MSX Village forum

It is a new retro-computer inspired by the legendary MSX computers, compatible with all its models in addition to being able to be with other retro-computers and consoles. This project was born in 2014 with the intention of creating a new MSX at the same time as the new audience, the very essence of computer science in the 80s and 90s, and its way of interacting with programming and the computer. Enjoying incredible improvements, gadgets, having fun learning, programming and playing are our main motivation. We want to make a VRoBIT re-enjoy the purest computing that has ever existed. The one where man and machine were one and communicated with the feel of the keys.

MSX, MSX2, MSX2+, MSXTR COMPATIBLE

The reason of being of the machine VRoBIT is to make to last in time the standard MSX at the same time to extend it and to endow it of new characteristics adapted to the times that run. The MSX was our first computer and we have a very special affection. For many years we have seen how many projects to improve the system have been forgotten or have been discarded. We wanted to take the evolutionary concept of the system from the software side, interacting with the hardware rather than the other way around. We wanted to give ourselves the opportunity to try out this new approach and we are very happy with the result.



MULTI-MACHINE SYSTEM

As with the MSX, we put ourselves in the shoes of other users with the same nostalgia and appreciation for their machines of yesteryear as well as wanting to share this with the new generations. Being an emulation based system, it allows us to interpret other systems and interact with their hardware also in real time. At the moment there is already a machine ZX48K, CPC464 and C64, although we would like to continue adding new machines such as NES, SNES, MegaDrive among others, with capacity to develop and access all their cartridges.



1Gb RAM/VRAM Shared

The system has a shared memory system between RAM and VRAM. You are allowed to configure how much memory you want in each part. It all depends on the use you want to give your machine. By default, the system is left with 512Mb of RAM and 512Mb of VRAM. It is the proportion that we consider most suitable for the majority of users.



64 bits - QUAD CORE 1’2Mhz

Power enough to run applications designed exclusively for this computer. Our efforts are to continue squeezing this power to the maximum and improving the software we offer to make it so.



4 x SLOTS FOR CARTRIDGES

50 pins fully compatible with the MSX standard and also gives us the opportunity to connect with other systems thanks to the ability to redefine its functionality. The access times are in real time and it is possible to access the MSX hardware (or other machine) as if the original machine were.



2 x GAME PORTS

DB9 ports (9 pins) configurable to be able to connect compatible devices: MSX / SPECTRUM / ATARI / AMSTRAD / C64 / GENESIS.

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1 x IO EXTENSION (DB37)

Special and genuine VRoBIT port to connect devices of any type. Dota 32-bit connection and voltage lines + 12V, -12V, 5V and 3.3V with transfer speed adjustable up to 1.7Mhz.

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4 x BUTTONS

It has four buttons: POWER ON / OFF, SLOT ON / OFF, RESET and PAUSE. With the POWER button, you can safely switch the equipment on and off. The SLOT button is very interesting because it allows us to insert or remove cartridges in hot with total safety of not damaging the hardware. The RESET button applies a hardware reset and PAUSE allows us to warn the system applications that we want to pause them.



8 x LEDS

Indicators led that allows us to observe the power status, whether we are in safe slot insertion mode, the pause, whether the emulation is making use of the disk drive, the kana, the caps and with the ability to self-define for Make another type of use or have other settings.



1 x ANALOG STEREO AUDIO OUTPUT (CARTRIDGE SOUND + VIRTUAL SOUND) + ANALOG VIDEO OUTPUT

We can enjoy all the real-time audio generated by the cartridges and be able to get a video output on a CRT television.

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1 x HDMI STEREO AUDIO-VIDEO OUTPUT

HDMI connection to enjoy all kinds of resolutions and high definition modes.

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2 x USB PORT

USB ports available for access to disk drives, joysticks, keyboards, mice or any other USB device compatible with the system.

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1 x SD CARD UNIT

SD disk drive that allows us to add or extract files from the system while being able to update the operating system and its applications.

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1 x 3’5mm STEREO OUTPUT

Enjoy a stereo Jack output to enjoy the actual audio of the cartridges, together or separately, to the emulated sound.

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1 x 3’5mm MIC

16-bit audio capture port with which to digitize audio in real time. This allows us to use a cassette to load games.

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1 x RJ45

Network connector to access a local network or Internet from our computer.



WIFI

Wireless connection that will allow us to connect our VRoBIT to a local network and Internet from anywhere with this technology.

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BLUETOOTH

The ability to connect devices with this communication protocol for short distance that allows to connect robots, keyboards, game controllers, etc.


PSU

It includes a 12V / 10A power supply compatible with input from 100 to 240 Volts and 50 / 60Hz frequency. This power supply provides the power and safety required to work with a VRoBIT in different types of electrical networks worldwide.
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KEYBOARD

We have invested a lot of time in getting a mechanical keyboard that would allow us to modify it with certain genuine features of the original MSX machines. Two-color keyboard, large cursors and special keys (GRAPH, CODE, SELECT)