# Best MSX emulator: openMSX, the Gold Cartridge pick

Page: https://whichemulator.wtf/msx/ · Reference: WEM-MSX-MJ63

The Ask API at `GET https://whichemulator.wtf/ask` answers questions from the same data as this page, and it is the only place the setup steps are published. It takes `q` (the question, 3 to 500 characters) and an optional `page` (a local path such as `/msx/`). It returns JSON `{answer, consoles, sources, follow_ups}`, or Markdown when the request sends `Accept: text/markdown`. No key; 30 requests a minute per IP. Guide: https://whichemulator.wtf/skill.md

MSX home computer standard, Various (MSX standard), 1983. Sony, Panasonic, Philips and others.

## Recommended: openMSX

whichemulator.wtf calls its recommendation for each system the Gold Cartridge pick. For the MSX, the Gold Cartridge pick is openMSX.

The most accurate MSX emulator and the one still being worked on. It covers MSX1 through turbo R, more than 200 real machines from different makers, and the sound cartridges games used, such as Konami's SCC and FM-PAC. It ships with C-BIOS, so cartridge games run without any system ROMs. Recent versions have a built-in menu for choosing a machine and inserting media, so you no longer need the old Catapult launcher.

Runs on Windows · Mac · Linux. Open source. Download: https://openmsx.org/

**C-BIOS:** openMSX includes C-BIOS, a free replacement BIOS written from scratch. It runs most MSX1, MSX2 and MSX2+ cartridge games, but has no MSX-BASIC or disk support, so tape and disk games need a real machine's system ROMs. Dump those from your own hardware.

## Alternatives

- [WebMSX](https://webmsx.org/) (see notes, closed source): Runs in the browser, including on phones and tablets, and loads cartridges, disks and tapes with no setup. The source is public on GitHub but carries no licence, so it isn't open source.
- [blueMSX](https://bluemsx.com/) (Windows, open source): Was the friendly Windows choice for years. Superseded: the last full release, 2.8.2, came out in 2009. It lives on as a RetroArch core.
- [fMSX](https://fms.komkon.org/fMSX/) (Windows · Linux · Android, closed source): Small and old, with official Windows, Ubuntu and Android builds. The source is free for non-commercial use only, so it isn't open source. Needs real system ROMs.

## RetroArch cores

- blueMSX: The better core. Needs the Machines and Databases folders from the blueMSX package in your system folder; its C-BIOS machines run cartridge games without system ROMs.
- fMSX: Lighter, but needs MSX.ROM and the other system ROMs. Non-commercial licence.

Fine for cartridges. Use openMSX for disk games and turbo R.

## Hardware

- Video: TI TMS9918
- Colours: 15 + transparent
- Resolution: 256×192
- Sound: GI AY-3-8910 (PSG)
- Media: Cartridge, cassette, floppy
- Later: MSX2 1985, MSX2+ 1988, turbo R 1990

## Notes

### One standard, many machines

MSX wasn't a single computer. Microsoft and ASCII published a specification in 1983 and companies such as Sony, Panasonic, Philips, Yamaha and Sanyo built their own machines to it, so a cartridge from one maker runs on another's. It sold best in Japan, the Netherlands, Spain and Brazil, and Konami did some of its best 8-bit work on it.

That is why openMSX asks you to pick a machine. For most games a generic MSX2 is the safe choice, since it runs MSX1 software too. Only switch to an MSX2+ or turbo R when a game asks for one.

### C-BIOS or real ROMs

C-BIOS is enough for most cartridge games, and most of the best-known MSX games came on cartridge. It can't run tape or disk software, because it has no BASIC and no disk support. For those, set up a real machine in openMSX using system ROMs dumped from your own hardware.

### Why not blueMSX

blueMSX was easier on Windows for a long time, but it hasn't had a release since 2009 and was never ported to macOS or Linux. openMSX has caught up on usability with its built-in menus and is ahead on accuracy.

## Support the developers

- [Star openMSX on GitHub](https://github.com/openMSX/openMSX)

## Questions the Ask API answers

- [Which MSX emulator should I use on Android?](https://whichemulator.wtf/ask?q=Which+MSX+emulator+should+I+use+on+Android%3F&page=%2Fmsx%2F&via=page)
- [Which RetroArch core should I use for the MSX?](https://whichemulator.wtf/ask?q=Which+RetroArch+core+should+I+use+for+the+MSX%3F&page=%2Fmsx%2F&via=page)
- [Does MSX emulation need a BIOS?](https://whichemulator.wtf/ask?q=Does+MSX+emulation+need+a+BIOS%3F&page=%2Fmsx%2F&via=page)