Contents |
Description
Spectravideo was a American company that was selling MSX computers in many countries.
The SVI-728 was one of the most popular MSX1 models in many countries. Looks almost identical to its predecessor, the pre-MSX SVI-328. The main chips also are same but its architecture is very different from MSX.
The power supply is external and a little bit big.
It was available in 5 versions to support different QWERTY keyboards :
- International
- Arabic
- Danish/Norwegian
- Spanish
- Swedish/Finnish
The Arabic version (MSX عرب) includes an additional ROM, produced by Micro-Cat, allowing to use MSX-BASIC in the Arabic language.
This computer was sold with a demo tape.
| Brand | Spectravideo |
| Model | SVI-728 |
| Year | 1984 (Arabic version : 1987) |
| Region | Europe, Middle East |
| Launch price | BE: 18.990 BF (imported by Electronics Belgium NV) DE: 998 DM (imported by Jöllenbeck GmbH) ES: 67,500 Pts FI: 2780 FIM (Imported by Teknopiste Oy) FR: 3500 FF (imported by Serepe) NL: ƒ1189 (imported by Electronics Nederland bv) UK: £250 |
| RAM | 64kB in slot 1 |
| VRAM | 16kB |
| Media | MSX cartridges |
| Video | Texas Instruments TMS9928A or TMS9929A |
| Audio | PSG (AY-3-8910) |
| Chipset | none (separate IC's) |
| Keyboard layout | (Non-Arabic) QWERTY with variations + numeric keypad (Arabic) QWERTY/Arabic + numeric keypad |
| Extras | demo cassette |
| Emulation | The International, Spanish and Swedish/Finnish versions have been dumped and emulated ("SVI-728", "SVI-728 ES" and "SVI-728 SE" respectively). The rear expansion port is treated like a regular MSX expansion slot. For other regional versions a ROM dump is needed. See this thread for details. Note that the Arabic ROM has already been dumped. |
Pictures
Specifications
The SVI-728 is a MSX1 with a numeric keypad (rare for a MSX1). The CPU is a Z80A from SGS (Z8400AB1).
Spectravideo also sold a 320kB floppy disk drive (the SVI-707) which connects directly to the expansion bus port on the back of the SVI-728. This expansion bus port is effectively an MSX cartridge slot, but with a different connector.
The SVI-318 and SVI-328 use the same power supply.
Slot Map for all models except the Arabic model
| Slot 0 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Page C000h~FFFFh | Main-ROM Mirror | 64kB RAM | Cartridge Slot | Expansion Bus | |||
| Page 8000h~BFFFh | |||||||
| Page 4000h~7FFFh | Main-ROM | ||||||
| Page 0000h~3FFFh |
- The Main-ROM in Slot 0 is mirrored to 8000-FFFF
Slot Map for the Arabic model
| Slot 0 | Slot 1 | Slot 2 | Slot 3 | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Page C000h~FFFFh | 64kB RAM | Cartridge Slot | Expansion Bus | ||||
| Page 8000h~BFFFh | Arabic ROM | ||||||
| Page 4000h~7FFFh | Main-ROM | ||||||
| Bank 0000h~3FFFh |
Connections
- RF output
- Analog sound & Composite video
- Data Recorder connector
- Centronics compatible Parallel port for a printer
- 2 general connectors (Joysticks, Mouse, Paddle controlers, etc)
- 1 cartridge slot
- One expansion bus (standard 50 pin)
- Power plug male for main power supply
Special features
You can select an alternative color palette with the command VDP(0)=VDP(0)OR1
| Color number | Standard color | Alternative color |
|---|---|---|
| 0 | Transparent | Very dark brown |
| 1 | Black | Black |
| 2 | Medium green | Light brown |
| 3 | Light green | Very light brown |
| 4 | Dark blue | Dark blue |
| 5 | Light blue | Blueish grey |
| 6 | Dark red | Green |
| 7 | Cyan | Light red |
| 8 | Medium red | Green |
| 9 | Light red | Light green |
| 10 | Dark yellow | Yellowish green |
| 11 | Light yellow | Light yellowish green |
| 12 | Dark green | Brown |
| 13 | Magenta | Gray |
| 14 | Gray | Light gray |
| 15 | White | White |
