CPC four times faster...

[McArti0]

The SuperZ80 expansion card, disabling the internal Z80, writing speed to internal RAM 20kB per frame 1us per byte.

SuperCPU could have a larger than I design (one address, one byte =24 bit) write buffer to CPC RAM. Each write to the buffer is fast. Wait states appear when the buffer does not have time to empty. When buffer is full during nCPU is Hi, SuperZ80 can execute several non-write instructions or wait for write byte to buffer.
I was also thinking about a 9-bit clone ROM, which it would download while executing the code and write the 9th bit that this byte is already cached inside.

[McArti0]

regarding video, FDC and probably more.

VGA monitor welcomes this with open arms.

Does Gotek also have a problem?

[Prodatron]

regarding video, FDC and probably more.

VGA monitor welcomes this with open arms.

Does Gotek also have a problem?

The Gotek would have to listen to a 1,5times faster FDC. All sectors will have a 1,5times higher density, which was the problem of a 6MHz CPC. Because of this you werent' able to exchange discs between a 4 and a 6MHz CPC. A 6MHz CPC could save about 6,7KB/track instead of 4,5KB.

[McArti0]

The Gotek would have to listen to a 1,5times faster FDC

and all disk drives are equally fast? 3,5" too?

[GUNHED]

BTW: I have a CPC6128 running at 6 MHz stable. Just replaced the 16 MHz crystal by a 24 MHz one.

Yes, your old story.
But "stable" is a very relative description.
It is useless/not compatible regarding video, FDC and probably more.
Unfortunately I forgot it, but what was the CPC meeting, where you presented this 6MHz machine to the public?

Yeah, and now that's your old story too. Like usually you want to tell people what's 'useless' for them. But what you mean is just, that something is useless for you / SymbOS. Try to be a bit less Narciss.   Come on, allow us to live our CPC hobby our way! 

BTW: IIRC the meeting was either one of the CPC-Only meetings or some XzentriX, but it's something like 18-21 years ago. And the CPC still runs like a charm. I love the enhances = horizontally squeezed screen and also to be able to put 50% more data on an disc. 

Anything else... It's 3 the morning. Read you later the day...

[McArti0]

And the CPC still runs like a charm.

Have you ever tried to speed up the motor that spins a floppy disk? Is this controlled by the device software?

[eto]

and also to be able to put 50% more data on an disc.

Ho wdo you exchange data with this CPC? Are other expansions compatible and can be used, like the M4 or Symbiface?

[GUNHED]

And the CPC still runs like a charm.

Have you ever tried to speed up the motor that spins a floppy disk? Is this controlled by the device software?

No, and I wouldn't know how to do this actually. In case of the 6 MHz CPC the FDC just writes/reads with 50% more speed. So up to nearly 300 KB can be put on one disc side. And for 80 track (ds) formats up to roughly 1,2 MB can be stored on disc. 
Not all the discs work that way error free, but most of them. Just tested a 3" disc from 1997 which still contains the same data error-free since 27 years. (Written with the 6 MHz CPC). 

[GUNHED]

and also to be able to put 50% more data on an disc.

Ho wdo you exchange data with this CPC? Are other expansions compatible and can be used, like the M4 or Symbiface?

My preferred way to exchange data back the day was to use the Inicron RAM expansion (accu buffered) and the RDOS ROM to have the 444 KB RAM disc C. Today I would probably use a serial connection of SD card.

I tested quite some hardware expansions: Some work, few not.
(And for very few expansions you probably need to adjust software a bit.)

[McArti0]

I wonder how much 50% more Sectors per track is compared to 9 

[GUNHED]

I wonder how much 50% more Sectors per track is compared to 9 

Well, the FDC765 supports different sector sizes. According to the maxium number of bytes per track it may be befeficial to use 0.5, 1.0 or even 2 KB sectors. 

[McArti0]

what RAM do you have 150ns?, mux LS153? what CRTC, what 8255.
Take a photo of the mainboard that RUN.

and check the temperature of all chips, especially 765

Say something about the components or take a photo. And confirm that gotek does not work.

[eto]

also to be able to put 50% more data on an disc.

but that then also requires AMSDOS to use more sectors per track, right? What settings do you use then, that it can write a full track?

[GUNHED]

what RAM do you have 150ns?, mux LS153? what CRTC, what 8255.
Take a photo of the mainboard that RUN.

and check the temperature of all chips, especially 765

Say something about the components or take a photo. And confirm that gotek does not work.

As told, just the crystal got exchanged (in my case I added a 2nd one at 24 MHz and a switch to be able to switch crystals - Switching shall happen ONLY when the CPC is OFF!).
Anything else remains the same. No heat, no problems - it's a CPC not a stupid PC thanks god! 
Well, yes, I put a Z80B instead of the Z80A. RAM works fine anyway.

The critical component it the GA. Seems that other 6 MHz CPCs had problems with some GAs.

[GUNHED]

also to be able to put 50% more data on an disc.

but that then also requires AMSDOS to use more sectors per track, right? What settings do you use then, that it can write a full track?

No, other DOS or OS can be used. (Of course using the native software will not change a thing to the better.)   
If you want to stay with the native OS then I would suggest to use ParaDOS and change format parameters in that. 
Also CP/M allows to adapt disc formats in an easy way. 

[McArti0]

As told, just the crystal got exchanged

what original components do you have? RAM 200ns, 150, 120? what crtc, what 8255.?

[XLV2K]

Just found out about this https://www.mouser.com/PCN/Littelfuse_PCN_Z84C00.pdf today .. Zilog is retiring the Z80 after 48 years.. so if you wanna make that Amstrad CPC accelerator, better get on with it pronto 

[zhulien]

6mhz is better than 4mhz, but it only makes sense as a $20 upgrade of changing the cpu.  Ideally something faster. I know other ways that can be done but to be true to the hardware I am not sure...

Another way could be to actually run a cpc emulator in the Pi side that communicates with the cpc for certain services like real floppy access and keyboard or perhaps some I/O... but then its just a more cool way of running an emulator rather than really a faster cpc.

I'm not abandoning CPLink as I really think it has some great potential and besides the M4 card I think everyone should have one.  

[eto]

If you want to stay with the native OS then I would suggest to use ParaDOS and change format parameters in that. 
Also CP/M allows to adapt disc formats in an easy way. 

okay... will try. What parameters do you use for Parados to get the floppy properly filled?

How do you start CP/M? The system disk obviously won't be able to boot.

[GUNHED]

If you want to stay with the native OS then I would suggest to use ParaDOS and change format parameters in that.
Also CP/M allows to adapt disc formats in an easy way.

okay... will try. What parameters do you use for Parados to get the floppy properly filled?

How do you start CP/M? The system disk obviously won't be able to boot.

Sorry, I use another OS most of the time. For CP/M: Copy tracks, store content on RAM disc, switch to 6 MHz (CPC off/6 MHz crystal active/CPC on), finally copy data back to tracks.

[GUNHED]

As told, just the crystal got exchanged

what original components do you have? RAM 200ns, 150, 120? what crtc, what 8255.?

Doesn't matter, the GA is the critical component. (Z80 in 6 MHz of course!).

[eto]

ry, I use another OS most of the time. For CP/M: Copy tracks, store content on RAM disc, switch to 6 MHz (CPC off/6 MHz crystal active/CPC on), finally copy data back to tracks. 

I think we should update the Wiki article with all the relevant aspects. 

At the current level of documentation, anyone who tries it will end up with a machine that is fast but can't access any software. And the way to make software work on it requires not only additional, special hardware - it also requires specific knowledge about stuff like running CP/M from ROM, copying data to a battery backed up RAM disk and figuring out the drive parameters in CP/M and PARADOS.

[McArti0]

Does Dandanator work at 6MHz?
Ps. DDI 5?

[GUNHED]

Give it a try. In any case it's needed to update come CRTC registers before usage. Or use a multiscan monitor.