{"id":22021,"date":"2024-07-18T20:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-07-18T18:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.jungsi.de\/?p=22021"},"modified":"2026-03-13T12:55:23","modified_gmt":"2026-03-13T11:55:23","slug":"carnivore-2-msx","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.jungsi.de\/en\/carnivore-2-msx\/","title":{"rendered":"Carnivore 2"},"content":{"rendered":"

MSX<\/em> computers are definitely not my area of expertise, and so far I haven't had any special add-ons for these computers, apart from the simple Beer IDE<\/em>. However, some time ago I received an add-on for my MSX2<\/em> computer that enjoys an excellent reputation and is only produced in limited quantities.
Originally, I planned to just introduce the Carnivore 2<\/em> cartridge, but the report turned out to be a bit more extensive because I came across some terms that I would like to explain in more detail in the context of MSX<\/em> computers and this cartridge.\n\nTranslated with DeepL.com (free version)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Carnivore 2<\/em> is a multifunctional cartridge developed by the Russian Bear Service Crew<\/em> (RBSC) group. 8bits4ever<\/em>, based in Spain, distributes the device commercially in small series. The cartridge costs around \u20ac120. My version of the circuit board does not have an audio connection (3.5 mm jack). This is not essential for it to function as an FM-PAK<\/em> audio cartridge, but it is recommended for improved sound quality. When the cartridge is used with a game, it integrates the sound into the normal audio signal for output. The optional jack ensures a better quality result. Since it was unclear whether retrofitting my older card would be possible, I inquired at various places. Finally, even the head of the development group personally confirmed that this is possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Description of hardware
\u2013 EP2C5Q208C8 Altera CYCLONE II FPGA
\u2013 MSX Music
\u2013 SCC\/SCC+
\u2013 Extra PSG
\u2013 8 MB flash ROM
\u2013 Nextor and FM-BASIC ROMs on-board
\u2013 One Compact Flash socket
\u2013 2048 KB RAM on board<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Specifications
\u2013 Compact Flash as mass storage (MSX-DOS1\/2, FAT12\/16)
\u2013 1024 KB memory mapper
\u2013 720 KB pseudo-MegaRAM
\u2013 SCC\/SCC+ and FM-PAC (with backup RAM support)
\u2013 Works with MSX1, MSX2, MSX2+ and TurboR
\u2013 Own software utility for managing all functions, ROM loader in Flash ROM, switching multiple functions on and off, etc.<\/p>\n\n\n

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Preparation<\/strong>
First, here is the long version of the instructions on how to prepare the CF card.
Points 1-5 may not be necessary, but I have listed them anyway for the sake of completeness.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Use a low-level formatting tool (e.g., Hddguru.com) to completely \u201czero\u201d the CF card. 2. Use the Windows 7 Disk Manager to completely format the CF card (FAT16). 3. Use the Windows 7 Disk Manager to partition the CF card into one large partition. 4. Download the Nextor archive<\/a>.
5. Extract all data from the ZIP file and copy it to the root directory of the CF card.
6. Boot the CF card in the Carnivore 2 and the MSX2
7. Press RETURN in the Carnivore boot menu and hold DEL for Nextor DOS
8. Enter BASIC for Nextor BASIC
9. Enter CALL FDISK
10. Enter \u201c1\u201d for Sunrise IDE driver
11. Enter \u201c1\u201d for hard disk
12. Enter \u201c1\u201d for the first (and only) unit
13. Enter \u2018D\u2019 to delete the existing partitions (yes, this also includes files that have already been added)
14. Enter \u201cP\u201d to add a new partition. A few partitions with 50 MB should suffice. \u201cS\u201d displays everything that has been created
15. ESC to return to the main menu.
16. \u201cW\u201d to write the partitions
17. Turn off the MSX2 and connect the CF card to a Windows 7 computer. The partitions created with Nextor should now be visible
18. Copy the same files as before to the root directory of the first partition
19. Add the files C2MAN.COM and C2MAN40.COM (for MSX1) to the root directory as well \u2013 these can be found on the Carnivore Github page<\/a>
20 Insert the CF card back into the MSX and start the Carnivore 2 boot menu
21. Press RETURN again and hold DEL for Nextor DOS
22. C2MAN command
23. Enter 10 for slot 1
24. C2MAN utility menu started
25. ROMs can then be loaded from the CF card. The RCP files (also on the above-mentioned Github page) and the names of the ROMs can also be adjusted to match the RCP names.
Another option is the SofaRUN software. This works with ROM and disk images. Nothing needs to be flashed here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

These instructions may be a little exaggerated. If you are using a CF card with up to 4GB, it should be easier to do.
1. Format the CF card with FAT16 on your PC.
2. Unzip the Nextor archive mentioned above and the two files from the Carnivore Github page and copy them to the CF card.
3. Insert the CF card into the computer and turn it on. 4. Press ESC \u2013 if everything is OK, NEXTOR should now boot and the files on the CF card should be visible. Note: this only worked after I formatted the CF card with SD Formatter \u2013 apparently Windows does not write an allocation table to the boot sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Write games to the Carnivore's ROM:
C2MAN aleste.rom \/a<\/p>\n\n\n

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Nextor<\/strong>
Nextor is a hard disk operating system for MSX computers. It is an improved version of MSX-DOS, with which it is 100% compatible, and it identifies itself as MSX-DOS 2.31 for MSX-DOS-compatible applications.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The main features that Nextor adds to MSX-DOS are:
\u2013 Native support for the FAT16 file system
\u2013 Nextor can handle the FAT16 file system, increasing the maximum size of usable file systems to 4 GB. The system can also boot from a FAT16 file system
\u2013 New, fully documented device driver system
\u2013 Device and partition management for drive mapping

Easy partitioning<\/em>
The BASIC command CALL FDISK can be used to create partitions on any device controlled by a NEXTOR driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Embedded MSX-DOS 1 kernel<\/em>
The computer will start in MSX-DOS 1 mode if no RAM is assigned to the computer.
To do this, press the \u201c1\u201d key at startup or if an MSX-DOS 1 boot sector is found in the boot device. Partitions up to 16 MB in size can be used on any device controlled by a Nextor driver.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Works on MSX 1<\/em>
Nextor works on all MSX computers, including MSX1. Of course, dedicated memory is required for normal operation, but even without an MSX1 computer, Nextor can be used in MSX-DOS 1 mode.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Support for disk image files<\/em>
Starting with version 2.1, Nextor can mount disk image files in drive letters, making it easy to manage their contents. It is also possible to boot in disk emulation mode, where disk image files are used as storage devices. This allows you to play old hard disk games that only work in MSX-DOS 1 mode and\/or load data with direct sector access (there is no file system on the game hard disks).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Explanations<\/em>
MSX Basic 2.0: Microsoft Basic for MSX2 computers (my VG-8235: Version 2.1)
MSX DOS: Disk Operating System for MSX computers, which either requires an extra cartridge with the BIOS and a boot disk or, in the case of MSX2 computers, simply the boot disk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Mega ROM\/Mega ROM Mapper<\/strong>
A MegaROM is a cartridge that contains more ROM than the 64 KiB that can be accessed via an MSX slot (sub-slot). To achieve this, the ROM is divided into blocks (usually 8 or 16 KiB) that are assigned to different address ranges within the MSX slot. Blocks can be switched by writing to some special addresses in the slot where the cartridge is located.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A related term is \u201cROM mapper.\u201d This usually refers to the mechanism used to swap blocks, as seen from the programmer's perspective. \u201cMegaROM\u201d usually refers to a cartridge that contains such a mechanism.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

With a few exceptions, ROM cartridges are size 2. Common MegaROM sizes are 1 Mbit (128 KiB) or 2 Mbit (256 KiB). However, there are also 4 Mbit (512 KiB) and even some larger MegaROMs. MegaROMs usually have a \u201cMegaROM\u201d symbol on the label of the cartridge and\/or the packaging.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are different types of ROM mappers. Some of the most common are:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ASCII 8 KiB
ASCII 16 KiB
Konami without SCC
Konami with SCC
A special type of MegaROM is Konami's Sound Custom Chip (SCC). In addition to a ROM mapper, it also contains a sound chip. The SCC chip produces a characteristic sound that is very popular with MSX users.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some MegaROM cartridges contain battery-backed RAM. This RAM can be used, for example, to save game scores. Hydlide II is one example of this.<\/p>\n\n\n\n