Note:

I now have firmware in beta which gives TMSEMU2 an 80-column colour terminal mode with ANSI code support as well as TMS emulation; both with HDMI/DVI out and USB keyboard input. These modes are switchable automatically (or manually with bodged-on buttons). At this point you will need to ask for this beta firmware if you want to try it but it will hopefully soon become standard

What is it?

This is an alternative to the TMS9918A video module with a sharp and vibrant picture via HDMI (technically DVI), serial functionality and now USB keyboard input. There is a growing library of demos and games for the RC2014 + TMS (and sometimes + AY) combo. There is also MSX8 which allows loading of MSX roms. I've designed my own mcu board (dubbed Dr.VIP - an anagram of RP DVI) because I wanted something that resembled a DIP40 chip and I needed more GPIO exposed plus the HDMI socket on-board.

Fully assembled and tested. Plug and play.

Why did you make it?

For me, a video module is a game-changer for the RC2014 and compatible computers. I've done a lot of work with the TMS chip on RC2014 and my MSX2014 project. I love it, it's very powerful for its time, with 40-col text mode, tile mode, bitmap mode and full colour (lores) mode. However, the real TMS9918A chip as used in J B Langston's module has composite output which is, well, composite. I thought I could make an alternative with the same functionality plus convenient HDMI out and a nice sharp vibrant picture.

What makes it special?

• very sharp and vibrant picture.
• convenient HDMI output
• serial output display
• USB keyboard input
• choice of port configurations

Things to note

See the note above about the new beta firmware. The standard firmware (supplied at present) does have limited serial functionality. It uses the 40-col text mode to allow the computer to be used standalone from startup and gets over the need for a separate terminal to communicate with the computer and start programs that makes use of the graphic functionality. (the video below demonstrates this).

It does provide:

• all documented screen modes; text, tile, bitmap and multicolour modes
• 255 x 192 pixel display plus a coloured border as per the real chip
• sprites as documented - 32 x single-colour sprites with size and magnification options
• 16k of VRAM (additional to your computer's ram) with the ability to read and write VRAM via hardware ports
• status byte is readable, and provides software with the 'frame' bit which is often used for timing / vblank signal, and the sprite collision bit which some MSX games use.
• interrupt signal as per the TMS chip
• a single jumper to easily switch between ports 98/99 (MSX - recommended unless using 32k classic system) and 08/09 (Tatung Einstein - recommended for 32k classic system)
• if you're into programming, J B Langston's excellent library provides a great API for asm, C and basic.

It adds:

• optional display of the serial output of the computer and USB keyboard input. On startup the module is pre-configured with a memory map and character set and it's in 40-column textmode.
• no limitation on the number of sprites that can appear on a scanline.

It doesn't provide:

• 'fifth sprite' information. The fifth sprite information is less important because this module doesn't have the 'four sprites per scanline' limitation.
• video input. This has never been a goal for this project.

Supported systems:

• RC2014 'Pro' running CP/M. My repository has a growing library of software built and ready to run on this computer.
• RC2014 'Zed Pro' running ROMWBW - tested and no problems seen
• RC2014 32k configuration (Classic). My repository has a growing library of software built and ready to run on this computer. Most of the software I provide built for this system runs perfectly. I have seen issues with certain software and I'm still looking into this.
• RC2014 Mini with or without CP/M upgrade.

Unsupported systems:

• Z180 systems - entirely untested