Recent posts

#1

Games / Re: Charles Cecil (Beneath a S...

Last post by Skunkfish - Today at 08:18

Interesting, I didn't know this.

I've played a few of the Broken Sword games over the years and enjoyed them, I may take a look at some point to see where it all began!

[TROLLIE WALLIE]

#2

Games / Re: Converted GX4000 .cpr - Th...

Last post by iXien - Today at 08:06

A little one very funny this weekend with :

TROLLIE WALLIE from Players

All is already ok on GX4000, Cheers everyone 

#3

Technical support - Hardware related / Re: 464+ working but black scr...

Last post by eto - Yesterday at 23:21

Thanks everyone, I will get my dad to help me test the board with the multimeter.
It's strange that it should work for my CPC464, but not the Plus.
That makes me think it is something to do with the computer rather than the TV.
It is an old TV, over 20 years or so.
I will let you know what happens!
Thanks very much for the advice!
Chris

What cable do you use? Can you take a picture of it? In the video it's not fully visible and looks slightly suspicious .

#4

Technical support - Hardware related / Re: 464+ working but black scr...

Last post by eto - Yesterday at 23:18

Hi,

I'm a bit of a newbie to the plus range, started working on mine last week.

I found out that newer TV's might not handle the 464+/6128+ RGB output through the scart connection.

Also, I tried a Scart to HDMI upscale, but that definitely didn't work, it was grey and garbled.

I was lucky, I had a 10year old Murphy TV that detected the RGB signals thorugh the scart lead. A possible cause might just be the TV can't handle the signals. 🤔

Regards
Tibbs

then they probably don't detect that they should switch to RGB. They work in default mode and try to decode a (not present) composite video signal.

You need a Scart cable with power injection that puts the proper RGB detect signal on one of the pins.

You can find more detailed information on the Wiki.

#5

Programming / Re: interesting walkthrough vi...

Last post by lightforce6128 - Yesterday at 23:18

AY Datasheet shows that write consists of tds=50ns before write signal, tdw = min. 1800ns write signal, and tdh=100ns HOLD write data AFTER write signal. 

Data is transferred from Z80 to PPI and stored there. It is made available to the PSG non-stop afterwards (when the command 'OUT &F400,nn' finishes). The PSG will react to this data when its control lines (BDIR and BC1, the upper two bits of port C in the PPI) are set accordingly.

The shortest time the Z80 can influence something is 4000 ns for the 'OUT (C),r' commands and under some circumstances 3000 ns for the 'OUT (nn),A' command. In between there will be always sufficient time for the PSG to copy values.

If there would not be sufficient time for copying the values, then some parts of the circuit would work with newer bits, and other parts would work with older bits. For some circuits this would lead into disaster, for others it would only create some short-lived glitches. I guess the volume level is not critical in this case.

#6

E

Technical support - Hardware related / Re: 464+ working but black scr...

Last post by evenmore - Yesterday at 22:53

Thanks everyone, I will get my dad to help me test the board with the multimeter.
It's strange that it should work for my CPC464, but not the Plus.
That makes me think it is something to do with the computer rather than the TV.
It is an old TV, over 20 years or so.
I will let you know what happens!
Thanks very much for the advice!
Chris

#7

General Discussion - Introductions / Re: FUN FACT: Amstrad was the ...

Last post by tibbs1972 - Yesterday at 22:28

Also, although not a personal computer, our company was backing up the servers to tapes untill about 2008.

Regards
Tibbs

#8

General Discussion - Introductions / Re: FUN FACT: Amstrad was the ...

Last post by tibbs1972 - Yesterday at 22:27

I thought I'd ask Grok on X.com  

Asnwer below (I use grok a lot for tech questions).

The last computer released with a built-in data recorder (cassette tape drive) was likely the Amstrad CPC 464 Plus, released in 1990. It featured a built-in cassette deck for data storage, a feature retained for compatibility with earlier CPC models in cost-sensitive markets.

While some sources suggest the SAM Coupé (December 1989) as a contender due to its external cassette interface for ZX Spectrum compatibility, the CPC 464 Plus is generally considered the last with an integrated tape drive. By the early 1990s, floppy disks and hard drives had largely replaced cassette storage in home computers, especially in Western markets, though cassettes lingered in Eastern Europe and other regions due to affordability.

#9

Technical support - Hardware related / Re: 464+ working but black scr...

Last post by tibbs1972 - Yesterday at 21:51

Hi,

I'm a bit of a newbie to the plus range, started working on mine last week.

I found out that newer TV's might not handle the 464+/6128+ RGB output through the scart connection. 

Also, I tried a Scart to HDMI upscale, but that definitely didn't work, it was grey and garbled.

I was lucky, I had a 10year old Murphy TV that detected the RGB signals thorugh the scart lead. A possible cause might just be the TV can't handle the signals. 🤔

Regards
Tibbs

#10

General Discussion - Introductions / Re: Hi from Retro PC Fanatic

Last post by Prodatron - Yesterday at 21:49

@norecess464 very funny: In my case it's 100% the same.