---
title: Amstrad GX 4000
categories:
- Consoles
params:
  name: GX 4000
  image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_gx4000_1s.jpg
  company: /companies/amstrad
  company_name: Amstrad
  tabs:
  - photos
  - adverts
  - connectors
  - software
  - emulators
  - links
  - docs
  photos:
  - title: GX 4000
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_gx4000_1b.jpg
  - title: TOP
    subtitle: ''
    text: We can spot here the power LED (left), the cartridge slot (closed by trap doors), the on/off switch (red) and the pause button.
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_gx4000_top.jpg
  - title: SIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_gx4000_side_1.jpg
  - title: FRONT
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      From left to right:

      \- Audio stereo output\
      \- Controller 1\
      \- Analog controller\
      \- Controller 2\
      \- Light gun / Aux socket
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_gx4000_front.jpg
  - title: REAR
    subtitle: ''
    text: |-
      From left to right :

      \- 5v DC input (from Amstrad monitor)\
      \- 11v DC input (from external power supply)\
      \- Audio & Video connector for Amstrad monitor\
      \- Audio & Video SCART connector
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_gx4000_rear.jpg
  - title: BOTTOM SIDE
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_gx4000_under.jpg
  - title: WITH CARTRIDGE INSERTED
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_gx4000_sys-and-cart.jpg
  - title: CARTRIDGE BOXED
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_gx4000_no-exit_box.jpg
  adverts:
  - title: FRENCH ADVERT (NOV.1990)
    subtitle: ''
    text: '"don''t touch my Amstrad gaming system !"'
    image: /media/museum/pubs/amstrad_gx4000_adv_touche-pas.jpg
  - title: PROMOTIONAL PICTURE
    subtitle: ''
    text: Thanks to François Houste and [www.phijvmi.com](http://www.phijvmi.com) for this picture
    image: /media/museum/pubs/amstrad_gx4000_prm-pix.jpg
  connectors:
  - title: AUX SOCKET
    subtitle: RJ11 female socket
    text: |-
      This RJ11 socket was supposed to be used with a lightgun :

      **1** - +5v\
      **2** - Common\
      **3** - LPEN\
      **4** - FIRE2\
      **5** - FIRE1\
      **6** - GND
    image: /media/museum/connectors/amstrad_gx4000_rj11.gif
  - title: MONITOR OUTPUT
    subtitle: DIN8 female connector
    text: |-
      **1** - SYNC\
      **2** - GREEN\
      **3** - LUM\
      **4** - RED\
      **5** - BLUE\
      **6** - LEFT CHANNEL SOUND\
      **7** - RIGHT CHANNEL SOUND\
      **8** - GROUND
    image: /media/museum/connectors/amstrad_gx4000_din8.gif
  - title: AUDIO & VIDEO OUTPUT
    subtitle: female SCART connector
    text: |-
      **1** - Audio Right\
      **2** - Not connected\
      **3** - Audio Left\
      **4** - Ground\
      **5** - Ground\
      **6** - Not connected\
      **7** - Blue\
      **8** - (Tied High)\
      **9** - Ground\
      **10** - Not connected\
      **11** - Green\
      **12** - Not connected\
      **13** - Ground\
      **14** - Not connected\
      **15** - Red\
      **16** - (Tied High)\
      **17** - Ground\
      **18** - Ground\
      **19** - Composite Video (Composite Sync in french version)\
      **20** - Not connected\
      **21** - Screen
    image: /media/museum/connectors/amstrad_gx4000_scart.gif
  - title: ANALOG CONTROLLERS
    subtitle: DB15 female connector
    text: |-
      **ANALOG STICK 1**

      **1** - Ground (Pot common)\
      **2** - Fire 1\
      **3** - X1\
      **4** - COM1 (Switches)\
      **5** - +5v\
      **6** - Y1\
      **7** - FIRE2\
      **8** - Ground (Pot common)

      **ANALOG STICK 2**

      **9** - Ground (Pot common)\
      **10** - Fire 1\
      **11** - X2\
      **12** - COM2 (Switches)\
      **13** - Y2\
      **14** - FIRE2\
      **15** - Ground (Pot common)
    image: /media/museum/connectors/amstrad_gx4000_db15.gif
  - title: GAME PADDLES CONNECTORS
    subtitle: DB9 female connectors
    text: |-
      **1** - Up\
      **2** - Down\
      **3** - Left\
      **4** - Right\
      **5** - Spare\
      **6** - Fire 2\
      **7** - Fire 1\
      **8** - Common\
      **9** - COM2

      Pin 9 is note COM2 on Game Paddle 2 connector.
    image: /media/museum/connectors/amstrad_gx4000_db9.gif
  - title: AUDIO OUTPUT
    subtitle: Stereo jack (3.5 mm)
    text: |-
      **1** - Left channel\
      **2** - Right channel\
      **3** - Ground
    image: /media/museum/connectors/amstrad_gx4000_stereo-jack.gif
  screenshots:
  - title: BOX ART
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_gx4000_box_barbarian2.jpg
  - title: BOX ART
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_gx4000_box_batman.jpg
  - title: STARTUP SCREEN
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_gx4000_ss_batman-return.jpg
  - title: SCREENSHOT
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_gx4000_ss_batman-return_2.jpg
  - title: STARTUP SCREEN
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_gx4000_ss_copter271.jpg
  - title: SCREENSHOT
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_gx4000_ss_copter271_2.jpg
  - title: BOX ART
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_gx4000_box_crazycars2.jpg
  - title: SCREENSHOT
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_gx4000_ss_crazycars2.jpg
  - title: BOX ART
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_gx4000_box_fireandforget2.jpg
  - title: SCREENSHOT
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_gx4000_ss_klax.jpg
  - title: BOX ART
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_gx4000_box_navyseals.jpg
  - title: BOX ART
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_gx4000_box_noexit.jpg
  - title: BOX ART
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_gx4000_box_robocop2.jpg
  - title: BOX ART
    subtitle: ''
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_gx4000_box_worldofsport.jpg
  - title: SCREENSHOT
    subtitle: BMX event
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_gx4000_ss_wos_mx.jpg
  - title: SCREENSHOT
    subtitle: Ski Slalom
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_gx4000_ss_wos_ski.jpg
  - title: SCREENSHOT
    subtitle: Surf
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_gx4000_ss_wos_surf.jpg
  - title: SCREENSHOT
    subtitle: Cliff diving
    text: ''
    image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_gx4000_ss_wos_cliff-diving.jpg
  emulators:
  - title: ARNOLD CPC
    url: http://arnold.emuunlim.com/
    platform: Windows
    text: Arnold is a Windows/Unix Amstrad CPC, Amstrad CPC+ and KC Compact emulator
  - title: WINAPE32
    url: http://winape.emuunlim.com/
    platform: Windows
    text: Emulates the entire CPC range (CPC 464/664 and 6128, the CPC 464+ and 6128+)
  - title: MESS
    url: http://www.mess.org
    platform: Multiplatform
    text: MESS now emulates the Amstrad GX-4000
  - title: NO$CPC
    url: http://www.work.de/nocash/cpc.htm
    platform: Multiplatform
    text: Windows & DOS emulator. Can emulate CPC+ systems.
  links:
  - title: AMSTRAD.CPC GX-4000 page
    url: http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=20
    text: Nice info
  - title: GROSPIXELS.COM GX-4000 page
    url: http://www.grospixels.com/site/gx4000.php
    text: Excellent page with a lot of info (french)
  docs:
  - title: GX-4000 MANUEL UTILISATEUR (FRENCH MANUAL)
    url: http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=23
    cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/amstrad_gx4000-user-manual.jpg
    text: |-
      [**GX-4000 MANUEL UTILISATEUR (FRENCH MANUAL)**](http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=23)written by Amstrad

       compiled/archived by Charles Da Silva\
       type of document : PDF\
       source : [Amstrad.CPC](http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/)
  comments:
  - author: Chris Weatherley (United Kingdom)
    date: Thursday 19th April 2018
    text: |-
      As a keen collector and fan of this system, I have produced a fair number of video''s about the GX4000.

      https://youtu.be/iWB6NRkjTmE - 25th Anniversary

      https://youtu.be/20ZBzhKoGdI - CPC vs GX4000 Game comparison.
  oc_id: 1082
  source:
    url: https://web.archive.org/web/20221205113606/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=1082
    date: '2022-12-05'
---

The GX 4000 is a game system based on the hardware of the [Amstrad 464+ and 6128+ computers](/museum/amstrad-464-6128-plus/).

Like Commodore did at the same time with the [C64](/museum/commodore-c64/) and the [C64 GS](/museum/commodore-c64-gs-games-system/), Amstrad tried to enter the gaming market with a console based on its aging but popular 8-bit technology (CPC computers). Sadly, at a time when 16-bit gaming systems like the [Sega Megadrive](/museum/sega-genesis/) and **Super Nintendo** appeared on the shelves, the GX 4000 did not stand the comparison and soon disappeared from the market. This also marked the end of Amstrad participation into home-computing world (apart from PC compatible systems).

Like CPC+ computers, the GX 4000 have enhanced graphics and sound (DMA), colour palette of 4096, hardware sprites, hardware scrolling, and used 128 Ko to 512 KB carts. These carts could also be used by 464+ and 6128+ computers.

Only a few cartridge games were released, adding to the frustration of unlucky buyers of this system...

For more info, have a look at the [CSD](/museum/amstrad-csd/) entry, a CPC+ technology and cartridge demonstration system.

<table> <tr> <td></td> <td>We need more info about this console ! 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>