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Dear customers,

Thanks for your purchase of the APMSX card.

I added a VDP testing program in APMSX.HDV and User's manual also updated as followed.

If you are interested in VDP control by 65C02, Please refer to it.

Thanks a lot;

Ian Kim

ballmerpeak.org/msxlaunch/

This is a good utility to start game on APMSX.

This image doesn't have ROM images and user need to mergy files on HDV but, not hard to make it.

And there are source code of the launcer.

It tested and works!

Thanks ballmerpeak,

Mr. SangTang Gune, He is planning to make a game that is run on APMSX card.

This is just a Sprite and APPLE II joystick testing and has no sound yet.

I'm expecting good music with SD Music +/Deluxe card too.

Anyway, It has a very fast scroll.

https://youtu.be/IOBFBwkXnFs

You can download this program with DSK image for your APMSX card.

APMSX card should slot#4.

Dear friends,

Please refer to the introduction.

Thanks

Introduction 

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15ulnyLxqD8PQZ4a6BTHoSRFOaYftug3x/view?usp=sharing 

Thanks a lot

Ian Kim

Hi friends,

I'm glad to announce this news of APMSX card.

I've updated Driver of SD DISKII plus and it boots the MSXDOS as the under.

https://youtu.be/sSe_7g8UNl8

Also runs very nice demo on FDD image.

https://youtu.be/uuct5GG4-XA

If start on Turbo mode.. 

It became faster as this.

https://youtu.be/UVW2x2gEyYo

Here is the BOLD demo disk image.

To load this image by SD DISK][, You need to rename the extension to *.HDV

Thanks for watching.

Regards;

Ian Kim

Dear friends,

Please refer to the attachment for the APMSX card.

I just make an introduction for the APMSX card and you can know what it can do.

After Load BIOS, it will change to MSX computer and APPLE //e still work as nothing happened.

Video output, Keyboard, and Joypad are provided separately for APMSX card.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15ulnyLxqD8PQZ4a6BTHoSRFOaYftug3x/view?usp=sharing 

I'm making this board for local friends,

After finished, I will put the APMSX card on eBay.

Thanks a lot,

Ian Kim

** If used two monitors, it can work as below 

Left is APPLE //e screen and right is MSX screen.

Both can work at the same time.

It was a very nice TMS9918 and AY3-8913 card for APPLE II.

It used TMS9918 and AY3 8912 for sound generation.

It has similar chip as the APMSX and if do match the I/O address, it also would work on APMSX.

Here are DISK images.

Really appreciated this images converting for share.

APMSX I/O address is following MSX I/O address hence, TMS9918 occupied at $Cn99 and $Cn99.

Sound chip sit on $CnA0 and $CnA1

I didn't try it yet but, I'm sure it could make it work on APMSX.

And Basic program looks nice, it can easily use TMS9918 and Sound by '&' command extension.

I will check how to modify it.

Thanks

Dear friends,

APMSX is completed and commercial gold plated board will be ordered.

It is a real Z80 8bits computer, it isn't software emulator nor H/W emulator.

The CPLD chips used to optimize the amounts of TTL chips.

It works with powerful DMA with APPLE II and MSX mode.

Here is the latest APMSX card.

Specifications

Name of the card;  APMSX V1.23a

MSX1 compatible;

What is MSX? please refer here https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MSX

Games for fun; https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=MSX1+games

VDP; TMS9918 (NTSC)

PSG; AY3-8910

RAM; 512KB SRAM

Z80 Clock speed; 3.58Mhz, 7.16Mhz, 4Mhz, 8Mhz, 16Mhz(Overclocked)

RAM Mapper support; 256KB MAX

Mega ROM mapper support; 256KB MAX, Konami, ASCII 8K, ASCII 16K

Keyboard; 1 PS2 Keyboard port

Joystick; 1 MSX DB9 standard port

Compatible APPLE II

APPLE //e recommended, Full functioning.

APPLE IIGS; It has some limitation on dual working with APMSX, limited on Memory card access,  But, General running MSX games or programming doesn't have a problem on Apple IIGS.

How to use it

(1) Use as an MSX computer

Joystick support and Keyboard even Video output exist.

Please refer to the history of APMSX.

https://quick09.tistory.com/category/%E2%97%86%20APMSX

(2) Z80 Softcard compatible; CP/M 80 operation.

(3) APPLE II can access whole 512KB Memory area even I/O while APMSX running Games (Of course, it needs BUS DMA)

MSX IO Ports mapped on $Cn00 hence, APMSX could be used as a VDP card or Sound card similar to the Arcade board.

APPLE II can use 512KB memory area on $1000-8FFF so, can use as an extra Memory card.

(4) Use Z80CPU for APPLE II as a Co-processor as a Graphics accelerator or sound processor.

Z80 could access APPLE II area hance can access HGR and speaker.

if 6502 give order function such as graphics, ie circle, paint or scroll then Z80 could calculate and run background for the graphics or sound. It is one idea to use Z80 area and you need programming for it.

Recommended APPLE II

APPLE //e + SD DISKII plus DISK emulator

32MB HDD emulation is good for APMSX with lots of ROM images.

Even one FDD can use but, not many games could put in a DISK.

APPLE IIGS works but, no full duplex way.

Not working on APPLE ][ nor ][+

Planned Production release

About 14days later

Order now

Pre-order would receive a free Joypad ($15)

Pre-order closed now.

All packaged would be shipped by Registered package with a tracking number and it would take two weeks once it shipped.

If you are not sure now, You may buy it on eBay some weeks later but, the price would higher(+10%) for eBay fee.

User's Manual

On Working.

*********************************************************************************************************This APMSX card is a real and true 8bit MSX computer and successfully connected on APPLE II.

It took a long time to develop and it was one of my dream machines.

Runs 16Mhz Z80 and there is no MSX had this speed with smooth VDP access.

And it can share APPLE II resources so, it's a peripheral for APPLE II and can share APMSX resources each other.

it isn't just a standalone isolated MSX computer. It can communicate to APPLE II on BUS level.

Hope you like this card.

Have fun with this card with your Apple II.

Other systems such as commodore or spectrum etc on APPLE II...

Hope to see someone make it for APPLE II.

Thank you very much;

Ian Kim

*********************************************************************************************************

New updated PCB

RCA Video output and 3.5mm Stereo Audio output.

Changed Sound chip to AY3-8910 and an SRAM for VRAM but, We have no Slot of the MSX.

It optimized for work on APPLE //e.

It now supports 16Mhz but hard to play some games. too fast.

It would be a good MSX who like to make a game on MSXBASIC.

https://youtu.be/J1wU7M-3BM4

https://youtu.be/4muTmlSvWOw

This testing is that APMSX is using the SD DISKII Plus as it's own peripherals.

I made a driver to access HDD of SD DISKII plus.

https://youtu.be/ZVK8arGiuzo

It detected as an HDD on MSX and could R/W above 150 files.

The disk structure is exactly MSXDOS(Very close to the MSDOS),

Compatibility;

APMSX works on APPLE //e  also APPLE IIGS with some limitations.

But not working on APPLE ][+.

I did fix some minor mistakes and ordered updated PCB for completion of the APMSX.

Thanks

Ian Kim

APMSX can use APPLE II peripherals,

I made an example of access on APPLE II slot device by APMSX.

It is direct access of SD DISKII Plus and used as a big FDD on APMSX.

65C02 doesn't have need any code to do this.

This example is, 

Save dummy data and delete data.

To access an APPLE II peripheral, It required a driver to access FAT16.

In this example, I made a driver to access SD DISKII Plus and loaded when it start MSX.

HDD access is fine and it's based on BeerIDE of MSX and it looks MSXDOS1.

Hence, I've could save around 150 to 200 files only.

Even having 32MB but, it isn't useful but very good for me.

It doesn't boot MSXDOS command. I tried to solve it but failed,... 

maybe I missed making environments before to start COMMAND.COM

I will leave it but will try again someday.

Thanks

Ian Kim

APMSX card is a computer card for APPLE II.

It is a MSX computer and slot type for APPLE II.

It runs with APPLE II not just sit on slot.

It isn't a emulated FPGA MSX card  It has own Z80 CPU with 512KB SRAM with TTL logics and CPLD(Which is only used to reduce lots of TTL chips).

APMSX work very closely with APPLE II.

It access APPLE II memory or I/O of APPLE II.

APPLE II and APMSX can communicate each other. 

Both systems have common shared memory area.

The common area are include APPLE II's I/O area($Cxxx) and memory area, APMSX could access APPLE II's peripheral such as HDD(SD DISKII plus) even Mocking board could make it work.

In the beginning of APMSX design, I share whole memory area of APPLE II and it's looks good and both are work as brain shared computer. but, It became bottle neck of the system on both. They can't run full speed when it open as shared.

APMSX works 7.16Mhz(Two times of MSX) speed and while access sharing area, Z80 and APPLE II BUS have to synchronized and results APMSX become slow.

Because of this performance issue, I redesign to small share area. 

And finally 16KB of Page2 on MSX.

Anyway, I'm still considering if I need to make it adjust the size of share.

Now I have Max. 256KB RAM (If MegaROM mapper ON, It will be 128KB)

It's enough RAM on MSX1 system.

I hope that someone could use this size of memory for nice program for DOS2 or Game runner.

APMSX has integrated ROM mapper for Mega Games.

ASCII 8K , ASCII 16K and Konami mapper support.

8K Mapper auto detect if it required a Konami or ASCII 8K Mapper.

(8K <> 16K have to selecte before to start game)

ASCII 8K Mapper

ASCII 16K Mapper 

Konami Mapper

Anyway, I'm keeping developing to make it perfect.

Thanks a lot

Ian Kim

Hi, Friends,

I trying to make MSX External SLOT on APMSX card.

It took too long time to make it work.

Hardly found some error on the board and fixed.

Also needed to adjust circuits on CPLD as MSX one.

Finally I have working screen as under.

It is just game screen but, this game is from ROM pack not data loading from APPLE //e.

It has some stability issue with external ROM. I'm working on it now.

If I didn't plan to make a external SLOT on APMSX, I could complete it but, It took long time for ultimate MSX card in APPLE II.

Keep watching it..

Thanks;

Ian Kim

I've upgraded the Konami 8K Mapper and now can run upto 256KB from 128KB.

It runs but, there is a issue .. Some sprites shaking and flashing.

When I decreased the speed to 2Mhz, it doesn't show same problem.

So, It must have problem on VDP control. maybe RAM accessing timing could be a issue.

I will check later when I need to debug the board.

ROM Mapper support would be finished with this Konami 8K mapper only.

256KB game running is good one. No MSX could run 256KB game without real ROM cartridge.

So, It would be OK for me.

Hope to like it too.

Thanks;

Ian Kim

Previous APMSX card is enough to run basic of MSX function 

but, I want some more enhanced function in it.

Now, I have new board.

What is different.

Used 144 pin CPLD as main controller.

I have more 32 IO pins now it is good enough.

I'm tring to add Konami 8K mapper and now it is working as below.

Now just support 128KB but, will extend it up to 256KB.

APMSX board have own 512KB SRAM and it support virtual slot for ROM cartridge emulation.

So I can load ROM file and can run without physical ROM cartridge. (Anyway, APMSX will have a external physical SLOT. so user still can use own cartridge)

And it accepted just 32KB ROM data but, now I can load 128KB ROM data and made it run properly.

The mapper is very different method unlike accessing APPLE II AUX memory .

I'm still having some more idea with APMSX but, I think, I should not expand too much on this board.

And It will support 256KB Konam 8K Mapper and little more? maybe.. then will be closed.

I will check the signal for External SLOT.

I've prepared for this but, have to test. 

Let's see the next what will happy with our APPLE II.
Thank you.

Ian Kim

MSX1 run 3.58Mhz and I've tried higher speed in my previous prototype board failed.

Due to lack of environments of signal and some others..

Now, I have a proper PCB with signal and can handle more for my purpose.

APMSX card have 512KB Fast SRAM and it is fast enough.

So, I've tried it to run 7.16Mhz and checked the status..

No, it doesn't work properly.. Screen have some broken sprites..

Maybe VDP can't follow the I/O Speed.

So, added internal turbo OFF function while accessing IO.

When I/O access happen, It added some delays then it works properly..

Tested simple speed testing program.

It takes 86 ticks on normal speed MSX but, now it just took 42 ticks.

Also faster scrolling be obtained.

Tested on GAME.

The BOSCONIAN have starting voice as 'BLAST OFF'.

Now on turbo mode, this pitch become higher..

So, it runs on faster CPU mode.

This is TWINBEE.

It runs really fast.. 

APMSX can have 3 running mode.

1. APPLE II / MSX isolated mode (Run each system at the same time)

2. APPLE II * MSX hybrid mode (Run each system at the same time)

3. Switching mode between above. but not run at the same time.

This turbo mode only work isolated mode 1 and 3(need test).

Anyway, APMSX card also can use as a Softcard for CP/M and attached devices as the same MSX. I/O address.

Thanks

Ian Kim

Hi friend,

I'm working on it.

Firmware task is on going..

Around 80% done and working now as the MSX computer on APPLE II.

It is installed as below

Used 3.5mm phone connector for Audio & Video output.

And applied Auto Switching..

Used PS2 keyboard signal for MSX keyboard.

This is simple joypad. It is fot the VDP option board and needed little modify to fit on APMSX.

Watch this how does it work.

It is almost the same as the prototype board.

APMSX board working as below.

Thanks

Ian Kim

This is PCB for the MSX board on APPLE IIe.

Still a lots of work behind due to changed wiring. 

Thanks

Dear Friends,

I added video switching function for MSX card.

It looks better for one monitor user.

Anyway, User still can use dual monitor for APPLE II and MSX card.

https://youtu.be/Pzu4iBmmshk

동영상

MSX card on APPLE //e

Applied video switching for one monitor.

www.youtube.com

Thanks

Dear friends,

I put two movies which are showing the MSX card running on APPLE IIe.

First movie is showing the switching between APPLE to MSX by command and even running together.

This mode provide data interchange between APPLE to MSX card.

It is shareing the SLOT0 of MSX memory with APPLE IIe main memory.

And MSX card can access even APPLE II device.

On the beginning movie, You may find It is using HDD for program loading on MSX card.

It can R/W access on the SD DISK][ Emulator card (HDD mode).

When MSX card access APPLE II memory, The APPLE Speed lower to avoid memory access conflict and

about 1/3 Mhz is the running speed of APPLE IIe in that time.

MSX card works around 2Mhz for synconise with the APPLE II BUS.

Anyway watch it.

https://youtu.be/K38V7dlzVFg

동영상

MSX card on APPLE IIe, Dual running

www.youtube.com

This mode is showing the game running on MSX card and APPLE IIe . 

It provide full speed each other but cant access APPLE II device from MSX card.

MSX card 3.58Mhz, APPLE IIe 1.023Mhz.

ttps://youtu.be/qz1RTVsYTbI

동영상

MSX card on APPLE Iie, Dual game running

www.youtube.com

Z80 MSX is Z80 CPU board and have devices as the MSX computer.

It can run under the APPLE IIe but, it isn't just running one computer with shared Power supply of APPLE IIe.

It isn't just one isolated system running above the APPLE IIe. It is running inthe APPLE IIe with shared memory and running together with APPLE IIe.

The both of CPUs could run at the same time.

The structure looks like as under.

As you've seen, MSX hold all area of APPLE IIe so, all of APPLE IIe memory could use.

It means that even I/O could access by Z80.

Z80 MSX board have two major modes.

Single running mode

Single mode, runs only one CPU and the other one is waiting unless give ticket to run.

Mode 1;  Z80 running 2Mhz but can access all of APPLE II Memory area

Mode 2;  Z80 running 3.58Mhz and not access APPLE II memory area

* In fact, Z80 has 512KB own memory and using APPLE IIe memory as extra one. So, when It running on the APPLE IIe memory, It can't run more than 2Mhz so, Z80 only runs 2Mhz on APPLE IIe memory.

But, if it runs on it's own RAM, it could run full speed of MSX (3.58Mhz). 

It automatically change the clocks.

Dual running Mode

Always working both of CPUs but CPU speed isn't fixed.

Mode 1; Z80 runs 2Mhz when it runs on APPLE IIe RAM and 65C02 runs about 1/3 Mhz.

Mode 2; Z80 runs 3.58Mhz when it runs on it's own RAM and 65C02 runs full speed 1Mhz.

* Dual mode always 65C02 is running.

The 65C02 runs with variable speed. When Z80 access APPLE IIe memory, 65C02 runs only around 30% but, 65C02 speed is variable not fixed, 

If Z80 didn't access APPLE IIe Memorh BUS, 65C02 could have more clocks to run. 

When Z80 using own memory, 65C02 is free to use all of bandwidth of BUS so could run 100% of speed.

So the 65C02 speed is vary 30% to 100%.

With this feature, You can use Z80 CPU as the co-processor vice versa.

While the Z80 is running, 65C02 still have clocks and no need to wait for Z80 done.

If you don't want share APPLE IIe memory, you can consider to put Z80 codes into Z80 RAM area to make it run faster. Anyway, It required proper code to switching Z80 memory and APPLE IIe memory.

Z80 MSX card can use all of APPLE IIe resources

In fact, the time critical equipment can't use properly. such as Floppy DISK Z80 may lose the data from DISK.

To use DISK, should switching or Should allow to RUN 100% of 65C02.

Z80 could approach all area of APPLE IIe, I mapped it to SLOT#0 of MSX.

Even could access graphics mode, Low and High Res. modes and APPLE IIe speaker can toggle by Z80.

Andmore other peripheral device could access but not interrupt device.

You can select starting mode between Single running mode or Dual running mode for your purpose.

Even after RUN, if the memory condition is fine to change the mode, you can switch to another mode too.

Z80 make 65C02 to run or wait. vice versa.

I want to use this feature to access APPLE IIe HDD for Z80 MSX.

Also I want to use the Z80 MSX card as a Arcade board to display sprites or play songs.

Of cause,  add some code for Z80 it would easier to use complex command such as draw circle or any on Back ground.

I just provide the potential possibility for user who love Z80 MSX and 65C02 APPLE II.

I would be happy if someone could make interesting game or tricky programming with DSP and PSG.

Just wait for some more weeks to to complete the design.

Thank you

Ian Kim