website/content/museum/panasonic-fs-a1-wx-wsx.md

---
title: Panasonic FS A1 WX / WSX
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Home Computer
origins:
- Japan
years:
- '1988'
cpus:
- Z80B
params:
  name: FS A1 WX / WSX
  company: /companies/panasonic
  company_name: Panasonic
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: FS A1 WX / WSX
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Panasonic
  - label: TYPE
    value: Home Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: Japan
  - label: YEAR
    value: |-
      A1 WX : 1988\
      A1 WSX : 1989
  - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE
    value: MSX-BASIC V3.0
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: Full-stroke keyboard with 5 function keys, 4 arrow keys, numeric keypad & several special keys
  - label: CPU
    value: Z80B
  - label: SPEED
    value: 3.57 Mhz and 6 Mhz
  - label: CO-PROCESSOR
    value: Yamaha V9958 Video Display Processor
  - label: RAM
    value: 64 KB
  - label: VRAM
    value: 128 KB
  - label: ROM
    value: 32 KB (Basic & BIOS) + 16 KB (SUB ROM > MSX-BASIC V3.0) + 16 KB (KANJI BASIC ROM + KANJI ROM) + 16 KB (DISK ROM) + 16 KB (built-in software)
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: 40 x 24 / 32 x 24
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: |-
      Same as MSX2 specs, plus 256 �\~ 212/424 (19268 colors), 512x212 (16 colors)\
      Additional KANJI screen modes (Japanese text screen modes): 40x24, 32x24, 256x192, 64x48
  - label: COLORS
    value: '19268'
  - label: SOUND
    value: PSG (3 voices) + MSX-Music (OPLL YM-2413, 9 channel FM synthesizer)
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: Joysticks, Cardridge(2), Tape(1200/2400 bauds), RGB video output, CVBS/RF video output, Centronics, Sound output
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: 720 KB 3,5'' floppy drive built in
  - label: OS
    value: MSX DOS
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in PSU
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  - hardware
  - software
  - emulators
  - links
  photos:
  - title: FS A1 WX
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: FRONT
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: LEFT SIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: LEDS CLOSE-UP
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: REAR
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: 'REAR #2'
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      From left to right :

      \- Tape interface (DB8)\
      \- RGB video output (DB8)\
      \- Composite video output (cinch)\
      \- Audio output (cinch)\
      \- Channel 1/2 switch\
      \- RF video output\
      \- Printer connector\
      \- Expansion bus
    image: null
  - title: WSX BOX
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  adverts:
  - title: JAPANESE ADVERT
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  hardware:
  - title: PRINTING
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  - title: BOX
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: null
  screenshots:
  - title: BOOT SCREEN
    subtitle: ''
    text: The FS A1 WX and WSX offer many options at startup, inlcuding wordprocessor, diary, agenda and more...
    image: null
  emulators:
  - title: BlueMSX
    url: http://www.bluemsx.com/
    platform: Windows
    text: Excellent emulator for Windows
  - 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: File-Hunter.com
    url: http://www.file-hunter.com/
    text: Lots of MSX ROM files, including FS A1 WX!
  - title: FILE-HUNTER.COM
    url: http://www.file-hunter.com/
    text: Excellent! All MSX emulators, sources and utilities!
  - title: The Ultimate MSX FAQ
    url: http://www.faq.msxnet.org/msx2p.html
    text: MSX2+ specifications, and more!
  comments:
  - author: Roger Jowett (Ulster Londonderry)
    date: Saturday 6th April 2013
    text: |-
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v$zsjTpFR0oYQ

      please help we have zx spectrum 48k and one 128k program running at 6mhz using external ram and snapper discs from velesoft site
  related:
  - /museum/msx-2-291
  - /museum/panasonic-fs-a1-fx
  - /museum/sanyo-wavy-35
  - /museum/sanyo-wavy-70fd
  oc_id: 621
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230522072821/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=621
    date: '2023-05-22'
---

After Microsoft left the [MSX project](/museum/msx-1/) in 1986, ASCII continued alone. They presented a new improvement of the [MSX 2](/museum/msx-2/) standard in 1988.

No great enhancements, the MSX 2+ has 19268 colors instead of 512, some more graphic / KANJI resolutions and the built in MSX-Music, providing 9 channels of FM sound without drums or 6 channels FM sound with 5 FM drums.

The Panasonic **FS A1 WX** features the Rensha Turbo, which is a built-in auto-fire system. The repetition speed can be adjusted with a slider. Its ROM contains A1 Cockpit Internal Software, MSX Word Processor, MSX-JE, FM-BIOS (MSX Music Basic ROM) and JIS 1st+2nd Class Kanji Support (256KB).

The Panasonic **FS A1 WSX** is the successor of the FS A1 WX from which it differs very slightly: no tape support anymore, S-Video interface added and color print support with Word Processor (and color printer).

Contrary to Sony and Sanyo MSX2+ systems which used a Z80A, the Panasonic systems used a Z80B cpu which could be set up to 6 MHz.

<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>