8235 External FDD slot + Gotek Floppy drive?

Rookie (25)

26-11-2019, 12:43

So, I just learned about the Gotek floppy drive emulators and did some google searching and forum searching here. But i can't seem to find a conclusive awnser to my question...can you hook up a Gotek floppy drive to the external fdd slot of a 8235 and if so...how? Would a need a special cable or a normal pc flopppy drive cable and how do i power it

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Par Wild_Penguin

Hero (644)

30-11-2019, 17:28

Hi CyberMaid,

It is almost certainly possible you can use an emulator via that connector somehow, but you might need an adapter (which will involve some DIY...).

I'd try to look up the pinout of that connector. Changes are it is just a regular floppy connector, with just /DS1 connected (no /DS0), but definitely makes sense to test first. It could also be totally proprietary, as an external disk drive connector is not included in the MSX standard and they could have meant to use only their own floppy drives (which are probably internally still Shugart compatible, though - but vendors tried to lock in even back in the 80s). It could contain, for example, power pins. If it has GND at every odd pins and it is a 34pin connector, changes are high it is just a standard Shugart connector - in which case, you are in luck.

Look at the Wiki https://www.msx.org/wiki/Philips_VG-8235 - and there service manual. Chances are the information is in a more user friendly format in the user manual (sometimes back in 80s they actually useful information in those, but just sometimes), but couldn't find one online.

Par AxelF

Champion (398)

30-11-2019, 19:07

Yes, it is possible. See the following video on Youtube
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qcuEcOUD8CA (@5:15 2nd disk is prepared)

I'm not shure the PSU can handle a 2nd Drive/Gotek, you only need 5v.

Par meits

Scribe (6571)

01-12-2019, 13:26

The plate on the backside says 28Watt. That PSU will laugh at a second diskdrive.

Par CASDuino

Champion (356)

01-12-2019, 22:36

With the 8235 only able to accept 360k disks you may need to do some modifications so that you will be able to get the full benefit of the gotek. I have one installed internally and that needed an updated ROM and some soldering.

Par meits

Scribe (6571)

01-12-2019, 23:38

I remember somewhere on this forum it was being discussed connecting a double sided drive to the external connector would work. I can't check it anymore because I just finished the double sided mod last week. It's no rocket science. I did a 8235/00. two trace cuts, two air wires and a socketed eprom swap. Having a drive cable adapter off Omega works a charm.

Par CyberMaid

Rookie (25)

02-12-2019, 16:07

With the current replies I am assuming i'm asking something that hasn't been done before I thought everything would have been done by now I guess I will have to experiment on my own for a bit. I will post my findings when I get to it Thanks guys!

Par st1mpy

Paladin (945)

02-12-2019, 16:56

Have you seen the Pc drive kit ?

Par meits

Scribe (6571)

02-12-2019, 17:32

st1mpy wrote:

Have you seen the Pc drive kit ?

He might, because I linked this: Having a drive cable adapter off Omega works a charm.
This adapter do support modern drives. They need to be modded for use on MSX. Therefore the name of the item in ebsoft's shop is a bit misleading. Just ordering any drive from a retail shop with "modern" computers in mind is not gonna work just like that with those adapters.
For a gotek device it's not an issue. But then again, he wants to connect it to the B: drive connector which is a standard connector. No adapter needed for that :)

Par st1mpy

Paladin (945)

02-12-2019, 21:27

How useful is a second drive anyway, I never had a 2 drive msx but, I guess games will need to be booted up from the 1st drive?

Par Poltergeist

Champion (280)

02-12-2019, 21:29

Meits wrote:

I remember somewhere on this forum it was being discussed connecting a double sided drive to the external connector would work.

Well, Maybe Louthrax can shed some light on this. The Yellow 8235 that went his way had a doublesided diskdrive connected to the external port (which was then led to the inside, to connect a doublesided diskdrive build in the computer). Only, I honestly don't remember if there was an other diskrom inserted. I don't know of Louthrax still has that machine...