Print Page - If the Amstrad had released an Arnold number 2

Title: If the Amstrad had released an Arnold number 2
Post by: ivarf on 14:41, 05 March 20

Would we have seen something like this?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantronics_Colorplus (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantronics_Colorplus)

Title: Re: If the Amstrad CPC had released an Arnold number 2
Post by: Gryzor on 14:43, 05 March 20

QuoteCGA compatible modes:

160×100 16 color mode
320x200 in 4 colors from a 16 color hardware palette. Pixel aspect ratio of 1:1.2.
640×200 in 2 colors. Pixel aspect ratio of 1:2.4
40×25 with 8×8 pixel font text mode(effective resolution of 320×200)
80×25 with 8×8 pixel font text mode(effective resolution of 640×200)

In addition to the CGA modes, it offers:

320x200 with 16 colors
640x200 with 4 colors
"New high-resolution" text font, selectable by hardware jumper

Not so different really?

Title: Re: If the Amstrad had released an Arnold number 2
Post by: ivarf on 16:58, 05 March 20

its the next small step up from CGA. The same chip with more RAM for graphics, 32 kB

Title: Re: If the Amstrad had released an Arnold number 2
Post by: Sykobee (Briggsy) on 18:34, 05 March 20

Well, assuming Amstrad had had a go at it in the early 90s.

Let's assume a custom chip a la PCW16 - a 16MHz Z80 system, driving a 640x480 (I think) mono screen (38KB).

The same bandwidth to display that screen could display a 4 colour MODE 2 (ish) (640x240) or 16 colour MODE 1 (320x240) or 256-colour MODE 0 (160x240).

The additional CPU power (4x CPC) would have resulted in higher performance even with the additional colours.

It would have been a bit Atari ST like, presumably with the Plus hardware features as well (so better than ST, with hardware scrolling and sprites).

All academic of course, unless you want to design it on an FPGA today as a 'what if' core.

CPCWiki forum

General Category => Amstrad CPC hardware => Topic started by: ivarf on 14:41, 05 March 20