New (to Me) CPC6128 & Spectrum +3 External GOTEK

[tubs74]

Hi

I've managed to acquire an Untested CPC6128.  I've got a CPC464 already, and have been on the look out for a 6128 up for a while.

I use an RGB SCART for my CPC464 (from the The Retro Shack), so was able to use this and prove that the CPC boots up to basic.  I don't have a 12v PSU, so have ordered one of the specially mades from eBay as I'd hate to accidentially plugin the 12v to the 5v.

My understanding is that without the 12v the disk won't spin up (I've also ordered a belt, as I'd suspect that it will need replacing, like my +3 has needed), so have been unable to test this.

I do have a Spectrum +3 External Gotek drive, with an A/B switch.  (basically this one  ZX Spectrum 128k +3 External Gotek Floppy | eBay) - it has an A/B switch on the back (on the spectrum +3 this allows me to use the External Gotek as the A drive).

As far as I am aware, the Amstrad and Spectrum +3 Goteks are interchangeable - if there is no 12v would I be able to use this external floppy with my CPC6128, or would the external disk also need the 12v as well?  (The External Gotek has an external USB cable for Power)

I'm assuming, that although without the 12v it won't run the internal floppy, but the LED is on so that the computer possibly knows that the interanl one is plugged in- as there is some power going to it, If I unplug the internal floppy completely, would the external floppy work as the A:?  

I know people are unlikely to know, and I'll go back to the person I bought it from, If I flip the switch to A: would the external Gotek, take over as the A: with or without 12v?

And finally, as far as modern expansion plugins/SDCARD , what would be a cost effective one to get for the CPC6128?  It feels a bit of a minefield with USlfAC 1/2/3 & dandinators or others and they are porbably "bigger" than what I want/need - I've just got a readymade KungFuFlash2 for my Commodore c64, and something like that might be ideal?

[eto]

The 12V are only needed for the motor of the disk drive. You can perfectly use the CPC with a Gotek without 12V being present. 

However the external drive will never "take over" as A. It will always be B. There is a "patch" that you can temporarily force the external drive to be B until you turn off the computer with a jumper or switch on the cable. 
https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/Guide_on_how_to_connect_a_3.5%22_drive_to_a_CPC6128/664#Making_floppy_primary_drive.28OPTIONAL.29

Or you do an internal ABBA mod:
https://www.cpcwiki.eu/index.php/ABBA_switch

[tubs74]

It looks like the switch that is included with the gotek, shorts pins 11 & 12, which is that guide seems to suggest is the way to go.  I will endeavour to try it as soon as possible!

[tubs74]

So it seems the Gotek I have is compatible, and the "A/B" drive switch works.  I've tried a couple of games, later ones by Titus & 128k only - I think if prehistoric/super cauldron had been made in 1987/8 (instead of 1993) the CPC would have been trouncing the other 8 bits ...

I'm assuming Titus had made some sort of engine, as Prehistoric and Super Cauldron seem very similar - especially with the start up / colour config options. 

[ZorrO]

It doesn't matter whether you mount them internally or externally. Old 3" drives for CPC need 12V, and old 3.5" for example for A500 or 520ST need it too, but new 3" for Amstrad Plus, or 3.5" for PC from 90s or newer don't need 12V.

A fully functional AB/BA switch, which makes external drive change to A and internal drive change to B, requires soldering inside computer. But these external switches on cable to external station actually work as AB/AA, i.e. they can change external drive B to A, but internal one still will be A. Which is enough to run something from the external.

I know that Prehistorik on 6128Plus can work with different colors than old CPC6128, but is it Super Cauldron can do that too?
Or do you mean something else that does something with colors?

[tubs74]

It doesn't matter whether you mount them internally or externally. Old 3" drives for CPC need 12V, and old 3.5" for example for A500 or 520ST need it too, but new 3" for Amstrad Plus, or 3.5" for PC from 90s or newer don't need 12V.

Thanks, the internal mechanical drive needs the 12v, but I was not sure if this was required if I used an external Gotek drive that I was using for a spectrum +3 the 12v would be required to read the gotek.  The Gotek I have, has an external USB power as well, if I don't use the external USB power, then it does not "work", although the power light does light up.  If I use the external USB power, the Gotek does work as expected. 

A fully functional AB/BA switch, which makes external drive change to A and internal drive change to B, requires soldering inside computer. But these external switches on cable to external station actually work as AB/AA, i.e. they can change external drive B to A, but internal one still will be A. Which is enough to run something from the external.

Yes, this is the case - I have A: as (non working) mechanical, and B: as the Gotek.  If I use the switch on the back, then the A: becomes the Gotek and B: is the Gotek.  But I can confirm, that the powered external Gotek, does not need the 12v plugged in to be read.

I know that Prehistorik on 6128Plus can work with different colors than old CPC6128, but is it Super Cauldron can do that too?
Or do you mean something else that does something with colors?

When Prehistoric starts up, I get an option to centre the screen, I then get three options or "colour-dissarangements", "Standard", "special version 1" and "special version 2", I don't seem to see much difference so possibly its a special thing for the 6128+, rather than the 6128.  With super Cauldron, there are 4 colour option "Standard", "Special Version 1", "Special Version 2" and "Special Version 3"

[tubs74]

Well, good news as well - a 5v/12v power supply arrived today and a replacement drive belt.  Replaced the belt, reconnected up, and I now have a fully working CPC6128, that has a second gotek drive I can use, and outputs to RGB.

Tested a couple of disks - the original one I have (Tasword128) works fine.  A copied one  I have "cat"s, and loads basic programs but the copied games on there don't work. 

The Gotek I have, if it is set to "A", and the 12v is installed, might clash when I turn on - where as without the 12V turning on the computer with the gotek set to "A" works as expected.   

I like that the 6128 is shorter than the cpc464, as it fits in my cabinet (where as the cpc464 is too long, so lives tucked away underneath ....  I'll be looking to sell my cpc464 at some point to try and cover some of the costs of the cpc6128.  (agreement at home, is I have to sell when I buy :-) )  

[tubs74]

Okay, so I finally had a chance to try both the FDD and the External Gotek

So, with the external Gotek swicth set as "B", and 12v Plugged in ...

I can access the A (internal drive) but when i do |b i get abort/retry.

If I set the Gotek switch to "A", I can access the gotek via |b (and cat the Gotek disk) but trying to use |a gives abort/retry after trying to access the disk.

So it seems with what I have here, I can access "either", but not at the same time ...