{"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. mit einem Low-Level Formatierungstool (z.B. Hddguru.com), um die CF-Karte komplett zu “nullen”
2. mit dem Windows 7 Diskmanager die CF-Karte komplett formatieren (FAT16)
3. mit dem Disk-Manager von Windows 7 die CF-Karte in eine gro\u00dfe Partition partitionieren
4. das Nextor-Archiv<\/a> herunterladen
5. alle Daten aus der ZIP-Datei entpacken und in das Root-Verzeichnis der CF-Karte kopieren
6. CF-Karte in die Carnivore 2 und den MSX2 booten
7. im Carnivore Boot-Men\u00fc RETURN dr\u00fccken und DEL halten f\u00fcr das Nextor DOS
8. BASIC eingeben f\u00fcr Nextor BASIC
9. CALL FDISK eingeben
10. “1” f\u00fcr Sunrise IDE Treiber eingeben
11. “1” f\u00fcr Festplatte eingeben
12. “1” f\u00fcr die erste (und einzige) Einheit
13. “D” zum L\u00f6schen der existierenden Partitionen (ja, das schlie\u00dft auch Dateien ein, die bereits hinzugef\u00fcgt wurden)
14. “P” um eine neue Partition hinzuf\u00fcgen. Einige Partitionen mit 50 MB sollten reichen. “S” zeigt alles an, was erstellt wurde
15. ESC zum Hauptmen\u00fc.
16. “W” um die Partitionen zu schreiben
17. MSX2 abschalten und CF-Karte mit Windows 7 Rechner verbinden. Die Partitionen, die mit Nextor erstellt wurden, sollten nun zu sehen sein
18. die gleichen Dateien wie vorher in das Root-Verzeichnis der ersten Partition kopieren
19. dazu kommen noch die Dateien C2MAN.COM und C2MAN40.COM (f\u00fcr MSX1) ebenfalls ins Root-Verzeichnis – zu finden auf der Carnivore-Github-Seite<\/a>
20 CF-Karte wieder in den MSX und das Carnivore 2 Boot-Men\u00fc starten
21. wieder RETURN dr\u00fccken und DEL halten f\u00fcr das Nextor DOS
22. C2MAN Befehl
23. 10 eingeben f\u00fcr Slot 1
24. C2MAN Utility Men\u00fc gestartet
25. Danach k\u00f6nnen ROMs von der CF-Karte geladen werden. Ebenso die RCP-Dateien (auch auf der o.a. Github-Seite) und die Namen der ROMs so angepasst, dass sie den RCP-Namen entsprechen.
Eine andere M\u00f6glichkeit ist die Software SofaRUN. Diese arbeitet mit ROM- und Disketten-Images. Hier muss nichts geflasht werden.<\/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

Eingebetteter MSX-DOS 1-Kernel<\/em>
Der Rechner wird im MSX-DOS 1-Modus gestartet, wenn dem Computer kein RAM zugeordnet ist.
Dazu muss beim Start die Taste “1” gedr\u00fcckt werden oder wenn im Bootger\u00e4t ein MSX-DOS 1-Bootsektor gefunden wird. Es k\u00f6nnen Partitionen mit einer Gr\u00f6\u00dfe von bis zu 16 MB auf jedem Ger\u00e4t verwenden werden, das von einem Nextor-Treiber gesteuert wird.<\/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

Ein verwandter Begriff ist “ROM-Mapper”. Dies bezieht sich normalerweise auf den Mechanismus, der zum Wechseln von Bl\u00f6cken verwendet wird, wie vom Programmierer aus gesehen. “MegaROM” bezieht sich normalerweise auf eine Cartridge, die einen solchen Mechanismus enth\u00e4lt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Abgesehen von wenigen Ausnahmen haben ROM-Kassetten eine 2er-Gr\u00f6\u00dfe. \u00dcbliche MegaROM-Gr\u00f6\u00dfen sind 1 Mbit (128 KiB) oder 2 Mbit (256 KiB). Es existieren jedoch auch 4 Mbit (512 KiB) und sogar einige gr\u00f6\u00dfere MegaROMs. MegaROMs haben normalerweise ein “MegaROM”-Symbol auf dem Etikett der Cartridge und\/oder der Verpackung.<\/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