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#1
Hello all!
I've recently acquired a lovely PCW 8256 computer and I was wondering if there is a readily available Gotek drive solution for it?
My searching online hasn't shown any available for sale, despite some articles showing the installation process.
Thanks!
I've recently acquired a lovely PCW 8256 computer and I was wondering if there is a readily available Gotek drive solution for it?
My searching online hasn't shown any available for sale, despite some articles showing the installation process.
Thanks!
#2
General Discussion - Introductions / Re: Introduction to CPC World
Last post by Gryzor - Today at 11:00Welcome! Hopefully you'll find your answers and have lots of fun🙂
#3
J
General Discussion - Introductions / Re: Introduction to CPC World
Last post by josepprada - Today at 09:59Gracies robcfg!
I allready created a new post on the Hardware section, to see if I can bring back to live my GX4000.
Thanks!
I allready created a new post on the Hardware section, to see if I can bring back to live my GX4000.
Thanks!
#4
J
Technical support - Hardware related / Amstrad GX4000 - Video Problem...
Last post by josepprada - Today at 09:57Hello guys,
I'm in the process of restoring, or bring back to live a GX4000, when I bought her, she has power (green light) but nothing on the screen. And the controllers with the wire's completely cut.
I was aware of the double input voltage, so I never put a power supply on the 5v in (but I can assure that someone did it before).
First time I plugged in a 9v 1A PS in the 11v in, green light appears, but some smell of burn appears in a few seconds, so I powered down immediately, and began reading in depth the forum to find the issue.
Reading about burned smell, I saw that the if the RAM was bad, it heats a lot, so I put my finger on them and it was hot as hell! So I decided to replace it.
But nothing happens, no video, no audio.
I began doing measures in the Power Board, and I find that the Voltage regulator IC181 7805 had 9v in both pins (in and out). I replace it, but same happens, and find a video in Youtube about change the Diode D183. I replace it, and now the IC181 output pins is 5V!
So, I put a multigame cartdrige (like C4CPC ) that I bought power on, but no video at all. So reading the forum I find several references to no video, but audio in the MiniJack. So I connected headphones in the jack and EUREKA! There is sound!!! I connected a repaired controller and can hear changes in the menus or in the game, so the GX4000 process is working!!
Now let's go to my problem now, I have no video on RF or on SCART. On RF sometimes I see snowed images of the games if I move the RF antenna cable. So I have a problem on the video part.
My first test was to measure the other voltage regulator IC17 that I understand that powers the video section, and the measures are weird. I suppose to have 9v in and 5v out, but I get 5v in, 3v out. I did not replace the IC17 because if it was a problem with it, I'll see 9v in, so maybe the problem is somewhere else.
Can you help me find we're the problem is? What test can I do?
I only have a multimeter to do the readings, I do not have an oscilloscope or advance tools.
Thank you in advance!!
I'm in the process of restoring, or bring back to live a GX4000, when I bought her, she has power (green light) but nothing on the screen. And the controllers with the wire's completely cut.
I was aware of the double input voltage, so I never put a power supply on the 5v in (but I can assure that someone did it before).
First time I plugged in a 9v 1A PS in the 11v in, green light appears, but some smell of burn appears in a few seconds, so I powered down immediately, and began reading in depth the forum to find the issue.
Reading about burned smell, I saw that the if the RAM was bad, it heats a lot, so I put my finger on them and it was hot as hell! So I decided to replace it.
But nothing happens, no video, no audio.
I began doing measures in the Power Board, and I find that the Voltage regulator IC181 7805 had 9v in both pins (in and out). I replace it, but same happens, and find a video in Youtube about change the Diode D183. I replace it, and now the IC181 output pins is 5V!
So, I put a multigame cartdrige (like C4CPC ) that I bought power on, but no video at all. So reading the forum I find several references to no video, but audio in the MiniJack. So I connected headphones in the jack and EUREKA! There is sound!!! I connected a repaired controller and can hear changes in the menus or in the game, so the GX4000 process is working!!
Now let's go to my problem now, I have no video on RF or on SCART. On RF sometimes I see snowed images of the games if I move the RF antenna cable. So I have a problem on the video part.
My first test was to measure the other voltage regulator IC17 that I understand that powers the video section, and the measures are weird. I suppose to have 9v in and 5v out, but I get 5v in, 3v out. I did not replace the IC17 because if it was a problem with it, I'll see 9v in, so maybe the problem is somewhere else.
Can you help me find we're the problem is? What test can I do?
I only have a multimeter to do the readings, I do not have an oscilloscope or advance tools.
Thank you in advance!!
#5
General Discussion - Introductions / Re: What computer did you have...
Last post by robcfg - Today at 09:49It feels so lonely in the Atari 8-Bit category... 
#6
General Discussion - Introductions / Re: Introduction to CPC World
Last post by robcfg - Today at 09:46Benvingut, Josep!
Thank you for your kind words, and don't hesitate to ask whatever you may need.
Cheers,
Rob
Thank you for your kind words, and don't hesitate to ask whatever you may need.
Cheers,
Rob
#7
J
General Discussion - Introductions / Introduction to CPC World
Last post by josepprada - Today at 09:35Hello Guys,
I'm Josep, I'm from Barcelona, and a few years ago I began (like a lot of people) to collect retro consoles, but in the process wanted to learn some basic electronic and soldering skills, basically learn-by-doing, so I'm not and electronic expert. I buy them broken and try to repair them.
First I begin with the retro classic consoles (Nintendo, Sega,...) and eventually came to me an Amstrad GX4000, which I didn't hear before. When I was a little kid, my father learned Basic in an academy, and he decided to buy an Amstrad CPC 464 with diskette, my first computer experience, so I was aware of the existence of Amstrad Computers, but not that they build a console. Nowadays, I'm an IT guy, working with servers, so I think that first Amstrad make love computers.
Anyway, the Amstrad GX4000 was not working, and had both cable controllers cut. So I began the process of try to restore this beauty console. Learning mostly from this forum and wiki.
I have done a lot of work on my Amstrad, but now I'm in a point that the forum does not respond my answer and my skills and electronic tools doesn't allow me to continue, and I decided to write a Post to see if you guys can help me!
Thanks in advance, you're doing a great job here, keeping these computers alive in time
Bye!
I'm Josep, I'm from Barcelona, and a few years ago I began (like a lot of people) to collect retro consoles, but in the process wanted to learn some basic electronic and soldering skills, basically learn-by-doing, so I'm not and electronic expert. I buy them broken and try to repair them.
First I begin with the retro classic consoles (Nintendo, Sega,...) and eventually came to me an Amstrad GX4000, which I didn't hear before. When I was a little kid, my father learned Basic in an academy, and he decided to buy an Amstrad CPC 464 with diskette, my first computer experience, so I was aware of the existence of Amstrad Computers, but not that they build a console. Nowadays, I'm an IT guy, working with servers, so I think that first Amstrad make love computers.
Anyway, the Amstrad GX4000 was not working, and had both cable controllers cut. So I began the process of try to restore this beauty console. Learning mostly from this forum and wiki.
I have done a lot of work on my Amstrad, but now I'm in a point that the forum does not respond my answer and my skills and electronic tools doesn't allow me to continue, and I decided to write a Post to see if you guys can help me!
Thanks in advance, you're doing a great job here, keeping these computers alive in time
Bye!
#8
Softcore Hardware Patch Z84C - OUT(C),0
This version is an adapter between Z84C and socket. I wanted to avoid it, but 0.8W scares me.
QS3244 is fine bus gate.
This version is an adapter between Z84C and socket. I wanted to avoid it, but 0.8W scares me.
QS3244 is fine bus gate.
#9
You need 257 identical bytes because the value on the bus is usually FFh, but not guaranteed. That also means your ISR needs to start at an address with matching low/high bytes, eg. C3C3h
On a Plus things are different, because the hardware has support for auto vectoring and thus will put one of four values on the bus with bit 0 guaranteed to be 0. It's broken and doesn't put the correct value on the bus, but does mean you only need an 8 byte vector table and all entries can be set to any address you like.
On a Plus things are different, because the hardware has support for auto vectoring and thus will put one of four values on the bus with bit 0 guaranteed to be 0. It's broken and doesn't put the correct value on the bus, but does mean you only need an 8 byte vector table and all entries can be set to any address you like.
#10
I measured the short-circuit current of the Z84c data line. 20mA.
8x20=160 mA. 750ns pulse 160mA (0.8W).
I will do it, but don't do it at home.
ps. Or maybe I won't.
8x20=160 mA. 750ns pulse 160mA (0.8W).
I will do it, but don't do it at home.
ps. Or maybe I won't.