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Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
2026-10-13 17:26:43 +02:00

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---
title: GRADIENTE Expert Plus
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- Brazil
years:
- '1989'
cpus:
- MSX Engine T7937A
params:
name: Expert Plus
image: /media/museum/photos/gradiente_expert-plus_1.jpg
company: /companies/gradiente
company_name: GRADIENTE
specs:
- label: NAME
value: Expert Plus
- label: MANUFACTURER
value: Gradiente
- label: TYPE
value: Home Computer
- label: ORIGIN
value: Brazil
- label: YEAR
value: '1989'
- label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
value: Microsoft Extended Basic (MSX Basic V1.0) + Demonstration software
- label: KEYBOARD
value: Full-stroke keyboard with numeric keypad, 5 function keys and 4 arrow keys
- label: CPU
value: MSX Engine T7937A (single chip gathering Z80, Video, I/O and audio functions)
- label: SPEED
value: 3.58 MHz
- label: RAM
value: 64 KB
- label: VRAM
value: 16 KB
- label: ROM
value: 32 KB BASIC/BIOS ( MSX BASIC V1.0) + ?? KB (demonstration software)
- label: TEXT MODES
value: |-
Mode 0 : 40 x 24\
Mode 1 : 32 x 24
- label: GRAPHIC MODES
value: |-
Mode 2 : 256 x 192 with 16 colors (Hires mode)\
Mode 3 : 64 x 48 with 16 colors (Multi colour mode)\
32 sprites
- label: COLORS
value: '16'
- label: SOUND
value: |-
General Instruments AY-3-8910 Programmable Sound Generator\
3 channels, 8 octaves
- label: I/O PORTS
value: 2 controller ports, 2 cardridge slots, Tape interface (1200/2400 bauds), RGB video output, Composite video output, TV RF output, Centronics interface, Audio output
- label: OS
value: MSX DOS
- label: POWER SUPPLY
value: Built-in PSU
- label: PRICE
value: Unknown
tabs:
- photos
- hardware
- emulators
- links
forum_thread: 788
photos:
- title: KEYBOARD CLOSE-UP
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/gradiente_expert-plus_closeup.jpg
- title: REAR
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/gradiente_expert-plus_rear.jpg
- title: EXPERT DD PLUS
subtitle: ''
text: This model has a built-in floppy disk drive.
image: /media/museum/photos/gradiente_expert-dd-plus_1.jpg
- title: EXPERT DD PLUS - DISK DRIVE
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/gradiente_expert-dd-plus_closeup.jpg
- title: THE BOX
subtitle: ''
text: ''
image: /media/museum/photos/gradiente_expertplus_box_1.jpg
hardware:
- title: NATIONAL CF-2131
subtitle: 16 KB RAM expansion
text: ''
image: /media/museum/hardware/national_cf2131_16k-cart.jpg
- title: CASIO OR-216 - 16 KB RAM EXPANSION
subtitle: Box
text: ''
image: /media/museum/hardware/casio_or216_16kbramexpansion_box.jpg
- title: PHILIPS RAM EXPANSION
subtitle: ''
text: |-
RAM expansion and LOGO language cartridges.
Thanks to Daniele from Italy
image: /media/museum/hardware/philips_vg8020_cartridges_s1.jpg
- title: MEGA RAM DISK 256
subtitle: from DDX (Brazil)
text: This is the famous Megaram cartridge made in Brzail, used to play all Konami cracked Megarom games.6401999243
image: /media/museum/hardware/msx_megaram256-ddx_1.jpg
- title: PANASONIC FS-IFA1 & FW-RSU1W
subtitle: Scanner/Printer interface
text: The FS-IFA1 is the printer/scanner interface (left on the picture) and the FW-RSU1W is the handheld scanner (right on the picture). These expansions are for MSX2 systems.
image: /media/museum/hardware/msx_fs-ifa1_fw-rsu1w.jpg
- title: SONY HBI-232
subtitle: RS232c cartridge
text: Used to connect serial printers.
image: /media/museum/hardware/sony_msx_rs232c-cartridge.jpg
- title: 'YAMAHA MOUSE #1'
subtitle: ''
text: |-
This mouse was compatible with all MSX systems. It connects to the first Joystick port.
Thanks to **www.zonadepruebas.com**
image: /media/museum/hardware/yamaha_mouse_s2.jpg
- title: 'YAMAHA MOUSE #2'
subtitle: ''
text: |-
Brand new!
Thanks to **www.zonadepruebas.com**
image: /media/museum/hardware/yamaha_mouse_s1.jpg
- title: PHILIPS VW0020
subtitle: 80-col dot-matrix printer
text: |-
This printer was a rebadged version of the Seikosha GP-500.\
It was a 80-column, 50 CPS model with a 7x5 dot matrix head.\
Commodore and Atari used same hardware basis for their MPS-801 and 1029 printers.
image: /media/museum/hardware/philips_vg8020_printervw0020_s1.jpg
- title: SANYO PHC-DR II
subtitle: Side
text: ''
image: /media/museum/hardware/sanyo_phc-drii_side_1.jpg
- title: SANYO PHC-DR II
subtitle: Front
text: ''
image: /media/museum/hardware/sanyo_phc-drii_front_1.jpg
- title: SANYO DR-202
subtitle: ''
text: The ADSS system allowed to quickly search a specific program in a cassette tape and load it. Seach time for a C60 cassette was less than 1 minute.
image: /media/museum/hardware/sanyo_phc28_dr202tapedrive_s1.jpg
- title: NATIONAL RQ-8030
subtitle: tape-recorder
text: ''
image: /media/museum/hardware/national_tape_rq8030.jpg
- title: BIT-CORDER
subtitle: ''
text: Cassete recorder dedicated to Hit-Bit MSX systems, though it could be used with any home computers.
image: /media/museum/hardware/sony_hb201_bitcorder_1.jpg
emulators:
- title: fMSX for MS DOS Homepage
url: http://www.komkon.org/~dekogel/fmsx.html
platform: MS DOS
text: ''
- title: BlueMSX
url: http://www.bluemsx.com/
platform: Windows
text: Excellent free MSX emulator
- title: BrMSX
url: http://www.lsi.usp.br/~ricardo/brmsx.htm
platform: Windows
text: A Bresilian MSX Emulator written in 100% assembler
- title: CompuJunk's MSX Emulator
url: http://ftp.castel.nl/msx/
platform: Windows
text: A MSX1 and MSX2 Emulator
- title: RuMSX
url: http://members.eunet.at/lexlechz/msx.html
platform: Windows
text: A MSX Emulator for Win95 and Win NT + Direct X
- title: fMSX for MAC OS Homepage
url: http://www.emulation.net/msx/index.html
platform: Apple
text: ''
- title: fMSX official Homepage
url: http://www.komkon.org/fms/fMSX
platform: Multiplatform
text: 'fMSX is a portable MSX emulator ported on : Amiga OS, Mac OS, MS DOS, OS/2, Sony Playstation, Risc OS, Towns OS, Unix / X, Win95 / NT, X68K.'
- title: openMSX - The MSX emulator that aims for perfection.
url: http://openmsx.sourceforge.net/
platform: Multiplatform
text: This new MSX emulator can reproduce, among many other MSX, MSX2and MSX2+ machines, both Panasonic Turbo-R models. Be sure to get the catapult frontend and the system roms from FUNET.
links:
- title: Baboo!
url: http://www.baboo.net/baboo.shtml
text: MSX dedicated Yahoo clone. Essential !
- title: FILE-HUNTER.COM
url: http://www.file-hunter.com/
text: Excellent! All MSX emulators, sources and utilities!
- title: FTP da MSXBr-L/MSX.Org.Br
url: http://www.caetano.eng.br/msxsoft/
text: Excellent brasilian software archive
- title: MOAI TECH
url: http://www.moai-tech.com/
text: Spanish/English website with interesting content
- title: MSX Hardware List
url: http://www.faq.msxnet.org/hardware.html
text: An impressive list of MSX hardware. The Bible !!!
- title: MSX in Brasil
url: http://www.alsoftware.com.br/adrianpage/index.php?page=msxbras
text: Nice page dealing with MSX sold in Brazil
- title: MSX Ressource Center
url: http://www.msx.org/
text: Essential site !
- title: Museu da Computação e Informática - MCI
url: http://www.mci.org.br/micro/outros/expert.html
text: Nice detailed Gradiente Expert page (Brasilian)
- title: Possi's Konami MSX Page
url: http://dynamo.geol.msu.ru/MSX/
text: Nice page dedicated to all Konami MSX games (roms, scans, mids, etc.)
- title: The MSX Games Box
url: http://www.msxgamesbox.com
text: All about MSX gaming (games, covers.etc.). More Fun, Less Mhz!
- title: The MSX Museum BOX
url: http://www.msxmuseumbox.com
text: More than 190 different MSX models in pictures.
- title: The ultimate MSX Faq
url: http://www.faq.msxnet.org
text: Here, you can find near all hardware pieces related to MSX.
- title: Web Wiz CAPTCHA
url: http://www.webwizcaptcha.com
text: The MSX home computer system
related:
- /museum/canon-v-10
- /museum/canon-v-20
- /museum/canon-v-8
- /museum/casio-mx-10-mx-101
- /museum/casio-pv-16
- /museum/casio-pv-7
- /museum/epcom-sharp-hotbit-hb-8000
- /museum/fujitsu-fm-x
- /museum/general-paxon-pct-50
- /museum/goldstar-fc-80-fc-200
- /museum/gradiente-expert-xp-800
- /museum/hitachi-ah-200
- /museum/hitachi-h1-h1e
- /museum/hitachi-h2
- /museum/mitsubishi-ml-f110-ml-f120
- /museum/mitsubishi-ml-f48-ml-f80
- /museum/mitsubishi-ml-fx1-fx2
- /museum/mitsubishi-ml-g10
- /museum/msx-1
- /museum/national-cf-2000
- /museum/national-cf-2700
- /museum/national-cf-3000
- /museum/national-fs-4000
- /museum/national-fs-4500
- /museum/olympia-phc-2
- /museum/panasonic-cf-2700
- /museum/philips-nms-801
- /museum/philips-vg-8000-8010
- /museum/philips-vg-8020
- /museum/philips-vg-8235
- /museum/pioneer-palcom-px-7
- /museum/sanyo-mpc-100
- /museum/sanyo-phc-28
- /museum/sanyo-phc-30
- /museum/sanyo-phc-33
- /museum/sanyo-wavy-10-mpc-10
- /museum/sanyo-wavy-23
- /museum/sanyo-wavy-3
- /museum/schneider-philips-mc-810
- /museum/sony-hit-bit-10
- /museum/sony-hit-bit-101
- /museum/sony-hit-bit-20
- /museum/sony-hit-bit-201
- /museum/sony-hit-bit-501
- /museum/sony-hit-bit-55
- /museum/sony-hit-bit-75
- /museum/spectravideo-svi-728
- /museum/toshiba-hx-10-pasopia-iq
- /museum/toshiba-hx-20-hx-21-pasopia-iq
- /museum/toshiba-hx-52
- /museum/victor-hc-6
- /museum/yamaha-cx5
- /museum/yamaha-cx5m-music-computer
- /museum/yamaha-sx-100
- /museum/yamaha-yis-303
- /museum/yamaha-yis-503-diabolik
- /museum/yashica-yc-64
- /museum/yeno-dpc-64
- /museum/yeno-mx-64
oc_id: 807
source:
url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230523025926/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=807
date: '2023-05-23'
---
The Gradiente Expert Plus is a Brazilian MSX 1 computer. It is composed of two parts: the main unit and the keyboard. Gradiente is a Brazilian consumer electronic products company. It is not suprising as the unit's design looks like a HI-FI system... Along with the Hot-Bit, the Experts were the only MSX systems available in Brazil. The first model (Expert XP-800) was in fact a clone of the [National CF-3000](/museum/national-cf-3000/).
It is a quite complete [MSX 1](/museum/msx-1/) computer with two cartridge slots placed on the front panel and a numeric keypad. The system is powered by the MSX engine, a kind of super-chipset, gathering the CPU, video, input / output and audio functions.
The Expert can be used as videotext terminal (Telesp) with the TM-1 cartridge which includes a 1200 baud Modem, a serial interface and a phone socket...
The Expert Plus follows the Expert XP-800 (released in 1985) and the Expert GPC-1 (1986), which are quite similar. The Expert Plus was released (1989) at the same time as the **Expert DD Plus** which is the same system with a built-in floppy disk drive (720 KB).
**Marcelo Ortega** from Brazil adds:
The Expert Plus and DD Plus had a big incompatibility problem, that actually was not Gradiente's fault. Both machines used the MSX engine SMT chip, that made things easier to Gradiente assembly these computers, solving the bad contact problems of the socketed chips used in the previous Experts, and replacing three chips by one, but the MSX engine chip mapped the RAM to a internal secondary slot.
This was OK for the MSX standarts, but most brazilian software was written to run in Experts and Hotbits without secondary slots, and this resulted in many crashes.
The Expert users were also waiting for a MSX2 machine when the Plus was launched, and along with the common crashes, this made these machines not so popular.
The DDPlus uses a internal disk controller board that was quite similar to the external cartridge interfaces sold then. It also uses 16Kb for MSX DOS, resulting in 48Kb of ROM. The drive is very good (mine still works flawless !) but it was painfully slow.
<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this computer ! If you designed, used, or have more info about this system, please send us pictures or anything you might find useful.</td> <td></td> </tr> </table>
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