Hello fellow CPC owners.
I am new to this fair board and have been enjoying a lot of the content that CPCWiki has been kind enough to offer.
Not only that I am also NEW to being a CPC owner, specifically I have a CPC464 which was kindly given to me by my friend Jasey over at www.AmiBay.com (http://www.amibay.com)
I also have a DD-1 Interface as well as two (greedy me) FD-1 3" Disk Drives.
Sadly in its day, I was not interested in the CPC range, infact I *incorrectly* thought them as inferior machines to my humble spectrum or c64, only owned by kids with rich parents at the time. But that was just the play-ground talking. I have over the last few months been researching these machines, reading all that I can find - hence why I am here.
I come from a technical background, in both firmware/software and hardware development, I like to share what I know with people and I love learning somthing new, and like the latter Amstrad made spectrums the CPC 464 system interest me greatly.
While I know that the CPC 6128 is the path of least resistance, the 464 model is just so iconic of the CPC range. when thinking about the year it was released (1985) it is amazingly well made... truly a credit to its designers and builders too!
The CPC464 is is a HUGE machine, totally Dominating the deskspace - even my 128K +2B is stuplified by its sheer presence =)
My plan for being here is to learn more, and hopefully contribute to the CPC scene, I cannot wait to talk about adding 64K to the motherboard, or an 8bit Z80 IDE interface, lots of little ideas that wont let me sleep lol.
As you can imageing I have so many questions, of which probably most have been asked before, so I will ask them (hopefully) in the relevent sections - and not too often.
I look forward to chatting with you all =D
Welcome here, enjoy the forum. If you like to add hardware, this is the right place for you :-)
Oooooh!!! If it's my best friend for ever Zetro (http://eab.abime.net/showpost.php?p=775230&postcount=56) ;D (i'm Lionheart in EAB :P)
Welcome to the CPCWiki!!! :D
Hi Zetr0,
welcome to the Wiki. It's always great to have new (especially hardware) people join the group. I can't help you on the software side, but I might be able to help you with Hardware questions. The CPC is completely different (from a hardware point of view) than the old spectrums (pre-Amstrad) or C64 / Atari XL. Some things for the better, some definitely for the worse, but an interesting computer to design for.
@Syx: I really enjoyed Lionhearts link too :) ("Retro Hardware Porn" as Gryzor would call it :D )
Bryce.
Bryce, I love East Europe 80s hardware porn!!! ;D
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/RUS-IC.JPG)
That's art, not porn :) Porn is the dusty old PCB full of badly soldered Russian Logic ICs :D
Bryce.
Hi and welcome.
Feel free to add some personnal information so we may know where you are from.
HUGE... not hat much.
well, ok, the CPC464 has some old fashionned design... just like the CPC664.
It is due to the Function keys (numpad) and the way the arrows are separated from the rest... also the side disc/tape driver is part of it.
Speccy +2 is smaller because it simply has no numpad (nor arrows ?)
That why I definitly love my CPC6128... classy all the way.
A good point with this large design is that you may add internal stuff for the CPC464 then, modern electronic being the small reduce miniaturized stuff it is.
I also like the CPC464 styling, and it's large size could allow a disk drive to be mounted internally, (maybe), with the DDI-1 outside attached to the expansion port.
My sincere thanks for the warm welcome =)
Its good to see some fellow - crossover members and as always a pleasure to meet new friends =D
@Bryce
In terms of CPC hardware I have a lot to learn, so prepare yourself for a lot of dumb questions =D
This has to be one of the most beautiful things I have seen today.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/RUS-IC.JPG)
I don't know what it does (yet) but I must have one! lol!
@Syx / Lionheart
I haven't been on EAB in some time, I should try to get on there more often, alas more often than not I simply run out of time.
My sincere thanks for sharing, I do have a soft-spot for Russian hardware (especially 70's to early 90's), but the same could be said for European hardware too ;) that Soyuz-Neon is impressive I could look at that all day =D
@Steve
I like the cut of your jib young man =)
Internal Floppy Drive for the WIN!
Although if I have it my way and with acouple or so months developement... I think a 8 Bit IDE port on the Z80 is very possible....
Quote from: Zetr0 on 02:55, 07 October 11
This has to be one of the most beautiful things I have seen today.
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/7e/RUS-IC.JPG)
I don't know what it does (yet) but I must have one! lol!
Be careful what you wish for, I believe these are part of a KGB plot and one day they will all march off their PCB's and take over the world. :laugh:
Hi Zetr0!
Welcome to our lovely forum!
I think you will enjoy our Mainboard Versions page (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Mainboard_Versions) with nice pictures and 300 dpi scans of the CPC range motherboards, along with the KC Compact and the Aleste 520 EX 8)
QuoteI also like the CPC464 styling, and it's large size could allow a disk drive to be mounted internally
Maybe a HxC floppy emulator (don't remember exact name) would be more suitable, as the tape loader place could enable to even put a panel and a screen...
But this may need some additional stuff even for a floppy disc emulator.
Also think about a Jack plug for Audio tapes (iPod and wave sound files and so on) to replace the tape drive.
The built-in cassette drive is one of the good features of the CPC 464, if you remove it you might then have to fiddle with the volume setting until the tape loads properly.
A bit late, but let me extend my warmest welcome! I truly hope you stick around, you'll see there's much on offer and we hope we benefit from your presence, knowledge and late-day wisdom ;)
@Gryzor
I am very humbled :-[ , I hope that I can contribute to this wonderfull scene even in some small way =)
to that end, and while I think about it, would it be okay to print out and laminate an A4 logo of CPCwiki with URL to put beside the CPC464 for when its exhibited at R3Play in Blackpool?
...you seriously expect me to say no to this? Gosh, we could use all the advertising there is! If postage wasn't prohibitive I'd even send you a printed canvas banner...
Well, since I can't do that I'm at least willing to lend you my HxC SD floppy emulator, this should help with loading up every game possible very easily at the show!
But, please, if you do have a setup there, do take some photos :)
Looks like a nice event http://www.replayexpo.com/ (http://www.replayexpo.com/), never heard about it before, so some pictures would be really nice....
Don't forget to show the URL of the CPCWIKI :) on the CPCWIKI poster!
Regards,
Ygdrazil
Quote from: Gryzor on 23:45, 08 October 11
...you seriously expect me to say no to this? Gosh, we could use all the advertising there is! If postage wasn't prohibitive I'd even send you a printed canvas banner...
Well, since I can't do that I'm at least willing to lend you my HxC SD floppy emulator, this should help with loading up every game possible very easily at the show!
But, please, if you do have a setup there, do take some photos :)
Hiyas Gryzor
Quote from: Gryzor on 23:45, 08 October 11
...you seriously expect me to say no to this? Gosh, we could use all the advertising there is! If postage wasn't prohibitive I'd even send you a printed canvas banner..
Its always nice to ask first!
Quote from: Gryzor on 23:45, 08 October 11
Well, since I can't do that I'm at least willing to lend you my HxC SD floppy emulator, this should help with loading up every game possible very easily at the show!
Thats very kind of you, I shall ask my friend r0jaws on AmiBay if I could ninja his as he lives round the corner, but I could use some help setting up an SD card with the files etc =)
Quote from: Gryzor on 23:45, 08 October 11
But, please, if you do have a setup there, do take some photos :)
Most certainly
at the moment theres my 464 and a 6128, a GX4000 possible (maybe) a 6128+
This lot will be offset with the Sinclair units on the otherside =)
Again I will be doing a nice laminate for worldofspectrum.org - just to encourage interested people to come and have a look at our respective communities =)
my super evil megamind plan is to
unite the Spectrum and CPC comunities enough so I can develop a Universal 8/16Bit IDE Z80 adapter
like this one -
(http://s3.postimage.org/bx67z3f4p/P1030386.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/1aceto6mc/full/)
(http://s3.postimage.org/bx7ll7txt/P1030391.jpg) (http://postimage.org/image/1adsfslfo/full/)
All the hardwork is done in the ROM, it can load snapshots from DISK as well as Harddisk - as well as tape-loaders and machine code blocks.... lots and lots of really geeky fun, and I really want to adapt this for the CPC range =D
there.... thats my evil master plan.... I cannot believe I have no innner monologue!!! :o
Ohhhh drool.... An IDE adaptor is what we're missing! Not *really* sure what I could use one fore, but I'd certainly want one!
As for the SD, well, it's pretty easy setting it up but I could always send you a ready-made card with hundreds of games on it so you don't have to pick them beforehand.
@Gryzor
I have to admit, 8bit IDE is a lot of fun... I get about 88KB a second on the +2e here and its delicious to copy games from tape and put them on the Hard Disk, well compact flash card ;)
The beauty here is to also copy files back to tape or disk so one can repair that long lost original. Personaly I get a hugh kick out of writing programs and saving them to IDE, currently writing a menu driven system to load snap-shots from the IDE device.
Now, I would love an SD card to use for the show, I have pently of SD cards here, a list or link of files to save some pennies =)
I shall give my friend a buzz and inform him that his HxC has now been commandeered for a higher purpose! =D
Zetr0 takes a look to the sexy MegaFlash (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/MegaFlash) by Mr. Bryce, i'm a proud user of one and i recommend you 100% :)
In another demostration of his kindness, he made all the information freely available for the community :D
I don't think that he has once left, but it can not hurt to ask him ;)
Well, all the magic you're describing is in the software. Since we do have the HxC I can't see any more advantages to a virtual HDD. Sure, speed is limited from the floppy drive's timing, but that's rarely an issue, and of course you can copy everything from images to real media (have done it, too). Or am I missing something?
Also, somebody released just the right program for the Atari ST which can actually use files on the HxC as a virtual HDD. I haven't seen how it works (I don't have my STs at hand), but I guess it couldn't work on the CPC, but again I can't see much use for everyday use.
I don't mean to bust your bubble, maybe I'm misunderstanding something -and, as I said, I'd still die for one :)
Evolution of storage media on the CPC is - cassette - floppy - hard disk - CF/SD card.
If you use a CPC frequently CF/SD is the next step.
I look forward to seeing construction details in the CPCwiki.
Quote from: SyX on 16:54, 09 October 11
Zetr0 takes a look to the sexy MegaFlash (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/forum/../index.php/MegaFlash) by Mr. Bryce, i'm a proud user of one and i recommend you 100% :)
In another demostration of his kindness, he made all the information freely available for the community :D
I don't think that he has once left, but it can not hurt to ask him ;)
Now thats a bit on the clever side.... to think I was going to hammer out an IDE driver with emulation and 27c256's!!!!
Quote from: Gryzor on 16:56, 09 October 11
Well, all the magic you're describing is in the software. Since we do have the HxC I can't see any more advantages to a virtual HDD. Sure, speed is limited from the floppy drive's timing, but that's rarely an issue, and of course you can copy everything from images to real media (have done it, too). Or am I missing something?
Also, somebody released just the right program for the Atari ST which can actually use files on the HxC as a virtual HDD. I haven't seen how it works (I don't have my STs at hand), but I guess it couldn't work on the CPC, but again I can't see much use for everyday use.
I don't mean to bust your bubble, maybe I'm misunderstanding something -and, as I said, I'd still die for one :)
LOL theres no worries about bubbles, the IDE device isn'ta virtual device at all its all there, partitions (as BIG as the DOS type allows) for many programs in one partition / direcrory (again pending Partition support for directories)
i.e I can tap out
CAT "C:" on my +2e here and up flies a nice list of 32 Snapshot games, I then tap in
Spectrum "C:SCRU128.Z80" and in about 4 seconds the snap shot is loaded and playing - the best way to think of it is just like a HUGE faster floppy disk =)
have a lookie at this youtube (http://www.youtube.com/user/TheZetr0?feature=mhee#p/u/2/dAbnsdEQez4) I made =)
Snapshot loading is very smart, a very nice feat. But Amstrad drives are pretty fast - we never had any issues with loading times.
Of course, with a 464 this would be a godsend...
Quote from: Zetr0 on 16:23, 09 October 11
my super evil megamind plan is to unite the Spectrum and CPC comunities enough so I can develop a Universal 8/16Bit IDE Z80 adapter
This is surely a great idea, but you should try to stay compatible to at least one the already existing IDE adapters:
- Jareks 8255IDE
- R Palmers IDE8255
- SymbifaceII
Personally I like Jareks solution the most, for a single reason: It's is the most quick! Links, see here:
http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/IDE8255 (http://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/IDE8255)
and
http://8bit.yarek.pl/interface/yamod.ide8255/index.html (http://8bit.yarek.pl/interface/yamod.ide8255/index.html)
I don't want to tell you what to do :-) But it makes no sense to have half a dozend of different solutions, which are not compatible. It's a mess to do software for all of them.
Quote from: Gryzor on 17:41, 09 October 11
Snapshot loading is very smart, a very nice feat. But Amstrad drives are pretty fast - we never had any issues with loading times.
Of course, with a 464 this would be a godsend...
In this discussion one point get's forgotten: With all HxC stuff and so on, it's still not possible to use long files.
You must have a hard-disc to use longer files. So for what are long files good for? Well, just think about games! (With some movies as part of them). I have demos on my hard-disc which use up to 2 MB, you can't have them, because you don't have a HD20 from Dobbertin. Well, won't miss them ;-))) However to have the ability to work with longer files is the point :-)))
@TMF/FS
I must insist that you DO tell me what to do LOL, I am soooo new here with sooo many ideas its easy to get caught up with the wrong one, there is no point implementing somthing for the sake of itself. Hardware must meet a need, it must meet a lot of needs to become successful =)
Now the S(PPI) interface looks pretty good, and easily within my ability, since its an already existing project I will most certainly look into it... I love making and adapting hardware, I also like making it as CHEAP and as AVAILABLE as possible =)
Did I mention that I am very much so into cheap =)
Now.... whats this I read about movies ??? got any links to youtubies or other such links?
I do agree with the cheap pricing :-)
TFM
I think TFM missed your last question on movies. He has posted them before, some really great and fluid renderings that (obviously) take up lots of space...
Hi Zetr0,
really nice work, small, neat and efficient. Are you using the standard 3e ROMs or have they been edited for this device? And have you released the schematics anywhere?
Bryce.
@Bryce
My thanks,
This adapter uses the +3e ROM's and is based on the Simple 8Bit IDE device for the spectrum.
However there is also Pera Puniks revision of the adapter that allows for use with the 48k/48k+ 128k and 128k+2 (Grey) - it also requires the PPROM for these machines as well.
It would seem that the earlier sinclair deveoped systems require the use of different address lines for use compared to the +3 (and revised +2AB). I suspect that this is down to the memory contention model of the machines. because of this I have revised the initial design so that the next batch will be universal (with solder pad jumpers) to select between the two target hosts.
I shall upload the schematics and the eagle boards to my FTP later today and link it here for you =)
I seem to be having trouble linking files from the FTP so I shall PM you, but in the mean time here is the (composite) PCB from eagle =)
(http://s3.postimage.org/8h798ohhu/composite.png) (http://www.postimage.org/)