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General Category => Technical support - Hardware related => Topic started by: sokot on 13:36, 31 August 25

Title: question about modification in Amstrad CPC464
Post by: sokot on 13:36, 31 August 25
Hey,

I recently bought an Amstrad CPC 464 in good visual condition with one modification that I know nothing about. So I have a question. Can you tell me what this modification might do? Visually, nothing changes when I flip the switch, except that games (I tested with Bruce Lee) from the DDI5 cartridge either don't load or load depending on the position of the switch. I'm attaching a few photos so you can see what the modification looks like. There are two white cables running from the switch to the board, and the photos show where they end up. There is also a red cable connecting two places on the motherboard.

 https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yLEYDgC8mwd3HUr032PREJEKtgO97pBI/view?usp=sharing (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1yLEYDgC8mwd3HUr032PREJEKtgO97pBI/view?usp=sharing)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KW3SjBpEmDDBhEptMm6LlqXQYDb1RaJK/view?usp=sharing (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1KW3SjBpEmDDBhEptMm6LlqXQYDb1RaJK/view?usp=sharing)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fWKLmWJbKD0NGwlJ9oyuHkLkpsq-e3TN/view?usp=sharing (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fWKLmWJbKD0NGwlJ9oyuHkLkpsq-e3TN/view?usp=sharing)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TD7CCCn70vNJ1IHNX-TSs2wn67wymvpd/view?usp=sharing (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1TD7CCCn70vNJ1IHNX-TSs2wn67wymvpd/view?usp=sharing)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/15kJ-wxgQm4q5mHR74M4e5TuCD8Ws9r4F/view?usp=sharing (https://drive.google.com/file/d/15kJ-wxgQm4q5mHR74M4e5TuCD8Ws9r4F/view?usp=sharing)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fum1kmRiUrFLmeij-69cseh6ThAzhMSi/view?usp=sharing (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1fum1kmRiUrFLmeij-69cseh6ThAzhMSi/view?usp=sharing)
 
The second issue is that the upper RAM memory on bank 8 crashes during the diagnostic test, but everything goes smoothly during the second memory test. Overall, the computer does not seem to have a memory problem, but I am not sure what to think about it. Maybe it is related to this modification? I am also attaching the test results. I would appreciate any advice.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/11HtWRwG8Wgdxb0oHNJ1dKKFKBZK0duDR/view?usp=sharing (https://drive.google.com/file/d/11HtWRwG8Wgdxb0oHNJ1dKKFKBZK0duDR/view?usp=sharing)

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wIrar6dbqyzY6AQVshAJyf193AmIDbAr/view?usp=sharing (https://drive.google.com/file/d/1wIrar6dbqyzY6AQVshAJyf193AmIDbAr/view?usp=sharing)
(https://speccy.pl/forum/Themes/default/images/icons/modify_inline.gif)


Title: Re: question about modification in Amstrad CPC464
Post by: pelrun on 14:30, 31 August 25
The red wire is an 8-bit printer port mod.

If the switch is connected to LK4, that's a refresh-rate selector. That's a weird mod on the CPC, since there's nothing that uses 60Hz, unlike other platforms that have PAL/NTSC variants. https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/LK_Links
Title: Re: question about modification in Amstrad CPC464
Post by: sokot on 15:33, 31 August 25
Thank you for your reply. What do you think about the upper memory error? Do you think it's something to worry about if another test doesn't show a problem?
Title: Re: question about modification in Amstrad CPC464
Post by: Bryce on 15:47, 31 August 25
Hi sokot,
       you haven't posted any pictures of the RAM expansion. Can you take a few pictures of it, so that we know what type of expansion it is and how it's connected?

Bryce.
Title: Re: question about modification in Amstrad CPC464
Post by: sokot on 16:16, 31 August 25
The extension comes with this cartridge, and the diagnostic program is also run on it as dsk.

 First looks at the DDI5 for Amstrad CPC 464 | Amstrad noob (https://www.amstrad-noob.com/2021/06/21/first-looks-at-the-ddi5-for-amstrad-cpc-464/)
Title: Re: question about modification in Amstrad CPC464
Post by: Bryce on 20:45, 31 August 25
Quote from: sokot on Yesterday at 16:16The extension comes with this cartridge, and the diagnostic program is also run on it as dsk.

 First looks at the DDI5 for Amstrad CPC 464 | Amstrad noob (https://www.amstrad-noob.com/2021/06/21/first-looks-at-the-ddi5-for-amstrad-cpc-464/)

Ok, then you probably just have a dodgy (intermittent) connection on the expansion port. Clean the expansion port contacts on both sides of the Mainboard PCB and the problem will most likely be solved.

Bryce.
Title: Re: question about modification in Amstrad CPC464
Post by: sokot on 11:11, 01 September 25
Thank you very much for your suggestion. I will do that :)
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