website/content/museum/amstrad-464-6128-plus.md

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Amstrad 464 / 6128 Plus	Computers	name image company company_name tabs forum_thread photos hardware screenshots emulators links docs videos related oc_id source 464 / 6128 Plus /media/museum/photos/amstrad_6128plus_system_1.jpg /companies/amstrad Amstrad photos hardware software emulators links docs videos 45 title subtitle text image CPC 464+ It featured the same characteristics as the 6128, except regarding its memory (64 KB instead of 128 KB) and had a tape recorder (located above the keyboard) instead of a floppy disk. It replaced the CPC 464 and had a short life because tape recorders were no longer supported when it was released. /media/museum/photos/amstrad_464p.jpg title subtitle text image CPC-464P SIDE VIEW Another view of the CPC-464+ with its Burnin'Rubber/Basic cartridge inserted. /media/museum/photos/amstrad_464p_side.jpg title subtitle text image CPC-464+ REAR VIEW /media/museum/photos/amstrad_464p_back.jpg title subtitle text image RUNNING 6128+ One ROM cartridge was delivered with the computer, holding the Locomotive BASIC language, and 'Burnin Rubber', a car race game. /media/museum/photos/amstrad_6128plus_running_1.jpg title subtitle text image LEFT SIDE **(1)** RJ11 expansion connector, for gun or light pen\ **(2)** Power switch which also locks the inserted cartridge while the system is turned on\ **(3)** Analogue joystick connector\ **(4-6)** Atari-compatible joystick DB9 connectors\ **(5)** ROM cartridge. A cartridge must be inserted before turning on the system.\ **(7)** Stereo headphones jack /media/museum/photos/amstrad_6128plus_leftside_1.jpg title subtitle text image REAR **(1)** Parallel Centronics connector\ **(2)** Power jack. Power supplied by the monitor\ **(3)** RGB video DIN plug\ **(4)** Bus expansion connector, mainly intended for an external floppy disk unit\ **(5)** Serial DB25 connector /media/museum/photos/amstrad_6128plus_back_1.jpg title subtitle text image UNCOVERED 6128+ A typical design for the last generation of personal home computers: a compact motherboard featuring numerous I/O connectors, a built-in floppy disk drive, and a keyboard. The 6128 Plus, like all members of the Amstrad home computer range, was a very reliable system... except the floppy drive belt which had to be changed from time to time. /media/museum/photos/amstrad_6128plus_uncovered_1.jpg title subtitle text image MOTHERBOARD A very compact board thanks to the custom Amstrad chip. Even so this board features 12 different connectors! **(1)** AY38912 sound generator. 8 voices, 3 octaves and white noise generation\ **(2)** ROM cartridge connector\ **(3)** Z80A processor. Here an ST Electronics version\ **(4)** Zilog Z80 FDC - Floppy disc controller\ **(5)** Amstrad custom chip in charge of memory and video management and various I/O. This chip replaces more than 20 I.C’s used in the original version of the 6128.\ **(6)** Keyboard connectors\ **(7)** 32 KB video RAM 41464 chip\ **(8)** 128 KB RAM memory chips (4 x 41464 chips)\ **(9)** BIOS ROM. Holds basic I/O routines. /media/museum/photos/amstrad_6128plus_mainboard_1.jpg title subtitle text image MOTHERBOARD CLOSE-UP Notice the Z80A CPU chip (from ST-Microelectronics), the Z80 FDC (from Zilog) and the custom Amstrad chip. /media/museum/photos/amstrad_6128plus_mainbcloseup_1.jpg title subtitle text image THE GX4000 GAME console based on the 6128+ hardware /media/museum/photos/gx4000.jpg title subtitle text image DDI-1 Amstrad disk drive After a long wait for the first purchasers of CPC-464, the diskette drive was available one year after its announcement. It connected to the expansion connector of the computer and used a 3" Hitachi diskette drive. This choice may appear strange in the light of the growing success of the Sony 3,5" standard, but would prove highly reliable in use. The Amstrad operating system (AMSDOS) is stored in a 16 KB ROM. Two operating systems and one language were delivered with this unit :\ - **AmsDOS** allowed Amstrad Basic to be used via additional file-management commands, but was not very practical to use.\ - **CP/M 2.2** from Digital Research which gave access to an immense professional software library but required two floppy drives in order to function well.\ - **Dr. LOGO** A popular language, especially in educational circles. It took advantage of the sound and graphic capabilities of the Amstrad. In spite of a prohibitive price due to a long period of (organized?) scarcity, Amstrad’s 3" floppy disks became the primary medium for numerous games and other programs and contributed to the big commercial success of the machine in Europe, until the announcement of the <$112$>CPC 664, the first model with an integrated disk drive. DDI-1 with interface for CPC-464 or CPC-664 : 1990fr (March 86)\ FD-1, second drive for CPC-464,664 and 6128 : 1590fr (March 86) /media/museum/hardware/fd_ddi_1.jpg title subtitle text image INSIDE DDI-1 CASE **(1)** Read/Write magnetic head\ **(2)** As in any disk drive, 2 engines are required : the biggest one to spin the magnetic disc, and the second one (at the top) to move the read/write head\ **(3)** The DDI case contains its own power supply. The PSU is shown here surrounded by a thick metallic plate to prevent magnetic fields from damaging the disks\ **(4)** The power supply regulation part is located under the disk drive\ **(5)** Disk introduction slot and eject button. Disk storage capacity is of 169 Kb. for system floppy disks (which include an operating system), or 178 Kb. for data disks. /media/museum/hardware/fd_eclate.jpg title subtitle text image AMX MOUSE For drawing and moving the cursor Could be used with the CPC-464,664 and 6128\ Cost 105 Euros in March 86. /media/museum/hardware/amstrad_amx_mouse.jpg title subtitle text image AMSTRAD LIGHT PEN For all models with a colour monitor\ Sold with a drawing program: 44 Euros (March 86) /media/museum/hardware/amstrad_light_pen.jpg title subtitle text image DMP 2000 Amstrad printer 90 Fonts, 20-100 characters /s\ 350 Euros (March 86) /media/museum/hardware/amstrad_dmp2000.jpg title subtitle text image AMSTRAD JOYSTICK Classic joystick sold by Amstrad.\ It includes another joystick plug to add a second joystick. Cost 23 Euros in March 86 /media/museum/hardware/amstrad_joystick.jpg title subtitle text image MP1 / MP2 ADAPTOR Amstrad Scart adaptors Enabled the use of an Amstrad with a Peritel (scart) TV. MP1 for CPC-464: 60 Euros (March 86)\ MP2 for CPC-664 and 6128: 75 Euros (March 86) /media/museum/hardware/amstrad_scart_adaptator.jpg title subtitle text image AMSTRAD RS-232C INTERFACE Self-explanatory I think... For the CPC-464, 664 and 6128\ 90 Euros in March 86 /media/museum/hardware/amstrad_cpc464_rs232.jpg title subtitle text image VOCAL SYNTHESIZER And your CPC talks! For CPC-464, 664 and 6128\ 60 Euros (March 86) /media/museum/hardware/amstrad_vocal_synth.jpg title subtitle text image TECHNI-MUSIQUE MUSICAL SYNTHESIZER Musical synthesizer with 12 stereo channels\ A 4-octave piano keyboard was optional\ Application delivered on disk Price : 150 Euros (France, October 1987) /media/museum/hardware/amstrad_musical_synth.jpg title subtitle text image LOADING SCREEN /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_1942-title.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_1942.gif title subtitle text image LOADING SCREEN /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_1943-title.gif title subtitle text image LOADING SCREEN /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_addams-family_title.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOTS /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_addams-family.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_airwolf.gif title subtitle text image LOADING SCREEN /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_alien-highway2_title.gif title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_alien-highway2-encounter.gif title subtitle text image LOADING SCREEN /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_apb.png title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_apb2.png title subtitle text image LOADING SCREEN /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_arabian-nights_title.png title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_arabian-nights.png title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_beyondicepalace.png title subtitle text image LOADING SCREEN /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_bombjack-title.png title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_bombjack.png title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_boulderdash.png title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_bountybob-strikesback.png title subtitle text image LOADING SCREEN /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_brucelee_title.png title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_brucelee.png title subtitle text image LOADING SCREEN /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_bubblebobble.png title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_bubblebobble2.png title subtitle text image LOADING SCREEN /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_catch23.png title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_catch23_2.png title subtitle text image LOADING SCREEN /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_cauldron_t.png title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_cauldron.png title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_chuckie-egg.png title subtitle text image LOADING SCREEN /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_commando_t.png title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_commando.png title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_fruityfranck.png title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_5axe.gif title subtitle text image LOADING SCREEN /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_mgt_t.png title subtitle text image SCREENSHOT /media/museum/software/amstrad_cpc_ss_mgt.png title url platform text Arnimedes http://www.arnimedes.de/ MS DOS CPC emulator for DOS title url platform text CaPriCe32 http://www.caprice32.cybercube.com/ Windows 32 bit Amstrad CPC Emulator title url platform text No Cash Amstrad CPC Emulator (NO$CPC) http://www.work.de/nocash/cpc.htm Windows For Windows and MS-DOS title url platform text WinAPE32 http://winape.emuunlim.com/ Windows Fast, accurate CPC/+ emulation title url platform text Arnold http://www.bannister.org/software/arnold.htm Apple Arnold/MacOS is an Amstrad CPC/CPC+/KC Compact Emulator for the Macintosh. title url platform text CPC ++ http://bricerive.free.fr/cpc Apple Emulator for MAC OS title url platform text CPC ++ http://bricerive.free.fr/cpc Unix / Linux Emulator for Linux and SunOS. title url platform text XCPC http://XCPC.EMUUNLIM.COM Unix / Linux CPC emulator for any UNIX platform with X-Window title url platform text Ami-CPC http://www.chez.com/deplanque/ Amiga OS title url platform text C-ONE http://c64upgra.de/c-one/ Other platform Hardware emulator (re-configurable computer) title url platform text DreamCPC http://www.consolevision.com/dreamcast/emus/amstrad/ Other platform CPC emulator for Dreamcast title url platform text PocketCaprice http://www.pocketcult.com Other platform Pocket PC/PDA emulator for Windows Mobile 2003 or Windows Mobile 5 operating system title url platform text Arnold (amstad 128k v3 emulator) http://arnold.emuunlim.com/ Multiplatform Emulates CPC 464, 644, 6128, 464+, 6128+, and KC Compact. title url platform text CPCE http://cpce.emuunlim.com/ Multiplatform Amstrad CPC emulator for DOS, DPMI and WIN32 title url platform text MESS http://www.mess.org/ Multiplatform MESS emulates a lot of Amstrad computers (available for many OS) ! title url text Amstrad Computer Manuals http://www.instruction-manuals.co.uk/category/computer/amstrad.htm title url text Amstrad CPC 464 664 6128 Basic programming tutorial and games. The Basic Idea http://www.sean.co.uk/books/amstrad/index.shtm title url text Amstrad.cpc.free.fr http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/ Excellent site full of info title url text Amstrad.DK http://www.amstrad.dk/ 464, 664, 6128 emulation, games and demos. Nice site. title url text Amstrad's Home Page http://web.ukonline.co.uk/cliff.lawson/index.htm title url text CPC/IP The TCP/IP Stack for the Amstrad CPCs http://www.nenie.org/cpcip/ title url text CPCWIKI http://www.cpcwiki.eu The biggest Amstrad CPC site and community title url text CPCwiki http://www.cpcwiki.com/index.php/Main_Page This site hopes to evolve into an encyclopaedia on all things Amstrad CPC related. title url text DDDS Ltd Home Page http://www.diskdoctor.co.uk/ title url text FutureOS - THE operating system for the CPC http://www.FutureOS.de FutureOS is a very fast OS for Amstrad CPC 6128 and 6128+. title url text Generic and Amstrad CPC based Programs written in Turbo Pascal 3 http://turpas3.angelfire.com/ Turbo Pascal programs written on a CPC. title url text Good Old Games http://speccy.altervista.org/ Many games with screenshot comparisons, download and magazines title url text Les Sucres en Morceaux http://scampin.chez-alice.fr/cpc/index.html Demomaking and gfx title url text Phenix Informatique http://phenixinformatique.free.fr/ History, games, links, emulators, contacts (French) title url text SymbOS Amstrad CPC Multitasking Operating System http://www.symbos.de/ A multitasking OS for the CPC 6128 with a Windows-like GUI title url text The Unofficial Amstrad WWW Resource http://andercheran.aiind.upv.es/~amstrad/ collection of documentations dedicated to the Amstrad CPC (CPC464, CPC664 and CPC6128), Amstrad Plus (464+,6128+ and GX4000 console), and VEB Mikroelectronic KC Compact title url text Tricky's Amstrad CPC page http://www.trickynz.com/Amstrad%20CPC.html Old mags and Amsoft catalogues for download title url text Web Wiz CAPTCHA http://www.webwizcaptcha.com title url cover text CPC PLUS - MANUEL DE L'UTILISATEUR (FRENCH MANUAL) http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=23 /media/museum/docs/couvs/amstrad_cpc-plus_french-manual.jpg [**CPC PLUS - MANUEL DE L'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 Computer Site](http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/) title url cover text AMSTRAD CPC FIRMWARE MANUAL http://www.cantrell.org.uk/david/tech/cpc/cpc-firmware/ /media/museum/docs/couvs/amstrad_cpc_firmware-guide.jpg [**AMSTRAD CPC FIRMWARE MANUAL**](http://www.cantrell.org.uk/david/tech/cpc/cpc-firmware/)written by Bob Taylor and Thomas Defoe  compiled/archived by David Cantrell / John Kavanagh\  type of document : PDF\  source : [Dave's Free Press](http://www.cantrell.org.uk/david/) title url cover text AMSTRAD CPC+ SPECIFICATIONS http://web.ukonline.co.uk/cliff.lawson/arnold5.htm /media/museum/docs/couvs/amstrad_cpc-plus_specs.jpg [**AMSTRAD CPC+ SPECIFICATIONS**](http://web.ukonline.co.uk/cliff.lawson/arnold5.htm)\  compiled/archived by Rob Scott / Paul Fairman / Kevin Thacker\  type of document : HTML\  source : [Amstrad Computer Site](http://web.ukonline.co.uk/cliff.lawson/index.htm) title url cover text TEACH YOURSELF AMSTRAD BASIC - A TUTORIAL GUIDE - PART 1 http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=23 /media/museum/docs/couvs/amstrad_cpc_teach-yourself-amstrad-basic_1.jpg [**TEACH YOURSELF AMSTRAD BASIC - A TUTORIAL GUIDE - PART 1**](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/) title url cover text TEACH YOURSELF AMSTRAD BASIC - A TUTORIAL GUIDE - PART 2 http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=23 /media/museum/docs/couvs/amstrad_cpc_teach-yourself-amstrad-basic_1.jpg [**TEACH YOURSELF AMSTRAD BASIC - A TUTORIAL GUIDE - PART 2**](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/) title url cover text DMP2000 PRINTER - MANUEL UTILISATEUR (FRENCH MANUAL) http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=23 /media/museum/docs/couvs/amstrad_dmp2000_manuel-utilisateur.jpg [**DMP2000 PRINTER - 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/) title url cover text DMP2160 PRINTER - GUIDE DE L'UTILISATEUR (FRENCH MANUAL) http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=23 /media/museum/docs/couvs/amstrad_dmp2160_manuel-utilisateur.jpg [**DMP2160 PRINTER - GUIDE DE L'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/) title url cover text AMSTRAD DDI-1 DISK DRIVE - MANUEL DE L'UTILISATEUR (FRENCH MANUAL) http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=23 /media/museum/docs/couvs/amstrad_ddi-1_user-manual.jpg [**AMSTRAD DDI-1 DISK DRIVE - MANUEL DE L'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/) title url cover text AMSTRAD MP2F PERITEL ADAPTER - MANUEL UTILISATEUR (FRENCH MANUAL) http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=23 /media/museum/docs/couvs/amstrad_mp2f.jpg [**AMSTRAD MP2F PERITEL ADAPTER - 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/) title url cover text AMX MOUSE - GUIDE DE L'UTILISATEUR (USER MANUAL) http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=23 /media/museum/docs/couvs/amstrad_amx-mouse.jpg [**AMX MOUSE - GUIDE DE L'UTILISATEUR (USER MANUAL)**](http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=23)written by Cygnet Computer Consultants Limited  compiled/archived by Charles Da Silva\  type of document : PDF\  source : [Amstrad.CPC](http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/) title url cover text AMSTRAD LP-1 LIGHT PEN - INSTRUCTIONS POUR L'UTILISATEUR (FRENCH MANUAL) http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=23 /media/museum/docs/couvs/amstrad_lp1_lightpen.jpg [**AMSTRAD LP-1 LIGHT PEN - INSTRUCTIONS POUR L'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/) title url cover text MARK 2 LIGHT PEN - USER MANUAL http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=23 /media/museum/docs/couvs/amstrad_mark2-light-pen.jpg [**MARK 2 LIGHT PEN - USER MANUAL**](http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=23)written by Electric Studio Products  compiled/archived by Charles Da Silva\  type of document : PDF\  source : [Amstrad.CPC](http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/) title url text Amstrad CPC - French commercial http://video.google.com/googleplayer.swf?docId=1649912029980987973&hl=fr Length: 29 s /museum/amstrad-cpc-464 /museum/amstrad-cpc-5512 /museum/amstrad-cpc-6128 /museum/amstrad-cpc-664 /museum/schneider-germany-cpc-464 26 url date https://web.archive.org/web/20230202014350/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=26 2023-02-02

These Amstrads were the successors of the Amstrad CPC 6128. Amstrad tried to prolong the life of the old 8-bit Amstrads, which suffered from competition with the new 16-bit home computers (like the Amiga and Atari ST).

Amstrad made some important modifications to maintain the level of its machines, the CPC 6128 Plus became 95% compatible with the CPC 6128 (using the same operating systems AMSDOS and CP/M 3.0). However, some software did not run on the plus range and amstrad official statement was that the programmers where lazy and used bad programming in some software resulting in crashes on this machine.

Several new features were added: hardware scrolling, increased color palette, an enhanced sound chip, a cartridge port, and a redesigned keyboard. Some of these features were not even present (yet) on certain 16-bit computers (Atari STf didn't have hardware scrolling or sprites). Regardless, this new version of the CPC didn't last long.

The system offers 16 hardware sprites at a size of 16x16 pixels. The sprites are using 15 other colors than the 16 of the palette, and have x/y zoom. The soundchip is the same AY as on the CPC, but controlable with a DMA.

As Atari did with the 65-XE when it reached the end of its life, so Amstrad made a game console from the Amstrad CPC Plus hardware called the GX 4000. This console used the same programs as the computer but were supplied on cartridges.