Toshiba HX-10

The Toshiba HX-10 was an MSX1 home computer sold in Japanese and international versions. It combined standard MSX graphics and sound with a colourful keyboard, cartridge slot and Toshiba expansion bus.

As one of Toshiba’s best-known MSX machines, the HX-10 helped carry the common MSX software platform into Europe and Japan while offering model-specific memory and video configurations.

Notable Features

• MSX1 compatibility
• Distinctive coloured cursor, STOP and GRAPH keys
• Toshiba expansion bus for a slot expander and peripherals

Historical Significance

• As one of Toshiba’s best-known MSX machines, the HX-10 helped carry the common MSX software platform into Europe and Japan while offering model-specific memory and video configurations.

Collector’s Notes

• Regional suffixes identify RAM, keyboard, video standard and printer-port differences; document the exact label rather than treating every HX-10 as identical.
• Memory, storage, displays and expansion hardware should be documented because configurations often changed during a system’s working life.

Specifications

Technical Information
Name	Toshiba HX-10
Manufacturer	Toshiba
Launched	Saturday, January 1, 1983
Launch Price	£279 in the United Kingdom
Country	Japan
CPU	Sharp LH0080A / Zilog Z80A compatible
Units Sold
Form Factor	Keyboard console
Power	External power supply
Networking	None built in
Operating System	MSX BASIC
Expansion / I/O	One cartridge slot, expansion bus, two joystick ports, cassette and model-dependent printer port
Keyboard	Integrated QWERTY or JIS keyboard
Storage	Cartridge and cassette; optional floppy disk
Sound	AY-3-8910A three-voice PSG plus noise
Colours	16
Graphics	TMS9918A/9928A/9929A: 256 x 192 pixels with sprites
Display	RF, composite or RGB depending on version
ROM	32 KB MSX BIOS and BASIC
RAM	16 KB on early Japanese models or 64 KB on most international models
CPU Speed	3.58 MHz