---
title: Amstrad CSD
categories:
- Computers
types:
- Professional Computer
origins:
- United Kingdom
years:
- '1990'
cpus:
- Zilog Z80A
params:
  name: CSD
  image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_csd_system_1.jpg
  company: /companies/amstrad
  company_name: Amstrad
  specs:
  - label: NAME
    value: CSD
  - label: MANUFACTURER
    value: Amstrad
  - label: TYPE
    value: Professional Computer
  - label: ORIGIN
    value: United Kingdom
  - label: YEAR
    value: '1990'
  - label: KEYBOARD
    value: No keyboard
  - label: CPU
    value: Zilog Z80A
  - label: SPEED
    value: 4 MHz
  - label: RAM
    value: 64 Kb
  - label: ROM
    value: 32 KB + Main ROM cartridge
  - label: TEXT MODES
    value: Not used
  - label: GRAPHIC MODES
    value: 160 x 200 x 16 colours, 320 x 200 x 4 colours, 640 x 200 x 2 colours
  - label: COLORS
    value: 4096 (at least in welcome screen)
  - label: SOUND
    value: 3 stereo voices, 8 octaves +1 white noise channel
  - label: SIZE / WEIGHT
    value: Unknown
  - label: I/O PORTS
    value: None
  - label: BUILT IN MEDIA
    value: None
  - label: POWER SUPPLY
    value: Built-in power supply unit
  - label: PRICE
    value: Amstrad probably gave them to dealers
  tabs:
  - photos
  forum_thread: 933
  photos:
  - title: INSIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      (1) Game cartridges\
      (2) Main cartridge\
      (3) Daughterboard holding the cartridge connectors\
      (4) CPC-464+ mainboard

      Courtesy **amstrad.cpc.free.fr**
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_csd_opened_1.jpg
  - title: BOOT SCREEN
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      The boot screen allows a game cartridge to be selected. If no game is selected, the machine will run all the games successively.

      Courtesy **amstrad.cpc.free.fr**
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_csd_bootscreen_1.jpg
  oc_id: 957
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20220819200344/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=957
    date: '2022-08-19'
---

At the time when the Amstrad [GX 4000](/museum/amstrad-gx-4000/) game console and the [CPC+ computers](/museum/amstrad-464-6128-plus/) were launched, Amstrad had designed this metallic box to be used by dealers as a demonstration model. It was mainly used in the UK by Dixons chain dealers. Of course, very few models were produced.

When opening the front side of the sturdy aluminium case, one finds a metal plate covering the main board, actually a CPC 464+ motherboard, and a daughterboard holding 13 cartridge connectors. The first connector always holds a custom main cartridge which controls the CSD system. Twelve connectors remain free for standard game cartridges. The two boards are connected together through the cartridge and parallel ports of the motherboard.

When the cartridges are inserted and the front cover is closed, a superb Welcome picture appears on the screen with a 4096-colour wave background. It is then possible to select a cartridge and run a game, or let the machine run all the games successively. A timer then allows the user to select how long each game will be played.

Thanks to **Charles da Silva** and his [site](http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/) for information and pictures.

**Charles** also adds:\
As Roland Perry told me, Amstrad used not only CPC 464+ motherboards but also GX-4000 PCBs. In fact, they used whatever they could find. Another interesting thing is that the CSD was delivered to dealers in a nice wooden stand, like the ones we can find today for the Sony PS2 or Microsoft Xbox.