- Welcome to CPCWiki forum.
The ultimate Amstrad CPC community!
News:
Printed Amstrad Addict magazine announced, check it out here!
Recent posts
#1
N
General Discussion - Introductions / Re: What computer did you have...
Last post by Nich - Today at 15:17Quote from: ZorrO on Today at 08:14Only 50 people reading this forum? Come on!There are currently 3,725 registered users on the forum, but it would be an interesting exercise for @Gryzor to analyse how many of them are currently active (i.e. have logged in within a certain period of time).
#2
S
NC100, NC200, PCW, PDA600 - the rest of the Family! / Re: PCW voltages on STK7308
Last post by squelch41 - Today at 11:33In the end, I just converted to running on USBC PD.
12V feeding into the 12v line and a buck converter to derive 5v and feed that into the 5V line - all at the analogue board connector.
3D printed a new peice to cover where the mains cable used to come out.
Available on thingiverse for anyone who needs in future
(https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6595466)
No 24V supply but I dont have a printer.
Could be generated from a boost converter but I'd imagine the wattage is quite high.
12V feeding into the 12v line and a buck converter to derive 5v and feed that into the 5V line - all at the analogue board connector.
3D printed a new peice to cover where the mains cable used to come out.
Available on thingiverse for anyone who needs in future
(https://www.thingiverse.com/thing:6595466)
No 24V supply but I dont have a printer.
Could be generated from a boost converter but I'd imagine the wattage is quite high.
#3
Technical support - Hardware related / Re: Amstrad GX4000 - Video Pro...
Last post by McArti0 - Today at 11:27Try check IC15 pin 15,16,17 RGB after DAC.
#4
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!
#5
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🙂
#6
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!
#7
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!!
#8
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... 
#9
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
#10
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!