Difference between revisions of "Aleste 520EX"

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[[Image:Aleste.jpg|thumb|right|Aleste 520EX - CPC and MSX compatible]]
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[[Image:Aleste.jpg|thumb|right|Aleste 520EX - a CPC clone housed in a case with MSX keyboard]]
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The '''Aleste 520EX''' is a [[Clones|clone]] of the Amstrad CPC 6128 developed in Russia in the early 90ies.
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The '''Aleste 520EX''' is a [[Clones|clone]] of the Amstrad CPC 6128 developed 1993 by [[Patisonic]] in Omsk (Siberia). The Aleste is rare, according to Patisonic themselves, they ''"produced several dozens of the model, some of them were in 'kit' form"''.
  
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''The following clone has not been confirmed. There is only one source ([http://aleste520.narod.ru]) available.''
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In addition to the standard CPC6128 features, it includes a number of extra features: '''64-color''' palette, '''double color depth''' in slightly '''decreased horizontal resolution''' mode (eg. 16 color at 256x200 resolution), battery-backed '''Real Time Clock''' chip, '''512Kbyte RAM''' (of which 192K can be accessed as on 64K CPC with 128K dk'tronics memory expansion), '''8bit printer''' port, expanded keyboard matrix with '''10 additional keys''', two software controlled '''LEDs''', extended Expansion Port (with additional pins for '''DMA support''').
  
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At 1993, a company located at Omsk (Siberia) desighed and manufactured a clone of CPC6128 computer. The name of computer "Aleste 520EX". The computer works with Amstrad [[CP/M]] and MSXDOS as well. Thats because Aleste computer have two modes one is Amstrad mode, but second [[MSX]] mode have different memory management and additional graphics modes.
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== Technical ==
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==Amstrad Mode==
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Computer have no any differences with CPC6128 instead of 192KB memory and one addtional register with let switch to MSX mode.
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* [[Aleste 520EX - I/O Ports]] - I/O Ports, Memory, etc.
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* [[Aleste 520EX - Schematics]] - Schematics, Chipset, etc.
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* [[Aleste 520EX - Expansions]] - Hardware Expansions, External Connectors, etc.
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* [[Aleste 520EX - Software]] - CPC software, CP/M, MSXDOS, and games ported to Aleste
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* [[Aleste 520EX - Misc]] - Unsorted Notes
  
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Differences:
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== Pictures ==
  
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- Interrupts can't be manually cleared. This was possible on the CPC by writing to the Gate Array with data bit 7 set 1, bit 6 set to 0 and bit 4 set to 1. In the Aleste this bit is controls an LED.
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<gallery caption="Aleste 520EX">
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File:ALESTE_520EX_PCB_Top.jpg|PCB Top
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File:ALESTE_520EX_PCB_Bottom.jpg|PCB Bottom
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File:ALESTE_Keyboard.jpg|Keyboard
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</gallery>
  
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- Decoding of it's equivalent of the Gate-Array is based on A15 only.
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<gallery caption="Pictures from http://aleste520.narod.ru">
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File:Aleste Open.jpg|PCB and Keyboard
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File:Aleste PCB Top.jpg|PCB top (component side)
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File:Aleste PCB Bottom.jpg|PCB bottom (solder side)
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File:Aleste PCB Illustrated.gif|PCB illustrated
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</gallery>
  
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- The Aleste uses a patched CPC6128 Operating System ROM. It is patched to use the Aleste's 8-bit printer port and has a different startup message.
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The above photos are showing a more or less fully assembled Aleste (the LEDs are missing, and, more important, there is no connection for an internal or external power supply attached to the mainboard - unless the owner used the Expansion Port connector to inject power supply voltages).
  
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==MSX Mode==
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At this mode computer have different memory manager. The manager seems same like MSX mapper and could swicth ON any 16KB page of whole memroy at the any of 16KB page of CPU memory.
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<gallery caption="Pictures from http://www.zonadepruebas.com">
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File:Deepfb-aleste-with-keyboard.jpg|PCB and Keyboard
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File:Deepfb-aleste-without-keyboard.jpg|PCB only
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File:Deepfb-aleste-rear-connectors.jpg|Rear-connectors
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File:Deepfb-aleste-bottom.jpg|Bottom
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</gallery>
  
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The mode have different color coding system. It has the color lookup table (CLUT) or another name pallette. That is dual port memory one prot for coversion pixel's color number to RGB levels. But second for CPU acccess. There is 2 bits for each channel at the pallette present, then it lets to have 64 colors.
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This version has 7pin+7pin sockets for printer (normal would be 5pin+7pin, though the extra pins are most probably left unused).
  
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The mode have two additional modes with 32KB of video memory. Pixel encoding the same as at Amstrad mode but each line has twice more bytes (and pixels). Two 16KB pages transfer to output, one buffer for odd and second even lines of screen.
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<gallery caption="Magic Sound board">
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File:ALESTE_MagicSound_PCB_Top.jpg|PCB Top
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File:ALESTE_MagicSound_PCB_Bottom.jpg|PCB Bottom
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</gallery>
  
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The computer have also mc146818 compatible RTC and a 8251 compatible serial. A serial mouse can be used.
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A sound card for the Aleste.
  
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The 8253 timer is used to generate transmit and receive clock for serial. In addition the cursor output of the CRT is connected as a trigger which is then connected to the colour hardware. So the CRTC cursor can be used to switch colours by the hardware.
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== Documents ==
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Aleste ROM is 64KB, additional page have BIOS SETUP and MSXDOS Boot Loader.
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The BIOS SETUP lets control over: date and time, boot drive, RAM disk, screen mode and style, printer, serial port, and mouse.
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At the boot time computer loads BIOS and MSXBDOS (BIOS for Disc BIOS) from a bood disc. After that COMMAND.COM (MSXDOS). Computer can bott from RAM disc as well.
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==Magic Sound==
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Additional sound board MagicSound is a four channels smapler. Each channel has 8 bit per sample and 6 bits of volume per channel. Computer uses the board for playing STM (Scream Tracker) files. The sample's data containg at the Aleste's memory, that is possible because Aleste have support DMA access from external board to whole Aleste's memory.
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== VDP Emulator ==
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Computer have "GameBios" with is emulator of VDP9938. it was sufficiently - to replace the first several kilos-byte of game and MSX2 game worked. Certainly, video processor MSX is by apparatus sharpened for the games, but they worked sufficiently rapidly to 8MGts of game on "alesta" in order in them to play. Game "FireBird" typical
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"vertical scroller" worked very well.
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== Foton==
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Another additional board FOTON is a "Light Processor". The board have D54 interface and Aleste with special FX application controls over club's light.
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== MagicSound expansion board ==
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* [[Magic Sound Board]]
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== Pictures ==
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<gallery>
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File:Aleste PCB Top.jpg|PCB top/component
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File:Aleste PCB Bottom.jpg|PCB bottom/solder
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File:Aleste PCB Illustrated.gif|PCB illustrated
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File:Aleste-Component-Map.gif|Component Map
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File:Aleste-Schematic1.gif|Schematic 1/4
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File:Aleste-Schematic2.gif|Schematic 2/4
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File:Aleste-Schematic3.gif|Schematic 3/4
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File:Aleste-Schematic4.gif|Schematic 4/4
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</gallery>
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== Technical specs ==
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* [[Media:Aleste-Programming-Manual-English.txt]] - original programming manual (english version, ported to ASCII format)
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* [[Media:AlesteStartupManual.txt]] - info on building the computer, fixing bugs on the PCB (translated to english)
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* [[Media:AlesteSchematicDescription.txt]] - description of schematics (translated to english)
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* [[Media:AlesteUserManual.txt]] - includes external pin-out; some of them conflict with schematics (translated to english)
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* [[Media:AlesteBiosDisassembly.txt]] - Disassembly of differences between CPC6128 and Aleste BIOS
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* [[Media:AlesteBootmenuRomBank3.asm]] - Original source code for BOOTMENU (Upper ROM Bank 3)
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* [[Aleste Translation PROMs and EPROMs]] - description of the numbers in the look-up PROMs/EPROMs
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* [[Media:Aleste Interview Deepfb Valeriy.h t m l]] - Interview with one of the Aleste developers (to view the file: repair the extension, and/or insert HTML and /HTML tags - for some reason, cpcwiki doesn't support the html format)
  
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* CPU: Z80
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== Weblinks ==
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* Clock: 4Mhz (CPC mode derived from a 16Mhz crystal), 3.2Mhz (Aleste mode derived from a 13Mhz crystal)
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*  Memory manager: Dk'Tronics compatible memory mapper (CPC mode), msx-mapper (Aleste mode)
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* Memory: 512КБ (up to 2МБ)
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* Audio: AY8910
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* Graphics:
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** 256x212:16 colors
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** 512x212:4 colors
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** 320x200:16 colirs
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** 640x200:4 colors
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** 640x400:4 colors interleaved
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** Palette 64 colors
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** Hardware scroll (standard CRTC hardware scroll)
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* Floppy disk 3.5"
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* Mouse
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* RTC (mc146818 compatible)
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* Expansion slot
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** 19 address lines
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** DMA to whole memory
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** External board MagicSound
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*** 4 channels
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*** 8 bits per channel
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*** Stereo output
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* Touch screen (only prototype)
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* Light-Processor with D54
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== Software ==
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* http://aleste520.narod.ru - site dedicated to aleste (mainly english, plus some russian docs)
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* MSXDOS
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* [https://github.com/LasDesu/Aleste-520EX github.com/LasDesu/Aleste-520EX] - schematics, PCBs, ROMs and docs
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* С compiler
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* GUI Debugger
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* GameBIOS with VDP emulator
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* Text editor PowerEdit
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* Text files converter TRC. Convert between  MSX, Aleste, and DOS
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* Disk Fixer (ported)
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* Disk Edit (ported)
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* Image viewer
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* Player of S3M, STM files
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* Editor of S3M, STM files
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* Games ported from MSX2
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** VampireKiller
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** KingValery 2
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** FireBird
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** MetalGear
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[[Category:Hardware]]
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[[Category:Hardware]][[Category:Non CPC Computers]][[Category:Clones]]

Latest revision as of 13:50, 1 December 2020

Aleste 520EX - a CPC clone housed in a case with MSX keyboard

The Aleste 520EX is a clone of the Amstrad CPC 6128 developed 1993 by Patisonic in Omsk (Siberia). The Aleste is rare, according to Patisonic themselves, they "produced several dozens of the model, some of them were in 'kit' form".

In addition to the standard CPC6128 features, it includes a number of extra features: 64-color palette, double color depth in slightly decreased horizontal resolution mode (eg. 16 color at 256x200 resolution), battery-backed Real Time Clock chip, 512Kbyte RAM (of which 192K can be accessed as on 64K CPC with 128K dk'tronics memory expansion), 8bit printer port, expanded keyboard matrix with 10 additional keys, two software controlled LEDs, extended Expansion Port (with additional pins for DMA support).

Technical

Pictures

  • Aleste 520EX

  • PCB Top

  • PCB Bottom

  • Keyboard

  • Pictures from http://aleste520.narod.ru

  • PCB and Keyboard

  • PCB top (component side)

  • PCB bottom (solder side)

  • PCB illustrated

The above photos are showing a more or less fully assembled Aleste (the LEDs are missing, and, more important, there is no connection for an internal or external power supply attached to the mainboard - unless the owner used the Expansion Port connector to inject power supply voltages).

  • Pictures from http://www.zonadepruebas.com

  • PCB and Keyboard

  • PCB only

  • Rear-connectors

  • Bottom

This version has 7pin+7pin sockets for printer (normal would be 5pin+7pin, though the extra pins are most probably left unused).

  • Magic Sound board

  • PCB Top

  • PCB Bottom

A sound card for the Aleste.

Documents

Weblinks

Retrieved from "https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php?title=Aleste_520EX&oldid=107475"