--- title: Amstrad PCW 8256 / 8512 categories: - Computers types: - Professional Computer origins: - United Kingdom years: - '1985' cpus: - Zilog Z80 A params: name: PCW 8256 / 8512 image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8512_system_s1.jpg company: /companies/amstrad company_name: Amstrad specs: - label: NAME value: PCW 8256 / 8512 - label: MANUFACTURER value: Amstrad - label: TYPE value: Professional Computer - label: ORIGIN value: United Kingdom - label: YEAR value: September 1985 - label: BUILT IN LANGUAGE value: Mallard Basic - label: KEYBOARD value: Mechanical keyboard with numeric keypad end special edit keys (COPY,CUT,PASTE,PRINT,etc.). 8 function keys. - label: CPU value: Zilog Z80 A - label: SPEED value: The CPU is running at 4 MHz, but is slowed down by the internal clock to 3,4 Mhz - label: CO-PROCESSOR value: |- Video : Amstrad ASIC custom chip\ DD controler : NEC 765 - label: RAM value: 256 KB (16 banks of 16 kb each) - label: TEXT MODES value: 90 x 32 - label: GRAPHIC MODES value: 720 x 256 (PAL), 720 x 200 (NTSC) - label: COLORS value: monochrome (black & green) - label: SOUND value: Beeper, 1 channel - label: I/O PORTS value: Z80 Bus, Parallel - label: BUILT IN MEDIA value: 1 Hitachi 3'' disk-drive (160 kb/side) - label: OS value: CP/M, CP/M+ - label: POWER SUPPLY value: PSU built-in - label: PERIPHERALS value: Printer, parallel/Centronics interface - label: PRICE value: 1065 (september 85) tabs: - photos - adverts - hardware - software - emulators - links - docs forum_thread: 199 photos: - title: COMPLETE SYSTEM subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8256_system_1.jpg - title: 'INSIDE THE 8512 #1' subtitle: '' text: |- **(1)** First 3'' FDD, single side, single density 180 KB\ **(2)** Second 3'' FDD, double side, double density 720 KB\ **(3)** Motherboard\ **(4)** Same board for the power supply unit and the video management\ **(5)** Green phosphorescent 12'' tube image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8512_inside_1.jpg - title: 'INSIDE THE 8512 #2' subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8512_inside_3.jpg - title: 8256 / 8512 MOTHERBOARD subtitle: '' text: |- 8256 and 8512 models used the same motherboard, except that the 8256 version featured 8 socketted memory chips and 8 empty sockets. It was thus very easy to upgrade a 8256 system to 512 KB of RAM. **(1)** 512 KB user RAM chips (41256 x 16)\ **(2)** FDD power cable\ **(3)** FDD data cable\ **(4)** Bios and FDD management routines ROM\ **(5)** Power connector\ **(6)** Beeper\ **(7)** 24 volts DC printer power connector\ **(8)** Printer connector\ **(9)** FDD NEC 765 (up) and Amstrad printer management chips\ **(10)** Amstrad custom Asic chip in charge of various I/O, video and memory management.\ **(11)** Z80-A microprocessor, here, a SGS version\ **(12)** Expansion port connector\ **(13)** Video signal output connector\ **(14)** Keyboard input connector image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8512_inside_2.jpg - title: ARTISTIC TUBE CLOSE UP subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8512_tube_1.jpg - title: 8256 PRINTER subtitle: '' text: |- The printer mechanism was made by Seikosha, a well-known Japanese printer manufacturer at the time.\ It was a dot impact model with letter quality capability. image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8256_printer_1.jpg - title: DUST COVER subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8256_dustcover_1.jpg - title: USER MANUALS subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8512_manuals_s1.jpg - title: LOCOMOTIVE SOFTWARE SUITE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8512_locoprograms_s1.jpg adverts: - title: U.K. AD (MAR. 86) subtitle: '' text: |- Advert said The electric typewriter's days are numbered. Because now there's a machine that put real wordprocessing power within everyone's reach.\ The Amstrad PCW 8256 is a complete word-processor and a powerful computer in one unit.\ And it's unbelievably low price includes a screen with built-in disc drive, keyboard, printer and word processing software... image: /media/museum/pubs/amstrad_8256_pub_1.jpg hardware: - title: SERIAL / PARALLEL INTERFACE subtitle: '' text: '' image: /media/museum/hardware/amstrad_8512_serialinterf_1.jpg - title: SERIAL INTERFACE AND MOUSE subtitle: '' text: A standard serial mouse could be used thrue a serial interface expansion and a specific connector. image: /media/museum/hardware/amstrad_8512_serialmouse_s1.jpg - title: RAMPAC subtitle: 1.5 MB memory expansion text: This memory expansion was used by some programs as a fast virtual floppy disk drive. image: /media/museum/hardware/amstrad_9512_rampac_s1.jpg screenshots: - title: ACE subtitle: Title screen text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_ace_ss.gif - title: ACE subtitle: '' text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_ace_2_ss.gif - title: BATMAN subtitle: '' text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_batman_2_ss.gif - title: CORSARIOS subtitle: Title screen text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_corsarios_ss.gif - title: CORSARIOS subtitle: '' text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_corsarios_2_ss.gif - title: GOODY subtitle: Title screen text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_goody_ss.gif - title: GOODY subtitle: '' text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_goody_2_ss.gif - title: HEAD OVER HEELS subtitle: '' text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_headoverheels_ss.gif - title: LAST NINJA 2 subtitle: '' text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_lastninja2_ss.gif - title: MATCH DAY II subtitle: '' text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_matchday2_ss.gif - title: SKIING subtitle: '' text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_skiing_ss.gif - title: STRIKE FORCE HARRIER subtitle: Title screen text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_strikeforceharrier_ss.gif - title: STRIKE FORCE HARRIER subtitle: '' text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_strikeforceharrier_ss_2.gif - title: BATMAN subtitle: Title screen text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_batman_ss.gif - title: BOW WINNER subtitle: Title screen text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_bobwinner_ss.gif - title: BURAN subtitle: Title screen text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_buran_ss.gif - title: BURAN subtitle: '' text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_buran_2_ss.gif - title: CLIMB IT subtitle: '' text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_climbit_ss.gif - title: COLOSSUS 4 CHESS subtitle: Title screen text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_colossus4chess_ss.gif - title: COLOSSUS 4 CHESS subtitle: '' text: Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. image: /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_colossus4chess_2_ss.gif emulators: - title: Joyce url: http://www.seasip.demon.co.uk/Unix/Joyce/index.html platform: Multiplatform text: JOYCE emulates the Amstrad PCW on Unix, Windows and Mac OS X links: - title: Amstrad PCW url: http://ciberia.ya.com/tuamstradpcw/ text: Nice spanish PCW dedicated page with screenshots, software to download and much more! - title: Amstrad PCW products from Pineboard Computers url: http://www.btinternet.com/~pinboardcomputers/pcws/indexa.htm text: '' - title: AMSTRAD PCW SPARES url: http://www.pcwking1.netfirms.com text: '' - title: Ian Macdonald's PCW pages url: http://www.caliban.org/PCW.html text: '' - title: Kathleen's General Interest PCW Site url: http://pcwgallery.cjb.net text: Information about the Amstrad PCW range of computers with photographs and links - title: MB Schneider PCW Seite url: http://www.3pro.de/mb/pcw8256.htm text: (in german) - title: SD Microsystems url: http://members.aol.com/sdmicro/index.htm text: Company supporting CPC, PCW and Amstrad PC docs: - title: PCW 8256/8512 USER GUIDE - CP/M LOGO & WORD PROCESSING MANUAL url: http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=23 cover: /media/museum/docs/couvs/amstrad_pcw-8256-8512_user-manual.jpg text: |- [**PCW 8256/8512 USER GUIDE - CP/M LOGO & WORD PROCESSING 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/) related: - /museum/amstrad-pcw-9512 oc_id: 189 source: url: https://web.archive.org/web/20230608074817/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=189 date: '2023-06-08' --- The Amstrad PCW 8256 was a dedicated word processing computer (PCW stands for Personal Computer Wordprocessor). It was supplied with everything necessary, the word processor, printer and dedicated keyboard (with Cut, Copy, Paste and Print keys). This model had great success because it was the first word-processing system available for such a low price. Once again Amstrad used the same principles with this professional computer as it did with the [CPC-464](/museum/amstrad-cpc-464/) on the home-computer market. Two years later, 700 000 PCW systems had been sold! All the hardware was located in the monitor case, as well as the 3" floppy disk drive. An optional secondary disk drive could be added (360 kb/side). There was only one power cord used for the printer, monitor and keyboard - it couldn’t be simpler. Actually, the PCW was odd in that it has NO ROM. The boot sequence was loaded into the main CPU from the printer control ASIC and only had enough smarts to load and run the first sector from the floppy drive. The printer was an Amstrad matrix printer (90 cps in draft mode and 20 cps in letter-quality mode), but it was not possible to connect another printer to the PCW. To use another printer, optional RS232 or Centronics interfaces were available. The system was supplied with a word processor (on disk) developed by Locomotive Software (the company who made the BASIC language for the Amstrad [CPC series](/museum/amstrad-cpc-464/)) called LocoScript. Dr. Logo and a Basic called Mallard Basic were also delivered on disks (fun fact: Mallard is the name of an old train engine). This Basic was powerful and offered a lot of file-management capabilities. The Amstrad PCW-8256 was also delivered with CP/M+. Locoscript was powerful but somewhat austere. You had to read 700 pages of documentation in order to master it. It used 154 Kb RAM, and the remaining 102 Kb could be used as a virtual disk. Each floppy disk, called a volume, could be divided in up to 8 sub-volumes. A particular page layout could be assigned to each of these sub-volumes. The system displayed text in an odd but useful 90 x 32 resolution. Of course as it was text-based software, you could not see exactly what would be printed (no WYSIWYG here). Another drawback was that it was not possible to link a document with an address book or a database, to generate multiple documents (this was to be corrected with LocoMail, LocoFile and LocoScript 2 a few years later). The 320k disks stored up to 90 pages of 2000 characters. In Germany, the PCW series was called **Joyce** Another PCW model was launched a few months later: the Amstrad **PCW 8512**. It has the same characteristics apart from having 512 Kb RAM to handle bigger documents, and two 3" floppy disk drives. The top one is a single-sided, 40-track (180 Kbyte) drive, the bottom is a double-sided, 80-track (720 Kbyte) drive. 40-track disks could be read in the 80-track drive, but it's not advisable to write to them there because the 80-track drive has a narrower head. It had slightly darker plastic mouldings than the PCW-8256, grey instead of white. It was followed by the [Amstrad PCW 9512](/museum/amstrad-pcw-9512/). The PCW systems were still used in 2000 by some people and a lot of CP/M software is still available. --- **Contributors:** Andrew Ball, Allan Stirling