---
title: Amstrad PPC 512 / 640
categories:
- Computers
params:
  name: PPC 512 / 640
  image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_ppc512_2systems_s2.jpg
  company: /companies/amstrad
  company_name: Amstrad
  tabs:
  - photos
  - software
  - links
  - docs
  - videos
  forum_thread: 205
  photos:
  - title: PPC-512
    subtitle: ''
    text: Amstrad PPC models had a comprehensive 102 key AT-style keyboard with a nice feel, but sadly, a poor LCD display
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_ppc512_system_s2.jpg
  - title: RUNNING SYSTEM
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_ppc512_running_s1.jpg
  - title: 'BOTH SYSTEMS #1'
    subtitle: ''
    text: The only external difference between both models was the colour of the case, beige for the PPC-512, grey for the PPC-640.
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_ppc512_2systems_s1.jpg
  - title: 'BOTH SYSTEMS #2'
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_ppc512_2systems_s3.jpg
  - title: RIGHT SIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: The basic version had only one floppy drive.
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_ppc512_rightside_s1.jpg
  - title: 'CLOSED #1'
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_ppc512_closed_s1.jpg
  - title: 'CLOSED #2'
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_ppc512_2systemsclosed_s1.jpg
  - title: REAR CONNECTORS
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      Only one difference between the two models - the RJ11 phone line connector on the PPC-640

      **(1)** RJ11 phone line connector\
      **(2)** Expansion port A\
      **(3)** External monitor DIN socket. An Amstrad CPC series colour or B/W monitor can be connected here. It also supplies the power to the computer\
      **(4)** If no monitor is connected, power is supplied by an external 12V transformer\
      **(5)** Expansion port B\
      **(6)** Serial RS232 connector\
      **(7)** Parallel printer connector\
      **(8)** Video connector for a standard CGA monitor.
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_ppc512_rearsides_s1.jpg
  - title: INSIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: The electronics is composed of two interconnected cards (1 & 2) holding several Amstrad custom gate array chips. The third card (3) is the modem card that could also be installed as an option in the PPC-512.
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_ppc512_inside_s1.jpg
  - title: CARRYING BAG
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_ppc512_bag_s1.jpg
  screenshots:
  - title: BOOT SCREEN
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_ppc512_screen_1.jpg
  - title: QDOS2
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      Menu driven interface made by Gazelle Systems, the company where MS-DOS was born.

      Thanks to **Adam Godfrey**
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_ppc512_qdos2_ss.jpg
  links:
  - title: John Elliott's homepage - Amstrad XT Pages
    url: http://www.seasip.info/AmstradXT/index.html
    text: Very useful page with a lot of technical info !!
  docs:
  - title: PPC 512/640 - SERVICE MANUAL
    url: http://www.1000bit.net/support/manuali/ppc640_sm/index.asp
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/amstrad_ppc_service-manual.jpg
    text: |-
      [**PPC 512/640 - SERVICE MANUAL**](http://www.1000bit.net/support/manuali/ppc640_sm/index.asp)written by Amstrad

       compiled/archived by Tiziano Garuti\
       type of document : HTML\
       source : [www.1000bit.net](http://www.1000bit.net/)
  videos:
  - title: Amstrad PPC 512 presentation
    url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OC6-WiBFO3s
    text: 'Length: 1:07'
  - title: Amstrad PPC 512 connecting to a mailbox
    url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ychSsyn4xPs
    text: 'Length: 0:45'
  - title: Amstrad PPC 640 with hard disk
    url: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uJxKBeEvtew
    text: 'Length: 9:28'
  related:
  - /museum/amstrad-pc-1512
  - /museum/amstrad-pc-1640
  - /museum/ibm-pc-at
  - /museum/ibm-pc-model-5150
  - /museum/ibm-pc-portable-model-5155
  - /museum/ibm-pc-xt-286
  - /museum/ibm-pc-xt-model-5160
  - /museum/ibm-ps-1
  - /museum/micronique-hector-xt
  oc_id: 195
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230601084722/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=195
    date: '2023-06-01'
---

With the Amstrad PPC-512 and 640, Amstrad wanted to make the cheapest portable PC compatible computer, in the same way as the [Amstrad PC1512](/museum/amstrad-pc-1512/) was for desktop computers.

But, despite its pleasant form, this computer suffered due to its poor 9" LCD screen. It had one or two 3.5" 720 KB floppy drives and some versions could also be found with a 10 or 20 MB internal hard disk.

If you were tired of the poor LCD screen, you could connect a monochrome or CGA monitor to the PPC at home. The Amstrad CPC series monitors could be used too.

The differences between the PPC-512 and PPC-640 were a different colour case, a built-in modem (v21, v22, v22 bis and v23 protocols) and 640 KB RAM for the PPC-640. Both versions could run with 10 C size batteries (1 hour battery life), or with an external AC adaptor.