CPC Mainboard Versions

[robcfg]

Behold!


A broken Z70290-MC0020F CPC6128 board! 


Ok, how do I put a thumbnail of a bigger image in the wiki?


Edit: It has the standard 320x155 mm size.

[Gryzor]

Nice old board and a good photo, though it could be of a higher rez... but I don't complain

Regarding thumbnails: it's very easy to find out how to do stuff - just check the source code of a ready page. For instance , on the home page you can see:

[[Image:Cpc.PNG|thumb|right|150px|C.P.C.]]

This inserts a thumbnail of Cpc.PNG, 150-pixel wide, to the right of the text, with the text "C.P.C." under it

[Bryce]

Define broken? I like to think of such parts as "not yet repaired"

Bryce.

Edit: Ooooouuu, I just took a look at the picture close up. That's nasty, looks like someone picked it up with a hedge-cutter, but it's probably still save-able: Replace the 74LS273, the Monitor connector, bridge the track gaps where it's ripped and the damaged resistors and capacitors and you might just get it back to life. All the important bits seem to have survived

[robcfg]

@Gryzor


I did a nice 300dpi scan of the board, but if you need more resolution, you'll get it.... 


Regarding the thumbnail, I think I didn't expressed myself correctly. What I was trying to do is include the thumbnail in the post here in the forum instead of the link.


@Bryce


Well.... It has broken resistors, broken IC's, some areas of the board are physically broken. It's not that it cannot be repaired but it is pretty damaged.
Anyway I got it because it was missing in our mainboard versions list and it has serve that purpose well. 

[Bryce]

I managed to get an Atari 800XL back running that was in similar condition. Not because I needed to, but just because I enjoyed the challenge. But then again, as a friend of mine once said: If I was a vet, I'd probably have a go at getting a medium cooked steak back on its feet

Regarding the thumbnail: You can add a thumbnail to the forum by chosing "Additional options" below the text input box and adding the file as an attachment.

Bryce.

[nocash]

Hi Markus,

> Last weekend I got an "Amstrad CPC 464" which was sold in Germany.
> (Grey keyboard but Amstrad logo)
That sounds like the "unidentified model" on the http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Keyboard_Versions page. Good to know that it IS a german model (the only other info claimed it was a UK model).
How about a photo of the keyboard? The "diagonal" http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/File:WalgenbachAmstrad_CPC464_grey_Large.jpg picture doesn't fit too well for the keyboard page.

---

Btw. did anybody ever disassemble an english CPC Plus system cartridge? Would be nice to know the part number on the eprom sticker. Not toooo important, but it's known for all other countries, except england. (Note: I read somewhere that the snap-ins could easily break when opening CPC cartridges, so think of a way to reassemble it before trying to open it).

Cu, Martin

[leZone]

Hello!

i dont read all the topic, i just want to share with cpc community a list i made since years, to sort hardware by MFRS number
my list is very different of the hardware list you have because it is not list in the same way : for me, country is the most important thing because of external differences, then MFRS and yellow letter are important, serial number is important too, and you can sort computers in chronogical issue

is there a place on the wiki where computers are sorted by external aspect, MFRS, serial number, model of logo, amstrad or schneider, type of keyboard .... ?

if an administrator want this full list in excel format, please contact me
by the way i own 43 cpc computers, most all of them are different, i'll make a website with photos of it later when i'll have time, i just can show you external keyboard-view photos if interested
i wanted to show you these photos, but i didn't find any presentation thread directory, is there one on this board ?


if it can help, here is a short part of my list, the only where i have number of motherboard :

computer / country / motherboard / crtc / gate array / z80 / MFRS or colored sticker
464 / english / MC0001A / HD6845SP / 40007-4 / ZILOG Z80A CPU / Yellow E ; K31-4Y
464 / english / MC0002B / HD6845SP / 40010 / ZILOG Z80A CPU / Yellow K ; K31-51
464 / french / MC0001A / HD6845SP / 40007-4 / ZILOG Z80A CPU / Yellow I ; K31-4Y (rom 40009 6133-1950 8435AAA)
464 / french / MC0002C / HD6845SP / 40007-4 / SGS Z80ACPU / Yellow O ; K31-57 (Yellow P)
464 / french / MC0002D / HD6845P / 40010 / SGS Z80ACPU / ??? ; ???
464 / french / MC0002D / HD6845SP / 40007-4 / Zilog Z80 CPU / MFRS D
464 / french / MC0044B / UM6845R / 40010 / Zilog Z80 CPU / MFRS A
464 / spain / MC0044D / UM6845R / 40007 / Zilog Z80 CPU / MFRS B
464 / german / MC0002B / HD6845SP / 40007 / SGS Z80ACPU / Yellow J ; K31-53 (rom 40009 6133-1950 8449HAK)
464 / german / MC0008C / HD6845 / 40010 / ZILOG Z80CPU / MFRS B (rom 40009 763004)
464 / german / MC0046A / UM6845R / 40010 / Zilog Z80 CPU / MFRS A

472 / spain / MC0002C / HD6845SP / 40010 / SGS Z80ACPU / ???

664 / english / MC0005A / HD6845SP / 40010 / SGS Z80ACPU / Yellow A ; K32-54
664 / french / MC0005A / HD6845SP / 40010 / SGS Z80ACPU / Yellow A ; K32-53
664 / french / MC0005B / HD6845SP / 40010 / SGS Z80ACPU / Yellow B ; K32-54

6128 / english / MC0009B / MC6845P / 40010 / SGS Z80ACPU / Yellow A ; K32-57
6128 / french / MC0020B / MC6845SP / 40010 / SGS Z80ACPU / Red C ; ?
6128 / french / MC0020C / UM6845 / 40010 / ZILOG Z80CPU / ???
6128 / french / MC0026D / UM6845 / 40010 / MOSTEK Z80 / MFRS H (rom 40051 - 5752-3030-8701-EMI)
6128 / french / MC0023G / UM6845R / 40010 / ZILOG Z80CPU / MFRS K (alsacian model, silver label)
6128 / french / MC0020I / UM6845R / 40010 / ZILOG Z80CPU / MFRS L
6128 / french / MC0100A / ? / ? / ? / MFRS O
6128 / german / MC0012B / HD6845SP / 40010 / SGS Z80ACPU / Yellow B ; ? (rom 40025 6133-1953 8523HAK)
6128 / german / MC0023C / HD6845SP / 40010 / ZILOG Z80CPU / MFRS B
6128 / german / MC0023F / HD6845 / 40010 / ZILOG Z80CPU / MFRS E

464+ / french / MC0122D [9] / ? / ? / ? / MFRS D
6128+ / french / MC0122A [5] / ? / ? / ? / MFRS D
6128+ / french / MC0122E [10] / ? / ? / ST Z80ACPU / MFRS G
GX4000 / french / MC0123C [6] / ? / ? / ST Z80A CPU / ?

[Gryzor]

43 different CPCs??? This is crazy!!! Wow... I can't begin to imagine how you managed to find such a diverse collection, or how many duplicates you 'threw out'...

[leZone]

there is lots of differences : keyboard, logo, language, down plate, connectors, model, motherboard ... i know i miss some to complete it !
i think there is 2 or 3 wich are "same" as others here

                                

as you can see, i miss some hardware to finish my goal 

[Devilmarkus]

Is here someone who owns the CPC 464 prototype?
http://cpcwiki.eu/imgs/3/3d/GA_high_res.JPG

[leZone]

sadly no 
it's a holly graal !

[Devilmarkus]

Yes :-D
Well you have a nice collection!
What I am looking for is a English CPC 464... (With the coloured keys)
Who wants to give me one?
I cannot pay for it But I would be over-happy

[steve]

Is here someone who owns the CPC 464 prototype?
http://cpcwiki.eu/imgs/3/3d/GA_high_res.JPG

I never realised that plastic could rust so badly

[Devilmarkus]

I never realised that plastic could rust so badly

Yes it's in a poor condition I wonder why the owner did not clean it...

[Gryzor]

Well, maybe he took it just after he got it out of the box. It's a real shame we don't have many, many more of both the innards and the case...

Concerning the dirt - imagine the programming that took place on this little fella!

[nocash]

Nice photo collection! Is that just a problem with my eyes, or are some 464's a few centimeters longer than others? Like the upper two models on http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt313/lezone/lezone-collection-8bits-cpc2.jpg for example?

The bottom one on http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt313/lezone/lezone-collection-8bits-cpc5.jpg, that is the "missing" german amstrad 464 one isn't it? Missing in so far as there's no photo on http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Keyboard_Versions. One other thing that is missing there is the Schneider 464 with "Ein" LED instead of "In Function" LED. Didn't knew that this variant does exist.

Just checking which of your MCnnnn board numbers are found on the http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Mainboard_Versions page... the 464, 664, 464+ and gx4000 boards seem to be all there... but many-many of the 6128 and 6128+ boards are missing on cpcwiki:
6128 / english / MC0009B - missing
6128 / french / MC0020B - ok
6128 / french / MC0020C - missing
6128 / french / MC0026D - missing
6128 / french / MC0023G - missing
6128 / french / MC0020I - ok
6128 / french / MC0100A - ok
6128 / german / MC0012B - missing
6128 / german / MC0023C - missing
6128 / german / MC0023F - missing
6128+ / french / MC0122A - missing
6128+ / french / MC0122E - missing
Hmmmm, you don't eventually have photos (or scans) of that boards?

I am sure the "MFRS or colored sticker" thing did have some meaning - but I've no clue which one. Could indicate the hardware in it, or location or date when or where it was assembled, or shipping/distributor destination info, or whatever. Guess you haven't found out its meaning, or did you?

[steve]

Would that prototype use a 6502 processor or is it later than that?

[leZone]

i'm not sure it's the right thread to speak about visual variations, because it's thread about motherboards : ask me if it will be better to have a new thread for visual variations and MFRS informations

Nice photo collection! Is that just a problem with my eyes, or are some 464's a few centimeters longer than others?

optical effect due to my Nikon wich have large anglular lens

The bottom one on http://i623.photobucket.com/albums/tt313/lezone/lezone-collection-8bits-cpc5.jpg, that is the "missing" german amstrad 464 one isn't it?

it is the 664 german version, with grey keys instead of blue (it cost me a lot but i'm happy to have one of it)

Hmmmm, you don't eventually have photos (or scans) of that boards?

i own some of it, others are from internet but if i have the motherboard information that means i have a photo somewhere in my digital archives
i'll take a look (due to space problems, my amstrads are not with me for now, i'll change my home soon, so i think i'll be able to make all photos possible after january 2011, i just ask you to wait some months)

I am sure the "MFRS or colored sticker" thing did have some meaning - but I've no clue which one. Could indicate the hardware in it, or location or date when or where it was assembled, or shipping/distributor destination info, or whatever. Guess you haven't found out its meaning, or did you?

i found some tracks to understand it, but it is not 100% perfect : each MRFS new letter = new modification of the hardware, it can be motherboard or keyboard or language roms or something other visual aspect
Oldest have round colored sticker and serial number on a small sticker, newest have MFRS white sticker ans serial is write on main plate

i sort hardware by country, then by MFRS or yellow round sticker wich can be yellow, orange or red
because mfrs grow up with serial number on the same country, but i'm not sure the same mfrs on english computers means the same french version of hardware inside

464 with big keyboard have colored sticker yellow
note : 464 english models with big keys have sticker with "British Electrotechnical Approvals Board"
letters grow with every modification, then one day, yellow sticker is replaced by MFRS white and restart from A
464 with short motherboard and english+spanish texts in plastic, restart MFRS from A
464 with yellow sticker ; serial start with K31 or K32
464 with MFRS ; serial start with 531, 533, 535, 544,

472 with normal keyboard have yellow sticker
472 with spanish ñ key have orange sticker, or red sticker
472 have not MFRS white sticker (use this to detect fakes on ebay)

664 have yellow sticker ; serial start with K32-53 , K32-54 , K32-55
664 have not MFRS white sticker

6128 have usually yellow sitcker or white MFRS
BUT i own one with red sticker!

6128 with short motherboard (arnold4) have MFRS O, serial start with 671- or 672-
plus versions have a square colored sticker with letter, it's the same in computer/console and in the box, on the plastic cases in the box (usually green)

there is a variation of the upper plastic case of the 6128+ computer (under amstrad logo)

monitors and other peripherals have MFRS too
the only yellow sticker i know is on a GT64 old english monitor

that's a big list i made since now 6 years, with some internet photos and with my computers, some people help me to add computers to my list
i'll be happy if some of you can help me to add devices to this list
i'll make this list available to public probably in 2011 when my real life will be more clear than now

here are the models i have referenced, it miss some extra variations like small motherboard on 6128 for example :
english 464 / old logo / big keys
english 464 / old logo / small keys
english 464 / new logo / small keys
english 464 / new logo / small keys / short motherboard ?? never see one

french 464 / old logo / qwerty / big keys
french 464 / old logo / qwerty / small keys / 2 AMPS on label
french 464 / old logo / qwerty / small keys / 2 AMP on label
french 464 / old logo / azerty / small keys
french 464 / new logo / azerty / small motherboard

spanish 464 / old logo
spanish 464 / big logo / small motherboard

german 464 / schneider big logo / big keys
german 464 / schneider big logo / small keys
german 464 / schneider small logo / small keys
german 464 / amstrad logo / small motherboard (keyboard with grey keys) (i own this one)

spanish 472 / without ñ key
spanish 472 / with ñ key

english 664 / FDD (floppy disc drive)
french 664 / LDD (lecteur de disquettes)
german 664 / schneider logo, grey keys

english 6128 / old logo
english 6128 / new logo

french 6128 / old logo / qwerty
french 6128 / old logo / azerty
french 6128 / new logo
french 6128 / new logo / silver plate on floppy disc (called the Alsacian model)

spanish 6128 / old logo
spanish 6128 / new logo

german 6128 / big logo
german 6128 / small logo

english 464+ / qwerty
french 464+ / azerty
spanish 464+ / with ñ key

english 6128+ / qwerty
french 6128+ / motherboard v6
french 6128+ / motherboard v7
spanish 6128+ / with ñ key

GT64 english amstrad
GT64 german schneider
GT65-2 new logo
CTM 640
CTM 644-2 old logo
CTM 644-2 new logo
CTM 644-2 schneider big logo
CTM 644-2 schneider small logo
MM12
CM14
MP-1
MP-2F
MP-3
CT-1
i miss some other peripherals


oh and at last, i own the rare and famous american 6128 modified by INDESCOMP (wich was sold in europe because amstrad never sold the cpc in usa), it's english amstrad, qwerty, with centronics connectors
here the plate, photo as a gift for you

as you can see, this one is exceptionnal, yellow round sticker with A letter, serial is on plate on chrome, INDESCOMP text ... Amstrad hardware is crazy to collect, enjoy 

[nocash]

Phew, the MFRS stickers are confusing me, they do increase somehow... and do eventually restart... not to forget that the color changes once and then. No thanks, don't want to know more details. I am feeling better with photos of mainboards and keyboards.

You mean Amstrad never sold CPCs in usa? That'd explain why there's so little info about US cpc's and US users... Though ACU announced that the 6128 "will be" launched in USA, http://cpcwiki.eu/imgs/5/55/Amstrad_Computer_User8508_007.jpg - the article doesn't say if it "was actually" launched, but I thought that they did at least sell a few models, or do you know more about the US history?

Btw. does your US-Indescomp show "Solavox" in the boot message? Like those mentioned here, http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Solavox more offtopic, here are a few notes & press infos about CPCs in usa and elsewhere, http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/CPCs_Worldwide including the cpc launch in singapore; I assume that it became a flop there, too.

PS. more on the prototype, http://cpcwiki.eu/index.php/CPC_Prototypes, I think it's a "normal" CPC with Z80, but the gate array seems to be a "little" bigger than usually. Quite possible that it might also contain an older BIOS version (no idea if anybody ever dumped it).

[leZone]

the article doesn't say if it "was actually" launched, but I thought that they did at least sell a few models, or do you know more about the US history?

i think they never sell any cpc in usa, the launch was aborted and computers stay in spain, and never travel to usa

Indescomp is a spanish company, created in 1981
Indescomp ask amstrad to import and sell cpc 464 in spain, the deal was done in exchange of games created by indescomp
Indescomp was a spanish holding which included the hardware and software importer and distributor Indescomp, the software house Microbyte and the publisher of the Amstrad User magazine for Spain.
cpc was a succes in spain, so indescomp ask amstrad to sell cpc in usa, on label Solavox
indescomp buy computers and relook it for usa market, they start to marketing in usa but they never send computers in usa (it's look like a money problem, you must pay for example wallmart to be distributed by their shops, and european software company had not enough money to prepare a launch like this, indescomp was not atari...)
these 6128 was finally sold in europe, specially in spain (but i had buy mine in france in the 2k's, so i'm not able to tell his travel story)
in 87 : Amstrad PLC acquires Indescomp   Sep 25 1987
end of story

sources:
http://amstrad.cpc.free.fr/amstrad/cpc472.htm
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:tzrwIFFgybwJ:www.alacrastore.com/company-snapshot/Indescomp_S_A-1048748+indescomp+amstrad&cd=7&hl=fr&ct=clnk&gl=fr
http://webcache.googleusercontent.com/search?q=cache:WYT5OvFctekJ:www.phenix.cathydeco.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php%3Ftopic_id%3D3729%26start%3D10+cpczone.net+solavox&cd=2&hl=fr&ct=clnk&gl=fr

Btw. does your US-Indescomp show "Solavox" in the boot message?

i have never started this computer, i'll do the day i'll be able to open it and take hi res photos in good condition

[nocash]

If the info in the new york times article from 1987 is correct... "Until last fall, its home computers were marketed by Sears World Trade Inc. ... Sears World Trade, however, ended up purchasing only about 70,000 units, instead of the expected 100,000 units" there seem to have been some 6128's exported to USA. Not as many as expected, and maybe some (or all?) of them were returned to europe, but they seem to have been there.

[leZone]

purchasing is different from distribute
perhaps they purchase with money, but have never take the hardware in their hands ?
do you know if it exist public adverts for CPC in USA ? (like catalog of computer, reseller or other thing like this)
indescomp modified computers in end of 1985 to sell for christmas probably and in 86, it's strange Sears buy stuff in 87 ?
your opinion ?

(i dont know the true, like you i search informations)

[robcfg]

Hey guys, I did reformat a bit the Mainboard Versions page by inserting the pictures in tables.


I'm beginning to upload the other side of the PCB's and I thought it would be better that way.


CPCManiaco gave me 6 boards to scan and upload  them, so stay tuned! 

[Gryzor]

Woo-hoo Thanks!

[leZone]

hi!
i found these photos on my harddrive (look attachments)
hope to help