Goldstar MSX

The Goldstar MSX, sold in Europe as the FC-200 and FC-201, was one of the first Korean-manufactured MSX-1 computers to reach the Dutch market, distributed in bulk by AVT Electronics and notable for its aggressive pricing and unexpectedly dependable performance under continuous use.

Marketed as the cheapest MSX-1 computer currently for sale, the Goldstar FC-200 emerged in the mid-1980s as a budget contender with a reputation that defied its price¹². At f. 895,- new in the Netherlands and £239.99 in the UK, its affordability was attributed to Korean government export subsidies and AVT Electronics’ strategy of importing in large quantities while accepting a narrow profit margin¹²⁶⁷. Despite initial skepticism that such a low price might indicate poor build quality, the FC-200 underwent rigorous testing, including a five-day continuous runtime, and was found to operate thoroughly reliable, earning praise as a thoroughly reliable MSX machine¹².

Physically, the unit measured 39 by 27 cm with a height of 7 cm, making it slightly wider than most contemporary MSX computers¹². The casing was described as solid in appearance, and unlike some models that used external power bricks, the Goldstar incorporated its power supply internally, a design common among MSX systems but appreciated for reducing cable clutter¹². It featured a Z-80A processor, 64K of user RAM, 32K of ROM, and 16K of video RAM, supporting hi-resolution colour graphics and sixteen vivid colours³. Audio was capable of eight octaves of sound, though the specific sound chip remains undocumented³. The keyboard included a full typewriter layout with cursor controls, a notable usability feature at the price point³.

AVT Electronics, led by director Lex van Tienhoven, imported both the Korean Goldstar and the Japanese Yashica as part of its MSX lineup and established a distribution network of 280 dealers in the Netherlands selling the Goldstar⁶⁷. Interest in the model was particularly strong, with one report noting much interest especially for the Goldstar⁶⁷. The machine demonstrated full MSX software compatibility, described as swallowing everything that is released, though reviewers emphasized the importance of purchasing the original Goldstar unit, as UK imports of the same brand reportedly suffered from reliability issues¹⁰.

Used market listings from 1986–1987 show the FC-200 frequently bundled with peripherals: a data recorder and joystick fetched f. 600,-, while configurations including printers, disk drives, Quickdisks, software collections, and books reached up to f. 1000,-⁴⁵⁸⁹¹³¹⁴. The expansion port was compatible with adapters for cartridges from Toshiba, Mitsubishi, and Sanyo, indicating a degree of cross-brand flexibility¹³¹⁴. Technical documentation for the Goldstar JC200, a variant or rebranded model, includes hardware data for its floppy disk controller and expansion port signaling¹¹¹².

Contemporary reviews were unequivocal in their endorsement. YourComputer hailed it as without doubt the best value MSX machine, a positive bargain at under £240, and declared SENSATIONAL VALUE in all caps³. One reviewer concluded simply: This is the one³. While not considered the most aesthetically refined or feature-rich system¹⁰, its combination of full compatibility, build quality, and price made it a standout in a crowded field. Goldstar, alongside Daewoo, was identified as one of Korea’s two major MSX manufacturers, with MSX-2 models already in development during a 1985 visit to Seoul¹².

References

msx computer magazine 05 dec 1985 jan 1986 (1985)
msx computer magazine 05
YourComputer 1985 01 (1985)
msx computer magazine 18 nov 1987 (1987)
msx computer magazine 18
msx computer magazine 02
msx computer magazine 02 apr mei 1985 (1985)
msx computer magazine 19 dec 1987 (1987)
msx computer magazine 19
MSX gids nr. 04
msx computer magazine 08
msx computer magazine 08 mei 1986 (1986)
msx computer magazine 14
msx computer magazine 14 apr 1987 (1987)
msx computer magazine 11 nov 1986 (1986)
msx computer magazine 11