old-computers.com/website
1
0
Fork 0
Code Issues Pull Requests Actions Packages Projects Releases Wiki Activity
Files
c6c5bd85634476b519265536921db5ab4f90b8d4
website/content/museum/amstrad-pcw-8256-8512.md
T
yann64andClaude Opus 5.5 b274874139 All machines linked to their forum thread (full comment import) 
1,289 discussions, 9,527 archived comments; pages no longer carry the comments themselves.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 5.5 <noreply@anthropic.com>
Claude-Session: https://claude.ai/code/session_01YDRjtmAiNpo5mK5N3d7QwZ
2026-10-13 17:26:43 +02:00

14 KiB
Raw Blame History

title, categories, types, origins, years, cpus, params
title categories types origins years cpus params
Amstrad PCW 8256 / 8512
Computers
Professional Computer
United Kingdom
1985
Zilog Z80 A
name image company company_name specs tabs forum_thread photos adverts hardware screenshots emulators links docs related oc_id source
PCW 8256 / 8512 /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8512_system_s1.jpg /companies/amstrad Amstrad
label value
NAME PCW 8256 / 8512
label value
MANUFACTURER Amstrad
label value
TYPE Professional Computer
label value
ORIGIN United Kingdom
label value
YEAR September 1985
label value
BUILT IN LANGUAGE Mallard Basic
label value
KEYBOARD Mechanical keyboard with numeric keypad end special edit keys (COPY,CUT,PASTE,PRINT,etc.). 8 function keys.
label value
CPU Zilog Z80 A
label value
SPEED The CPU is running at 4 MHz, but is slowed down by the internal clock to 3,4 Mhz
label value
CO-PROCESSOR Video : Amstrad ASIC custom chip\ DD controler : NEC 765
label value
RAM 256 KB (16 banks of 16 kb each)
label value
TEXT MODES 90 x 32
label value
GRAPHIC MODES 720 x 256 (PAL), 720 x 200 (NTSC)
label value
COLORS monochrome (black & green)
label value
SOUND Beeper, 1 channel
label value
I/O PORTS Z80 Bus, Parallel
label value
BUILT IN MEDIA 1 Hitachi 3'' disk-drive (160 kb/side)
label value
OS CP/M, CP/M+
label value
POWER SUPPLY PSU built-in
label value
PERIPHERALS Printer, parallel/Centronics interface
label value
PRICE 1065 (september 85)
photos
adverts
hardware
software
emulators
links
docs
199
title subtitle text image
COMPLETE SYSTEM /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8256_system_1.jpg
title subtitle text image
INSIDE THE 8512 #1 **(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 /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8512_inside_1.jpg
title subtitle text image
INSIDE THE 8512 #2 /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8512_inside_3.jpg
title subtitle text image
8256 / 8512 MOTHERBOARD 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 /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8512_inside_2.jpg
title subtitle text image
ARTISTIC TUBE CLOSE UP /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8512_tube_1.jpg
title subtitle text image
8256 PRINTER 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. /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8256_printer_1.jpg
title subtitle text image
DUST COVER /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8256_dustcover_1.jpg
title subtitle text image
USER MANUALS /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8512_manuals_s1.jpg
title subtitle text image
LOCOMOTIVE SOFTWARE SUITE /media/museum/photos/amstrad_8512_locoprograms_s1.jpg
title subtitle text image
U.K. AD (MAR. 86) 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... /media/museum/pubs/amstrad_8256_pub_1.jpg
title subtitle text image
SERIAL / PARALLEL INTERFACE /media/museum/hardware/amstrad_8512_serialinterf_1.jpg
title subtitle text image
SERIAL INTERFACE AND MOUSE A standard serial mouse could be used thrue a serial interface expansion and a specific connector. /media/museum/hardware/amstrad_8512_serialmouse_s1.jpg
title subtitle text image
RAMPAC 1.5 MB memory expansion This memory expansion was used by some programs as a fast virtual floppy disk drive. /media/museum/hardware/amstrad_9512_rampac_s1.jpg
title subtitle text image
ACE Title screen Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_ace_ss.gif
title subtitle text image
ACE Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_ace_2_ss.gif
title subtitle text image
BATMAN Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_batman_2_ss.gif
title subtitle text image
CORSARIOS Title screen Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_corsarios_ss.gif
title subtitle text image
CORSARIOS Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_corsarios_2_ss.gif
title subtitle text image
GOODY Title screen Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_goody_ss.gif
title subtitle text image
GOODY Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_goody_2_ss.gif
title subtitle text image
HEAD OVER HEELS Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_headoverheels_ss.gif
title subtitle text image
LAST NINJA 2 Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_lastninja2_ss.gif
title subtitle text image
MATCH DAY II Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_matchday2_ss.gif
title subtitle text image
SKIING Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_skiing_ss.gif
title subtitle text image
STRIKE FORCE HARRIER Title screen Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_strikeforceharrier_ss.gif
title subtitle text image
STRIKE FORCE HARRIER Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_strikeforceharrier_ss_2.gif
title subtitle text image
BATMAN Title screen Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_batman_ss.gif
title subtitle text image
BOW WINNER Title screen Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_bobwinner_ss.gif
title subtitle text image
BURAN Title screen Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_buran_ss.gif
title subtitle text image
BURAN Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_buran_2_ss.gif
title subtitle text image
CLIMB IT Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_climbit_ss.gif
title subtitle text image
COLOSSUS 4 CHESS Title screen Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_colossus4chess_ss.gif
title subtitle text image
COLOSSUS 4 CHESS Thanks to this [Amstrad PCW page](http://www.galeon.com/amstradpcw/) for this picture. /media/museum/software/amstrad_pcw_colossus4chess_2_ss.gif
title url platform text
Joyce http://www.seasip.demon.co.uk/Unix/Joyce/index.html Multiplatform JOYCE emulates the Amstrad PCW on Unix, Windows and Mac OS X
title url text
Amstrad PCW http://ciberia.ya.com/tuamstradpcw/ Nice spanish PCW dedicated page with screenshots, software to download and much more!
title url text
Amstrad PCW products from Pineboard Computers http://www.btinternet.com/~pinboardcomputers/pcws/indexa.htm
title url text
AMSTRAD PCW SPARES http://www.pcwking1.netfirms.com
title url text
Ian Macdonald's PCW pages http://www.caliban.org/PCW.html
title url text
Kathleen's General Interest PCW Site http://pcwgallery.cjb.net Information about the Amstrad PCW range of computers with photographs and links
title url text
MB Schneider PCW Seite http://www.3pro.de/mb/pcw8256.htm (in german)
title url text
SD Microsystems http://members.aol.com/sdmicro/index.htm Company supporting CPC, PCW and Amstrad PC
title url cover text
PCW 8256/8512 USER GUIDE - CP/M LOGO & WORD PROCESSING MANUAL http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/article.php?sid=23 /media/museum/docs/couvs/amstrad_pcw-8256-8512_user-manual.jpg [**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/)
/museum/amstrad-pcw-9512
189
url date
https://web.archive.org/web/20230608074817/http://www.old-computers.com/museum/computer.asp?c=189 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 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) 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.

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

Reference in New Issue View Git Blame Copy Permalink