AX370 modifications | MSX Resource Center (Page 2/4)

Enlighted (4467)

12-05-2022, 16:14

AX370 has multivoltage power supply (at least the one that is in Wiki, check the plate underneath the computer), whether it is PAL or NTSC is not documented. Either way most TVs in Europe accept NTSC input over composite and the machine has RGB output which is even better in quality (as it does not use PAL or NTSC encoding).

By wbahnassi

Master (215)

12-05-2022, 17:27

It's a PAL MSX2 with multivoltage PSU. No need to select voltage manually like the AX170. it has RF/Composite and RGB connectors. But you will get a 50hz scanout unless you force it to 60hz (Carnivore2 can do that).
The VDP is MSX2+ compatible (can run F1-Spirit 3D). Though I don't think it has MSX MUSIC or MSX AUDIO.

My only gripe with the AX370 is that the keyboard cannot handle certain important key combos. For example, Press right+up+space bar. The space bar doesn't register. So effectively you can't shoot in Salamander or Nemesis while moving the ship diagonally. I wonder if there was a way to fix this...

By sdsnatcher73

Enlighted (4467)

12-05-2022, 18:33

wbahnassi wrote:

It's a PAL MSX2 with multivoltage PSU. No need to select voltage manually like the AX170. it has RF/Composite and RGB connectors. But you will get a 50hz scanout unless you force it to 60hz (Carnivore2 can do that).
The VDP is MSX2+ compatible (can run F1-Spirit 3D). Though I don't think it has MSX MUSIC or MSX AUDIO.

My only gripe with the AX370 is that the keyboard cannot handle certain important key combos. For example, Press right+up+space bar. The space bar doesn't register. So effectively you can't shoot in Salamander or Nemesis while moving the ship diagonally. I wonder if there was a way to fix this...

That is weird, it has the same keyboard as many Sanyo built machine (PHC-23, PHC-35, PHC-70FD, NMS8250). Maybe there is an issue in the BIOS of the machine?

By Mudammir

Supporter (16)

14-05-2022, 23:30

sdsnatcher73 wrote:

AX370 has multivoltage power supply (at least the one that is in Wiki, check the plate underneath the computer), whether it is PAL or NTSC is not documented. Either way most TVs in Europe accept NTSC input over composite and the machine has RGB output which is even better in quality (as it does not use PAL or NTSC encoding).

Ah thanks for the info, I will pick one of those cables up. I was just thinking of using the normal composite output!

By Mudammir

Supporter (16)

14-05-2022, 23:35

wbahnassi wrote:

It's a PAL MSX2 with multivoltage PSU. No need to select voltage manually like the AX170. it has RF/Composite and RGB connectors. But you will get a 50hz scanout unless you force it to 60hz (Carnivore2 can do that).

Good to hear makes it easier. I was also thinking of picking up a Carnivore 2 but they seem to be out of stock everywhere. Any suggestions as to where I can pick one up in Germany? I saw the following Cartridge from Spain, but I don't know if it is legit or not. ( I jsut realised that it is now also out of stock :( )

By wbahnassi

Master (215)

16-05-2022, 16:18

sdsnatcher73 wrote:

That is weird, it has the same keyboard as many Sanyo built machine (PHC-23, PHC-35, PHC-70FD, NMS8250). Maybe there is an issue in the BIOS of the machine?

In that case I wonder if any of the OPs of this thread managed to replace the bios of the AX370, and whether that led to the key combo working again (diagonal direction + space).

By hamlet

Scribe (4113)

16-05-2022, 21:19

My PHC-70FD also didn't pass the Nemesis test. Although my PHC-35 does.

By sdsnatcher73

Enlighted (4467)

16-05-2022, 22:02

Hmm, PHC-70FD is the basis for the AX370. But I doubt it’s the BIOS in that case. Maybe the way the keyboard is connected to the engine? Or the MSX engine revisions may come into play. All these machines have T9769 engine, of the 70FD we know there are machines with A and B revisions ot that engine. According to the Wiki the AX370 has B revision (but we may not have all data). Maybe there was an issue in one of these revisions. Or there was a design flaw on the 70FD mainboard.

I will test my PHC-35J, PHC-70FD, FS-A1FM, FS-A1FX, FS-A1WSX and FS-A1ST (all have some revision of this engine). Let’s see if there is some pattern…

By wbahnassi

Master (215)

16-05-2022, 22:49

Interested in what you'll find sdsnatcher.

By Mudammir

Supporter (16)

17-05-2022, 00:33

sdsnatcher73 wrote:

the machine has RGB output which is even better in quality (as it does not use PAL or NTSC encoding).

Do you by any chance know if it is type 8A or 8B? I want to buy the cable but I don't want to get the wrong pinout and mess something up