---
title: Spectravideo SVI 738 - X'press
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- Hong Kong
years:
- '1986'
cpus:
- Zilog Z80A
params:
  name: SVI 738 - X'press
  image: /media/museum/photos/spectravideo_738_1.jpg
  company: /companies/spectravideo
  company_name: Spectravideo
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: SVI 738 - X'press
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Spectravideo
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Hong Kong
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1986'
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: MSX Basic (Microsoft Extended)
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full-stroke keyboard
  - label: CPU
    value: Zilog Z80A
  - label: SPEED
    value: 3.58 MHz
  - label: RAM
    value: 64 KB (up to 144 KB)
  - label: VRAM
    value: 16 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 64 KB (32 KB BIOS/Basic, 16 KB RS232 BIOS, 16 KB DISK ROM)
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 40 x 24 / 32 x 24 / 80 x 24 (only for MSXDOS)
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 256 x 192 / 64 x 48 dots
  - label: COLORS
    value: '256'
  - label: SOUND
    value: AY-3-8910 chipset, three channels, 8 octaves
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Joystick (2), ROM Cardridge, Tape recorder, Monitor, Centronics, Expansion port, Mono sound output, Keyboard, Floppy, RS232
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: Internal 3.5'' disk drive
  - label: OS
    value: MSX DOS or CP/M
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: External power supply unit
  - label: PRICE
    value: £400
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  - software
  - links
  forum_thread: 276
  photos:
  - title: SVI-730 X'PRESS
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/spectravideo_svi738xpress_2.jpg
  - title: DISK-DRIVE CLOSE-UP
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/spectravideo_738_diskdrive_1.jpg
  adverts:
  - title: U.K. AD (AUG. 1986)
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/pubs/svi_xpress738_pub_1.jpg
  screenshots:
  - title: BOOT-UP SCREEN
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/spectravideo_738_ss_1.jpg
  - title: CP/M BOOT SCREEN
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/spectravideo_738_ss_2.jpg
  links:
  - title: Memory upgrade from MSX1 to MSX2
    url: http://8bit.yarek.pl/upgrade/svi.msx2/
    text: ''
  oc_id: 266
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230609190800/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=266
    date: '2023-06-09'
---

This computer was a [MSX 1](/museum/msx-1/) computer equipped with V9938 Video chip, which was quite unusual. It was probably meant to become an MSX 2, thus first versions were prepared to hold a CLOCK-IC chip. Thanks to its V9938 it could display 80-column text.

It was called SPECTRAVIDEO XPRESS because it was delivered with a bag to easily carry it around in. The XPRESS designation was also used in a [MSX 2](/museum/msx-2/) and PC hybrid (X'PRESS 16, for 16-bits) SPECTRAVIDEO computers. This machine is in fact pretty much a "MSX 1.5". Converting it into an MSX2 machine is not difficult at all and as a result many MSX hobbyists have done it. For example in Finland, when it came out many people converted it simply because there were no MSX2 machines widely available in the country. The main selling point was the ability to show 80-column text even on normal TV's without problems, you just had to adjust the colors a bit. It was also very well priced and had much better specs than the other machines in it's price range.

But the SVI 738 also has many quality problems like all SVI machines. The keyboard is just as bad as in the 328 and 728 computers. The original disk drive is noisy, unreliable and only single sided. The screw holes are not in standard locations, but other ways it can be replaced with standard DD disk drive. The first versions of disk ROM could not format 720KB "PC-disks" but reading works. Almost all MSX2 and up computers had internal disk drive, and it’s also possible to use external disk controllers with this machine. Disk expansion port for external drive has however nonstandard DB25 connector, just as the RS-232 connector (DB9 female).

The machine also suffers from the same problems (won't work at all or bad sound) as the earlier 728 model with Konami's SCC-sound chip games.

\_\_\_

Contributors : Taneli Lukka, Nyyrikki