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Considering buying an amstrad CPC

Started by Techboy, 04:17, 20 June 20

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Techboy

. I'm considering buying one down the line and would like your opinions (despite the fact that my desk is at beast 25 feet across with barely enough room for my tv). I am across the pond in NTSC land and don't want to have to shell out the cash for a PAL to NTSC converter if i don't have to. any ideas for a beginning collector?

cpcitor

Quote from: Techboy on 04:17, 20 June 20
. I'm considering buying one down the line and would like your opinions (despite the fact that my desk is at beast 25 feet across with barely enough room for my tv). I am across the pond in NTSC land and don't want to have to shell out the cash for a PAL to NTSC converter if i don't have to. any ideas for a beginning collector?

Hi! Not sure why you would need a PAL to NTSC converter. Amstrad CPCs come with their monitor.

You would need a way to provide it 220-240V AC still. Which, according to Technology Connections is available in all US homes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMmUoZh3Hq4

Feel free to question again.
Had a CPC since 1985, currently software dev professional, including embedded systems.

I made in 2013 the first CPC cross-dev environment that auto-installs C compiler and tools: cpc-dev-tool-chain: a portable toolchain for C/ASM development targetting CPC, later forked into CPCTelera.

Shaun M. Neary

Quote from: cpcitor on 09:18, 01 December 20
Hi! Not sure why you would need a PAL to NTSC converter. Amstrad CPCs come with their monitor.


Yes but a lot of second hand units don't get sold with their monitor and they need to get a separate power supply and SCART cable.
Currently playing on: 2xCPC464, 1xCPC6128, 1x464Plus, 1x6128Plus, 2xGX4000. M4 board, ZMem 1MB and still forever playing Bruce Lee.
No cheats, snapshots or emulation. I play my games as they're intended to be played. What about you?

Gryzor

Quote from: cpcitor on 09:18, 01 December 20
You would need a way to provide it 220-240V AC still. Which, according to Technology Connections is available in all US homes:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jMmUoZh3Hq4

Feel free to question again.


WHAAAAT

Bryce

That's always been the case. They have two 120V circuits in every house which are 180° out of phase, so you can create a 240V circuit by using both phases instead of phase and neutral.

Bryce.

Gryzor

Learn something new every day.

Bryce

Quote from: Gryzor on 16:00, 22 December 20
Learn something new every day.

I skipped today, but I promise I'll learn two new things tomorrow.

Bryce.

Gryzor

Or you can teach one, levels out, so you're all set.

This reminded me of the time the Missus visited the States and tried to use her (European) hair dryer only to find out it couldn't even dry her nails.

cheshirenoir

Quote from: Techboy on 04:17, 20 June 20
. I'm considering buying one down the line and would like your opinions (despite the fact that my desk is at beast 25 feet across with barely enough room for my tv). I am across the pond in NTSC land and don't want to have to shell out the cash for a PAL to NTSC converter if i don't have to. any ideas for a beginning collector?
Late to this party, I know but I had a lot of success plugging in my standard CPC464 into my 15KHz capable LCD with a simple adapter I made with $5USD worth of components. I based mine off this design: https://www.octoate.de/articles/connect-cpc-to-vga-display/
Because I had a 15KHz LCD, I didn't even need the scaler.


The picture is so crisp!
(The 15KHz monitor has been one of my best purchases for retro computing. I use it with my Atari ST, my Amiga 1200, the CPC464, and, of course, all my modern hardware via HDMI. I got it for around $80USD. See this list: http://15khz.wikidot.com/ )


Chesh
I collect all sorts of 8 and 16 bit systems.

asertus

Quote from: cheshirenoir on 02:06, 23 December 20
Late to this party, I know but I had a lot of success plugging in my standard CPC464 into my 15KHz capable LCD with a simple adapter I made with $5USD worth of components. I based mine off this design: https://www.octoate.de/articles/connect-cpc-to-vga-display/
Because I had a 15KHz LCD, I didn't even need the scaler.


The picture is so crisp!
(The 15KHz monitor has been one of my best purchases for retro computing. I use it with my Atari ST, my Amiga 1200, the CPC464, and, of course, all my modern hardware via HDMI. I got it for around $80USD. See this list: http://15khz.wikidot.com/ )


Chesh


Which exact model of 15Khz monitor did you buy?

cheshirenoir

I have an Acer V226HQL I picked up from Ebay for $129AUD.


Would happily buy again :-)


Chesh
I collect all sorts of 8 and 16 bit systems.

tjohnson

@cheshirenoir does that Acer monitor support 15hz signals?


I use a fairly old lcd TV mostly with scart, component, vga,, hdmi and av inputs, lots of optiond to connect devices but it's far from perfect.

cheshirenoir

Quote from: tjohnson on 11:15, 23 December 20@cheshirenoir does that Acer monitor support 15hz signals?
Yes it does. It's rock solid. Tested with an Atari STfm, an Amiga 1200, a CPC464 and an Apple IIgs. All at 15KHz. I should test it with my Megadrive II. :-)

Chesh
I collect all sorts of 8 and 16 bit systems.

cpcitor

A CPC displays perfectly well on a Samsung UE32B6000 TV.
That TV accepts 15kHz / 50Hz on SCART input only, not on VGA input, that's what CPC adapter cables provide anyway.

Don't remember if I used my Amstrad MP1 adapter or the cable bought on coolnovelties, anyway it work great.
Perfect picture: no blur, no jitter, no flicker, 4:3 aspect ratio, no crop, black border left and right as needed, no noise.

Indeed http://15khz.wikidot.com/ looks like a great resource. Adding entry about Samsung UE32B6000 there.
Had a CPC since 1985, currently software dev professional, including embedded systems.

I made in 2013 the first CPC cross-dev environment that auto-installs C compiler and tools: cpc-dev-tool-chain: a portable toolchain for C/ASM development targetting CPC, later forked into CPCTelera.

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