I have the main unit (usa), one power adapter (usa) and one tape drives SV-904.
type computer
country USA
year 1984
os SV Microsoft Basic 1.1
cpu Zilog Z80 a
speed 3.6 MHz
ram 80 KB
vram 16 KB
rom 32 KB
graphic 256 x 192
colors 16
sound 3 channels, 8 octaves
ports centronics, rs232c, rgb, tape, joystick (2), cartridge
The Spectravideo SVI 328 — The American SV-328
The Spectravideo SVI 328 was the American market version of the SV-328 — functionally identical to the European SV-328 but with US power specifications and sold through American retail channels. Like the SV-328 MkII, this machine ran Spectravideo’s own SV Microsoft BASIC 1.1 rather than MSX BASIC, making it a pre-MSX Spectravideo machine that is not MSX-compliant despite sharing much of its architecture with what would become the MSX standard. With 80 KB of RAM, Z80A processor at 3.6 MHz, and 256×192 pixel graphics with 16 colours, it was a capable home computer for 1984.
USA vs European Models
Spectravideo sold its computers under slightly different model names in different markets. The ”SV-328” designation was used primarily in Europe, while the ”SVI 328” (with the ”I” indicating the international or American variant) was the US market version. Both machines shared the same hardware specification — Z80A processor, 80 KB RAM, 16 KB VRAM, 32 KB ROM, TMS9918 video chip, and AY-3-8910 sound — but were differentiated by power adapter specifications and regional distribution. The Computer Museum Ata’s example is specifically identified as a USA unit, with a USA power adapter.
Not MSX — The Distinction Matters
The SVI 328 is frequently confused with an MSX machine because its hardware inspired the MSX standard, but it ran Spectravideo’s proprietary SV Microsoft BASIC 1.1 rather than the standardised MSX BASIC. This distinction meant that MSX software would not run directly on the SVI 328 without an adapter. The machine occupied a fascinating position — architecturally the parent of MSX, commercially a separate and incompatible platform. This historical nuance makes the SVI 328 a particularly interesting collector’s piece: the machine that made MSX possible, but was not MSX itself.
The Collection
The Computer Museum Ata holds the main SVI 328 USA unit, one USA power adapter, and one SV-904 tape drive — a complete basic configuration of this American-market Spectravideo.