan-made remake for the MSX2.
It keeps the original engine, but upgrades the graphics and music.
It keeps the original engine, but upgrades the graphics and music.
December 13, 2025 at 1:26 PM
Tip: There’s also a fan-made remake for the MSX2.
It keeps the original engine, but upgrades the graphics and music.
It keeps the original engine, but upgrades the graphics and music.
Too sad that, like in this case, the original files of a lot of Pixel Art published on MSX-Magazine & MSX-Fan seem to have been lost forever.
All that remains from them are the (literally) screen shots that were published.
All that remains from them are the (literally) screen shots that were published.
December 11, 2025 at 1:20 PM
Too sad that, like in this case, the original files of a lot of Pixel Art published on MSX-Magazine & MSX-Fan seem to have been lost forever.
All that remains from them are the (literally) screen shots that were published.
All that remains from them are the (literally) screen shots that were published.
It looks really nice, thanks! But it's a shame that I can't read Japanese. ( ͒˃̩̩⌂˂̩̩ ͒)
December 3, 2025 at 9:26 PM
It looks really nice, thanks! But it's a shame that I can't read Japanese. ( ͒˃̩̩⌂˂̩̩ ͒)
Tip: The FS-A1WX is virtually identical, but easier to find and somewhat cheaper. The diff is the s-video output.
There’s also the cheaper FS-A1FX, but since it doesn’t have the FM chip and you seem to have an allergy to the soldering iron (to add the chip yourself), it’s probably not an option.
There’s also the cheaper FS-A1FX, but since it doesn’t have the FM chip and you seem to have an allergy to the soldering iron (to add the chip yourself), it’s probably not an option.
December 3, 2025 at 3:37 PM
Tip: The FS-A1WX is virtually identical, but easier to find and somewhat cheaper. The diff is the s-video output.
There’s also the cheaper FS-A1FX, but since it doesn’t have the FM chip and you seem to have an allergy to the soldering iron (to add the chip yourself), it’s probably not an option.
There’s also the cheaper FS-A1FX, but since it doesn’t have the FM chip and you seem to have an allergy to the soldering iron (to add the chip yourself), it’s probably not an option.
Playing Snatcher (or most disk games) on an MSX with turbo and mass storage (SD or CF card) improves the loading times considerably.
December 2, 2025 at 2:50 PM
Playing Snatcher (or most disk games) on an MSX with turbo and mass storage (SD or CF card) improves the loading times considerably.
I own an HX-22 and an HX-23F. Just in case I need this info in the future, could you please share how to easily fix this type of keyboard? :)
November 23, 2025 at 1:41 PM
I own an HX-22 and an HX-23F. Just in case I need this info in the future, could you please share how to easily fix this type of keyboard? :)
Can it detect the T6950?
November 21, 2025 at 3:19 AM
Can it detect the T6950?
Humm. Sorry I can't help you with those. I mainly use openMSX and webMSX.
November 20, 2025 at 1:28 PM
Humm. Sorry I can't help you with those. I mainly use openMSX and webMSX.
What emulator are you using? Have you tried webMSX?
November 20, 2025 at 12:36 PM
What emulator are you using? Have you tried webMSX?
In fact, most NTSC CRT TVs were limited to at most ~216 lines due to the overscan, so the devs decision to limit the games resolution to 320x200 was probably not only related to Atari ST & PC portability, but also with NTSC compatibility.
November 14, 2025 at 7:04 PM
In fact, most NTSC CRT TVs were limited to at most ~216 lines due to the overscan, so the devs decision to limit the games resolution to 320x200 was probably not only related to Atari ST & PC portability, but also with NTSC compatibility.
This has exact the same problem, but in the opposite direction: Games designed for PAL320x256 will look vertically stretched when run on NTSC, and the screen will be cropped at the bottom, since the max number of lines will be 240p.
November 14, 2025 at 7:04 PM
This has exact the same problem, but in the opposite direction: Games designed for PAL320x256 will look vertically stretched when run on NTSC, and the screen will be cropped at the bottom, since the max number of lines will be 240p.
That same PAL aspect ratio issue affected even way more expensive machines like the Amiga.
It was somewhat expensive to deal with this in the 80s, so only devices produced in the late 90s/early 2000s began having proper NTSC/PAL aspect differentiation.
It was somewhat expensive to deal with this in the 80s, so only devices produced in the late 90s/early 2000s began having proper NTSC/PAL aspect differentiation.
November 14, 2025 at 2:49 PM
That same PAL aspect ratio issue affected even way more expensive machines like the Amiga.
It was somewhat expensive to deal with this in the 80s, so only devices produced in the late 90s/early 2000s began having proper NTSC/PAL aspect differentiation.
It was somewhat expensive to deal with this in the 80s, so only devices produced in the late 90s/early 2000s began having proper NTSC/PAL aspect differentiation.
The MSX1 VDP outputs YPbPr, not Y/C. But it had some quirks that were poorly documented, and somewhat expensive to workaround. Most engineers had to cheat with some cheap trick.
If you really want good RGB, you’ll be better served by an MSX2/2+. Or install a TMS-RGB v2 kit.
If you really want good RGB, you’ll be better served by an MSX2/2+. Or install a TMS-RGB v2 kit.
November 14, 2025 at 12:11 PM
The MSX1 VDP outputs YPbPr, not Y/C. But it had some quirks that were poorly documented, and somewhat expensive to workaround. Most engineers had to cheat with some cheap trick.
If you really want good RGB, you’ll be better served by an MSX2/2+. Or install a TMS-RGB v2 kit.
If you really want good RGB, you’ll be better served by an MSX2/2+. Or install a TMS-RGB v2 kit.
Are those machines PAL instead of NTSC? That would explain the squished picture, due to the higher vertical resolution per frame (while keeping the same horizontal resolution)
The same issue also happens with the SMS and NES. Probably SNES too.
The same issue also happens with the SMS and NES. Probably SNES too.
November 14, 2025 at 11:58 AM
Are those machines PAL instead of NTSC? That would explain the squished picture, due to the higher vertical resolution per frame (while keeping the same horizontal resolution)
The same issue also happens with the SMS and NES. Probably SNES too.
The same issue also happens with the SMS and NES. Probably SNES too.
*Sanyo
(Nitpicking 😉)
(Nitpicking 😉)
November 6, 2025 at 8:33 PM
*Sanyo
(Nitpicking 😉)
(Nitpicking 😉)